Nov 25, 2025 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:00:56]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR DON REYNOLDS OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DENTON, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE.

[Call to Order: Invocation— Calvary Baptist Church of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

AND TO EACH OF YOU. COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SERVING SO FAITHFULLY, AND I PRAY ALL OF YOU HAVE WISDOM CONCERNING YOUR FUTURES. AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE COMMISSIONERS THAT BELIEVE WHAT'S WRITTEN BEHIND YOU.

IN GOD WE TRUST. LET US PRAY. FATHER, WE COME THIS MORNING AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS THANKSGIVING SEASON.

WE KNOW ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD THAT ALL BLESSINGS COME FROM YOUR HAND.

SO, LORD, HELP US TO BE MORE AWARE OF THEM AND GIVE THANKS UNTO YOU.

LORD, HELP US TO BE A PEOPLE THAT WILL LOOK TO YOU, TRUST IN YOU, BELIEVE IN YOU, AND MAKE GOOD CHOICES.

AND LORD, FOR THESE THAT ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE CHOICES AND THEIR STAFF THAT CARRIES THEM OUT.

AND WE ARE PRAYING YOUR BLESSING AND ASKING YOUR BLESSING UPON CAROLINE COUNTY AT THIS TIME.

LOTS OF PROJECTS AND LOTS OF VISION. SO MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE SERVING AND AT THIS TIME AND ONCE AGAIN, WE KNOW IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS PERSONS WILL BE CHOOSING TO WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN FOR OFFICES. LORD, GIVE US LEADERS THAT WILL NOT ONLY MAKE GOOD DECISIONS NOW, BUT TRY TO HAVE A VISION OF WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. LORD, WE ARE A NEEDY PEOPLE AND WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING.

WE ASK THIS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR REYNOLDS. I THINK YOU HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY AS WELL.

YES, SIR. SEE YOU. OKAY. THE. THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025, FROM 10:12 A.M. TO 12:28 P.M.

UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE § 3-305 TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER RELATED TO STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL CONCERNS WITHIN A COUNTY DEPARTMENT. THE BOARD RECEIVED UPDATES FROM STAFF AND HELD A GENERAL DISCUSSION.

NO DECISIONS WERE MADE AND NO FORMAL ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.

THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, MARK SHERIDAN, JENNIFER REIBLY STEWART BARROLL AND JESSE HAMMOCK. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR 1ST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING, WHICH IS THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY

[President’s Closed Session Report Out]

[Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) Update & Memorandum of Understanding]

SO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH SEATS TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE.

BUT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MOVE UP HERE JUST SO WE CAN WALK? YEAH. JUST MOVE. MOVE TO THE FRONT IN CASE YOU NEED TO JUMP IN.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING US. ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. WE HAVE IT. IT'LL TURN THAT ONE OFF, SO IT'S FINE.

I'M SURE THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.

YEAH, WE HAVE THE LITTLE. SO WE'RE LOOKING DOWN.

WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS WELL.

WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT DAYDREAMING. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HOLLY TRICE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING. AND THIS IS KJ MARVEL.

[00:05:05]

AND THE TITLE OF OUR PROGRAM IS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.

SO 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IS DATA, AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT THERE'S BEEN A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF EMS CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN INCREASING THE DEMAND ON EMERGENCY RESOURCES.

AND OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES WHILE REDUCING UNNECESSARY 911 UTILIZATION AS WELL AS UNNECESSARY ED VISITS.

SO WITH THIS PROGRAM, 1 NURSE AND 1 PARAMEDIC WILL BE DOING HOME VISITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGH 911 UTILIZERS, MEANING THAT THEY HAVE CALLED 911 FIVE OR MORE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

AND OUR GOAL IS WE'LL BE DOING A PHYSICAL, PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHAT ARE THOSE CLIENT'S NEEDS.

AND THEN WE WILL BE CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES, RESOURCES THAT BOTH EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERING AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS MAY HAVE TO HELP PREVENT THOSE.

911 UTILIZATIONS. SO CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY, WE ALREADY SAID THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE HIGH 911 UTILIZATION OF 5 OR MORE 911 CALLS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS.

THEY DO HAVE TO BE A CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT, AND THIS IS LIMITED TO ADULTS.

