[00:02:56]
[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Gregory Blackston; In God We Trust of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND GREGORY BLACKSTON OF IN GOD WE TRUST.IN GOD WE TRUST OF DENTON, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE, REVEREND. LET US PRAY.
MAY THEY BE GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, FAIRNESS, AND COMPASSION IN ALL THEIR DECISIONS.
GRANT THEM THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, AND MAY THEY BE A SOURCE OF HOPE AND POSITIVE CHANGE FOR OUR COUNTY. WE ASK YOU, BLESS THEM, WITH GOOD HEALTH, PEACE OF MIND AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN THEIR SERVICE.
IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU REVEREND. THANK YOU, SIR. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING THIS MORNING.
SAME TO YOU. WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING DURING OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? OKAY. NONE SEEN. WE'LL MOVE ON. I HAVE A CLOSED SESSION REPORT OUT.[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
DURING THE APRIL 8TH MEETING, THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE THREE 305 B4 TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF A NEW BUSINESS TO THE TOWN OF DENTON.THE TOWN HOLDS JURISDICTION OVER THE PROJECT AND STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO FOLLOW UP ACCORDINGLY.
NO FORMAL ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE ATTENDEES INCLUDED COMMISSIONER BARTZ PORTER AND BREEDING,
[00:05:07]
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER REIBLY, COUNTY ATTORNEY BARROLL, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BOB ZIMMER.[Steve Hurlock, Communications Division Chief, Department of Emergency Services]
[Proclamation for 911 Telecommunicators Appreciation Week]
WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR 911 TELECOMMUNICATORS APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER PORTER HAS.GOOD MORNING, STEVE. GOOD MORNING. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY OR JUST WAITING.
WAITING FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION. NOW YOU HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED.
WE APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO SUPPORT THE 911 CENTER AND WHAT THE DISPATCHERS DO.
OBVIOUSLY, IT TAKES SUPPORT IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO I'M JUST HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION OR THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM OR THE HEROES BEFORE I DO THE PROCLAMATION, I WILL, YOU KNOW, JUST MENTION YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I SPEAK TO DIFFERENT GROUPS AND PEOPLE ABOUT FIRE COMPANIES, I TELL THEM IT ALL STARTS, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT PHONE CALL AND I THINK IF PEOPLE REALLY CAN UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE PHONE CALLS ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE EVER CALLS UNLESS THERE'S A PROBLEM.
AND WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THIS SCREAMING MOTHER WITH A CHILD THAT'S SICK.
YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S TOUGH. AND I, YOU KNOW, WE WERE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A JOB THAT I'M NOT SURE MANY PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND UNTIL THEY NEED IT, UNTIL YOU DIAL 911 AND SOMEBODY'S ON THE OTHER SIDE, AND THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL AND THEY'RE PASSIONATE AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO STEER PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING I WISH THERE WAS A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT'S LIKE TO DO IT FOR 12 HOURS.
RIGHT? YOU DO 24 NOW? YEAH. 24. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SITTING THERE AND EVERYTHING IS PERFECTLY FINE.
AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THIS CRISIS AND IT'S ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, ALL NIGHT.
YEAH. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU ALL OF YOUR STAFF FOR DOING THAT.
AND BUT THAT'S THE CHAIN REACTION. IT'S THE PHONE CALL, THEN THE DISPATCH.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT I USED TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS ACTIVE IN THE FIRE COMPANY, I COULD ALWAYS TELL, YOU KNOW, ON THE OLD SCANNER, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU COULD HEAR YOU COULD ALWAYS TELL HOW BAD IT WAS BY THE TONE OF VOICE OF THE.
YOU KNOW, USUALLY. YES. USUALLY YOU CAN SAY, OH, MAN, THIS IS BAD.
I MEAN, BUT IT'S YOU CAN TELL FROM THE TONE, YOU COULD TELL FROM THE RESPONSE OF THE CHIEFS, YOU COULD TELL WHAT WAS GOING ON AND YOU REALLY KNEW.
AND YOU KNOW, I KEEP TRYING OVER THE YEARS TO EMPHASIZE TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S UNBELIEVABLE HOW QUICK THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN. I HOPE NONE OF YOU HAVE HAD TO CALL 911, BUT IF YOU HAVE, THINK BACK TO THAT TIME AND THINK HOW CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR THAT TO BE HANDLED AND THEN MULTIPLY THAT TIMES HOWEVER MANY CALLS WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IN A MONTH. YEAH. SO IT TAKES A TOLL.
SO AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID BEFORE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MILITARY WITH PTSD AND I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE PTSD FOR THESE PEOPLE AS WELL. AND YOU KNOW SO THANK YOU.
DON'T JUST HAVE YOUR EMERGENCY AND HANG UP AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
THANK THEM. IT'S AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH JOB. IT TAKES ITS TOLL.
IT DOES. AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I'LL TRY AND READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT SO THEY'RE GOT REESE'S.
THANK YOU. WHO'S HE? HE'S MINE. RIGHT. I'M NOT SHARING.
I'M FROM GREENSBORO. YOU DON'T SHARE ANYTHING.
WHEREAS EMERGENCIES CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME THAT REQUIRE POLICE, FIRE OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
[00:10:07]
PROPERTY. AND WHEREAS, THE SAFETY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL IS DEPENDENT UPON THE QUALITY AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM RESIDENTS WHO TELEPHONED THE CAROLINE COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.AND WHEREAS 911 SPECIALISTS ARE THE SINGLE VITAL LINK FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL BY MONITORING THEIR ACTIVITIES BY RADIO, PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION AND ENSURING THEIR SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS, 911 SPECIALISTS OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE TO THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, SUPPRESSION OF FIRES AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.
JOB OVER THE PAST YEAR. AND WHEREAS, THE 911 SPECIALISTS OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE READY TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
AND WHEREAS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 911 SPECIALISTS BY DESIGNATING NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, IN RECOGNITION OF THIS EVENT, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
SIGNED APRIL 15TH, 2025 BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
JAY TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT. LARRY C PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT.
AND FRANKLIN BARTZ, THE THIRD COMMISSIONER. SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY WELL, PRETTY WELL WRITTEN.
SO YES, I THINK WE CAN GIVE THEM A HAND.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE ARE, BUT ENJOY THEM, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
THANK YOU. STEVE. I THINK LARRY SAID IT ALL. BUT THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
THANK YOU. STEVE. WE GOTTA GET A PICTURE.
THANK YOU. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. THANK YOU.
THANKS, MARK. THANK YOU. THANKS. WHERE'S CJ? SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. NEXT AGENDA ITEM WE HAVE ROBERT ZIMMER,
[Proclamation for “April 15-22 as Two Lights for Tomorrow Week”]
DIRECTOR OF CAROLINE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS A PROCLAMATION FOR APRIL 15TH THROUGH THE 22ND AS TWO LIGHTS FOR TOMORROW WEEK. GOOD MORNING. BOB. GOOD MORNING.THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. BOB ZIMBEROFF, CAROLINE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM DIRECTOR.
I HAVE WITH ME CHARLES ANDREW, PRESIDENT OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND RICK SCHAUB, VICE PRESIDENT. GOING TO GO JUST A LITTLE OUT OF ORDER HERE.
911 PROCLAMATION WEEK. I WANTED TO SAY VERY BRIEFLY WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER LIVING IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE WORLD, I HAD TO CALL 911. I WAS EVENTUALLY, BY COURT OF LAW, DETERMINED TO BE A VICTIM.
I WAS IN HYSTERICS. I REMEMBER THE CALL VIVIDLY.
[00:15:03]
KIND OF BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES THINKING ABOUT IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.SO MOVING ON TO THE AGENDA ITEM. THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING US.
SO TWO LIGHTS FOR TOMORROW IS A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT.
THIS IS OFFICIALLY KICKING OFF THE 250TH CELEBRATION THAT WE ALL THINK OF AS JULY 4TH, 1776 REALLY STARTED YEARS BEFORE THAT AND DIDN'T REALLY END UNTIL 1783. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PARTICIPATING.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT TWO LIGHTS IN THE WINDOW HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE. THAT'S AWESOME. WE'VE GOT TWO LIGHTS ACROSS THE STREET IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. WE ARE HOPING THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL PARTICIPATE, TOO.
HAVE FUN WITH IT, PLEASE. SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY A LITTLE BIT.
THE BRITISH ARE COMING. THE BRITISH ARE COMING.
THEY WARNED OF A BRITISH ADVANCE TO CONCORD TO CAPTURE CANNONS AND MUNITIONS.
THEY ALSO WARNED PATRIOT LEADER SAM ADAMS AND JOHN HANCOCK, WHO WERE IN LEXINGTON.
IT WAS THE FIRST VICTORY IN THE WAR, AND THE WAR HADN'T EVEN OFFICIALLY STARTED YET.
AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. AND APPRECIATE YOU PARTICIPATING.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. BOB. I COME HERE TODAY TO SEE BUREAUCRACY AT ITS BEST TODAY.
WHY? NO, IT'S A JOKE. IT'S A JOKE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY GOT IT OR NOT.
I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK JENNIFER GOT IT RIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW I GO, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. TOO LATE FOR TOMORROW WEEK, APRIL 15TH TO 2025 TO APRIL 22ND, 2025. WHEREAS THE FAMOUS RIDE OF PAUL REVERE AND OTHERS OCCURRED OVERNIGHT ON APRIL 18TH, 1775, FOLLOWING A LIGHT SIGNAL ORCHESTRATED BY REVERE.
ONE IF BY LAND. TWO IF BY SEA. TO WARN OF THE APPROACH OF BRITISH TROOPS TOWARDS CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE COLONIAL ARMS AND MUNITIONS WERE HELD, WHEREAS BRITISH TROOPS ADVANCED BY WATER ON THE CHARLES RIVER AND TWO LAKES WERE HUNG FROM THE STEEPLE OF THE OLD NORTH CHURCH IN BOSTON.
PATRIOTS AND MEN AND MEN WERE THEN CALLED TO ACTION TO PREVENT THE BRITISH ADVANCE.
THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY WILL DISPLAY TWO LIGHTS IN THE WINDOW OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISPLAY TWO LIGHTS IN THEIR WINDOW AS WELL. SIGNED 15TH OF APRIL IN THE YEAR 2025.
SIGNED J. TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT. LARRY C PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT.
AND MYSELF AND FRANKLIN BARTZ, THIRD COMMISSIONER.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE ON TO KICK OFF THIS CELEBRATION.
I KNOW YOU GUYS GOT A TOUR COMING UP IN MAY, RIGHT? RIGHT. MAY. SO THAT'S YOUR NEXT BIG EVENT. SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
GOOD. GOOD READING. YES, SIR. YOUR UNCLE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF YOU.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. SOMEBODY WOULD BE.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE JUST GOT PAUL REVERE, BUT I THINK PAUL REVERE WAS FROM GREENSBORO, WASN'T HE? WE WON'T GO THERE. AND I PLAYED SOFTBALL WITH THE DOLLS GUY.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT MY DAD. FRANK. HE DID A GOOD JOB.
HE WAS THE OLD AUCTIONEER VOICE THERE IN THE MIDDLE.
