[00:00:01]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 8TH, 2025, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP OF PRESTON, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE, REVEREND DUNN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING.
>> OUR FATHER, WE DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR HONOR.
FOR GIVING US INTUITIVENESS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE PROPER DECISIONS.
FOR GIVING US PEOPLE WHO ARE DILIGENT AT WORK WITH OUR COMMISSIONERS TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE PROPER DECISION ON THINGS.
WE DO REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB, BUT YOU TRUST IN THAT YOU CONSIDER FAITHFUL.
YOU CONSIDER THE PEOPLE AND WORK WITH THEM FAITHFUL, AND THEIR JOBS, LORD. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE PRAY FOR THE KNOWING ON EACH ONE OF THEM THAT THEY WILL DO THEIR JOB.
[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU FOR JESUS, NAME AMEN.
>> REVEREND, THANK YOU FOR SEEKING TIME OUT OF HERE, TUESDAY MORNING TO COME IN AND DO OUR INVOCATION.
[BACKGROUND] I HAVE A REPORT-OUT STATEMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION.
[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
DURING THE JUNE 24TH MEETING, THE COMMISSIONERS CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATED TO POTENTIAL LITIGATION, LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THE POTENTIAL SALE OF DAY SPRINGS TOWNHOMES, AND PERSONNEL ISSUES UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS 1, 04, 7, 8, AND 14. NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS PORTER, COMMISSIONER BREEDING REMOTELY, AND COMMISSIONER BARTZ, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, STEWART BARREL, COUNTY ATTORNEY, DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ROBIN K. HALL, HEALTH OFFICER, JOSH PARKER, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, TOM A GREENSTREET HOUSING, AND JESSE HAMMOCK OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM TODAY, WHICH IS D. R DERICK SIMMONS AND MS. JILL HIGNUTT,
[Dr. Derek Simmons and Ms. Jill Hignutt, CFO, Caroline County Board of Education – Presenting Adopted FY2026 Budget]
CFO OF CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PRESENTING THE ADOPTED FY 26 BUDGET. GOOD MORNING.>> MORNING, PRESIDENT BREEDING, COMMISSIONERS BARTZ AND PORTER.
WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE APPROVED FY26 CCPS BUDGET.
WE APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE, ESPECIALLY FROM MR. FOX.
WITH THE CHANGES THAT CAME, OUR BOARD MET ON JUNE 28TH, ONE OF THE LAST POSSIBLE DAYS TO GET THE BUDGET APPROVED.
WE GOT THE FINAL STATE NUMBERS THAT AFTERNOON AFTER THE BOARD APPROVED THE BUDGET IN THE MORNING, SO WE HAD A QUICK REVISION TO MAKE, AND MR. FOX WAS WONDERFUL IN HELPING WITH THAT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE.
BUT MS. HIGNUTT IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET AND WALK THROUGH A SUMMARY.
WE DO APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER'S SUPPORT IN MEETING THE FISCAL CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FORMULAS.
MS. HIGNUTT, IF YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE ITEMS.
>> WALKING THROUGH WHAT OUR CHANGES ARE TO OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, IN REVENUE, WE HAVE OUR COUNTY LOCAL SHARE, THE INCREASE IS ABOUT $1.8 MILLION, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE FORMULA PROVIDED BY THE STATE.
THEN WE HAVE THE STATE REVENUE, WHICH IS INCREASED BY ABOUT $3 MILLION, ALSO DETERMINED BY THE FORMULA.
THEN, OUR OTHER REVENUE WE INCREASED ABOUT $134,000 BASED ON THE INTEREST FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
WE HAD RECEIVED HIGHER LEVELS OF INTEREST, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS SUITABLE TO RAISE THAT LINE ITEM A BIT.
THEN COMING DOWN TO OUR REDUCTIONS, WE HAVE SALARY LAPS, WHICH IS BASED ON OUR RETIREMENTS AND ATTRITION, SO IT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE BUDGET ABOUT $441,000.
WE PAID OFF A BUS LEASE THIS YEAR, SO THAT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET, ABOUT $180,000.
WE ARE MAKING A MOVE TO HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT RECOVERY EVENING SCHOOL, AND IT'S BEING ADDED TO THE SCHOOL DAY.
SAVING IS ABOUT $80,000. OUR SCHOOL PICTURE SUPPORT LINE ITEM, WE ARE NOW RECEIVING COMMISSIONS FROM OUR SCHOOL PICTURE PROVIDERS THAT REDUCES OUR BUDGET ABOUT $33,000, AND THEN WE PAID OFF LEASE FOR THE SUPPORT SERVICES CENTER AND AN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT.
THAT WILL REDUCE OUR BUDGET BY ABOUT $127,000, $146,000 EACH GOING FORWARD. THEN COMING DOWN TO OUR ADDITIONS,
[00:05:07]
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS A LARGE PORTION OF OUR ADDITIONS THIS YEAR, BIGGEST PORTIONS BEING OUR NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WITH OUR CCEA, SSPA, AND ASAC.THE RESULT OF THAT'S ABOUT $4 MILLION INCREASE, AND THEN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES ARE GOING UP ABOUT 9.8%, WHICH IS ANOTHER 1.4 MILLION INCREASE.
WE HAVE THE INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY THIS YEAR, $300,000, [INAUDIBLE] INSURANCE INCREASE $24,500.
THERE'S AN INCREASE IN COSTS FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES AND HOME HOSPITAL FOR STUDENT SERVICES.
OUR MARYLAND STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, ADMIN FEE INCREASE IS ABOUT $15,000, AND THEN THE MID-SHORE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM INCREASES ABOUT $25,000 THIS YEAR.
THOSE ARE ALL THE COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS, AND THEN WE JUST HAVE THREE PROPOSED ADDITIONS THAT WERE APPROVED.
WE'RE INCREASING ONE OF OUR SPECIAL ED SECRETARIES TO FULL-TIME.
SHE WAS ONLY PART TIME SECRETARY, SO THIS MAKES IT EASIER TO FILL THIS POSITION BY MAKING HER A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN FILLED YET.
>> WE'LL MAKE IT EASIER TO FILL, AND IT ALSO PROVIDES FULL-TIME BENEFITS, SO THAT'S THE REAL BIG DRIVER OF THE COSTS THERE, BUT WE WERE STRUGGLING FILLING A POSITION THAT WAS ONLY FOUR DAYS A WEEK.
IT WAS ONLY BUILDING THAT HAD A FOUR-DAY-A-WEEK POSITION, SO WE MOVED IT TO A FIVE.
>> THAT'S ABOUT $35,000 TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT.
THE RENT THAT CCTC PAYS TO THE CULINARY CENTER HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM OUT AT THE CULINARY SCHOOL.
THAT'S $4,500 TO INCREASE, AND THEN OUR YMCA PARTNERSHIP WAS PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY THE RBSR GRANT, AND THAT ENDED IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE ADDING THAT TO OUR LOCAL BUDGET ABOUT $240,000.
OUR TOTAL INCREASE IN REVENUE THIS YEAR IS ABOUT $5 MILLION, AND THEN THE EXPENSES.
>> BIG DRIVERS FOR A BUDGET, A BIG PRIORITY OF OUR BOARD IS TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTINUE THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'RE SEEING THAT IF WE FOCUS IN ON THE FOLKS WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IT MAKES IT EASIER TO RECRUIT, AND WE ALSO RETAIN A LOT BETTER.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK, HATS OFF TO THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT, NEGOTIATING TEAM, MS. HIGNUTT BEING PART OF THAT, DR. WILLOUGHBY, BEING A BIG PART OF IT, AND THEN THE ASSOCIATION FOR COMING TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME THINGS HAPPEN WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT SOME FOLKS SAID WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
WE NOW DO NOT WE NO LONGER HAVE A BIFURCATED MODEL OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
ALL EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CLASSIFICATION.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR PAY AND INCREASED NUMBER OF DAYS AT WORK.
FOLKS ALL ARE SEEING AN FY26 A REALLY GOOD INCREASE FROM THE SUPPORT SERVICES SIDE.
OUR TEACHER SALARIES WERE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER TWO GRAND OFF FROM THE 60K.
IN BLUEPRINT, WE FEEL WE'RE GOOD TO GET THERE NEXT YEAR WITH ONLY BEING ABOUT TWO GRAND OFF, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE COUNTIES AROUND US.
THAT'S ONE THAT HAD SLIPPED WHILE WE WERE RAISING SOME OF THE TEACHERS, SO WE'VE MOVED THAT BACK TO BE COMPETITIVE, AND WE'RE COMPETITIVE ON ALL FRONTS, WE FEEL.
AGAIN, THE HEALTH INSURANCE PIECE OPENING THAT UP FOR SUPPORT STAFF AND PUTTING EVERYBODY ON THE SAME CONTRIBUTION RATE REALLY HAS HELPED.
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IT WAS THE RIGHT YEAR TO DO IT.
WE MADE SOME BUDGET MOVES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN AFFORD IT INTO THE FUTURE, AND I THINK AGAIN, IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT WE'RE THRILLED WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THAT OFF.
>> HOW LONG IS THAT GOOD FOR THE AGREEMENT?
>> WE REVIEW IT ANNUALLY NOW FOR AT LEAST TWO OPENERS, I BELIEVE, AND THE FULL AGREEMENT WILL COME UP AGAIN, AND IS IT FIVE, I THINK?
THE FULL AGREEMENT COMES UP. I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE-CHECK ON THAT.
>> DR. SIMMONS, WHAT IS THE YMCA PARTNERSHIP, AND HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN IN EFFECT?
>> WE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE COVID ERA.
WE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL GRANT THAT ALLOWED US TO WORK WITH THE Y TO ALLOW YMCA MEMBERSHIPS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
THE Y CHARGES US A RATE OF AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER AND GIVES FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS AND THE Y SUBSIDIZES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY.
OUR COST IS A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
OUR UPTAKE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES UTILIZING ITS PRETTY HIGH ENOUGH, THE BOARD CONSIDERED IT'S BECOME A BENEFIT FOR US FOR RECRUITMENT, AND WISHES TO RETAIN IT. WE WILL LOOK AT USAGE EVERY YEAR.
IF USAGE STARTS TO DIP AND IT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED AT THE RATE THAT IT IS, WE WOULD LOOK TO SCALE BACK.
[00:10:02]
BUT AT THIS POINT, THE UPTAKE IS REALLY GOOD, ESPECIALLY AT THE LARGER FACILITIES.QUEEN'S ANS, TALBOT, DORCHESTER, PLACES WHERE THERE'S A POOL, IT'S BEING UTILIZED PRETTY GOOD.
>> IT'S FOUR EMPLOYEES, BUT IT'S A FLAT RATE.
IT'S NOT BASED ON HOW MANY EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN?
>> DID I UNDERSTAND YOU TO SAY THAT YOU GOT THESE NUMBERS AFTER THE BUDGET HAD TO BE APPROVED?
>> WE GOT OUR FINALS FROM THE STATE. YES, SIR.
>> AFTER THE BUDGET WAS SUPPOSED TO BE APPROVED.
>> WELL, TECHNICALLY, WE HAVE UNTIL JUNE 30.
WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE LATE ENOUGH.
WE WERE INCORRECT, SO WE HAD TO MAKE TOO SMALL?
>> THERE WAS A SMALL ADJUSTMENT THAT WE HAD MADE.
IT WAS TAKEN TO OUR BOARD LAST TUESDAY, JULY 13, AND APPROVED, THEN THE REVISION.
>> WE WERE GETTING SOME CONCERNING REVISIONS AS WELL, I THINK THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD.
ONE, A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED AND THEN A NUMBER LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED.
>> IN COMPETENCY OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
>> IS THERE ANY IDEA WHY THAT WAS [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE FORMULA IS SO COMPLICATED THAT THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND? [LAUGHTER]
>> MY ASSUMPTION, AGAIN, COULD BE WRONG.
THE SAME WEEK, WELL, WE HAD BEEN ASKING FOR NUMBERS AND NOT JUST US, ALL LARGE SYSTEMS. STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE NUMBERS.
THAT SAME WEEK THAT WE FINALLY GOT THEM IS THE SAME WEEK THAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HIRING FREEZES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS HIT THE NEWS.
MY GUESS IS THEY PROBABLY WERE NOT GETTING THEIR INFORMATION FROM DBM BECAUSE THE STATE WAS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE BUDGET-WISE, SO IT HELD EVERYTHING UP.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAD THEIR FULL OPERATING BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO SET THIS ASIDE PLUS THEIR WORKING MONEY.
THAT'S JUST MY ASSUMPTION. I MAYBE COMPLETELY WRONG, SO THAT IS JUST MY ASSUMPTION. [LAUGHTER]
>> ON THE COUNTY HALF, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH HE GAVE ME A CALL ON THE 28TH ADVISING THAT THE UPDATED MODEL WAS COMING THROUGH, HAD FORWARDED A COPY OF THAT.
BUT LOOKING BACK IN MY E MAIL, MONDAY, JUNE 30TH IS WHEN THE COUNTIES ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE DIRECT EMAILS FROM MSDE, SO WE HAVE THAT MODEL. I'VE SENT OUT AN E MAIL TO THE BOARD UPDATING YOU WITH THAT.
BUT JUST LIKE THE BOARD OF ED IS SITTING HERE TODAY, PROBABLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, STACY AND I WILL BE WORKING TO UPDATE OUR BUDGET DOCUMENTS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THESE CHANGES, AND WE'LL LOOK FOR A FORMAL APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT TO THAT.
>> OUR LOCAL SHARE CAME IN, WHAT WAS IT, SLIGHTLY ABOVE WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED?
>> JUST BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE NOW OF FUNDING PRIVATE PRE-K, THE NUMBER IS LOWER FOR WHAT WE ITEMIZE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE A NEW LINE ITEM TO ACTUALLY PAY MSD DIRECTLY.
FOR THAT, I BELIEVE IF YOU ACCUMULATE THE TWO TOGETHER, IT IS SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THE NUMBER WE ORIGINALLY HAD.
BUT THE NUMBER THAT ACTUALLY IS ASSIGNED TO THE LOCAL BOE IS SMALLER.
>> THEY MADE IT SO COMPLICATED THEY DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT THEMSELVES.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE YMCA BUILDING A FACILITY IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I THINK WE NEED TO START HAVING A SERIOUS DISCUSSION WITH THEM ABOUT WHY THEY HAVEN'T.
THEY'VE BUILT THEM ALL AROUND US, AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH ROBBIE GILL.
I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE PUT THAT ON OUR AGENDA TO HAVE HIM COME IN.
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER, I ACTUALLY MET WITH ROBBIE GILL YESTERDAY.
>> I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE, AND I CAN HOLD OFF UNTIL THE END OF MY REPORT. YES, I STARTED THAT PROCESS.
>> HOW WAS EVERYTHING LOOKING WITH THE DUAL ENROLLMENT WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE? I KNOW THAT WAS AN ISSUE IN YEARS PAST STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND HOW WE WERE BUDGETING THE BOARD OF ED'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE EDUCATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY STUDENTS AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
HOW IS THAT SHAKING OUT THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT?
[00:15:02]
>> MSD PUT SOME GUARD RAILS IN PLACE.
FOR THE NUMBER OF COURSES THAT KIDS CAN TAKE AT ONE TIME.
THAT PUT SOME ATTAINABLE MEASURES WITHIN THE BUDGET SO WE COULD BUDGET BETTER.
I HOPE THEY DON'T RELAX THEM A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH CHESAPEAKE.
THEY'RE A WONDERFUL PARTNER. OUR KIDS ARE DOING GREAT WITH DUAL ENROLLMENT, WE'VE GOT GREAT PASS RATES UPTAKE, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THEY FIRST OPENED IT UP TAKE AS MANY AS YOU WANT.
IF YOU MET THE REQUIREMENTS, IT'S GREAT, BUT WE HAD TO PAY FOR IT.
THE MONEY WASN'T COMING IN YET TO MATCH WHAT THE COST WAS, SO WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER SPOT NOW WITH THOSE GUARD RAILS IN PLACE.
>> I THINK IT'S NO MORE THAN TWO COURSES A SEMESTER STARTING, I THINK IN THE JUNIOR YEAR, AND YOU HAVE TO MEET THE CCR REQUIREMENT, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE GPA REQUIREMENTS TO TAKE THE COURSES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY ENVISIONED.
IT'S JUST THE MONEY IS ALWAYS A YEAR BEHIND.
WITHOUT THOSE GUARDRAILS, YOU WERE GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE CHASING YOUR TAIL WITH THE REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN? GOT YOU.
>> AGAIN, CHESAPEAKE HAS BEEN AWESOME WITH BUILDING THAT MODEL OUT AS WELL, WORKING WITH US.
>> GOT YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF BUDGET QUESTIONS.
ON THE UNRESTRICTED EXPENDITURE SUMMARY, THE OPERATION OF PLANT, MAINTENANCE OF PLANT, AND THE FIXED CHARGES LINE ITEMS, COULD YOU TOUCH ON WHAT THOSE ACTUALLY ENTAIL?
>> WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON TRAVIS?
THAT'S FINE IF YOU'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO ME.
>> THE OPERATION OF PLANT MAINTENANCE OR PLANT AND FIXED CHARGES?
>> OPERATION IS THAT BUILDING?
>> THAT'S OPERATION OF PLANT MAINTENANCE PLAN ARE RELATED TO OPERATING AND MAINTAINING OUR BUILDINGS.
THEN THE FIXED CHARGES IS OUR BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.
>> I JUST NOTICED IT WAS A HUGE 25% OF THE BUDGET.
I'M LIKE, WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
>> FIXED CHARGES HEALTH INSURANCE IS THE BIGGEST TAKE OF THAT.
>> GOT YOU. THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ALL ARE IN THERE?
>> HEALTH INSURANCE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE, ONE OF THE LARGEST ITEMS.
I THINK YOUR BUDGET WENT UP ABOUT 5% SOUND RIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S IN LINE WITH MOST OTHER AGENCIES.
>> LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OUR HEALTH INSURANCE HAD BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE REASONABLE.
THIS YEAR IT BEAT US A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THE HOPE, OF COURSE, IS IT DOESN'T INCREASE AS MUCH NEXT YEAR, WOULD BEING PART OF A POOL SELF INSURED. UPDATE CAN GET YOU.
>> WHAT DID THE TOTAL LOCAL SHARE, OUR SHARE END UP BEING?
>> WE DO HAVE A NEW DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES REPORT THAT PROJECTS OUR INCREASES OVER THE NEXT SIX OR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS, SOMETHING I SAW?
>> AT THE START OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS, THEY HAD PROVIDED AN UPDATED SHEET THAT PROJECTED THAT OUT ON OUR NEXT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OR SO.
>> I THINK THOSE PROJECTIONS WERE AROUND A HALF A MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AND THEN A SPIKE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY THERE.
>> THAT WAS SLOWED DOWN BUT [INAUDIBLE] BUT THE WORST ODD YEARS [INAUDIBLE]
>> WHAT DO YOU CHALK THOSE INCREASES UP TO? IS IT ENROLLMENT INCREASES OR JUST INFLATIONARY INCREASES BASICALLY?
>> FOR US, ENROLLMENT, WE HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE FEW SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY ON THE SHORE THAT'S CONTINUED TO SEE SLOW ENROLLMENT, BUT IT'S AN ENROLLMENT INCREASE, WHERE OTHERS HAVE BEEN SEEING DECREASE.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN OUR FEE AND RICE MEALS POPULATION.
MORE OF OUR FAMILIES QUALIFYING OR MORE OF OUR FAMILIES FILLING OUT THE PAPERWORK TO QUALIFY.
THOSE HAVE PROBABLY BEEN OUR BIGGEST DRIVERS IN THE BUDGET THAT ADDS TO IT.
>> THE SLOWING DOWN WAS A COLLABORATIVE TIME?
>> THAT'S PART OF IT. THAT'S PART OF WHAT FACTORED IN AND IN THIS YEAR, FY '26, I THINK THEIR WORD WAS PACING, BUT SLOWING IT DOWN, THEY KEPT THE FUNDING AT THE SAME LEVEL IN '26, BUT THEN SLOW IT DOWN IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS OVER THE NEXT EIGHT, I THINK IT IS.
>> FOR THE LAYMAN, THAT'S TIME OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR TEACHERS TO GO PLAYING TOGETHER, CONTINUING EDUCATION, THAT STUFF.
>> LET'S GO AHEAD. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH.
WHILE YOU'RE SITTING HERE, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR US TO SAY THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON THE LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
>> WE WERE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT ROLE
[00:20:02]
THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICIALLY PLAY IN SITING AND CONSTRUCTION.THEY WERE JUST QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING.
IT WASN'T LIKE THE BOARD OF ED'S GOING TO RUN ALL OVER AND MAKE CRAZY STUPID DECISIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK WITH IT.
IT WAS JUST WHAT INFLUENCE DID WE HAVE OVER THE PROCESS?
>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY WELL ON THE PROCESS FOR A WHILE.
>> I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT, AND OUR CONSENSUS IS THAT THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE TO PUT IT IS PROBABLY NEXT TO NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR US WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH, FACT FINDING, THE BOARD OF ED WILL REVIEW THAT AND MAKE THEIR DECISIONS BASED OFF OF THAT.
BUT WE WERE JUST QUESTIONING WHAT INFLUENCE WE ACTUALLY HAD OVER THE PROCESS.
I THINK WE HAD A CONVERSATION, YOU SAID LOCAL OR THE ARTICLE.
>> IN THE EDUCATION ARTICLE, LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION SELECTS THE SITE.
IF COMMISSIONERS DISAGREE WITH THE SITE THERE IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE IN THAT POSITION.
>> THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH WE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON JULY 1ST, INDICATED NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL IS BETTER OF THE TWO LOCATIONS.
WE DID REVIEW THE TWO SITES THAT WE WERE ASKED TO REVIEW THAT BASICALLY THE COUNTY OWNED, WHAT WE DID WHICH IS COST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO IT.
