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OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 21ST, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP OF PRESTON, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE. REVEREND DUNN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
COMMISSIONERS, BUT THE STAFF THAT SUPPORT THEM AND GIVING THE INFORMATION TO THEM DILIGENTLY AND SEARCHING THINGS OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT. WE THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, MIND ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IN BENEFIT FOR THE COUNTY.
WE DO UNDERSTAND, FATHER, THERE´S A POSSIBLE ELECTION COMING UP, THAT PEOPLE WOULD REALIZE THAT THIS IS NOT AN EIGHT HOUR A DAY JOB. EVEN THE STAFF HERE, IT'S ON THEIR MINDS CONTINUALLY AS HOW THEY MIGHT DO A BETTER JOB.
OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND ALL THE PLACES THAT THEY GO TO AND SHOW UP AND SEEK THE PEOPLE THAT ASK THE QUESTIONS TO GET THE ANSWERS FOR THEM. AND FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE PRAY AND AS WE SLUMBER UPON OUR BEDS, THAT YOU WOULD SPEAK TO US IN THE RIGHT SEASON, EQUIPPING US FOR THE DAYS AHEAD.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WE PRAY.
THANK YOU, REVEREND DUNN. SALUTE. OKAY, OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS FORDIE BROWN WITH THE SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION SQUADRON 29 HERE IN DENTON, WITH A DISCUSSION OF A POTENTIAL STATUE ON THE COURTHOUSE GREEN. SO, MR. BROWN, YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? DO I NEED TO SIT DOWN. YEAH, CERTAINLY. I KNOW THESE CHAIRS AREN'T THE MOST COMFORTABLE, BUT.
THAT'S FINE WITH ME. YES. YEAH. MY NAME IS FORDIE BROWN.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE SONS OF AMERICAN LEGION SQUADRON 29 RIGHT HERE IN DENTON, MARYLAND.
SOME TIME AGO AT OUR MEETING, WE CAME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DEDICATED, LONG LIVING, TO PRESENT TO THE COUNTY, SO TO SPEAK, IN RECOGNITION OF OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY.
SO AFTER KICKING AROUND FOR A FEW MONTHS, WE CAME UP WITH, I'M NOT SURE YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF WHAT WE COME UP WITH, I THINK. COME UP WITH A MONUMENT TYPE THING. I STARTED OFF WITH CEMETERY TYPE STONES, AND WHEN I TOOK THAT TO MY VOTING COMMITTEE, NOBODY LIKED THE CEMETERY TYPE STONES.
SO WE COME UP WITH THIS MONUMENT TYPE THING, WHICH EVERYBODY IN MY ORGANIZATION IS 100% AGREEABLE WITH THIS TYPE OF STONE AND SUPPORT IT. I'VE GOT SEVERAL PRICES ON IT TO GET IT DONE FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT FUNERAL HOMES IN THE AREA.
AND AT THIS MOMENT IT APPEARS THAT [INAUDIBLE] MEMORIALS RIGHT HERE IN DENTON IS GOING TO BE THE WINNER OF OUR PROPOSAL, HOPEFULLY, IF IT'S APPROVED BY YOU GENTLEMEN TO PLACE IT HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE PROPOSING TO THIS MONUMENT TO BE, LIKE, 44IN HIGH, TOTALLY IN POLISHED BLACK GRANITE, THAT IS. THE WORDING ON IT WOULD BE ACTUALLY BE ENGRAVED INTO THE STONE.
WE DID ADD A COLORED FLAG TO THE TOP OF IT, WHICH TRAVIS HAS A COPY OF.
AND OUR SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION INSIGNIA DOWN BELOW.
THOSE TWO ITEMS WOULD BE ACTUALLY ETCHED IN COLOR AS YOU SEE IT ON THE STONE.
THE WORDING, OF COURSE, WOULD BE, WE, THE PEOPLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY DO COMMEMORATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION ON THIS DATE, JULY 4TH, 1776. JULY 4TH, 2026. OUR GOAL OR OUR PROPOSAL, UNLESS.
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AND WE COULD BE OPEN TO AS FAR AS LOCATION, BUT OUR PROPOSAL TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR TO THE COUNTY IS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PLACE THIS MONUMENT TO THE WEST SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE DOWN THIS WAY, WHICH THERE'S A MONUMENT ALREADY THERE OF SOME SORT.IT WOULD HAVE A CONCRETE FOUNDATION, AND THIS MONUMENT WOULD BE PLACED ON IT TO BE THERE AND DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY FOREVER, AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
THAT'S OUR PROPOSAL. IF YOU GUYS WOULD COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT LOCATION SOMEWHERE ON THE PROPERTY, THAT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. THE COST TO US WOULD STILL BE ROUGHLY THE SAME TO GET IT PLACED, SO. AND THERE´D BE NO OBJECTION FROM OUR STANDPOINT WHATSOEVER.
RIGHT NOW, AS FAR AS THE DEDICATION OF THE THING, WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN NOW AND JULY AS FAR AS PARADES OR SPECIAL EVENTS COME UP BECAUSE OF THE ANNIVERSARY.
IF NOT, THEN WE'LL PROBABLY DO IT ON OUR OWN.
OUR SONS OF THE LEGION HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE GROUP.