CHARLES, WE'RE JUST FLYING THE FLAG FOR A WHILE.
YOU KNOW, HE ENJOYED HIS REVOLUTION.
[00:20:01]
MIC]. THANK YOU.APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR. HEY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WELL, THE 28TH OF THIS MONTH IS OUR ANNUAL MEETING.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. OH, 5:30. OKAY. OKAY.
. OKAY. MOVING ALONG. NEXT UP, WE HAVE ANDY HOLLIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DELMARVA COMMUNITY
[Discussion of FY2026 DCT Budget Request and County Routes]
TRANSIT, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE FY 2026 DCT BUDGET REQUEST AND COUNTY ROUTES.I'VE WATCHED THE VIDEO NUMEROUS TIMES AND PRINTED OUT THE TRANSCRIPT.
SO THIS. THESE OPTIONS RESULTED AS A REQUEST OF PRESIDENT BREEDING FOR SOME BREAKPOINTS IN OUR BUDGET, WHICH IS ORIGINALLY A $157,000 ASK. WE'VE GIVEN YOU OPTIONS AT 111,000, WHICH SHOULD BE 110.
THANK GOD FOR ACCOUNTANTS AND A $90,000 OPTION.
HENRY IS OUR TRANSIT DIRECTOR. I WANTED HIM TO TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE ROUTES.
BUT BEFORE YOU DO, REAL QUICK. SO, MR. BARTZ, YOU HAD BROUGHT UP THAT YOU ALL HAD ASKED FOR A MOD.
I KNOW YOUR HEART IS. AND COMMISSIONER PORTER, I ALWAYS ENJOY YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAD TO CALL THEM TRIPS, WHICH IS MTA VERBIAGE AND DRIVES ME CRAZY TOO.
SO WE WILL DO BETTER AT THAT AS WELL AS DO BETTER AT THE EMPTY BUSSES.
SO, DO YOU WANT TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE? GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. I AM HENRY TATE. I'M THE TRANSIT DIRECTOR FOR DEL MAR COMMUNITY TRANSIT.
IT DOES THREE TRIPS A DAY. ROUND TRIPS. OKAY.
6P STARTS HERE AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND GOES TO EASTON.
EASTON. WALMART LEAVES AT 4:30. IT GOES TO PRESTON, FREDERICKSBURG, THEN BACK TO DENTON.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT GREG DOES IN THE AFTERNOON.
FOR THE 111,000 ROUTE 5A, WHICH DISCUSSED A WHILE AGO 6P.
6A NOW 6A LEAVES HERE AT ROUND 5:35 IN THE MORNING.
IT GOES TO, IT DOES A COUPLE STOPS HERE IN DENTON.
WE TAKE THAT BUS TO EASTON. IT ENDS APPROXIMATELY AT 7:15.
THEN WE GO INTO A DIFFERENT MODE AS FAR AS CARRYING SENIORS, SENIORS UP.
AND OF COURSE, IF WE DO THE 157, WE WOULD NOT REDUCE ANY SERVICE AT ALL.
I MANAGE BUDGETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND I KNOW NO REASON TO TELL YOU THAT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW.
SO WE JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SO, OUR BUDGET. SORRY. SO I DON'T EXPECT THE 157 IS REALLY IN PLAY.
YOU ALL HAVE A $95,000 HOLD BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. IT THE IMPACT OF REDUCTIONS IS SO MUCH LESS.
IT'S MOST COST EFFECTIVE WITHIN TOWNS. WE'RE DOING ONE OVER IN EASTON RIGHT NOW.
SO I ASKED OUR FINANCE PEOPLE TO PULL WHAT OUR FUNDING HAS BEEN.
SO BACK IN 2016, YOU ALL WERE FUNDING US AT 90.
[00:25:03]
BUT MY REAL ASK IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE RIDING THESE BUSSES DON'T HAVE ANY ALTERNATIVE.I'M HOPING WE CAN COME TO THE 110 SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BE TOO SEVERE ON OUR REDUCTION, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE HAD AN ADJUSTMENT IN OUR FUNDING AMOUNT AND TRY TO START DOING SOME MOD, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S THE ROUTES THAT ARE THE KEY TO THIS RURAL TRANSIT AS MUCH AS IT IS SMALLER VEHICLES GOING IN SHORT DISTANCES BETWEEN. YEAH. SO THAT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS IT OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
HOW MANY SO HOW MANY ROUTES? IF WE WENT WITH 110,000 ALLOCATION TO DCT THIS YEAR, HOW MANY ROUTES WOULD WE BE CUTTING AT THAT POINT? I KNOW, I KNOW, WE'RE KEEPING THESE THREE, BUT YOU'RE RUNNING FIVE.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, FIVE ROUTES? YEAH. NO, I CUT OUT 5P AND NUMBER SEVEN, IF YOU GO WITH THE 110.
OKAY. SO, WE'RE CUTTING TWO ROUTES, 5P AND 7P AND THE EAST AND DENTON.
RIGHT. SO WE ARE RUNNING FIVE. IT'LL REDUCE TWO OF THOSE.
AND TIED IN WITH ALL THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SELLING THE SERVICE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M COMMITTED TO THAT. BUT I MEAN, YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD BALLPARK NUMBER OF TOTAL PEOPLE WHO USE THE SERVICE. DO YOU? I MEAN, YOU JUST TRACK IT THROUGH TRIPS.
YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY WAY TO KNOW. ARE WE AFFECTING 50 PEOPLE OR ARE WE AFFECTING 25 PEOPLE? TEN PEOPLE? I WILL SAY I WILL SAY ON THE MOD THAT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE WE STARTED IN JANUARY, THAT BUS STARTS AT 5:00. THE DRIVER COMES IN AT FIVE.
THE FIRST PICKUP IS 5:45. THERE'S TWO GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY RIDING FROM GREENSBORO.
THEY COME HERE TO WORK IN DENTON. AND OCCASIONALLY THERE'S A LADY THAT WROTE A LETTER.
SHE RIDES ALSO. YEAH. BUT OTHER THAN THAT AND WE TAKE THOSE GUYS BACK HOME.
YEAH. AND THAT'S 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN WE DO THAT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT ROUTE THE AVERAGE IS ONLY ABOUT FIVE RIDERS.
WHICH ROUTE WAS THAT ONE. THAT'S SEVEN MOD SEVEN.
SO THAT'S ONE THAT THAT'S ONE THAT'S BEING CUT OUT IF WE GO WITH 110.
CORRECT. OKAY. AND AS ANDY SAID WE WOULD PROBABLY DO SOME TYPE OF MODIFIED THING IN BETWEEN.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO USE SOME OF THE DRIVERS DURING THEIR DOWNTIME TO DO A MOD TYPE SYSTEM, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WANT TO COME BACK IN A YEAR AND DEMONSTRATE TO YOU THAT WE DO HAVE SOME RIDERSHIP IN THAT REGARD.
RIGHT. IT COULD BE WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK SO.
OKAY. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END. DANNY. HOW ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER THING OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND THAT WE CAN TAP INTO HERE TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THIS? CERTAINLY. YEAH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO AS FAR AS ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, OUTSIDE OF THE GENERAL FUND, THERE ARE REALLY TWO POTS OF MONEY THAT WE'VE HAD COME INTO THE COUNTY HERE RECENTLY THAT HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OR TONES OF TRANSPORTATION. ONE BEING THE OPIOID RESTITUTION MONEY.
A LOT OF THAT HAS TO BE TIED TO MITIGATION OF OPIOIDS.
WE'RE ALSO STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE CHANGES WITH THE CANNABIS MONEY AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION, THAT'S CALLED OUT IN THE NEW HOUSE BILL. I BELIEVE IT'S 11 OR IS IT 1352? SO I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR THAT MONEY AS WELL.
SO I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE OF STATEWIDE EQUITY, AND I'M LOOKING TO SET UP ANOTHER MEETING WITH THEM TO TRY TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING COULD BE AVAILABLE THERE FOR COUNTYWIDE ENTITIES.
BUT TRANSPORTATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS CALLED OUT IN THAT NEW HOUSE BILL.
SO, IT'S THE LAST TIME I PLANT THE SEED. BUT I AM GOING TO ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR OTHER PARTNERS IN TRANSIT, BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING A THIRD OF THE COST AND NOT RECEIVING A THIRD OF THE SERVICE.
[00:30:05]
COUNTY, RIGHT? OKAY. YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I APPRECIATE THE MOD. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT ON THE MOD.THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT THAT. AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS ANDY.
AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ALL GOOD INTENTIONS WITH DCT WHEN YOU WERE IN, WHEN YOU TALKED WHEN YOU WORKED AT UPSHAW AGING, YOU KNOW YOU HAD THE BEST INTEREST THERE. YEAH.
I'M FINE WITH THE 110. I STILL THINK WE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES WHEN WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WELL, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MEALS, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE DAY THEY TALK TO SOMEBODY.
YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TWO GUYS THAT WORK.
IT'S THEIR LIVELIHOOD, YOU KNOW. SO, I MEAN I'M FINE WITH THE 110 GOING THERE.
YOU KNOW, BUT IF YOU THINK [INAUDIBLE] IS TOO SOON, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE JUST TOO SOON FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED FOR, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT.
I THINK YOU NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE YOUR ROOTS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THAT. I THINK WE HAVE 1 OR 2 THAT WE'RE ABLE TO USE FOR INITIAL STARTUP.
YEAH, I WOULD SUPPORT THE 110. I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE ACCURATE THAT THE.
A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOUR CREDIBILITY IS HIGH WITH ME. SO IF YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU KNOW, YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS, THEN I'M GOOD WITH THE 110.
WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET IT. WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE MONEY. IT'S NOT THAT BIG A, IT'S NOT THAT BIG A JUMP. SO WE THE, THE HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, THE STATE BUDGET IS ADOPTED AND UNLESS THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING ELSE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.
BUT I'M FINE WITH 110. ALL RIGHT. DANNY, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? NO, I BELIEVE AFTER SO DO WE WANT TO DIRECT FINANCE TO LOOK INTO USING THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 85 AND THE 110? OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO DIRECT FINANCE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? THOUGHTS ON THAT? I'M GOOD WITH THE GENERAL FUND.
IF YOU IF YOU. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT, DANNY? YEAH. SO YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THE NOT THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, BUT THE ONE AFTER WE DO HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
SO WHEN I GO BACK, I CAN CERTAINLY ENTER THAT IN THE SPREADSHEET.
AND CLEAN UP A PROPOSED BUDGET, FINALIZING THIS NUMBER AT THE 110.
WELL, I THINK YOU GENTLEMEN SHOULD EXPECT 110.
AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT INTERNALLY WHERE THE DIFFERENCE COMES FROM.
BUT APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME BACK OVER AGAIN AND DISCUSS THIS AGAIN WITH US.
LET US KNOW WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I DO, YOU KNOW, I WENT OVER THIS YESTERDAY AND, AND JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IS WE HAD $3.3 MILLION WORTH OF MANDATORY SPENDING INCREASES OR STATE BURDENS SHIFTED OVER TO THE COUNTIES THIS YEAR.