THE BOARD WISHED TO BASICALLY RECEIVE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT NIGHT, HAVE TIME TO DIGEST, IF ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WISH TO REACH OUT TO THEM BEFORE MAKING THEIR DECISION, AND IT'S ANTICIPATED THE BOARD WILL MAKE THEIR DECISION AT OUR AUGUST MEETING, WHICH WILL THEN SELECT THE LOCATION.
AS THE ARCHITECT POINTED OUT THAT NIGHT, WHO LED OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY. IT'S JUST PICKING THE SITE.
IT'S NOT PICKING WHAT THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING WILL BE, NOT A TWO STORY, NOT A THREE STORY, NOT A WELL ON THE SITE, BECAUSE AS THEY'VE ALL EXPLAINED AND DR.
LEVER, WHO'S BEEN WORKING US THROUGH THE PROCESS, AS WELL AS A CONSULTANT WHO'S DONE THIS FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE 100 TIMES, PROBABLY JUST IN THE NEXT YEAR.
ONCE THEY START GETTING INTO DETAILS AND REALLY SCOPING THINGS OUT.
IT WAS WE'RE JUST PICKING THE SITE AND THEN THE FUND STARTS ONCE THAT'S SELECTED AND APPROVED THROUGH THE CIP PROCESS AND INTER-AGENCY AND SCHOOL CONSTRUCTIONS APPROVAL OF THAT.
THEN YOU GET INTO THE FUND OF THE DESIGN AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
>> WELL IN CONVERSATIONS, JUST WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM THE CONCEPT DRAWINGS LIKE I SAID, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT STUCK OUT AT ME WAS RELOCATING THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES AROUND THERE.
REALLY, IF WE CAN GET DEDICATED FACILITIES, SO WE'RE NOT SHARING SPACE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOREVER WHERE LACROSSE OR SOCCER IS USING THE OUTFIELD OR THE SOFTBALL AND THE BASEBALL FIELD, IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GET DEDICATED SPACE, THAT WOULD BE A PRIORITY OF MINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US REALLY CATCH UP WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES AS FAR AS ATHLETIC FACILITIES FOR THE YOUTH, FOR OUR STUDENTS TO USE AND THAT STUFF.
ANY WAY THAT WE CAN FACTOR THAT IN AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE'VE GOT ONE BITE AT THE APPLE HERE. LET'S GET IT RIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST 100 YEAR DECISION, AT LEAST.
>> [LAUGHTER] LET'S HOPE SO. WELL, THANK YOU.
>> DR. SIMMONS AND MS. JILL HIGNUTT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL WITH THEIR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW, IT IS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
EVERY YEAR THE MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL PUTS THIS ON, AND IT'S A TRI COUNTY EFFORT. THEY HOST, THE GOAL WAS ABOUT 400 CHILDREN AND THE BOARD OF ED HAS STEPPED UP AND THEY GAVE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THAT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT.
I TALKED TO SCOTT WARNER AND HE'S A STATIC SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS PERSONALLY.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM, SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT IT.
>> THIS YEAR, IT'S IN DORCHESTER.
>> NO. THAT'S RIGHT. WE HOSTED LAST YEAR AT CAROLINE.
WE HAD THEM LAST YEAR AT CAROLINE, WHICH WAS GREAT, AND NOW THEY'RE AT TALBOT AND IT'LL ROTATE EACH YEAR TO ONE OF THE THREE COUNTIES.
>> SEE YOU. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM
[Lori Bishop and Charlotte Brown, Update on Addition to the 4-H Park]
IS LORI BISHOP AND CHARLOTTE BROWN WITH AN UPDATE ON THE ADDITION TO THE 4-H PARK. MORNING.[00:25:01]
>> WE JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU AND THE FIGURES AND THE THINGS ON THE LOVELY NEW FACILITY THAT'S OUT THERE.
HAVING BATHROOMS IN THAT LOCATION IS GOING TO BE AMAZING, ESPECIALLY FAIR TIME.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE NICE FOR STORAGE FOR THE EXTENSION OFFICE AND FOR 4-H.
IT WAS A NICE COLLABORATION ON EVERYONE'S PART IN GETTING IT DONE ALTHOUGH I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THE BATHROOM FAILED INSPECTION.
THAT'S NOW AN ISSUE BEFORE TRYING TO GET THAT SETTLED BEFORE THE FAIR.
>> I THINK JACK SAID THEY SAID THE SINKS WERE A LITTLE BIT TOO TALL AND THE TOILET WAS TOO FAR FROM THE WALL.
I TOLD HIM, I SAID, WELL, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE TOILET SO I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK MARK LASSA FROM THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO TALK TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE WE'RE ON CRUNCH TIME NOW TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING DONE BECAUSE THEN JACK HAS TO GET A OCCUPANCY PERMIT.
>> SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT MAY BE AN ADA RELATED THING THROUGH PLANNING AND CODES MAYBE NOT HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
>> I THINK WE'LL GET PLANNING AND CODES TO REACH OUT TO THE INSPECTION AGENCY AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE DISTANCE OFF THE WALL MAY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED WITH JUST ADJUSTING THE HANDRAIL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A HANDRAIL TO GET ON.
THE SINKS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PROBLEM.
>> WELL, JACK WAS WONDERING IF THEY CAN PURCHASE A WEDGE TO PUT UP THERE FROM THE ROLL UP IF SOMEBODY'S THERE WITH A HANDICAPPED CHAIR OR SO.
>> THE ADA REGULATIONS ARE RIDICULOUS.
THEY ARE CRAZY, TIGHT TOLERANCES, AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
>> IT I THINK THEY ACTUALLY CAME OUT A LOT QUICKER BECAUSE I THINK KEVIN CALLED THEM THAT MORNING.
THEY WERE THERE THAT AFTERNOON AND JACK WAS AT A FUNERAL OR SOMETHING SO HE HAD TO GET BACK TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND WHATNOT FOR HIM.
>> MAYBE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE.
MAYBE KEVIN CAN DROP THE SINK SOME WAYS WITH SOME ADJUSTMENT, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP AND SEE WHAT THOSE WANTED.
>> WE JUST SAY TO HAVE POLES AND STUFF AFTER IT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT UP.
IT'S EXPENSIVE TO MOVE THAT STUFF.
>> BUT EVERYTHING LOOKS NICE OUT THERE.
>> GOOD. EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE?
>> YEAH, EVERYTHING BUT THE INSPECTION STUFF.
THEN I THINK YOU GOT A PAPER WITH FINANCE STUFF, HOW MUCH EVERYTHING COSTS.
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT THAT PAPER.
>> LET ME SEE IF IT'S IN THE PACKAGE.
>> SURE. THANK YOU. THIS IS ALL FOR THE BUILDING THE ADDITION?
>> YEAH. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY COME FROM AND WHAT PARTNERS WITH US DONATED OR SUPPORTED THE RENOVATION OR THE MODEL.
>> I TRIED TO EMAIL THAT SO YOU GUYS ALL HAD THAT JUST SO YOU COULD SEE WHAT THE WILLIAMS FUND PAID, WHAT THE COUNTY PAID.
THE FAIR BOARD ALSO CONTRIBUTED, AND THEN THE EXTENSION OFFICE.
IT WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN THE END.
>> BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY NICE ADDITION TO NOT HAVE TO SEND KIDS UP TO THE MAIN BUILDING WHERE ALL OF IT CAN'T RUN.
IT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE FOR THE CAMPERS AND WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE AND EVERYTHING.
>> YOU ACTUALLY PUT A NEW WELL IN? THERE'S A NEW WELL IN THE SEPTIC.
>> YEAH BECAUSE BEFORE YOU COULDN'T DRINK THE WATER.
>> IS THAT HOOKED UP TO THE CAMPSITES, TOO, OR THE WELL WATER?
>> YEAH. THEY LEFT THE OLD WELL ACTIVE JUST TO THE BARN AREA EXCEPT FOR THE ANIMALS AND WHATNOT.
>> THEN WE ARE OPENING NIGHT OF THE FAIR, AND SINCE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO DO ICE CREAM, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.
THEY'LL CUT THE RIBBON FOR THE CHAMBER THAT NIGHT.
[00:30:02]
>> WE'VE MADE ME DOING IT DOWN TO THE NEW BATHROOMS AND STORAGE AREA.
>> THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD LOCATION THIS YEAR.
>> 4:00-4:15, SOMEWHERE IN THERE.
>> IF THE TIME CHANGES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
>> CAN YOU SEND INNOS SO THEY CAN PUT IT ON OUR CALENDAR?
>> WELL, GOOD DEAL. I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT ALL DONE BY FAIR TIME, ASSUMING WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE INSPECTIONS.
>> WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO OUT THERE.
>> DO YOU HAVE OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IN THE FUTURE?
>> THIS LAST MEETING WOUND THIS UP, AND NOW I GUESS WE'LL GO ON TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> GO ON AND SEE WHAT ELSE WE COULD BUILD OUT THERE.
>> HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE LEFT IN THE WILLIAMS FUND? DO YOU KNOW ROUGHLY?
WHAT IS IT? THAT'S WHAT CAN BE USED.
IT'S AROUND 200 LEFT THAT CAN BE USED.
AS OF JUNE 2, ACTUALLY. TWO EIGHTY FOUR.
>> TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FOUR THOUSAND.
>> A BUNCH OF HOGS AND PIGS READY FOR SALE, AND GOATS, AND EVERYTHING.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
>> ONLY THING I GOT LEFT IS SAUSAGE.
>> SCRAP ON BACON, EVERYTHING.
>> PAUL FROM THE EXTENSION HAS BEEN A HUGE HELP WITH THIS WHOLE WILLIAMS FUND AND BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT AND GET THE MONEY, BECAUSE FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO IT.
>> WHAT WAS THAT? A MONETARY DONATION THAT WAS RAISED BY THE WILLIAMS FAMILY?
>> JUST FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FOREST BARN?
>> WE'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A CUT FROM IT ONCE A YEAR, I BELIEVE IT IS.
BUT IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE WE'VE DONE ANYTHING, THEY WORKED WITH US REALLY WELL WHEN WE WERE DOING THIS ADDITION.
>> IS THAT AN INTEREST [INAUDIBLE]?
>> YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONATED.
>> YES. A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS DID A LOT OF BUILDING OUT THERE.
>> YOU HAD THE [INAUDIBLE] BUILDING.
>> ALL THE LIVESTOCK BARNS DOWN THERE WERE DONE BY A LOT OF DONATIONS AND PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO PUT IT UP.
>> WELL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CHECKING IT OUT WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE ON THE SIXTH NEXT MONTH.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE UPDATE.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE DANIEL FOX,
[Daniel Fox, Deputy County Administrator, Opioid Settlement Fund Discussion]
DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND DISCUSSION. MR. FOX.>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE STACY AS WELL IF YOU WANTED TO COME UP, STACY.
WE REALLY WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME AND USE IT AS MORE OF A INFORMATIONAL SESSION TO GO OVER THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY AND OPTIONS OF WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT, HOW WE CAN PROCESS IT, AND REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE STATE IS DIRECTING US TO DO.