SO THEY DO NEED TO BE 18 OR OLDER IN ORDER TO QUALIFY.

WE WILL BE ACCEPTING VERY LIMITED REFERRALS. WE HAVE ABOUT 73 CLIENTS THAT WE KNOW OF THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW THAT ARE HIGH 911 UTILIZERS.

AND WE WILL BE WORKING ALSO VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, AS THEY MAY ALSO BE AWARE OF SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SERVICE.

SO ON DECEMBER 1ST, WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO START A SOFT LAUNCH FOR THIS PROGRAM.

WE WILL BE SEEING 1 CLIENT A WEEK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, AND THEN WE WILL BE DOING A BROAD IMPLEMENTATION STARTING IN JANUARY. NO, I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE EXCITED. IT'S NEEDED. YOU KNOW, HEALTHCARE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KEEP THE PARAMEDICS AVAILABLE FOR THE HIGH ACUITY CALLS, AND WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE LOW ACUITY, WHICH WILL CYCLE DOWN TO LESS ER WAIT TIMES. YOU KNOW, LESS TRANSPORTS OF FREQUENT PEOPLE.

AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH PRIMARY CARE IS REALLY THE GOAL.

OKAY. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS DID YOU SAY? 90. 73.

RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE FOUND. OKAY, SO IF YOU'RE DOING 1 A WEEK, VISIT 1 PERSON A WEEK.

SO WHEN WILL YOU KNOW WE'RE ONLY 52 WEEKS IN A YEAR OBVIOUSLY.

SO WHEN WILL YOU LIKE. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS LIKE WHEN YOU SAY LIKE YOU STOP VISITING.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU JUST CONTINUE TILL YOU SEE ALL 73 OR SO.

THE GOAL IS TO DO SHORT TERM CASE MANAGEMENT.

SO WE WILL BE SEEING ONCE WE ARE FULLY IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF BECAUSE OF FUNDING AND ITEMS LIKE THAT.

SO WE WILL BE DOING TWO VISITS A WEEK. OKAY. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY PRIORITIZING CLIENTS BASED ON NEED.

CLIENTS ALSO HAVE TO CONSENT TO BE ENROLLED IN.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME THAT SAY NO, I'M NOT. ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YES, YES. AND SO THE GOAL IS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THERE, WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE CLIENTS NEEDS ARE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO VERY QUICKLY WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND TRY TO PUT RESOURCES IN PLACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO HELP REDUCE THEIR 911 UTILIZATION RATES.

WE MIGHT BE CONNECTING THEM TO PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS.

THEY MAY NEED THEY MAY HAVE SOME SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET.

WHATEVER THOSE NEEDS ARE, WE ARE GOING TO WORK VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT AND PUT INTO PLACE.

GOOD, GOOD. WELL, YOU'VE MADE MY DAY. I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THE YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT WE CALL FREQUENT FLIERS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES YOU KNOW, WHAT WE FIND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP THAT MAY PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING IN, YOU KNOW, FROM BEING TRANSPORTED.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR. SO RUN THROUGH A TYPICAL CASE FOR ME.

I MEAN, SO WE WE WE'VE IDENTIFIED WE'VE IDENTIFIED THESE PEOPLE WHO BASED ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY'VE CALLED.

SO YOU GO TO VISIT DOES THIS INVOLVE PRESCRIPTION REFILLS?

[00:10:02]

YES. OKAY. SO WE DO A FULL MEDICATION RECONCILIATION.

WE HAVE ALSO PARTNERED WITH UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND THEIR PHARMD.

SO THEY CAN ALSO HELP US WITH THAT MEDICATION RECONCILIATION IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE WITH REFILLS GETTING THOSE MEDS, WE WILL CERTAINLY PUT THAT INTO PLACE. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO DO A FULL PHYSICAL HEAD TO TOE ASSESSMENT, SEE WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE. ENVIRONMENTAL. SO FOR INSTANCE, IF ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE HAVING IS THAT THEY'RE FREQUENT FALLING, BUT THEY REALLY NEED GRAB BARS, WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PUT INTO PLACE FOR THAT CLIENT.

YEAH. I I WATCHED LAST WEEK THE LIVE STREAM OF DOCTOR GERALD'S YOU KNOW, THING THAT HE DID IN EASTON. AND YOU KNOW, HE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS, THIS TYPE OF THING.

AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO IMPLEMENT. I THINK IN THE PAST, HIPAA HAS GOTTEN KIND OF GOTTEN IN THE WAY A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE FIGURED A WAY TO WORK AROUND THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GREAT. THIS REALLY IS I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

AND I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, EVERY MILE WE CAN KEEP FROM PUTTING ON AN AMBULANCE EVERY MINUTE, WE CAN KEEP OUR PARAMEDICS FOR THE HIGH ACUITY PATIENTS.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BENEFIT US ALL THE WAY AROUND.

SO THIS IS THIS IS GOOD. THANK YOU. KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

SAFE. HEALTHY. CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY. YOU KNOW, AND AND AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY FIND IS LIVING CONDITIONS, AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF WORK ON A LITTLE BIT, TOO.

BUT YOU KNOW, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN I WAS IN BUSINESS WITH MANAGING ELDERLY PROPERTY, I MEAN, WE JUST FOUND THAT SOMETIMES JUST HAVING SOMEONE TO TALK TO, JUST JUST HAVING A VISITOR BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE THEY DON'T SEE PEOPLE FOR DAYS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY JUST WANT SOMEONE TO.

SOMETIMES I THINK THAT MAY BE THE REASON THEY CALL SOMETIMES.

BUT BUT YEAH, THIS IS I THINK, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST STEP THAT WE CAN MAKE TO YOU KNOW WORKING TOWARD RESOLVING SOME OF THESE LONG STANDING ISSUES.

LIKE YOU SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL 5 MINUTES AWAY.

SO WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.

THE QUESTION HAS BEEN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.

THIS IS A BIG STEP TOWARD THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A STRAIN. I KNOW IT IS.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, VISITING PEOPLE GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, IN WEATHER. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT'S IT'S IT'S A GREAT FIRST STEP.

SO THANKS. IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE. [LAUGHTER] AND I HAVE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT IN THIS.

WELL, THANKS TO CHRISSY AND THE BLS COMMITTEE AND ROBIN AND ROBIN AND MARK LIKE FOR SUPPORTING US.

BUT YOU GUYS DIDN'T TOUCH ON THE FUTURE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES.

SO DID YOU, KEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN OR NOT, BUT A TIMELINE.

WHEN DO YOU SEE LIKE THE FUTURE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES.

LIKE WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT IN IN YOUR THINGS, YOU KNOW, VACCINES EXPANDED HEALTH CARE FOR MOST PATIENTS.

SO YOU GIVE A TIMELINE WHEN WHEN MAYBE A YEAR, TWO YEARS.

SO AS FAR AS THE VACCINATION PIECE, IF WE IDENTIFY THAT NOW WE CAN ALREADY TAKE CARE OF THAT.

OKAY. SO AS FAR AS REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING FOR HIGH RISK RESIDENTS.

SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. AND THEN WE'RE WORKING VERY HEAVILY WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNERS TO IF WE NEED THAT TYPE OF RESPONSE OR THAT CLIENT NEEDS THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT.

BEING ABLE TO PUT THAT IN PLACE. SO THAT WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

OKAY. SO IF YOU GO IN THERE, IF YOU VISIT 1 OF YOUR PATIENTS AND THEY SAY, OH, AND YOU LIKE TO DO IT LIKE TELEHEALTH OR WHATEVER, THEY JUST QNEED A CELL PHONE, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN JUST GO LIKE SEARCH SERVICES AND GET THEM SOMETHING. MAYBE ONE OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH? YES. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. IF I COULD JUST SPEAK IN TERMS OF THE EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.

SO THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM THAT AND I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WHEN I DID MY BOARD OF HEALTH UPDATE, BUT THERE'S A REAL FOCUS ON MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES.

SO I ANTICIPATE AND I KNOW THAT MDH IS ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES, WITH THEIR SUBMISSION FOR THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM FUNDING.

IS IS TO EXPAND AND IMPLEMENT MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES THROUGHOUT MARYLAND.

SO YOU KNOW, REALLY LOOKING AT A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THAT THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

WHEN THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY BECOMES AVAILABLE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH IS THE EXPANSION OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING OR ABLE TO DO IS

[00:15:07]

WHAT PERCENTAGE? I MEAN, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A SHOT IN THE DARK, BUT WHAT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE DO YOU THINK IN THIS COUNTY DO NOT HAVE A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIAN? ANY IDEA? I HONESTLY AM NOT SURE.