1.8 MILLION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
INCREASE OR ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE INCREASE. ABOUT 600, 700,000 IN TEACHER PENSION STATE SHARE, 50% OF THE STATE'S SHARE OF THE TEACHER PENSION.
90% OF THE STATE OFFICE IS NOW STATE ASSESSMENT OFFICE IS NOW FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
AS WELL AS TWO YEAR REDUCTION IN THE TEACHER SUPPLEMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE TO OFFSET THE TEACHER PENSION THAT WAS SHIFTED OVER TO US DURING THE O'MALLEY ADMINISTRATION.
SO THAT'S ABOUT $350,000 A YEAR. SO I THINK YOU ADD ALL THOSE THINGS UP.
[00:35:07]
CONTROL OVER, NO SAY WHATSOEVER IN IT. SO, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY TO RAISE REVENUE IS TO RAISE TAXES, WHICH NONE OF THE THREE OF US WANT TO DO. OR CUT SERVICES SOMEWHERE.SO WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, GENERATE THIS BUDGET AND STAY WITHIN OUR EXISTING REVENUE STREAMS, WHICH HAS PROVED TO BE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY DIFFICULT THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S THE CLIMATE THAT THAT WE'RE COMING IN.
THIS THIS ITEM CAN RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE MEETING TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP COMING UP ON MAY 6TH WHICH WE CAN TAKE TESTIMONY FROM THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS WHAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE ON HOW MUCH FUNDING SHOULD GO TO ALL AGENCIES, INCLUDING DCT. SO THERE'S MULTIPLE CHANCES FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON OUR BUDGET PROPOSALS.
SO ANYTHING ELSE? PLUS, ABOUT A PROJECTED MILLION AND A HALF LOSS IN REVENUE DUE TO THE INCOME TAX.
YEAH. SO THERE'S FOUR, 4.4 MILLION ACTUAL AND ACTUAL WHEN WE ENTERED.
SO, I FORGOT ABOUT THE REVENUE DECREASE. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT I DIDN'T.
WHAT'S THE REVENUE DECREASE FROM GOVERNOR'S INCOME TAX RESTRUCTURING? SO IT REDUCED. IT INCREASED THE AMOUNT PEOPLE COULD WRITE OFF I THINK SO.
WELL, IT OR DEDUCT IT GIVES IT GIVES A ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, IT GIVES A TAX CUT PROBABLY OF ABOUT 50 OR 60, $60 I THINK. THAT WILL WE'LL GO TO ABOUT 94 OR 95% OF THE CITIZENS.
THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT THERE ARE A BUNCH OF RICH PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE UP THE OTHER 4%.
UNFORTUNATELY, CAROLINE COUNTY IS A VERY MID INCOME COUNTY.
SO THE TAX CUTS ARE FINE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
WELL, IT'S YEAH, IT'S A RESTRUCTURING BECAUSE SOME COUNTIES IN THE STATE THE MORE AFFLUENT COUNTIES LIKE MONTGOMERY TALBOT ARE ACTUALLY SEEING INCREASES IN REVENUE. BUT THE POOR JURISDICTIONS ARE SEEING A REDUCTION IN INCOME TAX REVENUE.
SO ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN .
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. SINCERELY. OKAY.
[Jay Falstad and Rob Davis, Famers Alliance For Rural Maryland]
GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. OUR FAVORITE TOPIC. YEAH.GOOD MORNING. RIGHT BEHIND BUDGET. RIGHT. WELL, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
JAY FALSTAD. I'M FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY. I HAVE WITH ME ROB DAVIS.
HE'S FROM KENT COUNTY. AND JUST AN UPDATE, I GUESS, FOR YOU, SOME OF WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW, BUT MAYBE THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW SINCE MY LAST APPEARANCE HERE BACK IN MARCH.
SENATE BILL 931 CLEARED THE SENATE LAST WEEK.
ON THE LAST DAY OR SECOND TO LAST DAY, I GUESS.
THE BILL, A FEW THINGS WERE, I GUESS, RECOVERED IN THE BILL THROUGH AMENDMENTS WHERE THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS DO RETAIN A LITTLE BIT OF CONTROL, BUT NOT VERY MUCH.
BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. THE BAD THING WAS THAT THE 5% CAP MADE IT INTO THE BILL.
AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IT SEEMED LIKE OUR LEGISLATORS, MOST OF WHOM WERE ON THE WESTERN SHORE, WERE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON A LOW PERCENTAGE CAP, NOT UNDERSTANDING THE FULL IMPACT OF WHAT THAT CAP MIGHT BE.
SO, FOR INSTANCE, IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AT 5% THAT COULD BE UP TO 4500 ACRES.
ON PROJECTS OVER TWO MEGAWATTS. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS FOR WHICH YOU ALL HAVE A FEW ALREADY IN YOUR PIPELINE, I THINK. AND SO THE THE OVERALL NUMBER OF ACRES OF FARMLAND CONSUMED FOR SOLAR PROJECTS ON THE EASTERN SHORE ALONE IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN KENT, QUEEN ANNE'S, CAROLINE, TALBOT COUNTY.
IT'S WELL OVER 10,000 ACRES ALONE. AND THAT TYPE OF IMPACT WILL SURELY HAVE IMPLICATIONS TO OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND THE ANCILLARY BUSINESSES THAT THEY SUPPORT. ALSO, SINCE OUR LAST MEETING AND SINCE FARMER'S ALLIANCE HAS STARTED,
[00:40:05]
WE NOW HAVE OVER 750 MEMBERS FROM ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE STATE.WE'VE BEEN POSTING SOME VIDEOS ON THERE. OUR MOST RECENT VIDEO HAD OVER 60,000 VIEWS.
AND SO, ONE THING I'D LIKE TO I WANT ROB TO ALSO TALK MORE ABOUT THE FARMER'S ALLIANCE.
BUT I THINK ONE THING THAT WE'D LIKE YOU ALL TO CONSIDER.
AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE THE POSITION OF FARMERS ALLIANCE IS NO ACRE, NO AGRICULTURAL ACRE OUGHT TO BE TAKEN UP FOR SOLAR PROJECTS WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER SURFACE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO HOLD TRUE TO THAT PRINCIPLE THAT NO ACRE SHOULD BE TAKEN UP AT ALL, THEN WHY WOULD WE BE? ACCEPTING OF 5% AND MANY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO VETO 931 CONCURRENT WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING HIM TO ADVANCE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT PROTECTS EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES FROM BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED FOR SOLAR PROJECTS.
I WAS TALKING TO COMMISSIONER MORAN THIS MORNING.
HE SAYS THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WILL ALSO BE ASKING FOR A VETO.
SO I GIVE THAT TO YOU AS A PREFACE FOR WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT ON THURSDAY.
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. AND WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE TO FIGHT FOR.
BUT I'M A FARMER UP IN KENT COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND WE YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO FIGHT OFF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALL OF THESE THINGS. WE JUST LOST A FARM TO CRP THAT A LANDLORD SAID.
THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY ME. AND IT WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO PAY.
SO THE PRESSURES ON FARMERS TO KEEP ENOUGH ACRES TO, TO EXIST IS, IS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE. ONE OF THE PROBABLY BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN, IN A JOB THAT HAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES ALREADY AND SOLAR AND THIS LEGISLATION, WHICH WAS PRETTY MUCH PUT TOGETHER BY THE SOLAR COMPANIES AND FOR THE SOLAR COMPANIES.
DEFINITELY IS THE WORST THREAT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE'RE AFRAID THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS GOING TO KIND OF OPEN THE FLOODGATES NOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS TO USE AGAINST COUNTIES WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THESE JOBS PERMITTED. SO THE, THE ONE THING THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO ME, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL KIND OF VOLUNTEER WORK AND AT A BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE EASTERN SHORE AND THE AG INDUSTRY.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT'S BEEN INTERESTING IS HOW I MEAN, LITERALLY, WE STARTED THIS GROUP OUT OF A CONVERSATION IN FEBRUARY AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE OVER 700 PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK KIND OF FOLLOWING ALONG.
THANK YOU. AND THE 5%. WE'VE GOTTEN WORD FROM FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
[00:45:01]
AND MY RESPONSE WAS, YOU'RE BASICALLY ASKING ME, INSTEAD OF DROPPING A HUNDRED TON BOMB ON ME, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE ONLY DROPPING A FIVE TON BOMB ON ME, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S LIKE.THE DESTRUCTIVE CAPABILITY OF THIS LEGISLATION IS STILL THE SAME.
YEAH. AND SO ANYWAY THANK YOU. THAT WAS A NARRATIVE THAT CAME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.
THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED. THE STATE IS GIVING UP 95% OF ITS PREEMPTION ABILITY OR, YOU KNOW, AND EQUATED IT TO OTHER STATES. BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A SITUATION, YOU KNOW, IN ANOTHER STATE WHERE THE STATE HAS COME IN AND PREEMPTED LOCAL. I'M SURE THERE IS SOMEWHERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S VERY WIDE, WIDELY DONE WHERE STATE COMES IN AND TAKES THAT KIND OF LOCAL CONTROL AWAY UP TO THE SCALE.
AND REALLY THE PREEMPTION OCCURRED BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING, I BELIEVE, FROM SENATOR HERSHEY'S COMMENTS ON THE FLOOR FROM LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BACK IN THE, WHAT, 60S OR 70S TO DEAL WITH NATURAL GAS, COAL FIRED PLANTS, TRADITIONAL POWER PLANTS TO PREVENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM ZONING THEM OUT. SO. AND NOW IT'S BEEN EXTENDED TO SOLAR DEVELOPMENTS WHICH COVER LARGE SWATHS OF THE COUNTIES, AS OPPOSED TO A POWER PLANT THAT MAY JUST TAKE UP 200 ACRES SOMEWHERE.
YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, THERE'S A BIG DISTINCTION, THOUGH, AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN SAID ENOUGH.
THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC UTILITIES. AND EVEN THEN, IF YOU DIAL IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, THEY'RE REALLY LAND SPECULATORS THAT ARE MASKING THEMSELVES AS SOLAR COMPANIES. OFTEN WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY WILL FIND A WILLING LEASE HOLDER TO SIGN A LEASE, AND THAT THING COULD BE FLIPPED BEFORE THE END OF THE WEEK TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
I ACTUALLY TALKED TO A SOLAR EXECUTIVE. THIS WAS LAST YEAR.
THESE WERE HIS EXACT WORDS. HE SAID, WE TRY AND FIND SOMEBODY TO SIGN A CONTRACT.
AND AS SOON AS WE GET IT, WE TRY AND FLIP IT TO SOME OTHER SUCKER.
THAT'S EXACTLY. THOSE WERE HIS EXACT WORDS. AND THAT'S WHO WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
SO THEY'RE NOT PUBLIC UTILITIES. THEY ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES.
AND THAT'S THE WAY. THAT'S THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE VIEWED AS.
ABSOLUTELY. SO YEAH, I USE MY I USE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT METAPHOR.
I SAY IT'S KIND OF LIKE WOULD YOU RATHER BE SHOT OR STABBED.