YOU GENTLEMEN WOULD BE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND WOULD DO IT ON JULY THE 4TH OR THE DAY BEFORE, PROBABLY ON JULY THE 4TH OF THIS COMING SUMMER.
IT WOULD BE OUR GOAL. NOW I HAVEN'T GIVE THE CONTRACT TO TO [INAUDIBLE] YET TO DO THIS THING.
BUT THAT'S MY NEXT STEP. IF WE GET THIS APPROVAL AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THE BLACK GRANITE OR SO I GOTTA GET ON WITH IT. SO ANYHOW, THAT'S, OUR PROPOSAL AND ASKING FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS OR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
OKAY. THAT'S THE END OF MY STORY. I'M STICKING TO IT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WHAT'S YOUR TIME FRAME AS FAR AS HAVING IT DONE? OH, WE'RE GOING TO. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S GOING TO TAKE 3 OR 4 MONTHS TO GET THE STONE.
AS LONG AS I CAN GET THE OKAY AND SO FORTH TO [INAUDIBLE] PRETTY QUICKLY, THERE'D BE NO PROBLEM GETTING IT DONE BY JULY 4TH. I'VE BEEN TOLD ANYHOW. YEAH. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
GOOD MORNING, MR. BROWN. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CELEBRATION OF 250 YEARS.
YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. I DON'T I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
MAYBE UP CLOSER TO THE BUILDING SOMEWHERE IN ONE OF THESE, RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE FRONT OF THE FLOWER GARDEN, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE'VE PROPOSED.
IT'D BE FINE WITH US. COMMISSIONER BREEDING, HE'S GOT THE OTHER MONUMENTS ON HIS PHONE HERE.
I THINK, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION I THINK IF YOU TOOK WHAT WE DO HAVE, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE DISGRACING ANYTHING, BUT KIND OF COLLABORATED WITH WHAT YOUR IDEA IS, TO MAKE IT A NO WORSE FOR EVERYTHING.
IT'S NOT SCATTERED ALL OVER, SO IT'S LIKE A GROUPING, WOULD THAT? WELL, THAT'S WHY WE SUGGESTED THAT PLACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THERE'S ALREADY, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 3 MORE MONUMENTS IN THE GROUND, PLUS A STAND UP ONE ALREADY. THIS WOULD GO RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF IT.
IT WAS OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. YEAH. MY THOUGHT WAS TO MAYBE EVEN POTENTIALLY PUT A 5 OR 10 FOOT PIECE OF SIDEWALK OFF OF THE SIDEWALK THAT'S THERE WITH MAYBE LIKE A CUL DE SAC AREA TO PUT THE MONUMENTS AROUND RIGHT NOW AS OPPOSED TO THEM JUST KIND OF HAPHAZARDLY SCATTERED ALONG THAT SIDE THERE.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO FINALIZE THE LOCATION, YOU KNOW, TODAY. I GUESS WE COULD ALWAYS REVISIT THAT. THERE ARE THREE MONUMENTS DOWN IN THAT AREA YOU'RE REFERRING TO RIGHT NOW.
ONE OF THEM IS A STONE MARKER, KIND OF LIKE A A GRAVESTONE MARKER THAT SAYS DEDICATED IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM CAROLINE COUNTY WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WARS OF WORLD CONFLICT. THERE IS A MARKER WHICH IS LIKE A BRICK.
IT'S A BRICK BORDER WITH A WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BRONZE PLAQUE INSIDE OF IT THAT IS DEDICATED TO
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THE MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT THOMAS BENJAMIN PHELAN, A U.S.NAVAL AVIATOR WHO DIED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
AND THERE IS ALSO A TIME CAPSULE THERE FROM CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOLS, BICENTENNIAL TIME CAPSULE THAT WAS PLACED IN MARCH 20TH. LOOKS LIKE 25TH NOW THAT I ZOOM IN ON IT.
IT IS 25TH. 25TH, 1976. AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN ON MARCH 25TH, 2026, SO THAT WILL BE REMOVED PRIOR TO THIS BEING PLACED AND DEDICATED. SO I GUESS, ARE WE IN THE PROCESS? SO THAT WILL BE IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A STONE THAT SAYS CAROLINE COUNTY FRIENDS OF HOSPICE TREE IN REMEMBRANCE, 1995. BUT THERE'S NOT A TREE THERE ANYMORE. WHO WAS IT IN REMEMBRANCE? CAROLINE HOSPICE. ALSO, WE MIGHT WANT TO. REC AND PARKS TAKES CARE OF THE COURTHOUSE GREEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO.
RIGHT. WELL GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK BOB.
BOB [INAUDIBLE], OUR DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR A CELEBRATION NEXT SUMMER THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF RIGHT NOW? NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. WE'RE IN CONTACT WITH OUR HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.
CERTAINLY WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, BUT NOTHING SOLID.
NO DATES. OKAY. WE'RE ALSO LEARNING THIS IS RELATIVELY NEW, JUST LAST WEEK.
THERE'S SOMETHING THE OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WHAT'D YOU GET? WELL, I WOULD MAKE A.