GOING BACK TO, LET'S SAY, THE END OF MAY, BEGINNING OF JUNE, STACY AND I HAVE STARTED TO SIT ON SOME OF THE WEBINARS THAT THE STATE HAD BEEN PUTTING ON, SPECIFICALLY THE MOOR OFFICE, WHICH IS THE MARYLAND'S OFFICE OF OVERDOSE RESPONSE THAT OVERSEES THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY.
THEIR JOB IS REALLY TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT FOR THE SETTLEMENT MONEY TO THE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDS.
[00:35:02]
THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE SETTLEMENT IN WHAT I WOULD CALL TWO BUCKETS.YOU HAVE WHAT THEY CALL LOCAL DIRECT PAYMENTS, WHICH CAROLINE, AT THIS POINT HAS RECEIVED ABOUT $358,000 IN.
THEN THE OTHER HALF IS WHAT THEY CALL TAG OR TARGET ABATEMENT GRANTS THAT YOU ACTUALLY APPLY AND HAVE TO FILL OUT A TAG PLAN FORM.
RIGHT NOW, THAT NUMBER IS ABOUT $515,000 THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
IF YOU RECALL GOING BACK 6, 08, 10 MONTHS AGO, THAT WAS A PROCESS THAT STACY WORKED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON TO ACCESS THAT FUNDING THAT IS REALLY ENTITLED TO THE COUNTIES, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE'S PROCESS TO FILE A PLAN AND GET THAT.
REALLY, THE POINT THAT WE'RE AT TODAY AND WHAT WE'RE LEARNING FROM THE STATE IS HOW ARE COUNTIES GETTING THIS MONEY TO DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO GO TOWARDS ITS INTENDED USE.
BEFORE I TALK ABOUT THAT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT INTENDED USE.
WHAT I'VE SHARED WITH YOU, AND THERE'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT, REALLY IS THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO REALLY PROVIDE THIS FUNDING INTO WHAT THEY CALL OUT AS THE EXHIBIT E, WHICH IS REALLY MAKING SURE THIS MONEY GOES BACK AND IMPROVES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE, FAMILIES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR ANY OVERARCHING CATEGORY WITH THAT.
AGAIN, WE HAVE PROBABLY A 12, 15-PAGE DOCUMENT THAT OUTLINES WHAT THOSE USES ARE.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ OFF, BUT I'LL GIVE SOME BULLET POINTS.
THEY HAVE PREVENTION, WHICH THEY LABEL AS INTERRUPT PATHWAYS TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, HARM REDUCTION, IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS.
TREATMENT, WHICH IS EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
RECOVERY AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, WHICH IS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS, WHO ENCOUNTER CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
AGAIN, EACH ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES HAS A LIST OF USES THAT THE STATE AND THE AGREEMENTS HAVE CALLED OUT THAT WE COULD USE.
IT BRINGS US TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IS REALLY, HOW DO WE GET THIS MONEY OUT? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE'RE ABIDING BY THE REGULATIONS IN THE AGREEMENT? FROM WHAT STACY AND I HAVE TALKED THROUGH THE STATE, WHAT WE'VE SEEN OTHER COUNTIES DOING, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR SEEK GUIDANCE AFTER YOU GUYS HAVE HAD SOME TIME TO DIGEST OR REVIEW THIS.
IT'S REALLY SEEING WHAT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN THE COUNTIES COULD USE THIS FUNDING FOR.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO TODAY SIT AND CALL OUT EVERY DEPARTMENT AND GO I KNOW DES IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN THIS MANNER, I KNOW CORRECTIONS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN THIS MANNER.
I DON'T KNOW EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR SHOP AND ORGANIZATION.
I THINK STACY AND I'S RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME IS, WITH YOUR BLESSING, WE WOULD LIKE TO START TAKING THE EXHIBIT E, THE AGREEMENTS, START WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES LIKE THE CIRCUIT COURT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND STARTING TO SEE WHERE THIS MONEY MAY FIT INTO THEIR ORGANIZATION AND THEIR WORKFLOW THAT CAN BETTER ASSIST THEIR OPERATIONS.
I KNOW I'VE HAD A COUPLE QUICK PHONE CALLS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, THEY HAVE SOME FUNDING GAPS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD FIT IN.
I KNOW JUDGE PRICE HAS ALSO MENTIONED SOME PROGRAMS THAT COUNTIES NEIGHBORING US HAVE PUT ON THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO MIRROR THAT THIS FUNDING COULD BE USED FOR, THE SAME FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, REALLY WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME JUST TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION, GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, AND SEE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN GET ANSWERS FOR.
GET TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN AT LEAST START TALKING TO SOME OF THE INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AND SEE HOW WE CAN PUT THIS FUNDING TO USE.
>> THESE FUNDS ARE SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS MADE BY LARGE DRUG COMPANIES, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM?
>> LOOK, MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS ONE TIME SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
>> WHATEVER WE FUND, WHATEVER DOCUMENT THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES, PUT IT IN BOLD AT THE TOP, THAT ONCE THE FUNDING IS DONE, THE FUNDING IS DONE.
THIS IS NOT AN EXPANSION OF CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE NOT PICKING UP THE TAB OUT OF GENERAL FUND MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE HERE,
[00:40:02]
BUT HIRING PERSONNEL SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH ANY OF THIS MONEY.IF IT SAYS WE CAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE A HARD SELL FOR ME.
>> RIGHT. BUT IT'S ALSO HARD TO ADMINISTER $800,000 WITHOUT HIRING SOMEBODY, TOO.
>> IS THE CATCH OF IT? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE USED FOR THIS?
>> ONE THING THAT JUMPS OUT AT ME, THE MEDICALLY-ASSISTED TREATMENT, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS BEING COVERED BY THE STATE.
>> ARE THERE HOLES? IS THAT WHERE SOME OF THE HOLES ARE?
>> CORRECT. I THINK THERE ARE SOME.
>> WHERE ARE THOSE HOLES BEING FILLED NOW? ARE THEY BEING FILLED OUT OF GENERAL FUND?
>> ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S WHERE THIS IS GOING FIRST.
>> I THINK MY VISION FOR THIS WOULD BE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY THOSE.
TRY TO FIGURE OUT AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF LIST THAT WE CAN BRING BACK AND HAVE YOU PRIORITIZE OR REVIEW TO KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF MARK AND KJ ARE SITTING HERE, WHETHER THEY'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE 12 OR 15 PAGES OF USES AND IDENTIFY THINGS THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS HAVING TO COVER FOR THEM.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THAT WE CAN FIND SOME, I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT QUICK AND EASY, BUT THINGS THAT JUST MAKE THE MOST SENSE TO REALLY START TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROJECT THIS OUT.
TO YOUR POINT OF SALARIES, REOCCURRING EXPENSES, AND REALLY NOT TRYING TO BUILD A CLIFF OF WHERE THAT'S GOING TO FALL OFF, AND THEN NOW SOMEBODY ELSE IS STUCK HOLDING THE STICK TO FIGURE OUT FUNDING.
WITH THAT, AND I WANT TO ALLUDE TO THIS.
ON THE OTHER SCREEN THAT I HAVE HERE IS OUR NEW FY26, THEY CALL IT APPENDIX 2: OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND REPORT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPORT ON ALL OF THIS.
IT ACTUALLY HAS EACH SETTLEMENT CASE AND HOW MUCH WE ARE TO RECEIVE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
THIS SHEET GOES ALL THE WAY OUT TO 2038.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ONE GOT LINKED.
>> IT HAS FY25 APPENDIX 2: OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND REPORTING TEMPLATE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT WOULD BE IT. THEY JUST REVISED IT.
>> WE GOT THIS JUNE 26 FROM DAN.
>> IF YOU TAKE THAT TAB, THERE SHOULD BE ONE THAT'S LABELED, I BELIEVE, FUNDING REPORTING SHEET THAT CAN SLIDE AND YOU CAN SEE.
THAT'S AN AGREED UPON SETTLEMENT ON HOW THOSE DISTRIBUTORS HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS.
WE DO HAVE SOME PROJECTION, BUT AS MORE SETTLE, MORE ADDED TO THE SHEET, AND THAT JUST, AGAIN, BECOMES MORE UPDATED OF WHAT THAT FUNDING IS LOOKING [OVERLAPPING].
>> DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT, 2023, GRAND TOTAL 14,870, 2024, 83,400, 2025, 34,000, 2026, 25,000?
>> NOT FROM THE SHEET I'M LOOKING AT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE.
I WILL SAY STACY HAS HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THEIR OFFICE CORRECTING THE SHEET FOR WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED VERSUS WHAT THEY INITIALLY HAD US.
>> YES. I THINK SHE'S STILL WAITING ON HER RESPONSE ONE OF THEM NOW.
>> DOES IT END IN 2038? THAT'S WHEN THE CHART ENDS, OR IS THAT JUST WHEN THEY STOPPED THE PROJECTION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT'S WHEN THE LAST PAYMENT FOR THE CURRENT VERSION.
>> ASSUMING THE PAYMENTS COME ON TIME.
>> EXTREMELY NOW, BUT ALSO IN THIS SHEET, IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THEY WANT REPORTED ON, THE FORMAT.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE, TO ME, WE'RE PROJECTED AROUND $20,000 A YEAR.
>> NO. IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE] THAN THAT.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT [INAUDIBLE] ENTIRE TIME? DO YOU KNOW THAT?
>> BARELY ONE SECOND [INAUDIBLE].
AS FAR AS DIRECT FUNDING TO 2038, WHEN I TOTAL THAT, IT COMES JUST SHY OF $1.1 MILLION, AND WHEN WE GO AND TOTAL THE TARGET ABATEMENT,
[00:45:04]
IT'S SHOWING JUST SHY OF $2 MILLION, SO IT'S ABOUT 3.1 MILLION ALTOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.AGAIN, I CAN MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THIS UPDATED SHEET WE JUST GOT THAT THEY SENT US.
>> ASSUMING THAT WE ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS. DOCTORS, MY UNDERSTANDING, ARE VERY RELUCTANT TO WRITE PRESCRIPTION FOR THESE PAINKILLERS, THEY WERE.
THE SETTLEMENT WAS TO ADDRESS THAT.
THE WILLY-NILLY PRESCRIPTION OF OLD, YOUR BACK HURTS, HERE'S A PERCOCET PRESCRIPTION.
THEN SOMEBODY GETS HOOKED AND THEY CAN NO LONGER GET THE PRESCRIPTION, SO THEN THEY TURN TO STREET DRUGS. IT'S TO ADDRESS THAT.
ASSUMING, I WOULD HOPE THAT BY 2030, '32, WE'VE KNOCKED A DENT IN THIS PROBLEM, SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY? HOPEFULLY, THE IDEA IS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, RIGHT?
>> EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR LOCAL ABATEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS THE TAG MONEY.
>> WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT MAY GET HARDER AND HARDER.
HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE INCARCERATED THAT NEED THE MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT.
THEREFORE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS TO GO, AND WE'RE ALWAYS IN SEARCH OF UTOPIA, SO ON OUR WAY TO UTOPIA, HOPEFULLY.