YOU KNOW TAKE YOUR PICK. BUT YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S, I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RAINY DAY WEEKEND CALCULATIONS HERE WHERE I GOT SOME HELP FROM LESLIE, OUR CRACK PLANNING PERSON BACK THERE WHO GAVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF ACRES OF PRIMARY PRESERVATION AREAS IN IN COUNTIES.
ACTUALLY, FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, I'VE COME UP WITH ABOUT 8800 ACRES.
AND I THINK THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE AND THE ONE QUESTION THAT I REALLY WANTED TO HEAR ON THE FLOOR THAT I DIDN'T WAS, HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT AG PRESERVATION? BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, IN THE COMMITTEE, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT.
AND THE ANSWER THAT THE COUNCIL GAVE WAS IT DEPENDS ON THE LEASE.
THAT WAS HIS ANSWER. WELL, YOU GUYS HAVE DEALT WITH AG PRESERVATION LEASES.
I HAVE AS WELL. AND I CAN TELL YOU THESE LEASES ARE WRITTEN VERY SPECIFICALLY, AND I'M AFRAID THAT THAT WHEN THESE LEASES WERE WRITTEN BACK YEARS AGO, NOBODY EVEN KNEW WHAT SOLAR THERE WAS.
SOLAR WASN'T MENTIONED. YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE, RIGHT? YOUR KIDS CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE IF THAT'S IN THE LEASE.
I'M CONCERNED THAT SOME, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE WHO'S AN ATTORNEY FOR A SOLAR COMPANY MIGHT BE SMART ENOUGH TO SAY, WELL, IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T IT? SOLAR. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M JUST. BUT I JUST THINK THAT IT'S. IF YOU GO COUNTY BY COUNTY AND LIKE, THERE ARE COUNTIES, FOR EXAMPLE, DORCHESTER COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY DESIGNATED PPA.
[00:50:02]
IT'S ABOUT 100,000 ACRES, AND ABOUT 50% OF THAT COMES FROM CAROLINE KENT, QUEEN ANNE, TALBOT, WICOMICO AND WORCESTER. SO, YOU KNOW, I HEAR, I HEAR, YOU KNOW, SILLY THINGS SAID LIKE FROM DELEGATE WILSON ABOUT, WELL, WE'RE NOT TAKING YOU CAN JUST GO BACK AND FARM IT.NO, YOU CAN'T, AND YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU KNOW.
AND SO, I HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. I'M ON THE CRITICAL AREAS COMMISSION AND I HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, WITH THE DIRECTOR AND GOOD GUY.
AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND I SAID TO HIM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN STAY ON THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE I SEE WHAT YOU REQUIRE PEOPLE TO DO IF THEY WANT TO BUILD IF 100FT² OF THEIR PROPERTY HAPPENS TO FALL IN A CRITICAL AREA, COMMISSION WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO PLANT A CORNER OR TO BUILD A CORNER OF A POLE SHED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, BUT YET YOU'RE GOING TO LET THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF PRIME FARMLAND BE COVERED BY SOLAR PANELS, WHICH TO ME BASICALLY MAKES IT IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
AND IN FAIRNESS TO HIM, THEY HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AS WELL.
AND THEY ARE, I THINK, DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.
IT'S INTERESTING, IF YOU RIDE TO SEE THESE SOLAR PROJECTS, YOU'LL SEE LITTLE FENCED IN AREAS.
WELL, THOSE ARE WETLANDS. SO ON THIS, ON THIS BIG PIECE OF PROPERTY, YOU'LL SEE THIS, THIS SILT FENCE, AND THAT'S A WETLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROPERTY WHERE THEY CAN'T PUT A SOLAR PANEL THERE.
RIGHT. SO, MY POINT WAS, IS IF YOU'RE CREATING, I THINK IT'S CREATING IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
AND I'M LIKE, WHAT THE HECK? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? I MEAN, SO I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO LOOK AT WHATEVER.
I THINK IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES IT, ITS VETO IS GOING TO GET OVERRIDDEN.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS WHERE YOU EVEN HAD I MEAN, I REMEMBER SENATOR HESTER, WHO BROUGHT UP THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY DO WE? WE COULD, IF YOU NEED ANYWHERE FROM 18,000 TO 30,000 ACRES IS WHAT SOMEBODY IS SAYING THEY NEED.
WHY DO YOU NEED 100,000? AND SHE BROUGHT THAT UP, IF YOU RECALL.
I'M SURE YOU WATCHED IT, JAY. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEY KIND OF SHOT HER DOWN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE SHE VOTED FOR THE 5% AND WE END UP WITH FIVE. WHY DO YOU NEED 5%? AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I THINK WE'RE REACHING THAT POINT.
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE LOW HANGING FRUIT HAS BEEN PICKED? WHEN YOU HAVE THE FARMERS WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON AND I'M NOT, DESPITE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO DO.
I'M NOT VILIFYING FARMERS. I'M NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT FINANCIAL SITUATIONS.
YEAH, RIGHT. PEOPLE, YOU KNOW ARE MY WIFE'S FAMILY FARM FOR GENERATIONS.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND CRITICIZE OR VILLAINIZE FARMERS.
I'M NOT GOING TO. AND DELEGATE WILSON IS EXACTLY CORRECT WHEN HE SAYS, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE WILLING PARTICIPANTS, IF YOU DID NOT HAVE FARMERS WHO WERE WILLING TO ENTER INTO THESE AGREEMENTS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ONE ACRE OF SOLAR LAND IN YOUR COUNTY.
AND HE'S RIGHT. HE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHEN YOU SET THESE ENERGY RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU'VE REACHED ALL OF THEM AND YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE OUT HERE, LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THIS ALLIANCE WHO ARE SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? IS THAT A QUESTION? NO, IT'S NOT A QUESTION.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS.
AND I THINK THE FACT THAT THAT YOU HAD AN YOU HAD A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED THAT WAS GOING TO PROHIBIT THE STATE FROM TAKING PROPERTY BY EMINENT DOMAIN. AND THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED THAT BILL.
RIGHT. AND TESTIFIED AGAINST THAT BILL. SO YOU'VE GOT THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION OVER HERE, WHO'S SETTING THESE GOALS AND TELLING YOU HOW MANY ACRES THEY THINK YOU NEED.
[00:55:08]
I'M NOT SMART. I'M NOT A VERY SMART GUY. I'M NOT.BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I DON'T. I KIND OF SEE THE PATTERN HERE.
NOT SITTING UP HERE SAYING IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND WHEN MR. JONES WHEN MATT JONES'S DAUGHTER TESTIFIED, AND I THINK SHE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG LADY. AND I BELIEVE, DELEGATE WILSON, WHEN DELEGATE WILSON, YOU KNOW, TOOK UMBRAGE TO THAT AND SAID, WE WILL NEVER TAKE YOUR LAND.
I THINK HE BELIEVES THAT. I DO. I TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.
I THINK HE BELIEVES THAT. I'M NOT SURE DOWN THE ROAD IF THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO I WILL SUPPORT A GOVERNOR VETO, CERTAINLY.
IF HE'LL IF HE'LL VETO THE BILL. I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO, BUT I THINK IF HE WOULD, IT WOULD, IT WOULD MAKE A VETO. MAKES HIM JUSTIFY WHY HE'S SIGNING THE BILL.
AND MY POSITION HAS BEEN AND I THINK THE POSITION OF THE FARMERS ALLIANCE HAS BEEN.
IF SOLAR IS SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THEN HOW ABOUT WE START WITH EVERY SINGLE GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN MARYLAND, INCLUDING PARKING LOTS? LET'S START THERE FIRST.
AND ONCE WE'VE EXHAUSTED ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, THEN WE CAN START LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS, BUT NOT BEFORE WE START UTILIZING BROWNFIELDS OR OLD MINING SITES IN WESTERN MARYLAND.
ANY ONE OF THESE PLACES COULD BE USED FOR SOLAR, AND WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE STARTING THERE.
AND THE GOVERNOR CAN SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP. IF WE ASK FOR THE VETO AND ASK FOR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE GOVERNOR CAN SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP IN SAYING, LET'S LOOK AT THESE AREAS FIRST.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
YEAH. WELL, I TOTALLY, BUT I MEAN, I JUST I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS THAT LINE UP HERE THAT I SEE THAT I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GROUP OR SOME PERSON WHO'S GOING TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE BY VOLUNTEERING, SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? AND I JUST DON'T I JUST, I JUST CAN'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS.
I THINK I DO, BUT I DON'T KNOW, AND I WON'T BE INVOLVED IN IT.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, THE ALLIANCE I THINK I KNOW HAS GROWN INTO, YOU KNOW, I SEE PEOPLE'S COMMENTS.
I THINK SOMETIMES THE COMMENTS ARE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT THE FARMER.
I DO AGAIN, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. I'M NOT I DON'T WANT A VILLAIN.
I KNOW SOME OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND I KNOW SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE FARMER IT'S A BUSINESS DECISION AND I KNOW AND LOOK, I KNOW THAT FARMERS LOOK AT THINGS AND I DON'T WANT TO AND I THINK A COMBINATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WE DID THAT I THINK WAS EFFECTIVE, WHICH SAID, YEAH, JUST DON'T LOOK AT THE NUMBER THAT YOU CAN GET.
LOOK AT ALL THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GOING TO STRIP YOUR TOPSOIL? ARE THEY GOING TO SELL YOUR TOPSOIL. ARE THEY GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS I THINK WERE QUESTIONS THAT EARLY ON, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD A GUY WHO WAS GOING AROUND DOING THESE LEASES AND HE, I MEAN, YOU'RE CORRECT. HE WOULD GO IN AND SIT DOWN AND SAY, HERE'S OUR DEAL.
IF YOU DON'T TAKE IT BEFORE I LEAVE HERE, I'M OUT OF HERE.
I'LL GO TO THE NEXT GUY. AND THAT'S THE SITUATION THAT THEY WERE IN.
THAT COMPANY'S BEEN SOLD 4 OR 5 TIMES BY NOW.
SO BUT I'M NOT GOING TO VILIFY THE FARMERS. I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION AND SAY; YOU'RE A BAD PERSON BECAUSE YOU DID THIS. THEY OWN THEIR LAND.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD WHEN WE HAD OUR WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THIS ROOM.
WE HAD ONE HALF OF THE ROOM. CRYSTAL, YOU WERE HERE.
KATHLEEN, YOU WERE HERE. WE HAD ONE HALF OF THIS ROOM WITH A WITH AN ALLEY IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THESE PEOPLE OVER HERE WERE FARMERS WHO OWNED THEIR LAND AND CONTROLLED THEIR LAND AND SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL ME THAT I CAN'T SELL OR LEASE MY LAND.
THEN THE OTHER PEOPLE SAID THESE WERE FARMERS WHO TILLED THE LAND, YOU KNOW, ON A CONTRACT BASIS.
THEY WERE SAYING, IF YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHT, OUR WAY OF LIVING.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ENDED UP. ALONG WITH THE SOLAR COMPANY TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE AND BASED ON THE TRANSMISSION ABILITY THAT THEY HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINES IN THIS COUNTY, TOGETHER WITH THOSE THREE FACTIONS.
THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH OUR CAP. THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED AT.
AND, YOU KNOW, DO I WISH WE HAD DONE IT DIFFERENTLY?
[01:00:03]
I DO, BECAUSE I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH.SO THAT'S YOU LIVE AND LEARN. THANK YOU. YEAH.
MR. BARTZ. I CAN'T REITERATE ANYTHING. THEY'VE SAID IT ALL PRETTY MUCH, BUT I HAVE SEEN YOUR VIDEOS, JAY. YOU GUYS DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S BEING SHARED BY SOME VERY INFLUENTIAL FARMERS THAT I SEE WHICH IS, WHICH IS GREAT. SO THE WORD IS GETTING OUT. AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE'RE AT 2000 ACRES.
THAT'S OUR CAP. I MEAN, I'LL, IF THEM GUYS WANT TO STAND AT 2000 ACRES, I'M, I'M HERE TO STAND BESIDE THEM AND SAY, HEY, THAT'S IT, 2000 ACRES. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAND WITH YOU.
THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE BATTERY STORAGE SAFETY.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL THAT THAT MENTIONS BATTERY STORAGE SAFETY.
ALL I HEAR IS, OH, YEAH, THAT'S BEING WORKED ON.
AND I GOT KIND OF SHOUTED DOWN BY ONE OF THE DELEGATES WHEN I RAISED IT AT THE HEARING.
OH, THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF. WELL, I'VE ASKED NOW, WHEN WAS THAT HEARING? MARCH 4TH. WHAT'S TODAY? THE 15TH OF APRIL. I AIN'T SEEN ANYTHING.
THEY WERE GOING TO SEND IT TO ME, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF I'M WORKING ON, BUT I HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THEY AREN'T COMING HERE. WE HAVE A MORATORIUM ON BATTERY STORAGE FACILITIES.
WILL WE HAVE A GOOD LAWYER? WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO THERE.
WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DRAFT A LETTER TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO THIS LEGISLATION AND TO ALSO ASK FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER TO RETURN AS MUCH CONTROL BACK TO THE COUNTIES AS HE CAN.
THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE ABILITIES. SECOND. MOTION.
AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY.
AYES HAVE IT. WE'LL HAVE A LETTER THAT WAS QUICK AND EFFICIENT.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS I WILL ADD, THOUGH, THAT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.
IF HE DOES VETO IT, IF IT DOES GET VETOED, IT REVERTS BACK TO THIS EXISTING BROKEN PROCESS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE PREEMPTED BY THE RULING OF A PUBLIC UTILITY LAW JUDGE. SO THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED SOMEHOW.
BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY IT NEEDS TO BE DONE LEGISLATIVELY.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN RIGHT NOW.
SO ALONG WITH SETBACKS, SITING ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MUCH BETTER APPROACH THAT COULD BE TAKEN BY THE STATE, EVEN IF THEY JUST CAME IN AND SAID, YOU HAVE TO DESIGNATE 3000 ACRES FOR SOLAR SOMEWHERE, AT LEAST LET US MAKE SURE IT GOES ON THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND, YOU KNOW. BUT THIS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S BEEN A TOTAL CAVE IN TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY, AND THERE'S NO COMMON SENSE.
THERE HAS BEEN THERE HAS BEEN NO CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCALS.
YOU KNOW, ANY YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE DELEGATE A DELEGATE COME OVER LAST WINTER AND WE GAVE HIM A TOUR WHEN IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING UP NORTH. AND, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT WE MADE SOME PROGRESS THERE.
BUT IT TURNED OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WAS NO.
SO, THAT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. VICTORY VICTORIES ARE LOOKED AT IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT LOOK AT A VICTORY AS ONLY HAVING 5% OF THE LAND USED.
I DON'T LOOK AT THAT AS A VICTORY. AND WE DIFFER ON THAT.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S A QUESTION OF WHY, WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
THEY LOOK AT IT AS WELL. HERE'S HOW BAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN.
I LOOK AT IT AS WELL. IT'S BAD THE WAY IT IS THAT WHAT YOU'VE COME UP WITH IS BAD.
IT WOULD HAVE SLOWED THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT TODAY.
THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO LOOK OKAY. WHICH COUNTY DO I HAVE TO GO TO NOW?
[01:05:01]
AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE 2%.YEAH, YEAH. AND IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY GOING TO BE LOCATED IN ONE COUNTY.
SO ALL RIGHT. WELL, KEEP US POSTED, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION SO FAR.
AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT. THANKS. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS GOOD? NEED A BREAK? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
[01:13:10]
OKAY. CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER. I'M MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS A FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP.SO GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE DANNY FOX, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND STACY STEWART.
[FY 2026 Budget Workshop]
STACY AND I ARE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO REALLY FINALIZE AND GO OVER ONE LAST TIME.THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST WEEK WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND WE'RE REALLY WAITING TO NAIL DOWN THE NUMBER FOR DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SO, STACY AND I HAVE OUR NOTES FROM THAT. WE'LL REFLECT THAT IN THE SHEET AND PROVIDE A PUBLIC COPY THAT WILL THEN GO ON THE WEBSITE AND CAN BE PICKED UP PHYSICALLY AT OUR OFFICE AS WELL.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY DIRECTED CHANGES THE VERSION THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED THERE AND THE VERSION YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WILL BE THE PROPOSED VERSION THAT WE TAKE TO THE MAY 6TH PUBLIC HEARING. JUST A RECAP. THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE STATE CHANGES THAT WE DISCUSSED PRIOR IN THE MEETING, AS WELL AS KEEPING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND THE DIFFERENTIAL AT THE SAME AS THE PRIOR YEAR.
BUT I THINK FOR WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT'S BEEN DECIDED AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE'RE AT A ACCURATE, ZERO BASED VERSION. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH KEVIN CONNOLLY YESTERDAY.
MAKO. I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING TO HIM ABOUT WHERE THE ABILITY FOR COUNTIES TO RAISE INCOME TAX FROM
[01:15:07]
3.2% TO 3.3 WAS IN THE LEGISLATION, AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S BRFA, THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION AND FINANCE ACT. AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE DISPARITY.GRANT THAT ALSO PASSED THROUGH. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY CHANGES THERE THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR DISPARITY GRANT ALLOCATIONS AS FAR AS DISPARITY? NO, OBVIOUSLY THE VERSION THE DISPARITY FIGURE WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET I PULLED FROM THE PRIOR HOUSE BILL, 352 OF THE BRFA. SO, I JUST NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE NOTHING'S BEEN AMENDED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT IT.
OKAY. AS FAR AS DISPARITY, GRANT, CERTAINLY. WHAT DID YOU HAVE? YOU HAD IT AS A REDUCTION FROM LAST YEAR? YEAH.
RIGHT. WE ARE SHOWING A LOSS OF $176,000. OKAY.
SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT APPLY TO US, BUT IT'S, I THINK, IT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO.
IT SOUNDED HE MADE IT SOUND LIKE WE WOULD SEE SOME BENEFIT FROM IT.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE IT. THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK BOTH OF THE FUNDS THAT DANNY MENTIONED EARLIER HAVE CLAUSES THAT SAY CANNOT BE USED TO SUPPLANT EXISTING FUNDING.
RIGHT? CORRECT. YES. SO, I WOULD LIKE TO USE IT TO AUGMENT THE DCT FUNDING.
BUT LET'S I'D LIKE TO FORCE THE STATE'S HAND ON HOW WE SPEND IT AND SEE WHAT SEE WHAT THEY SAY JUST TO EXPAND ON OUR PRIOR CONVERSATION SO THAT THE UPDATE OR THE PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE CANNABIS MONEY IS HOUSE BILL 1364.
AND INSIDE OF THAT, THERE ARE TONES OF TRANSPORTATION OF WHAT IS ALLOWABLE.
THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY CAVEATS WITH THAT. THAT WHOLE PROCESS OR THAT BILL IS A REWRITE OF THE PROCESS THAT THE COUNTIES HAVE WITH THE STATE, THE RELATION, AND THEN ACTUALLY HOW WE HAVE TO DIVVY OUT THAT MONEY.
SO, STACY AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE OF STATEWIDE EQUITY, REALLY TRYING TO HAVE A SIT DOWN AND TALK THROUGH HOW THIS MAY IMPACT THE COUNTY AND REALLY GETTING THROUGH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND PROPOSALS THAT WE'VE HAD COME FORWARD ALREADY. SO THAT IS IN OUR TO DO LIST AND ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE BACK FROM THE STATE.
SO I THINK THE OPIOID MONEY IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A STRETCH THOUGH IT IS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT HAS TO BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR SOMETHING, AND THIS WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY RIDER.
CORRECT. CORRECT. AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR DCT TO TRACK.
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE ON THE BUS, SO THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO KNOW.
YEAH. AND THAT'S NOT A DIG. ANDY, IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS, I'M JUST SAYING.
SO THERE MAY BE A CONNECTION THERE TO OFFER AGAIN, POSSIBLY TO OTHER THIRD PARTY TRANSPORTATION.
RIGHT. BUT THAT WOULD BE THAT'S VERY NARROW SPECIFIC TO THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
YEAH. AND THAT'S PROBABLY TOO NARROW TO JUSTIFY OR I MEAN, THE FARE BOX, YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT, MAYBE YOU COULD USE THE OPIOID MONEY TO COVER THE FAREBOX RECOVERY.
SO. VERY MUCH SO. SO I DON'T KNOW. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THAT USING? THAT'S FINE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THAT.
OH, WELL, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SWITCHING. WELL, GOING FROM THE 85,000, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 85,000 AND 110 USING THE CANNABIS OR TAX MONEY TO FUND THAT DIFFERENCE.
I'M JUST CAUTION THAT THE AGAIN, THE NEW BILL DOES SPECIFY HOW THEY HAVE TO SOLICIT THAT MONEY.
[01:20:02]
SO THERE MAY BE, TO YOUR POINT, A CONFLICT IN HOW THAT GOES.IF WE'RE ALLOCATING IT WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF APPLICATION OR RELATION IN THAT MANNER.
BUT THAT'S A CHOICE FOR THE BOARD TO SAY, WELL, WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE AN APPLICATION TO SEND TO DCT 100%, RIGHT? YEAH, RIGHT. YEAH. THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME TO US AND SOLICIT AND APPLY FOR THAT MONEY THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT THE COUNTY DEEMS IS APPROPRIATE IN THE STATE GUIDELINES, AND THEN AWARD COULD BE MADE TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
COOL. WE COULD DO IT FROM THE GENERAL FUND. AND THEN ONCE THAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE, WE CAN REIMBURSE IT; RIGHT? NO, CAN'T SUPPLANT EXISTING PLANT. YEAH, THAT'S WHY I'M THINKING.
DO IT, DO IT. YEAH, I'M. KNOWING THE TIMELINE THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN US ON OTHER SPENDING, I JUST, I FIND IT VERY HARD THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO GIVE US 100% BLACK AND WHITE GUIDELINES FOR HOW TO SET UP THAT PROCESS OR WHAT THEY DEEM IS APPROPRIATE.