AND I WOULD SAY, NOT ONLY IS IT NOT A MATTER OF NOT HAVING A PRIMARY, BUT ARE THEY NOT CONSISTENTLY GETTING PRIMARY HEALTH SERVICES? I THINK A LOT OF PATIENTS HAVE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS, BUT ARE THEY GOING AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR OR ARE THEY? DO THEY HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION TO GET THERE? THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT PLAY INTO THAT.

I THINK THE ISSUE WITH PRIMARY CARE IS JUST FINDING 1.

YEAH, WELL, I CAN'T FIND ONE. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I CAN'T FIND 1. I CALLED 1, IT WAS TILL MAY. IT WAS TILL MAY.

YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE PRIMARY TO GET IN 1 IS IT'S, YOU KNOW, 6 ,7 MONTHS OUT.

AND I THINK THAT'S 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WAS EMPHASIZED ON THE CALL LAST WEEK FROM DOCTOR GERALD.

THE NEED TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO RECRUIT PRIMARY PHYSICIANS.

I KNOW CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND HAS A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT IT'S GETTING PRIMARY PHYSICIANS HERE.

SO I'M GOING TO MENTION 1 QUICK THING THAT I MENTIONED LAST TIME, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN DO THIS.

NURSING HOMES. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I I'LL GO BACK AND TELL YOU THAT IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, BEEN OFF AND ON ON THIS, WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF TRANSPORTS FROM NURSING HOMES THAT WERE I'M NOT A DOCTOR, I WISH I WAS, BUT THAT, THAT, THAT THE NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATION AGREED WERE NOT NECESSARY.

BUT I THINK YOU RUN INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A A PHYSICIAN WHO'S ON CALL THAT PHYSICIAN IS NOT THERE.

ANYONE WHO CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, WE GOT THIS PATIENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT, WELL, NO ONE'S GOING TO SIT IN THEIR HOUSE AND SAY, NAH, THEY'RE OKAY. THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, YEAH, TAKE THEM. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FROM A LIABILITY STANDPOINT, I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO REALLY KIND OF.

IT'S ON THE A LIST. OKAY. [LAUGHTER] AND IF IT INVOLVES GOING OUT AND GOING THROUGH CASES AND SAYING, WHY WAS THIS CALL MADE? WHY WHO MADE WHAT YOU FIND IS THAT SOMETIMES A LOT OF TIMES CHANGE OF SHIFTS.

RIGHT. I MEAN YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CHANGE OF SHIFT.

YES. RECORDS. BUT THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.

SO, MAN, I'M. THIS IS GOOD. ARE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, THE 73 INDIVIDUALS IN ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOME FACILITY? NO, WE CAN'T WE WON'T BE ABLE TO TARGET ANYBODY INSIDE OF A NURSING.

SHOULDN'T BE. BUT ANYWAY. BUT. AND YOU. I'M SORRY.

YOU SAID HOW MANY CALLS? IN WHAT PERIOD OF TIME? 6 MONTHS. 5. 5 CALLS. 5 OR MORE CALLS. AND 6 QUALIFIES FOR THIS.

OKAY. SO FUNDING. WHERE? WHERE'S THE FUNDING COMING FROM? IS IT SUSTAINABLE? IS IT GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE? WHAT'S. SO WE DID RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FROM THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION.

WE ALSO HAVE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FROM THE AND WE ARE ACTIVELY. ROBIN AND I HAVE WRITTEN HOW MANY GRANTS AT THIS POINT TO HELP FUND THIS PROGRAM.

THIS IS AN EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAM. AND IT IS IT IS COUNTRYWIDE AS FAR AS HOW MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH IS WORKING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE LOBBYING FOR IS HAVING THE ABILITY TO REIMBURSE FOR THE SERVICES, AND THAT IS WHERE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH IS GOING.

SO WE NEED YOUR VOICES AS WELL TO HELP US WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE IS BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S BENEFIT FOR THE HEALTH CARE FIELD FOR THIS.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE ULTIMATELY THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO BE GOING IS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CARE WE PROVIDE.

OKAY. WELL WE HAVE A WINNER MAKO MAKO COMING UP SOON.