>> I THINK THAT A LITTLE BIT OF THE [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME HOW WE GET STEROIDS.
>> WE SPEAK ON THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT AS A SMALLER COUNTY, WE OPTED IN TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE THROUGH THE SETTLEMENTS.
THE STATE REALLY, I WANT TO SAY, FAULT OR GOT THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION, LAWSUIT PIECE OF THIS.
WE'RE ABIDING BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THEY AGREED UPON IN THAT WITH ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT LUMPED IN.
THERE ARE COUPLE OF COUNTIES, BALTIMORE CITY OR BALTIMORE COUNTY THAT OPTED OUT, INDIVIDUALLY DECIDED TO GO THROUGH AND TRY TO PROSECUTE OR GO THROUGH CASES.
>> TO THE STATE'S DISCRETION, THIS IS PROBABLY THE JUDGE DICTATING WHAT IT CAN BE SPENT ON.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE PEOPLE PAYING THE MONEY.
>> WELL, THE MORALITY OF THE SETTLEMENT WAS THAT THE MONEY ISN'T GOING TO JUST YOUR GENERAL [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> PAVE ROADS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
>> IT'S GOING TO FIX [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE DEFENDANTS HAD CREATED.
THAT'S THE MORALITY PLAY THAT WE ARE ACTING OUT HERE. GO AHEAD.
>> BUT PART OF WHAT THEY CREATED WAS FULL DETENTION CENTERS THAT THE GENERAL FUND FUNDED ALL THESE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE EPIDEMIC THAT THEY CREATED. WHATEVER.
>> [LAUGHTER] I GET IT. ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT HOPEFULLY, AS THESE PROBLEMS SUBSIDE, THAT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY AT THAT POINT? BUT WHERE IS IT RIGHT NOW? IT'S IN A SPECIAL FUND ACCOUNT THAT YOU HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES PART OF THE AGREEMENT AND OBLIGATION FROM EACH COUNTY IS TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND.
WE HAVE OUR OWN ACCOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR THAT SPECIAL FUND.
IT SITS IN A INTEREST PARING ACCOUNT JUST LIKE REST OF OUR MONEY.
>> IT'S A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.
I MEAN, WE GOT MONEY, AND NOW WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND IT.
THAT'S THE SITUATION WE'RE IN.
IT'S LIKE THE CANNABIS MONEY. SAME [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES, I WOULD MIRROR THIS VERY [OVERLAPPING]
>> SAME THE DEAL WHERE WE GOT THIS MONEY, AND NOW HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT? THEN YOU START PUTTING ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, AND YOU'RE CREATING A WHOLE NEW BUREAUCRACY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY'S BEING SPENT THE WAY YOU SAY YOU THINK IT OUGHT TO BE SPENT AND [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, SOLICIT, I GUESS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION.
I GUESS SOLICIT REQUESTS FROM THE AGENCIES, BRING THEM TO US, DEFINITELY INDICATE WHERE THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE'RE USING GENERAL FUND TO FUND THESE PROGRAMS. THE CANNABIS MONEY CANNOT SUPPLANT EXISTING FUNDING.
DOES THIS HAVE A RESTRICTION LIKE THAT WHERE YOU CAN'T SUPPLANT EXISTING FUNDING?
WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M SURE IT DOES [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST TO TICK ME OFF EVEN MORE.
>> A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT WERE COMING IN TODAY ARE NEW FUNDING,
[00:50:01]
I'D SAY OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE ISSUES WE ARE HAVING THAT CORRECTIONS RIGHT NOW THAT THEY CAN'T PAY FOR CERTAIN DRUGS THROUGH THE MAT PROGRAM.WE COULD USE THIS. I MEAN, THAT'S NOT A BUDGETED LINE ITEM THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE MONEY ALREADY FOR.
WE'RE LOOKING NOW THAT'S GOING TO GO AS A UNFUNDED LIABILITY UNTIL SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS IDENTIFIED.
I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD QUALIFY THAT AS A PLANNING.
BUT, THAT GUIDANCE IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HERE IS UP TO DATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO START WORKING WITH EVERYONE AND THEN THERE BE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION.
OBVIOUSLY, WITH THIS, IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE FUNDING, WE'LL PROBABLY WANT TO WORK THROUGH SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT WITH THE AGENCIES, WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME COOPERATION WITH THE OFFICE OF LAW [OVERLAPPING].
>> LOOK. FOR ME, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE REQUESTING THIS FUNDING, FROM OUR APPROVAL, FROM MY APPROVAL INDICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE AFFECTED BY IT AND DETAIL ON HOW THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION THAT THOSE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS ARE IN AND SOME TYPE OF BACKSIDE REPORT ON THE OUTCOME.
>> THAT IS WHY WE'VE WAITED TO THIS POINT TO COME TO YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING US TO PROVIDE TO THEM THROUGH THE REPORTING. WE WANTED TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT JUST THROUGH THE REPORT ON THE BACK END, THROUGH THE REPORTING, NOT NECESSARILY.
>> CORRECT. BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY, HAVE TO KNOW, MAKE SURE THEY'RE OUTLINED, MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT'S PUT INTO AN AGREEMENT, SOME TYPE OF APPLICATION [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY WE'VE STARTED ON OUR OWN A LITTLE ONE PAGE APPLICATION TO SEND OUT TO THE AGENCIES WITH THAT DETAIL INFORMATION OF WHAT IT BE USED FOR, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE SERVED, HOW CAN YOU REPORT ON IT, THESE ARE THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES REQUIRED BY THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT, WHICH ONES DO YOU FALL IN, AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT AND TRACK THAT.
I WOULD WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO GO THROUGH THAT AND THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU.
>> JUST SO YOU DON'T FEEL ALONE IN THIS, STACY HAD PULLED THIS DOCUMENT ON THE LATEST EXPENDITURE REPORT THAT THE STATE HAD ON THIS FUNDING.
AS OF THE END OF 2024, THE STATE HAD PROVIDED JUST OVER $50 MILLION IN TARGET ABATEMENT FUNDS.
IT'S HALF OF, I'M GOING TO CALL OUT HALF OF THE FUNDING HERE.
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HAD ONLY SPENT ABOUT $3.3 MILLION OF THE 58 MILLION.
EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME BOAT WE'RE IN TRYING TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S THE END OF LAST YEAR.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THIS.
EVERY OTHER COUNTY IS TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST USE THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING USED AND REPORTED IN THE CORRECT MANNERS.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE GENERAL DIRECTION EVERYBODY WAS ON THE SAME PAGE OF HOW TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
>> WELL THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND IT ON, COUNSELING, PEER RECOVERY SERVICE, ACTUALLY HAVING THOSE PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO EVEN COUNSEL INDIVIDUALS TO PAY THEM IN COUNSELING, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY PAYING SOMEONE.
I'M SURE EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING TO FIND IF THAT'S THE MAIN RESOURCE, I DON'T KNOW.
>> THERE'S REALLY NO THERE'S REALLY NO COLLABORATION.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT BEFORE THE STATE COMES UP WITH THESE GUIDELINES, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO REACH OUT TO THE COUNTIES TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTING THIS TO FIND OUT WHAT PROGRAMS THEY THINK COULD BE BENEFITED BY THIS AND WHAT PARAMETERS THE COUNTIES FEEL COULD BE PUT ON IT.
INSTEAD OF JUST SENDING SOMETHING THAT IS A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL FOR ALL COUNTIES, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY ANYBODY, I ASSUME, WHO HAS SAID, HOW DOES CAROLINE COUNTY THINK THIS MONEY WOULD BE BEST SPENT?
>> WE HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY, SOME CONVERSATIONS, NOT TO THAT DEGREE, AND STEWART, PLEASE CLARIFY IF I'M WRONG ON THIS.
A LOT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS, I BELIEVE, WORKED ON THE INITIAL I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT THE SETTLEMENT, BUT HOW TO GO THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COUNTIES, POINT OF CONTACTS, ALL OF THAT.
I WAS NOT REALLY PART OF THAT OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF E MAILS HERE AND THERE,
[00:55:04]
BUT IT WAS REALLY WHAT COUNTIES GOT INVOLVED, I BELIEVE, MORE OF A HANDS-OFF FROM THE COUNTIES AT THAT POINT.>> WELL, BECAUSE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, SOME YEARS AGO WHEN THIS ALL STARTED.
WE WERE WE WERE GIVEN A PITCH, REMEMBER BY LAW FIRMS THAT WOULD COME IN AND SAY, LET US REPRESENT YOU GUYS, AND THERE'S NO COST TO YOU.
IT'S LIKE, IF YOU GOT A PHONE, YOU GOT A LAWYER, TYPE DEAL.
LET US REPRESENT YOU, AND YOU DON'T PAY US ANYTHING AND IF WE DON'T GET ANYTHING, IT WAS THAT KIND OF AN ARRANGEMENT.
YES. OF COURSE, THAT ALL CHANGED, AS WE WENT DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I MEAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT IT CAN'T BE USED FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS?
>> ON MEN ENFORCEMENT IT'S ALL GOT TO BE ON TREATMENT SIDE, PREVENTION TREATMENT.
>> CORRECT. [OVERLAPPING] IT CAN'T BE USED ENFORCEMENT, IT CAN'T BE USED TO MAKE OURSELVES WHOLE FOR PAST DETENTION OF INDIVIDUALS?
>> TREATMENT THAT WE PAID FOR?
>> BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE COULD BE SOME COLLABORATION AND SAY, WHAT IS REALISTIC IN YOUR [OVERLAPPING] COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS MONEY FOR?
>> HERE'S A MILLION DOLLAR OR HIRED COUNSELORS, AND THERE'S NOT A COUNSELOR WITHIN A MILLION MILES OF CAROLINE FOR I HIRE [OVERLAPPING].
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL [OVERLAPPING]
>> I BET IF YOU WENT TO MONTGOMERY OR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, THEY HAVE WHOLE DEPARTMENTS WHO DO NOTHING BUT THIS STUFF.
>> WE'RE SITTING HERE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE.
>> WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND A PERSON?
>> ARE WE GOING TO BRING IN A FULL-TIME PERSON TO DEAL WITH 12 INDIVIDUALS? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, EITHER.
>> THE COUNTY DOES HAVE THE OPTION OF JOINING FORCES WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR A JOINT PROJECT. THAT WAS ENCOURAGED.
IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE WE'RE SMALL, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT PICK UP THE PHONE AND TALK TO DORCHESTER OR TALBOT AND SAY, HERE'S OUR NEED, BUT WE CAN'T JUSTIFY, LIKE YOU SAID [OVERLAPPING].
>> HOW ABOUT DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PROBLEM THAT'S SIMILAR AND WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A JOINT APPLICATION FOR THE STATE MONIES AND ACCOMPLISH MORE AS A TEAM THAN WE WOULD INDIVIDUALLY.
>> WELL, MAYBE WE GET TOGETHER.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE KEY PLAYERS ARE PROBABLY THE WARDEN, JUDGE PRICE, AND ROBIN KYLE.
GET THOSE THREE KEY PLAYERS TOGETHER.