SO THERE MAY BE A TIMING, OBVIOUSLY CONFLICT WITH TRYING TO GET THEM INTO THE PORTAL OR OUR SOUTH PORTAL AND FUND IT SO WE CAN MAKE WHATEVER DIRECTION OR DO JUST WANT TO KIND OF SAY THAT.
WE HAVE TO ACCESS AND ENTERING IN THROUGH THE PORTAL OR DCT WOULD, DCT WOULD.
SO WHATEVER WE DECIDE THE APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD BE, I REFER TO IT AS A PORTAL, BUT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN LIKELY AN ONLINE PROCESS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPLY AND SUBMIT TO US. THE WAY I ENVISION THIS PROCESS GOING FOR THAT MONEY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, OKAY, JUST DO IT OUT OF GENERAL FUND, I GUESS THEN.
SO POST THIS. WE HAVE THE I HAVE ONE QUESTION I KNOW WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT CAPITAL.
BUT WHAT WAS THE FINAL DETERMINATION ON THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING? SO RIGHT NOW, BASED OFF THE LAST CONVERSATION WE HAD THAT FUNDED AT $2,423,830, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON ABOUT 300,000 SHORT OF THE FULL BUILDING COST, AT WHICH WE MAY SEE A REDUCTION ANYWAY.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO FIND OUT THURSDAY NIGHT THAT MAYBE I THINK WE MAY FIND OUT, BASED ON WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING, THAT THE COST OF THAT BUILDING MAY BE REDUCED, OUR SHARE AND THE OTHER SHARES MAY BE REDUCED.
I DON'T KNOW A NUMBER. SO YEAH, I I'VE YET TO SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER MAY BE, BUT I THINK FROM THE CONTEXT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A PORTION THIS. AND THEN OVER THREE YEARS. SO WE HAD FULLY FUNDED, NOT FULLY FUNDED, FUNDED UP THE TAR AND CHIP AND [INAUDIBLE] AND THEN CUT DOWN THE BUILDING. SO THAT IS THE CUT DOWN VERSION AT THE 2.4 TO KEEP BUILDING.
WELL, THIS GENERAL FUND, THIS CHANGE IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
SO WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IT FROM THE 15,000 FROM THE BUILDING? FROM THE BUILDING WE COULD GET 15,000. FOR WHAT? THE INCREASE TO DCT, THE MARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICE, BECAUSE WE HAD A $95,000 PLACEHOLDER.
SO AGAIN, WE CAN TAKE IT FROM EITHER PAVING OR PAVING OR THAT OR SOME OTHER LINE ITEM CONTINGENCY IF ANYONE HAS ANY PROPOSALS, I THINK WE'RE SAFE ON DOING IT FROM THE BUILDING.
FROM THE BUILDING ARE OKAY. FROM THE CONTEXT OF THE LAST MEETING, IT WAS A BUILDING.
ANYTHING ELSE? NO. OKAY. I'M GOOD. I LOOKED AT ALL THE CAPITAL STUFF LAST TUESDAY.
OKAY. THE FLOORING. ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE FLOORING AT DES, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE LAST ONE. AND THAT'S ON THE CAPITAL.
[01:25:05]
DOES IT NEED TO BE ADVERTISED NEXT TUESDAY, OR CAN WE STILL MAKE AMENDMENTS? NEXT TUESDAY? SO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT, I BELIEVE, BY WEDNESDAY.TOMORROW. NEXT WEDNESDAY AVAILABLE CHANGES COULD BE MADE.
FORTUNATELY, BOTH STACY AND I ARE OUT. NEXT TUESDAY.
OKAY. DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING LINKED IN IT. IT IS LITERALLY JUST THE PUBLIC.
CORRECT. YEAH, BUT THE DOCUMENT HAS TO BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE STARTING WEDNESDAY.
NEXT WEDNESDAY. CAPITAL DOCUMENT AND ALL THE DOCUMENTS FOR REVENUE AND CAPITAL.
OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, WE CAN STILL AMENDMENT.
WELL, YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES PUBLIC HEARING. WE CAN AMEND IT AFTER THE PUBLIC POST MAY 6TH.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOOD. I'M FINE. GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
[• Legislative Bill 2025-003, Elimination of BZA Term Limits]
SO MOVED. DID HE SAY SO? MOVED? NO. HE DIDN'T.SO MOVED. I COULDN'T HEAR. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE ARE NOW IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO, I WILL ASK MR. BARROLL TO COMPLETE THE THIRD READING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025003.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. BILL NUMBER 2025-003 PERTAINS TO ARTICLE 20 OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING, WHICH IS THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS IN SECTION 175-171.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY FROM SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AT THE LAST MEETING.
THE BILL DOES NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF GIVING INDEFINITE TERMS TO ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BZA.
THEY HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTED AT THE END OF EACH OF THEIR TERMS. AND IF THEY'RE NOT APPOINTED, I MEAN, YOU'RE IN EFFECT IMPOSING A TERM LIMIT IN THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHICH IS THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE. IT SIMPLY KEEPS WHAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A SCARCE COMMODITY OF TALENTED AND TRAINED MEMBERS OF A BOARD LIKE THAT IN PLACE. AND TO THAT WOULD BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS TO HAVE EXPERIENCED FOLKS STAY ON IF THE COMMISSIONERS FEEL THEY SHOULD.
SO THIS BILL ALSO CLEANS UP A LITTLE BIT OF LANGUAGE THAT HAS CHANGED IN THE STATE STATUTE, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND HOW IT CAN BE OTHER MEMBERS CAN BE REMOVED FOR FAILURE TO ATTEND MEETINGS THE SAME WAY AS MEMBERS OF STATE BOARDS ARE.
THAT'S WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IN EFFECT HAS DONE, IS TWEAK THE BZA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THE MEANS OF GETTING RID OF THEM, SO TO SPEAK, WHILE THEIR TERM IS STILL IN PLACE, MUST TRACK THE WAY THE GOVERNOR HAS PEOPLE REMOVED OF STATE BOARDS, ALL THE STATE BOARDS. SO THEY BASICALLY BROUGHT THE COUNTIES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH AND THE CITY AND THE CITIES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE WAY STATE BOARDS ARE CONDUCTED. SO THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON MARCH 25TH.
IT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS PROPERLY ADVERTISED AND A SECOND READING ON THE EIGHTH.
WE'RE HERE FOR THE THIRD READING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN ACT TO ELIMINATE TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BZA AND MODIFYING LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE TO CONFORM TO CHANGES IN THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.
JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC? OKAY. YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BILL? I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE TERM? IT'S A FOUR YEAR TERM.
THREE YEARS? THREE. OKAY. WHAT IS PLANNING COMMISSION? CRYSTAL? FIVE. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER BILL FOR PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO THEY DO. OH, NO. NO, I'M JUST WONDERING, I MEAN, AS A COMPROMISE HERE, BECAUSE WE DID RECEIVE SOME TESTIMONY ABOUT YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOULD STILL IMPOSE TERM LIMITS.
WHAT IF WHAT IF WE REDUCED THE TERM TO TWO YEARS SO THAT THE COMMISSIONERS.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S NOT UNDER COUNTING ABILITY.
ALL RIGHT. NEVER MIND. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?
[01:30:02]
NO. NO. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003. SO SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.I ACTUALLY MADE THE MOTION, BUT I'LL LET YOU MAKE A MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. THE AYES HAVE IT. MR. BARROLL, LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-004, IF YOU PLEASE.
[• Legislative Bill 2025-004, Wastewater Treatment Facility]
THANK YOU, SIR. THIS IS AN ACT OR A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED ON MARCH 25TH WITH THE FIRST READING.SECOND READING WAS ON APRIL THE 8TH, AND WE HAD A PROPERLY ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT DATE.
TODAY WE ARE HERE FOR THE THIRD READING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO ENACT OR AMEND IT BE, IN ESSENCE, THE BILL IS AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPECIFYING THAT FOR A FACILITY TO MEET THE DEFINITION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FACILITY MUST BE FOR THE TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN WASTES AND CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES FROM A PERMITTED USE, SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE R RURAL DISTRICT TO A NON PERMITTED USE WHILE ADDING THE CLASSIFICATION OF ONE ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE, SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS AND TWO NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE I-2 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND MH MOBILE HOME DISTRICTS BY AMENDING IN CHAPTER 175 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS.
175 ATTACHMENT 3-4 TO SO REFLECT THE CHANGE AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.
HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, JEN? WE HAVE NOT.
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT NOTHING. I HAVE NO COMMENT.
OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-004? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UNSEEN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AGENDA.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OKAY. NOW, OUT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A CAROLINE COUNTY CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES DISCUSSION.
[Caroline County Capital Transportation Priorities (CTP) Discussion]
SO I BELIEVE WE ALL SHOULD HAVE THE REVISED LETTER.AND I BELIEVE JEN SAID THAT IT IS NOW UPLOADED ON SHA'S WEBSITE.
SO THERE'S AN OPTION THAT WE CAN UPLOAD OUR REQUESTS, BUT THEN WE CAN ALSO JUST SEND IT AS A LETTER.
OKAY. AND WE HAVE UNTIL MAY 16TH. BUT I'D LIKE TO DO THAT SOONER.
YEAH. OKAY. SO DO YOU HAVE THE LETTER? SO BASICALLY, WHAT WE HAVE IS MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING RESURFACING OF MARYLAND 313 FROM 404 TO FEDERALSBURG.
COMPLETE RESURFACING OF MARYLAND, 16 FROM LAKE DRIVE TO 404.
STATE ROAD NETWORK. THAT WOULD BE PRIORITY A PRIORITY B WOULD BE THE WIDENING OF MARYLAND 404 FROM HARMONY ROAD TO ROUTE 16 EAST. SO THAT'S BASICALLY 16 AT THE ROYAL FARMS STORE TO 16 GREENWOOD ROAD.
BACK TO PRIORITY A, THE SECOND BULLET? YEP. FOR SOME REASON, IT SAYS INTERSECTION IN MARYDEL.
[01:35:01]
THAT'S NOT. THAT DOESN'T. THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.OKAY. DRIVE TO MARYLAND. NO, THAT'S NOT EVEN.
LAKE DRIVE IN MARYLAND. THAT'S 16. RIGHT? YEAH.
LAKE DRIVE IS 16, RIGHT. BUT. AND IT SAYS INTERSECTION.
AND THAT'S BY WILLISTON, I GUESS LAKE DRIVE. YEAH.
SHE SAYS IN MARYDEL. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IN MARYDEL.
OKAY. IT'S FROM WHAT BASICALLY FROM WILLISTON TO 404.
SO I GUESS THAT'S CONSIDERED DENTON, RIGHT? YEAH.
DENTON. YEAH. FROM LAKE DRIVE TO MARYLAND 404.
AND JUST TAKE OUT THE OTHER. YEAH, I WOULD SAY COMPLETE RESURFACING PROJECT ON MARYLAND ROUTE 16 FROM LAKE DRIVE TO MARYLAND 404. YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. PROJECT ON MD 16 FROM LAKE DRIVE TO MARYLAND 404 INTERSECTION.
I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING FROM THERE YOU WANTED THOUGH, SO I PROBABLY.