IF WE NEED A MOTION, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SONS OF THE LEGION TO PROCEED WITH GETTING THE MONUMENT DONE, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE LOCATION AT SOME POINT TO BE DETERMINED, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
SO. YEP. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. I WOULD JUST ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DIRECT [INAUDIBLE], GET WITH YOUR STAFF AND GET US MAYBE SOME POTENTIAL LOCATIONS SO WE CAN START TO IRON THAT OUT, BUT. WOULD YOU BE THE CONTACT PERSON FOR HER? YEAH. YEAH. JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HIS INFORMATION.
OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS, COULD I GET A COPY OF THE MINUTES OF TODAY? WE DO IT ALL ONLINE NOW. SO IT'S VIDEO YOU CAN GO ON AND WATCH.
YEAH. SO IT IS CLOSED CAPTIONED ON THERE, BUT.
OKAY. WE CAN TRY. JEN MIGHT BE ABLE. OR CINDY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET YOU A CLIP.
WE CAN SEND TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO SHOW TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF SAL, SO.
WELL, OR IF YOU JUST NEED A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER SAYING THAT THEY APPROVED IT.
PUT IN CARE OF ME, FORDIE BROWN, F O R D I E.
YEAH. 26281 HIGNUTT ROAD, DENTON. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.
APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. AND WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA PERSONALLY. IT'LL BE GOOD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. THANK YOU. OKAY MOVING ALONG TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS JAMIE BEECHEY, DIRECTOR OF CAROLINE RECREATION AND PARKS, WITH AN AUTHORIZATION OF DREDGING DISPOSAL AT CHOPTANK MARINA.
GOOD MORNING. AS YOU SEE FROM THE PACKET, WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM DNR, SPECIFICALLY MARTINAK STATE PARK AS THEY LOOK TO CHANNEL DREDGE NEXT YEAR AND ARE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT THEIR SPOILS.
IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE INITIALLY APPLIED FOR GRANT FUNDING FOR DREDGING DNR WHEN WE HAD PROBABLY MORE THAN OUR DREDGE DISPOSAL SITE COULD HANDLE. DNR GAVE US THE MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THE DREDGE DISPOSAL SITE FOR THESE VERY REASONS,
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BECAUSE WE LOCALLY ARE ONE OF THE ONLY DREDGE DISPOSAL SITES.THIS IS THE RATIONALE FOR WHY DNR GAVE US THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT THIS.
SO I'M REQUESTING THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE RECEIPT OF THE 2000YD³ OF MATERIAL FROM MARTINIQUE STATE PARK. AND, JAMIE, THE DNR FUNDING COVERED 100% OF THE COST.
YEAH. TO REMOVE THE SPOILS. YEAH. SO WE WEREN'T OUT ANYTHING.
AND WE WON'T BE OUT ANYTHING. WHAT I WILL REQUEST FROM DNR LOCALLY IS THAT THEY GO AHEAD AND CLEAR CUT THE SITE NOW AND ENSURE THAT THE ENTRY ROAD FOR WHERE THE TRUCKS WILL BE PULLING UP WILL BE, YOU KNOW, FIRMED AND APPROPRIATE.
IT SHOULD BE IN GOOD CONDITION ANYWAY SINCE WE JUST DID IT, BUT JUST ENSURING THAT A, THEY PREPARE IT FOR THE SPOIL THINGS AND B LEAVE IT AS THEY FOUND IT, SO TO SPEAK. DNR JUST SPENT, I BELIEVE, A CONSIDERABLE SUM OF MONEY ON UPGRADES TO THE BOAT RAMP AT MARTINAK STATE PARK AS WELL. CORRECT.
SO, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE ACCESS TO THE MOUTHWASH CREEK, WHICH ULTIMATELY ACCESSES THE BOAT RAMP AT MARTINAK STATE PARK, SO. ANY QUESTIONS FOR JAMIE? YOU GOT ANYTHING? WE NEED A LOT OF OTHER AREAS DREDGED AS WELL, SO.
I'M SURE. YEAH. IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE FAVORS.
AND SINCE DNR HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE PARTNER OF OURS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING.
WELL, WATTS CREEK, THERE ARE A FEW HOMES THAT HAVE WATER ACCESS ON WATTS CREEK.
AND IT IS ALSO CAMP MARDELA ACCESSES THE CREEK.
I'M NOT SURE THAT DREDGING THIS WOULD BENEFIT THEM, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE SOME PROPERTY OWNERS THAT DO RUN THEIR BOATS UP IN WATTS CREEK, SO.
CORRECT. SO ALL RIGHT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECEIPT OF THE DREDGE SPOILS FROM DNR FOR THE WATTS CREEK DREDGING.
SECOND. MOTION, SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU. OKAY.
WE NOW HAVE A SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MOVE WE GO TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE BILL #2025-011, WHICH IS THE ENACTMENT OF NEW ARTICLE VI. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FUND.
YES, SIR. WE ARE HERE FOR A FOURTH READING BECAUSE THIS BILL HAS GONE THROUGH A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS SINCE WE FIRST INTRODUCED IT BACK ON SEPTEMBER 23RD. THERE WAS A SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER THE 7TH.
SO WE ARE HERE FOR A FOURTH READING OF IT. THERE ARE COPIES OF THE AMENDED VERSION OF THIS BILL HERE TODAY TO BE HANDED OUT, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, BUT I AM GOING TO DO A READING OF IT.