AND IT'S MAINLY MEDICARE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT.

RIGHT. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE. SO THEY DON'T THEY'LL REIMBURSE.

YOU CAN BILL FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE LIKE GRANT FUNDING OR THAT SORT OF THING RIGHT NOW THROUGH MEDICARE OR MEDICAID.

SO LIKE WE GET REIMBURSED THROUGH THE SBP FOR MEDICAID TRANSPORTS.

AND SO WE REALLY CAN'T BILL FOR YOU KNOW, THE SERVICES THAT WE DO.

SO I KNOW DOCTOR DELBRIDGE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SOME LEGISLATION TO SORT OF FIX THAT.

SO I'M NOT SURE. I THINK IT WAS, AGAIN, DEAD IN THE WATER THROUGH THE LAST SESSION, SO.

WELL, GET US THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE WE'LL BE WALKING THE HALLS, YOU KNOW, AT MAKEUP.

SO WELL, AND I MEAN, I THINK MEDICAID, MEDICARE, WE'RE PROBABLY A FEDERAL ISSUE, RIGHT?

[00:20:03]

THE WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING PATIENT SURVEYS AS FAR AS THEIR HEALTH LITERACY THEIR CONNECTION TO PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS.

WE ALSO WILL BE TRACKING THE NUMBER OF MEDICATION RECONCILIATIONS AND PHARM D CONSULTATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED.

BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO FOLLOW THIS CLIENT FOR 1 YEAR OUT.

SO WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS OR INTERACTION WITH THAT CLIENT WEEKLY, WE ARE GOING TO PERIODICALLY BE CHECKING IN WITH THAT CLIENT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE THE MEASURES THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE WERE ACTUALLY EFFECTIVE.

AND THAT'S HOW THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW, SUSTAIN AND BUILD.

SO OF COURSE, 1 OF THE TRACKERS WOULD BE IF THEY DON'T NEED TO CALL THE AMBULANCE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT AS, AS FREQUENTLY AS BEFORE. YES. AND THEN EVERY IF THEY DO CALL WE WILL IMMEDIATELY THEY WILL BE TURNED IN TO FOLLOW UP ON TO FIND OUT WHY THEY CALLED. SO WE'LL HAVE THAT AVENUE. SO WE'VE BEEN SHORT ON PARAMEDICS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WAS PART OF THE CLOSED SESSION READOUT.

I JUST READ WHY WE HAD THE DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, BUT SO HOW ARE WE PLANNING ON STAFFING? IT IS SO THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE STAFFING.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING EXTRA. SO THERE ARE I HAVE 6 PROVIDERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ON THE DAYS THAT THEY'RE NOT COVERING THE SHIFTS.

SO THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE THE 24 HOURS AFTER.

SO THERE ARE 6 DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ON A WEDNESDAY.

SO IT WAS EASIER FOR ME BECAUSE THAT'S THE START OF THE PAY PERIOD.

SO THAT'S THE THAT'S STRAIGHT TIME. I'M NOT HAVING TO PAY OVERTIME.

THEY'RE GETTING STRAIGHT STRAIGHT TIME FOR THAT.

SO THEY WILL WORK ON THAT WEDNESDAY. IF THERE ISN'T A PARAMEDIC THAT IS AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE A VISIT SCHEDULED, THEN I WILL DO WHAT I DO AND I WILL COVER THE SHORTAGE AND I WILL BE THE PARAMEDIC BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT. HOW LONG DO YOU THINK I KNOW THE VISIT? IT'LL DEPEND, BUT YOU'RE PREPARED. YOU'RE PREPARED TO SPEND.

YES. A HALF A DAY IF NECESSARY. THAT'S WHY WE ONLY WANTED TO DO 2 A DAY WHEN WE GET UP AND RUNNING.

BECAUSE ANY MORE THAN THAT, THEN THE PATIENT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE FULL SERVICE THAT WE POTENTIALLY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO.

RIGHT. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. AND MAYBE ONCE, MAYBE ONCE YOU GET THROUGH THE INITIAL VISIT, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW UP VISITS WON'T TAKE AS LONG. CORRECT.

MOVE THROUGH. SO WE CAN PROBABLY DO MORE FOLLOW UPS IN A DAY THAN WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO INITIAL VISITS.