WELL, YEAH, IT WAS WHAT ROUTE NUMBER 454. YEAH.
OKAY. IS THAT ON THE LIST OF PAVE? YEAH, IT'S RIGHT HERE.
IT'S ON DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE NEXT PAGE. SECOND FROM THE TOP.
WELL, THIS THIS IS THE LIST. THIS IS THEIR PAVING LIST.
WHAT? THERE ARE GOING TO PAVE STATE HIGHWAYS.
OH, IT IS. YES. WELL, IT'S ON THE LIST, THEN.
YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT IN THE LETTER OR TAKE IT OUT? OR. I MEAN, I JUST TOOK IT OUT NOW. YEAH. THIS THIS PAGE IS NOT A PART OF OUR LIFE.
OKAY. I'M SORRY. YEAH. I MEAN, I WOULD PUT IT IN THERE JUST TO REITERATE.
OKAY. AND THEN THAT'S THE RIGHT. MARYLAND 454.
YES. WHERE'S 302? THAT'S IS THAT THE QUEEN ROAD? YEAH. THAT COULD. YEAH. WHEN YOU GET TO TEMPLEVILLE. OKAY.
302. TAKES YOU BACK TO BERKELEY OR BACK TO DELAWARE.
OKAY. OKAY. THEN PRIORITY B WAS WINDING A 404 PRIORITY C. WHAT SHE PUT IT HERE. PRIORITY C IS MARYLAND, 454.
MARYDEL TO TEMPLEVILLE. SO YOU DON'T NEED TO ADD THAT IN.
YOU DID HAVE IT COVERED IN C. AND THEN PRIORITY D WAS REBUILT AND RESURFACED MARYLAND 313 GREENSBORO ROAD TO GOLDSBORO. YEAH. IS THAT BAD? YEAH. UP THAT WAY.
OKAY. SHE JUST MOVED IN TANDEM. TRUCKS GET DONE WITH IT ON.
AT THIS OLDER THING, IT'LL BE EVEN WORSE, RIGHT? AND I THINK WE NEED TO ADD A PRIORITY E, WHICH WOULD BE RESTRIPE.
MARYLAND, 317 I BELIEVE IT'S 317 IS BURKESVILLE ROAD.
RESTRIPE MARYLAND 317 AT THE INTERSECTION WITH MARYLAND.
313 TO ADD A RIGHT TURN LANE ON THE SHOULDER.
ALL RIGHT. GUYS. GOOD WITH THAT? YUP. SO YOU'RE GOOD TO SUBMIT IT? YEP. YES. OKAY, GOOD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
WHERE ARE WE AT? ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. I GUESS.
YES, MA'AM. GOOD. OKAY. CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, CONCERNS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I JUST HAD A QUESTION. IS ROBIN? YEAH. ROBIN, ABOUT THE P LIQUOR ROAD DRAINAGE.
IS THAT YOU, LESLIE? BOTH OF YOU. THAT IS WHERE WE HAD A COUPLE YEARS AGO, A CONCERN BY HARRY MARTIN. AND WE ARE THAT IS ADDRESSING THIS, RIGHT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. AND IT INVOLVES THE WATERSHED GRANTS AND STUFF
[01:40:04]
LIKE THAT. 319 PROGRAM? SURE. MA'AM. OKAY. THAT WAS MY QUESTION.AND WE'VE BEEN IN WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM, LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
I MEAN, I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM, BUT FROM THE PEOPLE OUT THERE LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
WHAT? YEAH. YEAH. WE'RE KIND OF ON A HOLD WITH COMPLETED DESIGN, AND WE'VE LET THEM KNOW THIS.
RIGHT. SO, WE'RE STOPPING WE DON'T WANT TO START CONSTRUCTION AND THEN HAVE THE RUG PULLED OUT.
RIGHT. SO, WE'RE USING THIS EXTENSION TO BUY A LITTLE TIME UNTIL THAT SITUATION SETTLES DOWN.
SO, THE BALL'S IN. THE BALL'S NOT IN OUR COURT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
I'M GOOD. OKAY. MR. BARTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I'M GOOD. GOOD. OKAY. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
YES, SIR. DID I MISS SOMETHING? NO, NO. YOU'RE FINE.OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THOUGHT I MISSED SOMETHING.
SO I DON'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT OR HUGE UP REPORT FOR YOU TODAY.
I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE A DIFFERENT HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, JUST BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE STATE AND COSTS, INCLUDING CO-PAYS AND PREMIUMS AND THE LIKE.
SO, TOWARDS THAT EFFORT, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE INSURANCE PEOPLE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AS WELL AS STAFF. SHERRI BRATTON, YOUR HR DIRECTOR, MYSELF, AND I THINK DANNY WILL BE ATTENDING SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, ARE MEETING WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND SMALL GROUPS, AND WE'VE STARTED THAT THIS WEEK.
I HAVE A MEETING THIS EVENING AND CORRECTIONS.
I'VE ALREADY HAD ONE IN CORRECTIONS, SO WE'RE TRYING TO HIT EVERY EMPLOYEE WE CAN REACH OUT TO TALK ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT GO ON THE STATE PLAN.
WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR, AND WE'VE ONLY HAD THE ONE GROUP MEETING THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, MY CALENDAR IS CHOCK A BLOCK FULL WITH MEETINGS WITH STAFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT KEEPING THEIR CO-PAYS DOWN WHEN THEY VISIT THE DOCTOR.
ALSO BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR SAME PHYSICIANS AND OF COURSE, THEIR PREMIUMS. AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME AS WELL AS OUR PREMIUMS, THE PORTION WE HAVE TO PAY.
SO JUST YESTERDAY WE HAD A SECOND MEETING ABOUT A SELF-FUNDED INSURANCE OPTION THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS PROMISING. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO KEEP SOME OF THE SAME LEVELS OF COVERAGE IN THE SAME PLAN.
BUT ALSO HAVE SOME ADDED SECURITY WITH NOT BEING ON THE STATE PLAN.
SO I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT. I'M SURE THAT DANNY AND I AND SHERRY WILL BE BEFORE YOU MORE OFFICIALLY IN A FEW WEEKS ABOUT WHAT WE FOUND WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS. AFTER WE'VE TALKED TO ALL THE STAFF AND HAD SOME CONCRETE, WE MAY HAVE SOME CONCRETE INFORMATION FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, BUT AFTER WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, BUT I'M TAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ALL THE STAFF ALSO JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER GENERAL CONCERNS THEY HAVE.
ALSO, WHAT DID THE PREMIUM GO UP THIS YEAR? DANNY, DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BECAUSE I CHOSE TO EAT INTO THE COUNTY SIDE.
I CAN'T I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE WENT UP TO 9%.
YEAH. THAT THE EMPLOYER SIDE WAS LIKE AROUND SEVEN, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. IS THAT IT? THAT'S IT. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
PERIOD. COMMISSIONER PORTER. YEAH. A COUPLE OF THINGS WE HAVE.WE HAD A REQUEST FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE ABOUT THE LEGION POST.
IS IT TO MANNY SCOTT? IS THAT CORRECT? KIA? LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR FUNDING.
I THINK IT'S. WE HAD PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE BOND ISSUE.
[01:45:05]
BOND LETTER. I'M GOING TO, I GUESS, MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PROVIDE THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THAT FUNDING.WE HAVE THE CORRECT ADDRESS TO SEND IT TO OR HOW DO WE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT IS SCHEDULED FOR YOUR ON YOUR NEXT MEETING TO BE APPROVED.
WHAT'S YOUR DEADLINE FOR THAT? JUNE, WE'RE OKAY FOR NEXT WEEK, THEN.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE OTHER THE OTHER THING WE HAD WAS THE LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP YESTERDAY.
CERTAINLY, APPRECIATE THOSE GUYS. YOU KNOW, LOOK, IT'S A I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A GRUELING SESSION, AND I KNOW TO IMMEDIATELY HIT THE ROAD AND HIT EVERY COUNTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO I APPRECIATE THEIR TIME YESTERDAY.
I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB LAYING OUT ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I THINK WE ALL AGREE. IT'S CERTAINLY THE TOUGHEST ONE I'VE, I'VE SEEN.
BUT SO, THANK YOU TO THEM. THEY DID A GOOD JOB.
I THINK THEY SAID THEY WERE IN QUEEN ANNE COUNTY THIS MORNING. SO THEY'RE HITTING THE ROAD AND IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT, PRETTY TOUGH SCHEDULE. WE MET LAST WEDNESDAY WITH SECRETARY DAY.
SO WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON, ON THAT SITUATION. DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED.
WE ADVISED THEM THAT THE PROPERTY IS FOR SALE.
WE HAVE A REALTOR. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REQUESTING CLOSE TO REQUESTING PROPOSALS.
AND THAT WAS THE PRIMARY TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
AND THEN HE TOOK OFF AND DID TOURS OF THE TOWNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU. OKAY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
OKAY. MR. BARTZ. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE.
ROBIN, I WAS GOING OVER YOUR TAR AND CHIP LIST.
OKAY. AND I SEE MAJORITY OF IT'S LIKE, LOOKS LIKE TO ME IS LIKE DEVELOPMENTS.
RIGHT. PROBABLY. YEAH. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
I JUST A LOT OF OUR DEVELOPMENTS WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THEY'RE 30, 40 YEARS OLD.
OKAY. SO WE'RE MAKING A PUSH TO KIND OF ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF WHAT I MEAN.
WHEN YOU HAVE A DEVELOPMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES, THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES, A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO, I MEAN, USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A MAIN ROAD.
YEAH. WE CAN, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS BEING TAR AND CHIP.
THIS ONE HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING IN, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT'S KNOWS TAR AND CHIP. THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW. I AGREE, BUT IF WE KEEP NOT LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENTS, IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE COMPLETE REPORTS.
NO, I MEAN, LIKE THE DO LET THEM KNOW, LIKE, HEY, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE COMMUNICATION PART OF IT. YEAH. BECAUSE OF SO MANY PEOPLE.
WELL, THE MESSAGE BOARD, THE MESSAGE BOARDS ARE PROBABLY WORK GOOD THERE BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT. YEAH, BUT THEY'RE SO SMALL. AS LONG AS YOU'RE WITHIN THAT AREA, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GO IN PROBABLY IN A DAY AND BE DONE AND.
RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. SO I GUESS JUST IF YOU PUT THEM AROUND THE AREA OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I MY THING IS JUST COMMUNICATION. I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU GOT SOMEBODY PRETTY REGULARLY.
OKAY. PUT THINGS OUT THERE AND IF YOU CAN, YOU DON'T HAVE A LIST FOR THE PAVING.
DO YOU LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT OFF THE EDGE AND PAVING AND NOT AS OF YET.
BRIAN AND LIGHT AND I HAVE WE'RE GOING TO MAYBE SIT DOWN AND REVAMP A FEW THINGS.
OKAY. SO, PRIORITIES DIFFERENTLY. SO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH MONIES THAT'S BEEN SITTING IN CAPITAL FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THEN READDRESS KIND OF SET A PRIORITY LIST. WE'VE GOT SEVERAL ROOMS THAT ARE COMPLETELY FALLING APART.