THIS WILL BE A FAIR SUMMARY OF THE BILL AS IT STANDS NOW.
THIS IS AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING A FUND TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATORY PRESERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS TO CAROLINE COUNTY WHEN SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS, UTILITY SCALE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SMALL SCALE AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES ARE DEVELOPED ON A PARCEL OF LAND, ANY PORTION OF WHICH IS IDENTIFIED AS CLASS ONE OR CLASS TWO SOILS.
TO PROVIDE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THE AMOUNT OF THE COMPENSATORY PRESERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS.
TO PROVIDE THAT MONEY IN THE AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FUND MAY ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ON AGRICULTURAL LAND IN CAROLINE COUNTY THROUGH THE PURCHASE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS PRESERVATION EASEMENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
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THOSE ACQUIRED BY THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION, PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE TWO, SUBTITLE FIVE OF THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND.THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ENACTMENT OF A NEW CHAPTER 75 AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FUND FOR CAROLINE COUNTY AND COMPENSATORY PRESERVATION CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
I AM TRUSTING THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT RECEIVED, JEN? WE HAVE NOT. I HAD ASKED ABOUT MAPS SHOWING THE TIER ONE AND TIER TWO FARMLAND. ARE THEY AVAILABLE? I THOUGHT THEY WERE.
IS THAT THE MAP SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT YESTERDAY, THAT WE PRINTED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BLOW UP? DO YOU REMEMBER? WELL, SOME. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO GET AN IDEA OF YEAH. AND YOU KNOW WHERE. WE CAN GET A MAP.
MOST OF THE PROPERTIES IN THE SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT IS TILLED CURRENTLY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH. IF YOU COULD JUST EMAIL US A MAP, HAVE SOMEONE SEND THAT OVER TO US.
THAT'S WHY I READ ENACTMENT OF NEW ARTICLE VI.
BUT WE ACTUALLY MOVED THIS TO CREATING A NEW CHAPTER 75.
RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THE SOLAR REGS IN THAT SECTION, IT WILL REFER TO THE REQUIREMENT UNDER CHAPTER 75. AND IF THIS IS ENACTED TODAY, CAN YOU CLARIFY FOR ME WHEN. AT WHAT POINT WOULD A PROJECT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE FEE? WE WOULD DETERMINE THE AMOUNT AT FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL, AND THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING IT BEFORE A BUILDING PERMIT WOULD BE ISSUED.
SO IS THERE ANY. I MEAN, IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT THAT WE NOTIFY THEM OF THIS AHEAD OF TIME, OR DO WE JUST SAY THIS WAS ENACTED ON WHATEVER TODAY IS AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THIS AMOUNT? WHEN WE FIRST DISCUSSED MAKING THIS CHANGE TO THE CODE, WE STARTED PUTTING THAT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE, AND IT IS ALSO ON ALL OF OUR EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS WITH ANY SOLAR PROJECTS SINCE THAT TIME.
OKAY. SO. THAT THIS WOULD BE FORTHCOMING. WHAT PROJECTS DO WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE NOW THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS? WE HAVE THE PRESTON SOLAR, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE ADJACENT TO THE TOWN OF PRESTON, AND WE JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY THAT THAT SOLAR DEVELOPER IS NO LONGER PURSUING THAT PROJECT.
SOMEONE ELSE IS LOOKING TO TAKE IT OVER. SO THAT HAS NOT RECEIVED FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL YET.
SO THAT WILL BE DETERMINED ON THAT ONE. THERE IS ANOTHER.
HOW MANY ACRES IS THAT? APPROXIMATELY 20, I BELIEVE.
AND IS THAT A TIER ONE OR TIER TWO? ARE THOSE TIER ONE OR TIER TWO? TIER TWO SOIL SOILS. I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SEE THE MAP. SO HOW MANY ACRES IS THAT AGAIN? THAT ONE'S A COMMUNITY AS WELL. SO IT'S AROUND 20 ACRES.
AND WE HAVE THE HALO ONE IN GOLDSBORO ACROSS FROM CASTLE HALL FARMS. THAT ONE'S 40 ACRES. THEY HAVE NOT FILED THEIR SITE PLAN YET, BUT THAT'S FORTHCOMING.
AND THEN THERE'S THE OTHER ONE AT HOBBS, WHICH AGAIN IS AROUND 40 ACRES.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT PLAN YET EITHER. AND THE ONE THAT GOT I THINK IT WAS CHATTERTON,
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THE ONE THAT WAS APPROVED IN GREENSBORO WOULD NOT APPLY BECAUSE IT'S.IN THE TOWN AND IT'S IN THE TOWN LIMITS. RIGHT.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE LAND IN THE TOWN LIMITS AND STILL BE TIER ONE AND TIER TWO.
YES. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 ACRES THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THIS? YES. THE ONLY OTHER ONE THAT'S OUT THERE IS THE WAYPOST SOLAR IN NORTH COUNTY.
THAT WAS PHASE TWO OF CHERRYWOOD. THAT HAS BEEN THROUGH BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND RECEIVED THEIR CPCN, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL YET.