MY DIRECTION IS NOT TO LET THIS BURN A HOLE IN YOUR POCKET AND FEEL LIKE YOU GOT TO SPEND IT.
LET'S USE IT ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IMPROVE THE SITUATION HERE AND BE VERY LEERY ABOUT BUILDING FURTHER DEPARTMENTS OR BUREAUCRACY THAT SOME BOARD SITTING HERE IN FUTURE YEARS IS GOING TO SAY, THE FUNDING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
>> JUST REAL QUICK. WHERE ARE WE ON CANNABIS?
>> I DON'T [OVERLAPPING] THINK I HAVE RECEIVED A SINGLE COMMUNICATION SINCE WE SAT HERE.
>> WELL, THEY SAID LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.
THEY'D BE REACHING BACK OUT WITH SOME WEBINAR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE STEPS THAT THEIR OFFICE WAS STILL WORKING ON THE STANDARDS.
[Legislative Session: Second Reading and Public Hearing]
IS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DO I HEAR [OVERLAPPING].>> ARE WE MOVING TO GET A LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THE AYES HAVE IT.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARREL FOR THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-007.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE HERE, AS YOU SAID, FOR THE SECOND READING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON JUNE 24 WITH A FIRST READING.
THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON JULY 5.
[01:00:02]
I WILL READ THAT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME.NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-007, AN EMERGENCY ACT TO AMEND SECTION 175-29 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES OF ARTICLE 5 SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, BY ADDING A NEW SUBSECTION C, PROVIDING THAT A NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY MAY BE PERMITTED IN THE R RURAL ZONING DISTRICT BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION, PROVIDED THAT THE FACILITY MEETS CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
TO AMEND CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS 175 ATTACHMENT 3-4 OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING, TO ADD A NEW NOTE 4, WHICH STATES THAT CERTAIN NON-ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES MAY BE PERMITTED IN THE R RURAL ZONING DISTRICT BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION UNDER SECTION 175-29 C. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON JULY 8, 2025, BEGINNING AT 9:15 AM.
IN 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 1:09 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND 2169, TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING, EMAIL, THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN, VISIT THE WEBSITE IS GIVEN, OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123 DENTON, MARYLAND 2169.
PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY, SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410, 4790660, PERIOD.
AT THIS TIME, YOU PROBABLY WANT TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> AYE. PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.
DOES ANY STAFF KNOW OF ANY COMMENT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH EMAIL OR LETTER? [OVERLAPPING]
>> NONE AWARE OF ANY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN RELATION TO THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL? NONE SEEN. I WOULD THEN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL AT THIS TIME?
>> CRYSTAL. YOU GO WITH EVERYTHING IN IT?
>> WE AMENDED IT AS YOU REQUESTED FOR FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S THE PUBLISHED EDITION NOW.
THAT'S THE ONLY CHANGE FROM THE ONE THAT WAS INTRODUCED.
>> THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT IS NEXT MEETING?
>> ENTERTAIN A MOTION [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE GO BACK INTO REGULAR SESSION.
>> MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED. THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO
[Action Item]
PULL THE J RICHARD BREEDING EXCAVATING VENDOR CONTRACT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND ADD THAT TO AN ACTION ITEM.>> SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. WE WILL MOVE THAT AND TAKE THAT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO STEP OUT WHEN WE GET TO THAT.
ON OUR ACTION ITEM, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION 2025-020, WHICH IS ISSUANCE BY THE MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE OF ITS REVENUE BONDS TO FUND THE COST OF CELL NUMBER 5 AND CELL NUMBER 1 OF THE MID SHORE 2 REGIONAL LANDFILL.
I WOULD LIKE TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM MES.
I LOOKED THROUGH THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, AND EACH OF THE PREVIOUS BOND REQUESTS WERE FOR LESS THAN $9 MILLION.
I BELIEVE THERE WAS A REFINANCING OF EXISTING DEBT FOR A LITTLE OVER NINE MILLION.
BUT EACH OF THE PREVIOUS SELL CONSTRUCTIONS WERE AROUND EIGHT MILLION.
[01:05:04]
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, EIGHT OR NINE MILLION.THIS IS TWO CELLS FOR 28 MILLION.
THAT SEEMS A LITTLE OFF TO ME.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY IT IS SO LARGE.
I KNOW THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT GAS COLLECTION SYSTEMS, CHANGES IN THE EPA REGULATIONS, AND TESTING AS FAR AS P FILE.
I THOUGHT AS WELL. THIS SHOULD JUST BE FOR CONSTRUCTION, BUT I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THIS WAS FOR.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE BID RESULTS CAME BACK AS.
>> WHAT THE BIDS CAME BACK IF THEY HAVE BIDDED.
THERE WAS A MINORITY REQUIREMENT, AND I'M VERY CURIOUS HOW MUCH THAT MINORITY GOAL COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY AFFECTED THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.
IF IT DID NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT, THEN I'M FINE WITH THAT.
BUT IF IT DROVE UP THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH AND WHY BEFORE WE SIGN OFF ON THIS.
I'M SURE LEGALLY WE PROBABLY DON'T HAVE.
WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO ALLOW THEM TO BOND FOR THIS CONSTRUCTION, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE WHERE IT'S GOING, WHY IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THE OTHER CELLS.
>> CERTAINLY. IF WE CAN REACH OUT TO MES AND HAVE THEM PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THOSE ITEMS. I BELIEVE THEY WERE ALSO ATTENDING A COUPLE OF THE COUNTY'S COMMISSIONERS MEETING SO IF AVAILABLE, IT MAY BE EASIEST JUST TO HAVE THEM ATTEND ON THE 22ND, I BELIEVE, WOULD BE THE NEXT MEETING AND I THINK THAT STILL FITS IN THEIR TIMELINE OF TRYING TO HAVE THESE APPROVED, I BELIEVE, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
CERTAINLY, I HAVE MY NOTES HERE AND WE'LL REACH OUT AND GET THOSE ITEMS ANSWERED.
>> THAT WAS MY QUESTION. THEY NEEDED BY THE END OF THE MONTH?
>> LINDSEY SEEMED PRETTY URGENT NEED TO HAVE IT ON TODAY.
>> YES. IS IT LAST WEEK? >> YES.
>> THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE CELLS THAT THEY'VE GOT RIGHT NOW.
DOES THE BONDS SHUT DOWN? YOU CAN'T GET BONDS AFTER AUGUST OR WHAT? [LAUGHTER]
>> LINDSEY HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO THEIR COUNCIL.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THE OTHER COUNTIES WERE WORKING IT THROUGH THE REST OF THIS MONTH ON THEIR AGENDAS SO SHE WAS ACTUALLY ON SCHEDULE TO BE THE FIRST ONE.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO PUSH IT.
IF WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE GET AN ANSWER FROM DECD ON DAY SPRINGS, THEN MAYBE THEY CAN JUMP ON THAT AGENDA.
I DON'T KNOW. ARE YOU GOING AWAY? I DON'T WANT TO WORK TOO HARD. [LAUGHTER]
>> BOB IS GIVING YOU A LOOK BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSE FROM [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'LL MOVE. WE TABLE RESOLUTION 2025-020.
>> DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I AGREE WITH GETTING SOME MORE INFORMATION.
>> IF WE CAN GET THEM ON OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT MEETING THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
MOTION IS SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> EXCUSE MYSELF. TURNING OVER TO COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> THE ITEM IN QUESTION IS A CONTRACT FOR BANK RUN BY J RICHARD BREEDING EXCAVATING INCORPORATED VENDOR CONTRACT.
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS, DANNY? IT'S JUST A CONTRACT FOR A PROPOSAL FOR BANK RUN?
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH EACH YEAR FOR BANK RUN.
IT'S FOLLOWED OUR PURCHASING MANUAL AND PROCUREMENT, THE LOWEST COST PROVIDER IS THE ONE PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY.
>> THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN THE CONTRACT.
>> CORRECT. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
>> YOU'LL HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS.
>> I MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVED THE ACTION ADAM J. RICHARD BREEDING EXCAVATING INCORPORATED VENDOR CONTRACT FOR BANK RUN.
>> I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> SO MOVED. GO GET HIM TELL HIM GET BACK IN HERE.
[01:10:30]
>> I JUST STAND UP FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING? IT IS KILLING ME.
SOMETIMES IT GETS ME WHERE I CAN'T SIT AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T STAND UP.
>> MOVING ON TO THE REVISED CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?>> MARK, DID THE LIGHT PACKS COME IN ON BUDGET?
>> THIS IS ALL NEW CARDIAC MONITORS, DEFIBRILLATORS FOR ALL THE UNITS YOU BROUGHT ON WITH YOU?
>> THESE ARE STATE OF THE ART.
HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN OUT? A COUPLE OF YEARS?
>> COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY HIT FDA TWO YEARS AGO. WE WAITED.
>> LET THEM WORK OUT OLD BUGS, THE KINKS.
YOU DON'T WANT ANYTHING BRAND NEW.
>> BUT THIS WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE CAPABILITY IN OUR SEMI DETECTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING HEART ATTACKS.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY WITH THESE NOW TO RUN 15 LEADS, WHICH THE POSTERIOR MI ACCOUNTS FOR LIKE 20% OF ALL STEMIS AND TO PICK THOSE UP.
>> YOU CAN HOOK MORE MONITORS.
>> WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT MORE LEADS ON AND CATCH THE BACK SO WE'LL GET A FULL 360 VIEW NOW OF THE HEART ON OUR PATIENTS, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF.
THE HOSPITAL STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EVEN RUN [INAUDIBLE] THAT THEY HAVE IN THERE.
>> DOES THAT THESE TRANSMIT THE INFORMATION RIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL AS WELL?
>> DATA LAB. DID OUR OLD UNITS?
THE SJ INSIGHT THAT COMES WITH THIS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE HOSPITAL.
IT CRYPTOGRAPH NOW, SO ON THE SCREEN, IT WILL PRINT OUT IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PROVIDERS, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IN LIVE FORM THE ELEVATIONS FOR IF SOMEONE'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
>> HOW MANY OF THOSE DO WE HAVE?
>> WE WERE BUYING ONE FOR EVERY AMBULANCE.
>> EACH AMBULANCE. ALL THE CARRIER UNITS WILL HAVE THESE.
I WILL HAVE ONE IN MY TRUCK, I HAVE ONE FOR MARK, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ONE FOR THE FUTURE OF MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH SO WE WANTED TO BE HALF AND HALF.
>> AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THIS WAS MORE STRETCHERS WE WERE BUYING. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE ARE GOOD FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.
>> I'LL BELIEVE THAT ONE IS SAID.
YOU'LL BE IN HERE FOR MORE STRETCHES ALL OVER.
>> YOU HAVE THE MARKET ALL THINGS MEDICAL.
>> THE OLD UNITS WERE NO LONGER SUPPORTED. THEY WERE GETTING IT?
>> THEY WON'T BE. >> THEY WON'T BE.
>> IN THREE MORE YEARS THAT SOFTWARE WILL BE OUTDATED, AND WE ACTUALLY ARE GETTING $150,000 CREDIT ON THIS PURCHASE BECAUSE WE'RE TRADING IN OLD ONES SO THEY GAVE US $150,000 CREDIT, OFF.
>> GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT IN.
>> WELL, AFTER TODAY, NOW WE CAN ORDER THEM.
WE'RE HOPING THAT TODAY WE'LL PLACE THE ORDER.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THEM IN THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, AND THEN WE HAVE TO PROGRAM THEM ALL AND THEN WE HAVE TO DO SOME EXTENSIVE TRAINING, SO MY GOAL IS OCTOBER-ISH.
>> WE'LL HAVE BOTH; THE OLD UNITS WILL BE IN SERVICE, THESE WILL BE HERE FOR TRAINING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO START TRAINING IN SEPTEMBER ON THESE.
HOPEFULLY, IF WE GET THEM IN IN TIME IF EVERYTHING WORKS SO OCTOBER, LATEST NOVEMBER DEPENDING ON WHEN WE GET TO ORDER.
BECAUSE THESE NEED A LOT OF PROGRAMMING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME TRAINING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PURCHASE PRINTERS SO A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE ARE USED TO LOOKING AT PAPER, AND NOW THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCREEN AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT.
>> WE'LL LET YOU KNOW AS SOON AS THEY'RE ROLLED OUT.
[01:15:04]
COMMISSIONER BURKS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED CONSENT AGENDA THEN.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> I, IN THE PAST WEEK, HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SOME NEW TOWN MANAGERS IN THAT COUNTY, WHICH WAS GOOD NEWS FOR BOTH OF THOSE TOWNS.
I MET WITH CINDY YOST AND SHERIFF BAKER, I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK.
>> [LAUGHTER] END OF LAST WEEK ABOUT THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO AND GOT AN UPDATE FROM HER ON ANY NEEDS THEY MIGHT HAVE.
ACTUALLY, I OFFERED OUR RESOURCES IF THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE FROM US.
SHE PROVIDED US WITH AN UPDATE OF WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING WITH THE TOWN, AND RIGHT NOW, SHE'S DRINKING WATER FROM FIREHOSE, TRYING TO GET THEM ALL CAUGHT UP.
BUT IT SOUNDS REALLY POSITIVE.
SOUNDS LIKE THINGS ARE MOVING FOR GREENSBORO, SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY JUST LAST NIGHT TO MEET SALLY SUKE, WHO IS THE NEW TOWN MANAGER FOR FEDERALSBURG.
SHE IS EITHER ON DAY 2 OR WEEK 2? I'M NOT CLEAR.
>> WEEK 2. SHE SAID SOMETHING LAST NIGHT ABOUT DAY 2 SO I WAS CONFUSED.
ANYWAY, AGAIN, I THINK THAT SHE LOOKS TO BE ANYWAY A GOOD ADDITION TO THE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG.
SHE HAS SOME EXPERIENCE IN BEING A TOWN MANAGER IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ALSO DRINKING WATER FROM A FIREHOSE AT THIS MOMENT, TRYING TO SORT THINGS OUT FOR THE TOWN AND GET THEM MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SHE'S BRAND NEW [LAUGHTER] SO SHE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK CUT OUT FOR I THINK AT THE TIME.
NEVERTHELESS, THOSE ARE BOTH POSITIVE CONNECTIONS.
I WAS GLAD TO MEET WITH BOTH OF THEM IN THEIR EARLY TENURE, AND AGAIN, OFFERED BOTH JURISDICTIONS, BOTH TOWN MANAGERS.
IF THEY NEED ANY ASSISTANCE OR WANT TO MEET ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE'VE OFFERED OUR RESOURCES TO THEM.
PARTICULARLY, I KNOW, AND I'LL BE FOLLOWING BACK UP WITH BOTH OF THEM, SOME OF THE JURISDICTIONS, I BELIEVE, CRYSTAL DADS HAS THE LIST, MAYBE DAY AND I HAVE THE LIST OF JURISDICTIONS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTING DEVELOPMENT FOR IMPACT FEE PURPOSES.
THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS AMONGST A LONG LIST OF THINGS, I'M SURE THAT GET LOST WITH STAFF CHANGES.
THAT'S ON MY LIST TO REACH OUT TO THEM ABOUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING ON A LIST IN THOSE TOWNS THAT SAY, HEY, DON'T FORGET TO SEND THE IMPACT FEES TO THE COUNTY.
I DID MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS ANYWAY, SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH BOTH OF THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
REAL BRIEFLY, JESSE HAMMOCK AND KIM AND I WORKED ON THE FRANKLIN STREET DONATION DEED THAT WILL GIVE THAT PROPERTY BACK TO THE STATE, BASED ON OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S SOME POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON IN DENTON OR PROPOSED ANYWAY, THAT THEY NEED THAT LITTLE SLICE OF PROPERTY THAT WE OWN ON FRANKLIN.
THE STATE FOLLOWED THROUGH AND HAS PROVIDED A DONATION DEED.
DRAFT FOR US. JESSE REVIEWED THAT.
JESSE ALSO FOUND ON THE EXISTING DOCUMENTS WHERE THERE'S LANGUAGE THAT SAYS, IF WE EVER GIVE THE PROPERTY BACK TO THE STATE, THEY'VE GOT TO PAY US THE $5,000 BACK.
I FOLLOWED UP WITH THE STATE, AND THEY SAID, WELL, THAT'S ONLY IF WE WANT THE PROPERTY BACK.
YOU WANT US TO TAKE THE PROPERTY BACK SAY WE'RE NOT PAYING THE $5,000.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS A GOOD CATCH AND A GOOD CONVERSATION.
I BELIEVE, KIM HAS WORKED WITH JESSE AND MAYBE STEWART, I'M NOT SURE AND LAID OUT THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH.
IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS TO HAVE THE PROPERTY SENT, I GUESS TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE STATE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT ON YOUR AGENDA ON THE 22ND.
ALSO, REAL BRIEFLY, YESTERDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE NEW 911 CALL CENTER.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHAOTIC OVER THERE.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING IN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ONLY GOT ABOUT HALF DONE YESTERDAY.
THE FLOOR LOOKS GREAT, THE FURNITURE LOOKS GREAT AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT PROJECT COMING TO AN END SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
[01:20:02]
THEN THE LAST THING. I STAYED THIS FOR LAST BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONER PORTER WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS.I HAD A MEETING WITH ROBBIE GILL FROM THE YMCA YESTERDAY.
I KNEW THAT THE IDEA OF THE YMCA AND WELCOMING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WHERE COULD WE PUT IT, AND THAT'S BEEN KICKED AROUND.
I SET UP A MEETING WITH ROBBIE YESTERDAY.
WE HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION.
HE BROUGHT ME UP TO SPEED ON WHAT I'LL CALL THE HISTORY OF HOW WE LANDED WHERE WE ARE [LAUGHTER] INCLUDING, I GUESS, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OR A FEW YEARS AGO, THERE WAS SOME DONATION MONEY AVAILABLE TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THE STARS WERE NOT LINED UP AT THAT TIME REGARDING WHERE THIS NEW BUILDING COULD GO, WHERE THE NEW FACILITY COULD GO, WHETHER IT WOULD BE DOUBLE HILLS ROAD OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH EXTENDING WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO DOUBLE HILLS ROAD AND WAS THAT EVEN GOING TO BE A FEASIBLE OPTION? WHERE WAS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GOING? ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS TAKING PLACE.
THE DONATION MONEY WAS RETURNED AND IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR OUR BUILDING.
WE DID TALK ABOUT LOCKERBIE AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND IF THEY WOULD HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT PROPERTY.
I DON'T THINK THAT BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION, IT'S NOT REALLY THE BEST FIT FOR WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, AND EVEN IF THEY USE THAT SITE, WHAT THEY WOULD END UP DOING WOULD BE TO DEMOLISH THE CURRENT BUILDING AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD FROM THE GROUND UP.
HE DID MENTION THE PROPERTY ON MARKET STREET EXTENDED AND THE FACT THAT THAT PROPERTY IS TOO SMALL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY LOOK AT PROPERTIES 6-7 ACRES, WHICH LOCKERBIE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS CLOSE TO THAT.
HE'S VERY OPEN OR THE YMCA IS VERY OPEN AND HAPPY TO RESTART THIS CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT WHERE WE COULD POSSIBLY FIT IN A NEW YMCA IN THE COUNTY RATHER THAN THE EXISTING STOREFRONT, WHICH APPARENTLY IS PRETTY WELL USED BY THE RESIDENTS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
HE'S OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO LOOK AT SOME OF THE MORE RECENT YMCAS THEY'VE BUILT.
THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR THEM IS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BUILD NEAR EXISTING SCHOOLS SO THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR, WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO RIGHT THERE AFTER SCHOOL.
>> OURS ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] I'M NOT SURE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S POSSIBLE LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, NOT THAT I WANT TO GET INTO THIS CONVERSATION COULD BE UP BY NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
THERE'S PROBABLY NOTHING UP THERE WHERE WE COULD CONSTRUCT A NEW YMCA.
DOUBLE HILLS ROAD IS AN OPTION, MAYBE NOT THE BEST OPTION.
BUT WE ENDED THE CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO HAVE CONNECTED WANTING TO WORK ON THIS GOING FORWARD, AND KIND OF THOUGHT WE'D SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND START ASSESSING SITES.
I'LL STOP THERE. THAT'S WHERE WE WERE.
>> WELL, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TO LOOK AT OTHER FACILITIES.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATION.
IT'S TIME TO STOP STARTING CONVERSATIONS AND LET'S START BUILDING SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG.
I'M GOING TO BE INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE MONEY WAS AVAILABLE AND NOT USED.
THAT'S GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.
SOMEBODY BETTER HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT.
I WAS GOING TO GET TOO DEEP INTO THAT, BUT ACCORDING TO MR. GILL, PRIOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EXPRESSED TO HIM THAT WE WERE NOT INTERESTED IN BUILDING A YMCA AT THAT TIME.
>> I'LL LISTEN TO THAT ARGUMENT.
THAT IS A DECISION THAT IS MADE BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
IF THERE WAS MONEY AVAILABLE, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PROPOSAL.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CONVERSATION HAD DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME.
I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH ROBBIE IN THE PAST.
TO THINK THAT THERE WAS MONEY AVAILABLE, AND THEY JUST DECIDED, AND ALSO IN ALL FAIRNESS, THAT WAS DURING COVID, THE WHOLE THING.
LET'S STOP GOING ON FIELD TRIPS AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.
LET'S BUILD SOMETHING HERE BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF SENDING OUR PEOPLE AND HAVING OUR SCHOOLS PAY TO SAYING WE NEED SOMETHING HERE.
THEY'VE BUILT SOMETHING EVERYWHERE ELSE; IT'S TIME TO BUILD SOMETHING HERE, AND LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GET HIM IN HERE. LET'S FIND OUT. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME IN AND THAT AND HAVE IT OUT A CONVERSATION AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
[01:25:01]
>> I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYMORE. I WANT TO SEE ONE HERE.