IF WE CAN GET THAT LIST WHEN YOU GET IT FINALIZED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO. ALL RIGHT. SUBSTATION IS OVER THERE. JUST.
NO, JUST. YEAH. IT'S GETTING BAD. DID YOU WROTE DOWN IT? IT'S BAD. AND SUBSTATION ANDERSON TOWNS ON THERE.
YEAH. OKAY. ONE OTHER ONE THAT NEEDS PRETTY QUICK MAJOR ATTENTION.
[01:50:05]
WELL, ONCE THESE ROADS IN THESE IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS, ONCE THEY'RE BUILT TO COUNTY STANDARDS AND WE ACCEPT THEM, THEN WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE. SO, LIKE I SAID AT THE TIME THEY WERE BUILT, THEY MET THE STANDARD, BUT AT THE VERY MINIMUM, YOU KNOW, THEY. YEAH.YOU KNOW, TWO SHOTS OF HARDSHIP AS OPPOSED TO 3 OR 4 THAT WE KIND OF BORROWED.
SO, I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT. WILL IT BE READY FOR ANOTHER YEAR? WILL IT BE RUDE? YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S ALWAYS ON THE HOT LIST.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST. BUT, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT. THEY'VE BEEN LET GO FOR SO LONG.
THEY GOT TO BE DONE. YOU KNOW THEY PAY TAXES TOO.
I MEAN, I KNOW STANDARD IS PAID. THEY HAVE TO DO BLACKTOP.
YEAH. SO. OKAY. YEAH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD OTHER THAN YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP MEETING YESTERDAY WITH YOU KNOW, THE DELEGATION WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. SO I THINK COMMISSIONER PORTER COVERED THAT PRETTY WELL.
NOW HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
[Public Comment]
YES. YEP. OKAY. HELLO? I'M SORRY. I'D LIKE TO JUST RECORD MY STATEMENT.I'M ASKING YOU TO STAND WITH ME AS I STAND HERE AS A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS AND THE DISGUSTING, GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN NEED. PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AND STRUGGLING TO MEET BASIC NEEDS LIKE SHELTER, FOOD, LIFE SAVING MEDICINES, MEDICAL CARE. FUNDING CUTS ARE EXACERBATING THESE ISSUES THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTING OUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH WERE ALREADY SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN NEED FAR OUTWEIGHS AND HAD ALREADY FAR OUTWEIGHED THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THIS NUMBER IS GROWING. AMONG THE CUTS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDE CUTS TO THE USDA THAT HELP SCHOOLS AND FOOD BANKS BUY FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMS. JOB LOSSES ARE UPENDING LIVES. TARIFFS AND STOCK MARKET MANIPULATION ARE CAUSING PRICES TO GO UP.
THESE PEOPLE INCLUDE MY TWO CHILDREN, AIDAN AND GAVIN, WHO HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT REQUIRE A COMBINED NINE PRESCRIPTIONS AND MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS. CUTTING FUNDING AT THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR SUPPORT AND HOUSING SUPPORT AND DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING CUT THAT IMPACT US INCLUDE RENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR LOW INCOME CITIZENS HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND MORE. PEOPLE HERE UTILIZE THIS FUNDING.
STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS ARE BEING CUT AND REWRITTEN, SUCH AS INCOME DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLANS THAT WILL CAUSE PEOPLE'S PAYMENTS TO INCREASE AND FURTHER FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, MYSELF INCLUDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE.
CUTS TO PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS ARE ALSO BEING CUT.
SO THAT IS IMPACTING US. FURTHER CUTTING FUNDING TO THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR HUMANITIES AND OTHER ART PROGRAMS WHICH HELP FUND AND SUPPORT LOCAL LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, HISTORIC SITES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT LIBRARIES PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS FROM INTERNET ACCESS, INCLUDING HOW I FORMED MY NONPROFIT AND HELPED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PRINTING SERVICES, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, A PLACE TO GET IN FROM THE ELEMENTS. ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO SPEND MONEY. AND MAYBE THE ONLY CONVERSATION THEY HAVE IN THAT DAY.
WHAT YOU CAN DO? MEET WITH ME. I CALLED LAST WEEK AND ASKED FOR A MEETING.
ALTHOUGH I'VE ALREADY MET THE GOVERNOR. HE'S HUGGED AND THANKED ME FOR MY WORK. HE FOLLOWS ME ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA. BUT A LETTER FROM YOU TO COMPEL HIM TO DO EVEN MORE IS JUST WOULD MEAN SO MUCH IF YOU HAVE OTHER RESOURCES. MY NONPROFIT, OUR CAR JUST WAS HIT BY A DEER ON THE SIDE.
IN FEDERALSBURG. SO WE'RE OUT OF VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN ISSUE.
OR IF YOU HAVE PHYSICAL SPACE. WE OPERATE IN ALMOST A $0 BUDGET WITH ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER BASED FORCE SO THAT WE PROVE THAT WE CAN DO SO MUCH WITH VERY LITTLE PUBLIC. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS HELP US PROMOTE AND FUND PROGRAMS. MY NONPROFIT HAS RESOURCE BOXES, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, MOBILE AID UNITS.
WE WORK WITH SCHOOLS, NURSING, NURSING FACILITIES, HOSPITALS BECAUSE TEACHERS, NURSES, JUST PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO AFFORD THEIR THINGS. AND THIS I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH, BUT AT LEAST ONE TOWN SPECIFICALLY FEDERALSBURG WHO HAS SOMEONE WHO OPENLY ADMITS SHE HAS ZERO BUDGET EXPERIENCE DOING THREE POSITIONS IN HER SPECIFICALLY 40 HOUR WORK WEEK.
SHE'S DOING AN INTERIM TOWN MANAGER POSITION, WHICH SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T WANT.
SO, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON COULD BE WRONG.
SWAY IN 100, YOU KNOW, -$50,000 THIS WAY, PLUS $50,000 IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
[01:55:01]
AND THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING AS A BOOKKEEPER.AND THEY'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS THAT THEY DID HAVE INVESTIGATED.
I TRIED TO GET DOCUMENTATION ON IT, BUT EVERYTHING WAS REDACTED.
BUT WITH THAT, IT'S PARTICULARLY CONCERNING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A BUDGET.
AND THEY DIDN'T MENTION ONCE IN THE BUDGET MEETING THE ISSUES THAT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, TRICKLING DOWN TO HOW IT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS INCREDIBLY HARMFUL. AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY, I REALLY DO.
AND I'M NOT ASKING FOR MONEY. NO, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT. AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH YOU THAT AND THAT'S FINE. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU HAVE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON, YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP THIS ONE, THIS ONE, THIS ONE.
AND I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP EVERYBODY AT ONE TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES LESS IS LESS IS BETTER.
WHAT YOU'RE NOT SAYING IS THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF OTHER PEOPLE. OH, NO, I HAVE TONS OF VOLUNTEERS. IT'S NOT JUST ME. I'M JUST. I'M JUST OVERWHELMED BY. I MEAN, YOU MADE ME OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE STUFF THAT YOUR NAME AND THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP. AND I'M LIKE, WHOA. I MEAN, LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE ALL IMPACT EACH OTHER. THEY DIRECT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE CAN'T AFFORD THEIR BILLS, THEN THEY ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY YOU GUYS TAXES, FOR EXAMPLE.
OR, YOU KNOW, THEN SOMEONE HAD THEIR WATER SHUT OFF THEIR STRAIGHT.
A STUDENT COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL THAT DAY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SHOWER.
SO LIKE, THAT DOESN'T COST MONEY. THAT JUST IS LIKE A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE.
WHERE? DON'T SHUT OFF THE WATER. LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.
OR LIKE, YES, BUT ALL OF THIS IS ALL IMPACTING AND IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN I LISTED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ME HERE FOR THAT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THE CUTS TO DIE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ARE IMPACTING WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ONLY POSITIVELY IMPACT WHITE MEN ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HURT THE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT ARE SUFFERING, THOUGH, DO INCLUDE WHITE PEOPLE ARE LARGELY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
BUT THANK YOU. WE'LL REACH OUT. WE WERE JAMMED UP LAST WEEK, SO IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? KIA. YEAH. HI. GOOD MORNING. YOU ALL. MORNING.
SO I DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO THE COUNTY THAT MUCH ANYMORE.
SO I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY AT MY MOM'S SO I CAN GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS.
THIS WEEKEND, I COULDN'T STAY THERE BECAUSE MY MOM'S PROPERTY STARTED FLOODING WITH THE RAIN.
AND SHE'S ON A SEPTIC, AND IT'S BEEN DRAINED THREE WEEKS AGO, BUT THE FLOODING IS CAUSING HER SEPTIC LINES AND STUFF TO BACK UP TO THE POINT WHERE WE CANNOT FLUSH THE TOILET, AND IT'S COMING THROUGH THE SINKS NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT? LIKE I, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT THIS UP TWO YEARS AGO TO RIDGELY.
AND I'M JUST KIND OF REALLY FRUSTRATED. I CAN'T EVEN STAY AT MY MOM'S ANYMORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAROLINE COUNTY COULD DO BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS LIKE A ZONED IN AREA OF YOU GUYS.
BUT I KNOW A LOT OF THIS IS CAUSED BY THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FROM RIDGELEY.
AND I REALLY NEED SOMEBODY TO STEP IN. SO, THIS DOESN'T START FILTERING DOWN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY STARTED WITH MY PARENTS' PROPERTY. WHAT'S THE ADDRESS THERE? 12095 SCHOOL STREET. SHE LIVES RIGHT ACROSS FROM TRINITY CHURCH.
120955 SCHOOL STREET. WAS YOUR NEIGHBOR AFFECTED TO THE ONE THAT SHE GOT STUCK LAST YEAR? AND SHE'S. AND SHE WOULD, WOULDN'T SHE? RIGHT ACROSS THE ROAD THERE.
MISS SANDRA? YEAH. YES, MISS SANDRA, WHEN IT RAINS, IT REALLY FLOODS IN HER YARD.
AND THERE'S THIS PIPE THAT WAS PUT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK THAT IT LITERALLY JUST DRAINS OUT LIKE A, LIKE LITERALLY A RAINFALL, LIKE IT JUST COMES OUT OF HER BACKYARD.
IT'S THE PIPELINE. AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE AS IT RAIN.
AND I'M PRAYING TO GOD WE DON'T HAVE A RAINY SEASON THIS SUMMER.
I GUESS, LESLIE, I THINK LESLIE WOULD KNOW IF SHE WAS WORKING ON A GRANT TO DO DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THERE SO SHE WOULD KNOW WHERE THAT IS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SHE'S NOT HERE. I KNOW SHE'S WORKING ON IT, SO IT'S GOVERNMENT.
[02:00:01]
BUT MY MOM PROPERTY IS LIKE REALLY AFFECTED. AND TO SEE THAT COME OUT OF THEIR SINKS AND STUFF AND WE CAN'T FLUSH THE TOILET, I JUST I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. GOTCHA. OKAY.THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. NO ONE ELSE. SEEING NONE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[Closed Session: To Consult with Counsel to Obtain Legal Advice. General Provisions]
TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS.ARTICLE 3-305B.7. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.