SO IT WOULD BE DETERMINED AT THAT TIME. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TOLD EVERYONE THAT THIS WOULD BE RETROACTIVE FOR ANY PROJECTS THAT HAD NOT RECEIVED THEIR FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL [INAUDIBLE] THAT, THAT ONE IS 5 TO 600 SOMEWHERE IN THAT THRESHOLD.
IS THIS. SO THIS IS NOT REGARDLESS OF ZONING DISTRICT.
CORRECT? THIS IS ONLY IN R-1. THIS IS FOR ANY SOILS.
IF THERE IS A PROJECT AREA THAT HAS SOILS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS 1 OR 2, RIGHT.
IT WOULD BE IMPOSED FOR THAT WHOLE PROJECT AREA. REGARDLESS OF HOW IT IS.
NO. OKAY. SO YOU POTENTIALLY WOULD HAVE PROJECTS THAT WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY THIS, LIKE LIKE THE GREENSBORO PROJECT IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. THAT'S BASICALLY. WELL, BECAUSE IT'S IN THE TOWN RIGHT WHERE THE OLD MILL PLANT USED TO BE AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
THAT ONE'S OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION. OKAY. AND DO WE KNOW AT THIS POINT WHAT THE AVERAGE MOUTH APPRAISAL AMOUNT IS FOR FY 2024? IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 7500. WAS THE FAIR MARKET VALUE PER ACRE.
WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE FY 25 JANUARY AROUND JANUARY.
NOT GOING TO GO DOWN I DON'T THINK. NO. IT WENT UP AND AS SOON AS THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE UTILIZING. AGAIN, IF WE GET IT A LITTLE EARLIER BEFORE IT'S MADE PUBLIC, BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT FROM MOUTH, THAT'S WHAT WE WILL UTILIZE.
OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY. I'M GOOD. AND THEN IN THE EVENT THAT THAT INFORMATION BECOMES NO LONGER AVAILABLE, WE WOULD GO WITH OUR SECOND OPTION THAT'S LAID OUT WITH OUR PROCESS FOR OBTAINING TWO APPRAISALS OURSELVES AND GETTING THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.
CORRECT? YES. SO 56 AROUND $5,600 PER ACRE OF LAND AFFECTED.
SO ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T.
OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE ON WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW.
MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT HERE. WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION.
WHAT'S THAT? 100? I USED 100. AND THEN THE 500 FOR THE OTHER ONE.
AND I DID 5600 TIMES 5600. 600 ACRES. OH, 600 ACRES.
OKAY. 5600. I'LL LOOK AT OUR EXISTING ONES THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON FOR ACREAGE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT AND ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-011. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS ONE'S BEEN KICKED AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
YEAH, BUT CRYSTAL AND STEWART DID THE LION'S SHARE OF WORK.
YEAH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S HELP IN GETTING THIS ENACTED.
AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD FOR THE COUNTY, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, STEWART. THANK YOU.CRYSTAL. OUR PLEASURE. CRYSTAL. THANK YOU. LESLIE.
NOT HERE, BUT THANK HER. YES. THANK YOUR STAFF AS WELL.
I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF STAFF WORKING ON THIS. SHE'S ENJOYING A WELL-DESERVED VACATION RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT MOVING ALONG TO NOW WE HAVE A COUPLE SECOND READINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED.
SO MR. BARROLL, I GUESS WE'RE WITHIN OUR TIME.
WHAT TIME? THOSE WERE ADVERTISED? YES. YES, SIR.
OKAY. YES. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-12.
I'LL READ THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED LAST SATURDAY IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT.
THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED LAST TUESDAY THE 14TH.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-012, AN ACT CONCERNING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS TO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW, KNOWN AS THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTAINTY ACT AND REQUIRED BY SB 931 AND HB 1036 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING SUPPLEMENTAL USE REGULATIONS FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SMALL SCALE AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS UTILITY SCALE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
DEFINING KEY TERMS FOR SUCH USES IMPLEMENTING THE REQUIREMENT OF A PAYMENT OF A COMPENSATORY PRESERVATION CONTRIBUTION AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER 75 TO THE COUNTY. WHEN SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES ARE DEVELOPED ON CERTAIN LAND AND GENERALLY REGULATING, ADDRESSING AND PROVIDING FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SMALL SCALE SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS.
UTILITY SCALE AND TO AMEND THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS 175.
ATTACHMENT THREE OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING TO PROVIDE THAT SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SMALL SCALE AND SOLAR ENERGY GENERATING STATIONS UTILITY SCALE ARE PERMITTED IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS, SUBJECT TO SITE PLAN REVIEW AND TO DELETE ALL REFERENCES TO THE TERMS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND SOLAR POWER PLANT. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2025, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M. IN ROOM 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND. 21629. TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING EMAIL.
THE ADDRESS AS GIVEN. VISIT THE WEBSITE AS GIVEN OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629. PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. OKAY. JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? BEFORE WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING, DO EITHER ONE OF YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. NO. GOOD. OKAY. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-012. SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY? NO. IS THERE ANYONE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL? OKAY, I DO NOT SEE ANY. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-012.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MOVING ALONG TO LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-013.
YES. THIS BILL IS ON THE SAME SCHEDULE AS THE ONE WE JUST READ.
THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON THE 14TH. THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH. WE'RE HERE FOR THE SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[00:35:04]
AN ACT TO AMEND SUBSECTION C OF SECTION 175-29.WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES OF ARTICLE FIVE, SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS OF CHAPTER 175.
ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY BY REPEALING AND REENACTING THE SAME WITHOUT SUBPARAGRAPHS THREE AND FOUR, THUS ELIMINATING FROM SECTION 175-29 THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ONE, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND THE GENERATING FACILITY IT SERVES BE OPERATED AND OWNED BY THE SAME PERSON OR ENTITY, AND TWO THE FACILITY IS NOT A SHARED FACILITY AS DEFINED BY EITHER SECTION 9-1110A4 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, FOR COMAR 26.04.05.01 FOR A NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY TO BE PERMITTED IN THE R RURAL ZONING DISTRICTS BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2025, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M. IN ROOM 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURT HOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND. 21629. TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING EMAIL, THE EMAIL.
THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN, VISIT WEBSITE IS GIVEN OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629. PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. OKAY, JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT RECORDINGS? WE HAVE NOT. HAVE NOT. OKAY. YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO ADD ANYTHING BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARING? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-013. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE, AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
OKAY. NONE SEEN. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES OUR LEGISLATIVE ITEMS FOR TODAY. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE.
MOVE WE GO. MOVE. WE CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MOVING ALONG TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE ONE RESOLUTION WHICH IS 2025-033 48 PARK ADVISORY BOARD CHANGES. JAMIE, DO YOU WANT TO TOUCH ON THAT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING? I THINK THIS IS A HOUSEKEEPING FOR WHEN THEY PRESENTED LAST YEAR IN MARCH TO EXPAND THE TERMS OF THE CURRENT BOARD.
YEAH, IT JUST REMOVES THE ONE YEAR PROBATIONARY PERIOD AFTER SERVING TWO TERMS SO YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE ON RIGHT ON THE BOARD, WHICH IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES WHERE IT'S HARD TO FIND VOLUNTEERS, WE'RE ALL FOR ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY.
THEY STILL HAVE TO BE REAPPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
I WOULD MOVE WE ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-003. SECOND.
033. SO I'LL AMEND THAT. 033 COMMISSIONER PORTER.
SORRY. [INAUDIBLE] CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS TO I GUESS, GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES ON.
LAST WEEK, THE COMMERCE SECRETARY. COKER. SECRETARY COKER WAS HERE.
MOST OF THEM ARE TARGETING MORE URBAN AREAS THEIR PRIORITIES.
BUT HE WAS WILLING AND INTERESTED IN MEETING OR HIS STAFF MEETING WITH US TO DISCUSS THE TECH PARK,
[00:40:06]
WHICH MR. ZIMBEROFF HAS ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON.AND THERE'S A MEETING AT LEAST TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED, I BELIEVE, NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS THE TECH PARK.
THE SECOND ITEM I HAD IS A POSITIVE UPDATE FOR YOU REGARDING DAYSPRING'S STEWART AND HETTY AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE POSSIBLE PURCHASERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE CONTRACTS AND ALL THE DETAILS.
REALLY FAST AND FURIOUS. WE GET EMAILS DAILY, AND WE'RE DOWN TO JUST WHAT I WOULD SAY.
WORDING. NOT MUCH, NOT MUCH LEFT TO GET THAT CONTRACT FINISHED.
SO WE'RE MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS ON DAYSPRING.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY. ANYTHING. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
AND I DO HAVE A REQUEST. I GUESS IF I COULD JUMP IN HERE FIRST AND GO FIRST ON THIS.
ANYWAY, THE MEETING SCHEDULE, UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2026, I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TWO DRAFT CALENDARS. A COUPLE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS LOOK FOR AFTER THE FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE IS MULTIPLE WEEKS WITHOUT A MEETING. AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE SCHEDULE WORKS OUT WELL WHERE WE DON'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE WEEK WITHOUT A MEETING THROUGH OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE. I BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A FLUKE THING, BUT.
BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER WE HAD SOME SUMMER MONTHS WHERE WE WENT TWO WEEKS WITHOUT A MEETING, AND THAT GOT THINGS, YOU KNOW, GOT US A LITTLE OFF IN ADDRESSING THINGS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
THE OTHER THING I LOOK AT IS, IS HOW WE CAN WORK THESE OUT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY COUNTY HOLIDAYS PRIOR TO MEETING TUESDAYS, JUST BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO STAFF.
I DON'T LIKE TO BOTHER PEOPLE ON THEIR HOLIDAYS, SO IT APPEARS WE ONLY HAVE THREE HOLIDAYS THAT MONDAYS BEFORE PROPOSED MEETINGS, WHICH YOU CAN'T AVOID THEM ALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MANAGEABLE. SO I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN.
WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS THE IDEA OF GOING BACK TO ONE EVENING MEETING, POTENTIALLY A MONTH.
AS AN OPTION. OKAY. I'VE ONLY HEARD ONE IN REGARDS TO, AND IT WOULD ONLY AFFECT A MEETING HERE OR THERE, LIKE WITH POTENTIAL STUDENTS OR CIVIC GROUPS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD WANT TO ATTEND TO JUST SEE HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
RIGHT. AND BUT I WOULD SAY, HEY, YOU HAVE THE HEARING, THE BUDGET HEARING MEETINGS TOO.