>> GOOD. COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
[County Commissioners’ Open Discussion Period]
COMMISSIONER BARTZ? COMMISSION PORTER?>> LET ME SEE. WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM DHCD AT THIS POINT.
I DID TALK TO BRUCE BARRIONO YESTERDAY.
HE HAD SPOKE TO CHU COOK AND SECRETARY DAY, AND THEY ARE BOTH WORKING ON IT.
>> THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. MUST BE LIKE A 80,000 PAGE LETTER THAT'S COMING HERE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WILL BE FROM THE SECRETARY'S DIRECTION.
HOPEFULLY, NOT ANY ONE AT DEC BUT THE SECRETARY HIMSELF.
>> ON JUNE 26, I ATTENDED A MEETING IN ROSBERG WITH AGRICULTURE SECRETARY ADDICTS.
MEETING WAS PRETTY WELL ATTENDED.
IT WAS REGARDING SOLAR, AND THERE WERE SOME VERY STRONG OPINIONS THAT WERE EXPRESSED.
SECRETARY ADDICTS WAS RECEPTIVE TO IDEAS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE SENATE BILL OR 931, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SENATE OR HOUSE, I CAN'T REMEMBER SENATE BILL SENATE BILL 931.
DURING THAT MEETING, AND I THINK SUBSEQUENT TO THAT MEETING, WE FOUND OUT ABOUT QUEEN ANNE COUNTY'S PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A SOLAR FEE THAT WOULD BE CHARGED PER ACRE.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE FOLLOW THAT THAT WE INSTITUTE A FEE PER ACRE PER YEAR ON UTILITY SCALE SOLAR.
I THINK THEIR IDEA OF USING THE AVERAGE AG PRESERVATION PAYMENT THAT'S MADE TO FARMERS TO ESTABLISH THAT FEE IS A GOOD IDEA, AND THAT THOSE FUNDS BE USED TO EITHER TO EITHER FACILITATE OR TO DEVELOP OUR OWN AG PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
I KNOW THAT'S A BIG BIG TASK, BUT I THINK IT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT'S GOING TO TO BE ABLE TO START ADDRESSING SOME OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE STATE IS NOT AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY'RE SUBSIDIZING SOAR, THAT THEY'RE CUTTING BACK ON ACT PRESERVATION.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO US TO DO IT.
I THINK QUEEN ANNE HAS A GOOD FRAMEWORK.
I THINK STEWART, YOU GOT A COPY OF THEIR ORDINANCE, AND THEY I DON'T THINK HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH US, USING THAT. I'M SURE.
HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES THERE FROM QUEEN ANNE COUNTY, SPOKE TO COMMISSIONER WILSON ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THAT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
>>THEIR FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE SAME AS OURS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE MORE COMMISSIONERS WITH DISTRICTS.
THE LEGISLATION SHOULD BE VERY SIMILAR.
YOU MADE CHANGES TO CODE REFERENCES, CHAPTER REFERENCES, AND CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COUNTY, BUT IT SHOULD BE.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST WE IMPLEMENT THIS FOR ANY PROJECT THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN SERVICE.
>> NOW, IS IT PER ACRE PER YEAR THEIR PROPOSAL OR IS IT JUST PER ACRE UP FRONT? DO YOU KNOW?
>> IT'S CALLED A COMPENSATORY PRESERVATION CONTRIBUTION.
>> HAS TO BE PER ACRE UP FRONT.
[LAUGHTER] WELL, THEY'RE PAYING THE LEASE PER YEAR.
>> BUT WHEN YOU GET A RESERVATION, IT'S ALL UP FRONT, THERE'S NO PER YEAR.
>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT'S STILL BEING USED FOR AGRICULTURE.
BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, TO ME,
[01:30:01]
IT'S TIME TO DROP THE HAMMER HERE. WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.>> I JUST SENT YOU GUYS AN ARTICLE THAT I GOT FROM CONGRESSMAN HARRIS'S OFFICE AS WELL.
APPARENTLY, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DROPPED WHAT IS THIS? A DIRECTIVE FOR ENDING MARKET DISTORTING SUBSIDIES FOR UNRELIABLE FOREIGN CONTROLLED ENERGY SOURCES.
PRESIDENTIAL ACTION FOR END MARKET DISTORTING SUBSIDIES FOR RELIABLE FOREIGN CONTROLLED ENERGY SOURCES, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH SPECIFICALLY SOLAR PANELS.
CHECK THAT OUT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE OMNIBUS BILL THAT PASSED JULY 3 AND WAS SIGNED JULY 4, PHASES OUT SOLAR SUBSIDIES.
I BELIEVE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DIG INTO IT AND KNOW HOW IT AFFECTS US, BUT I BELIEVE PROJECTS THAT AREN'T IN OPERATION BY THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR MAYBE ARE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES OR AT LEAST UNDER CONSTRUCTION, MAYBE BY THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DETAILS, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A THREE YEAR PHASE OUT OF THE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE DOWN THE ROAD HOW THESE 25 AND 30 YEAR LEASES ARE GOING TO BE HANDLED AND WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM TO PAY THE FARMERS.
THE OTHER LAST THING I HAVE IS WE ARE STARTING THE MACO TRAIN AGAIN, AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE ON WEDNESDAY TOMORROW, I'LL BE SPENDING MY DAY ON THE COMP IN THE MACO INITIATIVES MEETING, WHICH IS IN THE MORNING, AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE IN THE AFTERNOON.
I'LL REPORT BACK TO YOU WHAT THE INITIATIVES LOOK LIKE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY TOMORROW ON THE COMPUTER.
I HOPE, MAYBE IT'LL RAIN KEEP ME INSIDE, BUT BUT THAT'S THE FIRST USUALLY THE FIRST SHOT THERE FOR MACO THAT'LL BE THE START.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S LOOKING INTO THIS, BUT KATHLEEN, IF YOU COULD GET SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF YOUR CONVERSATION WITH MR. GILL AT YMCA, TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE EXISTING STRUCTURE AT LOCKERMAN, IS A PART OF THAT BUILDING ORIGINAL TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL OR HAS IT ALL BEEN REMOVED?
>> LOOK INTO THAT. BUT INTO THAT LOOKS LIKE THERE OLD BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED [INAUDIBLE]
>> DO HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT, WHICH I ALSO HAVE AN AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL GAME SCHEDULED.
SO AS LONG AS WE DON'T GET THUNDERSTORMS, I'M GOING TO MISS THAT MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO TOMORROW NIGHT.
YOU COULD FILL IN OR WE COULD COORDINATE ON WHETHER I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT OR IF YOU WANT TO GO.
LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY'VE GOT A CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW, TWIN MAPLES FARMS, SCANTIS PROJECT, DRAFT LEGISLATION FOR AGRICULTURAL AND FISHERY PRODUCTS, PROCESSING PLANTS AND MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING ANNUAL REPORT.
THEN WE'RE DOING SOME COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UPDATE TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER, WORKING ON THE FINAL DRAFT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES CHAPTER IS UP FOR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION, I'M ASSUMING.
SO THOSE WERE THE MAIN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
ROBIN, COULD YOU GET US EMAIL US A LIST OF AREAS THAT DAVE OR BRIAN LT, WHOEVER'S WORKING ON ARE PLANNING ON TRIMMING THE TREES AND THE BRUSH BACK RIGHT NOW.
SO I KNOW ADAM'S LANDING ROAD, PART OF IT'S GETTING BAD.
IS THERE ANY OTHER ROADS THAT REALLY JUMP OUT AT EITHER ONE OF YOU GUYS IN YOUR TRAVELS?
[01:35:01]
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT TOO IS ANY GROWTH THAT IS GROWING OVER LANES IS PROHIBITING THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES FROM GETTING DOWN.
WE WE'VE GOT SOME PLACES I CAN GUARANTEE FIRE TRUCKS CAN'T GET DOWN LANES.
>> WE'VE HAD THE MOWERS WORKING QUITE A BIT.
>> I'VE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE TREES, THE LARGER STUFF THAT'S BEEN GROWING UP BEHIND SIGNS AND TELEPHONE PEDALS, ELECTRIC BOXES HAS BEEN MOWED DOWN, AND WE'RE STARTING TO CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THAT STUFF.
BUT I KNOW THE LIMBS ARE STILL OUT, AND IT'S A MATTER OF TIME.
I KNOW THE AG COMMUNITY, THE FARMERS ARE GOING TO BE OUT.
THEY'RE ALREADY OUT, CUT AND STUFF NOW.
>> IN A LOT OF CASE, THAT'S WHERE OUR FIRST INDICATOR IS BECAUSE THEY GOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT LOOKS FINE FOR A CAR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BUT, WHEN YOU'RE IN SOMETHING LARGER, YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THOSE LIMBS ARE ENCROACHING.
>> TUCKAHOE ROAD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] TUCKAHOE ROAD WILL BE THE FIRST ONE.
IF WE'RE STILL RUNNING THE ASPHALT PATCHING CONTRACT.
IF YOU COULD GET US A LIST OF ROADS.
[INAUDIBLE] IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THOSE.
>> LIKE I SAID, HIGNITS 1 THAT JUMPS OUT OF ME THAT NEEDS TO GET ON THE LIST.
>> NOT A LOT TO DO WITH THE DETOUR FOR LAST YEAR [INAUDIBLE]
>> JUST SEND US THOSE TWO LISTS.
I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE BOTH OF THOSE.
TRY TO THINK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE. YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT WEEK IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE COUNTRY.
TEXAS IS JUST AN UNIMAGINABLE.
WE HAD A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY HERE, SO THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR RESPONDING TO THOSE INCIDENTS, AND ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND I KEEP SAYING, THOSE GUYS YOU'LL NEVER FORGET THAT.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE AND MENTION.
THANK YOU. PASS THAT ON, PLEASE.
WE SHOULD BE CLOSE TO DONE, FINALLY, WITH THE RIVER ROAD PROJECT.
>> BUT HOW LEAVING FROM THIS MEETING AND GOING OUT THERE AND KEY.
HE'S OPEN WEATHER THAT'LL BE DONE BY THURSDAY? PRIMARILY, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DRIVEWAYS TIED IN AND THE PAIN MARKING TRIP [INAUDIBLE].
>> ARE WE PUTTING WAIT LINES ON THE SHOULDERS? IT IS GETTING WHITE LINES TO MARK THE SHOULDERS?
>> ONCE YOU GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL GOING TO WHOLE CENTER, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT [NOISE] SHOULDERS ON EACH SIDE.
THREE WIDE. THREE FOOT BEYOND SIDE.
>> GOOD. MES HAS DONE ALL THE RESURFACING THAT WAS NEGOTIATED IN THE EXTENSION OF THE LANDFILL.
THAT'S BEEN DONE. WELL, WE'RE MAKING SOME HEADWAY THERE.
ROBIN, APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR SHOP FOR MAKING SOME STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'VE GOT A WAYS TO GO, BUT WE'RE GETTING THERE.
>> WE'RE FULLY SAT AND HAD BEEN FOR ABOUT MONTH. THAT HELPS.
>> [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] THEY GOT CDL?.
>> WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? NONE SEEN. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.[01:40:03]
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> CLOSED SESSION
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.