SO COMMISSIONER PORTER YOUR THOUGHTS. WE BATTED THIS ROUND, BACK AND FORTH.
I MEAN, WE IT JUST APPEARS TO ME THAT OVER THE YEARS WHEN WE'VE HAD EVENING MEETINGS, WE DON'T HAVE.
YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO HAVE AN EVENING MEETING, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW TO LOGISTICALLY FOR THE STAFF, BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE EVENING MEETINGS, I DON'T CARE. HONESTLY, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? I'M FINE EITHER WAY.
I WOULD SAY WE DIDN'T REALLY. WHEN WE HAD EVENING MEETINGS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE ATTENDANCE.
SO. RIGHT. BUT. BUT I'M FINE. EITHER WAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY.
WELL, I, I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS APPROVE THE CALENDAR, AND WE CAN ALWAYS SHIFT A MEETING TO AN EVENING MEETING. WHAT'S THE REQUIRED NOTICE TO TO SHIFT THE MEETING? I THINK THE STATUTE SAYS AS MUCH NOTICE AS IS PRACTICAL.
[00:45:06]
RIGHT? SO IF WE HAD BUT THERE ISN'T A MAGIC NUMBER. OKAY. AND THEN IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD A REQUEST FROM FROM AN ORGANIZATION THAT WANTED TO ATTEND A MEETING, WE COULD ALWAYS LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I MEAN. THIS IS CALLING FOR.
ONLY ON THE MONTHS WHERE WE HAVE FOUR MEETINGS.
IT APPEARS TO ME RIGHT IN FEBRUARY. IS THAT AN EVENING PROPOSED EVENING MEETING IN FEBRUARY? I BELIEVE SO, YES. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
I CAN'T READ IT. IT'S FEBRUARY. WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT PROPOSING.
IT LOOKS LIKE JUST EVENING MEETINGS IN JANUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. SO THROUGH THE SUMMER WHEN WE MEET EVERY OTHER WEEK, THERE WOULD NOT BE EVENING MEETINGS.
AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT WE WOULD IN FEBRUARY EITHER. IT'S NOT SHADED 24 BUDGET ROUND TABLE 9 A.M.
SO YOU'RE SAYING DO A MEET EVENING MEETING? IT'D BE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT OF THEM. OR WE COULD JUST KEEP WITH THE DAYTIME.
AND IF WE HAD A REQUEST SHIFT TO EVENING. I MEAN, I LIKE THAT IDEA MYSELF.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'LL STICK WITH THE DAYTIME SCHEDULE.
I'LL MAKE. WELL, LET'S DO THIS, THEN. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED 2026 MEETING SCHEDULE WITH DAYTIME MEETINGS. AND WE WOULD WE WOULD JUST ENTERTAIN REQUESTS TO DO EVENING MEETINGS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
ALRIGHT, SO I MADE THE MOTION. SECOND. YES. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.
NOW, COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
MR. PORTER. YEAH, I, I WANTED TO MENTION WE ALL WE ALL KNOW THAT WE WE LOST MR. BAKER, AND THAT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT LOSS. I THINK HIS SERVICE IS THURSDAY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
SO WE CERTAINLY OFFER CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY.
AND YEAH, THE COMMERCE MEETING. I MEAN, I APPRECIATE SECRETARY COKER COMING.
I THINK HE WAS VERY FORTHCOMING IN WHAT HE, WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT.
AND ALTHOUGH A LOT OF IT I DON'T THINK REALLY DID APPLY, WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF REALLY PUSH THE, PROBLEMS AND THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF THE TECH PARK.
SO I FELT LIKE HE LISTENED AND I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, HIS STAFF, YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED UP ON THAT AND PROMISED TO YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT, AT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO APPRECIATE HIM. SO OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
THANKS. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
I HAVE ONE THING. I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST WEEK.
BUT THE DID HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA LITTLE LEAGUE REACH OUT TO ME.
THEY ARE SOLICITING DONATIONS FOR SCOREBOARDS AT TWO FIELDS AT THE CLARK HARRISON MEMORIAL PARK IN PRESTON, WHICH IS BEHIND PRESTON ELEMENTARY. I'VE TALKED TO JAMIE ABOUT THAT.
SHE HAS LET THE BOARD OF EDUCATION KNOW BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND WE JUST MANAGE THE FACILITIES FOR THEM. SO IF JUST WANTED TO KEEP YOU GUYS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THEM PUTTING THE SCOREBOARDS UP.
[00:50:02]
NO. YEAH. SO I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS AND THAT I WOULD I WOULD BRING IT UP TO YOU, GENTLEMEN. AND DIRECTED THEM TO TALK TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO RECEIVE THEIR APPROVAL AS WELL.AND I THINK JAMIE BEECHEY HAS LET THEM KNOW. LET THE BOARD OF ED KNOW.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? MA'AM? YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AND YOUR AREA OF RESIDENCE.
SANDRA PITTS RIDGLEY SCHOOL STREET. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING HANNAH HENRY ASSOCIATION.
AND I'M JUST HERE WITH A FEW QUESTIONS THIS MORNING.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS OR COMMENTS OR WHATEVER IS.
YES. AND DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT FOR US? SURE. KATHELEEN, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE HER AN UPDATE? YES. WE HAVE WE HAVE A BUYER THAT WE ARE WORKING THE FINAL DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT, THE PURCHASE CONTRACT WITH.
SO ONCE WE FINISH THAT PROCESS WITH THE BUYER, ASSUMING WE FINISH THAT PROCESS WITH THE BUYER, AND ALL SIGNS ARE THAT WE WILL WE WOULD SEND A LETTER NOTIFYING THE RESIDENTS OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WOULD NO LONGER BE IN AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DETAILS AND CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. SO, I MEAN, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO. OKAY. GO ON IF THAT'S NOT YOUR QUESTION. YEAH. THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
AND THE OTHER THING WAS NOW SINCE THERE IS A BUYER AND POTENTIAL BUYER.
SO. WELL, AS FAR AS THE MANAGEMENT LIKE NOW, THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL THERE.
IS THAT STILL IN THE MANAGEMENT FROM MILFORD THAT? IT'LL BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY? THEY WILL THE OWNER, THE NEW OWNERS WILL PROBABLY MANAGE IT THEMSELVES.
OKAY. BUT, I MEAN, LIKE, NOW THERE'S A PROBLEM NOW.
SO WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE PROBLEM NOW? THIS IS STILL MILFORD.
YES. OKAY. AND THE TENANT WAS COMPLAINING THAT RIGHT NOW THEY STILL DON'T HAVE LIGHTING.
AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW, AND THE CAMERAS ARE STILL NOT WORKING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WERE AWARE ABOUT THE SHOOTING ON SATURDAY AT DAYSPRINGS.
I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM RECENTLY, BUT I DID ASK THE STATE'S ATTORNEY THIS MORNING AND HE SAID HE DID NOT KNOW OF A SHOOTING THERE, SO I DON'T I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A CONFIRMED SHOOTING OR NOT OR IF IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
NO, IT WAS A CONFIRMED SHOOTING. I MEAN, IT WAS.
AND I HEARD IT. I HEARD THE SHOOTING. SO. WELL, THERE IS I'M JUST THERE IS THERE WAS MUZZLELOADER SEASON IN LAST WEEK, SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DEER HUNTING IN THE WOODS BEHIND THE PROPERTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT POTENTIALLY.
SO I DON'T KNOW. YOU MAY BE CORRECT. I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE SHERIFF ON THAT AS WELL.
SO A LOT OF TIMES THOSE CAMERAS ARE NOT WORKING BACK THERE AT DAYSPRINGS.
SO THAT'S I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THEM AS WELL TO.
YEAH. TO GO BACK TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW OKAY.
OKAY. SO THAT'S. I'VE ASKED ABOUT THE CAMERAS FOR MULTIPLE MONTHS AND.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE ARE THEY WORKING? SOMETIMES.
I WAS TOLD. OH YOU WERE TOLD THEY WERE. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE.
WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE WORKING. YEAH.
THIS. OKAY, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE SHERIFF ON THAT, MR. PITTS. AND BEFORE WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
[00:55:01]
BUT I'LL MAKE SURE I HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER. I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THE SHERIFF, AND I'LL GET BACK WITH YOU ON ON THAT.OKAY. MY OTHER ONLY QUESTION WAS, HOW CAN WE GET A MEETING WITH MANAGEMENT UNTIL THINGS ARE SOLD OR WHATEVER? IS IT A WAY THAT THE ASSOCIATION CAN MEET WITH MANAGEMENT? WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER A YEAR. THE TENANTS ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH MANAGEMENT.
A LOT OF TIMES, NOBODY'S THERE. I'VE BEEN THERE, AND I CAN'T EVEN TALK TO ANYONE.
SO IS THERE A WAY WE CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH MANAGEMENT JUST TO SIT AND TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE TENANTS? I MEAN, THEY'RE STILL PAYING THE RENT, AND THEY STILL SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN GOOD CONDITION. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THE BEST THING, THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE FOR YOU TO MEET WITH OUR STAFF AND EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS TO THEM AND LET US DEAL WITH MANAGEMENT.
ALRIGHT THEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YEP. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THOSE CONCERNS TO OUR ATTENTION. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY. NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL ARTICLE OR GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 3-305 B 7 AND 8 TO CONSULT, TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE, AND TO CONSULT WITH STAFF, CONSULTANTS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS ABOUT PENDING OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION.
WE ARE CLOSING THE MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC, BECAUSE PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THE THEORIES OF IMPOSING LIABILITY OR INTERPOSING DEFENSES AND NEXT STEPS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COUNTY'S POSITION IN LITIGATION.
FURTHER, THE COMMISSIONERS DO NOT WANT TO WAIVE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, AND WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION SCHEDULED UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS. ARTICLE 3-305 B 10 TO DISCUSS PUBLIC SECURITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY PLANS AND A CLOSED SESSION UNDER AUTHORITY GENERAL PROVISIONS.
ARTICLE 3-305 B 3. TO CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE AND MATTERS DIRECTLY RELATED THERETO. SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THOSE THREE ITEMS? SO MOVED. MOTION AND SECOND. NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE, COMMISSIONER PORTER.
AYE. COMMISSIONER BREEDING. AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
AYE. AND WE'LL TAKE RECESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.