YEAH, THE INITIAL WILL BE LIKE A PHYSICAL PART, YOU KNOW, THING.

THEN FROM THERE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. SOUNDS GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR 1ST VISIT. OH, YEAH. I MEAN, OUR 1ST VISIT.

WE ARE IN. PARTNER CHOPTANK HAS REACHED OUT TO US WITH 1 WHO ACTUALLY WAS ON MY LIST.

SO IT KIND OF COINCIDED WITH SOMEONE WHO FELL INTO THE TOP 4 THAT WE WANTED TO DO.

AND WE ALREADY HAVE. WE'RE WORKING WITH CHOPTANK AND THEIR PROVIDER.

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE THEM WHILE WE'RE THERE. THEY HAVE LAB ORDERS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED US TO DRAW.

THEY WANT US TO DO A 12 LEAD, SO WE'LL RUN A 12 LEAD AND BE ABLE TO SEND THAT IN AS WELL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A TELEHEALTH VISIT WITH OUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WHILE WE'RE THERE. SO THE GOAL IS, IS WE'RE GOING TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THIS CLIENT'S NEEDS, HOPEFULLY ALL IN THAT FIRST VISIT.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAYING THIS.

I THINK YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IT WORKS OUT WELL.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE SEE SEE GOOD RESULTS FROM IT.

AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANYTHING, IT'S A TRIAL.

SO BUT WE APPRECIATE THE EXTRA EFFORT FROM EVERYONE TO SET THIS UP AND HOPEFULLY LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON, ON THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AROUND THE COUNTY, SO, AND AND GET OUR CITIZENS HEALTHIER IN A BETTER PLACE.

RIGHT. SO AND I MENTIONED JUST A QUICK MENTION HERE FOR THE CAROLINA FOUNDATION.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLE. THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD IN THIS COUNTY.

AND I KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, AND I KNOW HOW HOW CLOSELY THEY LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND REALLY, REALLY MANAGE THAT MONEY. SO THANK YOU TO THEM.

YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN I YEAH I ECHO THAT TREMENDOUS.

THE MOBILE UNIT THAT WILL BE UTILIZED WAS ACTUALLY FUNDED I DON'T KNOW IN 22 BY CAROLINE FOUNDATION.

MONEY THAT THEY, THEY PROVIDED FOR US. AND THEN THE GRANT THAT WE JUST RECEIVED FOR 50,000 FROM THEM.

SO WHICH, WHICH HELPS THIS EFFORT AS WELL. YEAH.

[00:25:01]

AND WE DO GET BOGGED DOWN. YOU'RE NOT BOTHERING ME BY SENDING ME EMAILS AND GIVING ME IDEAS OF THINGS TO BRING UP AT MAKO, OR DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OR TO THE CONGRESSMAN.

YOU KNOW, IF WE DO GET AROUND HIM TO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, YOU KNOW THAT AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO YOU KNOW, ANY ANY TALKING POINTS, ANY IDEAS, YOU KNOW, SEND THEM, SEND THEM TO US.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TAKE THEM AND RUN WITH THEM.

SO WE AT LEAST ACT LIKE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT CAN PUT ON A SHOW, RIGHT? YEAH. SO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO.

I MEAN, IF YOU CAN AT LEAST GIVE US AN EMAIL IN ABOUT A MONTH AND LET US KNOW HOW YOUR 1ST.

SO QUARTERLY. YEAH. QUARTERLY. I HAVE TO REPORT TO MIMS ANYWAY ON MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH ONCE WE'RE IN.

SO WE CAN JUST SHARE THAT DATA WITH YOU GUYS AS WELL.

YEAH, I'D BE GLAD TO HEAR THAT. I MEAN, I DON'T SEE ANY BETTER PLACE THAN CAROLINE COUNTY WITH THE ROYAL.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU GUYS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR AND LOBBY FOR IF THE EXPERTS DON'T TELL US SO.

BUT YOU'RE OUR EXPERTS, AND WE APPRECIATE I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE EXTRA EFFORT HERE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DO WE NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? YEP. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[Second Reading & Public Hearing:]

AND I WILL ASK MR. BARROLL TO READ THE SECOND READING.

THANK YOU SIR. YES. THIS IS A BILL FOR THE CREATION OF A TAX CREDIT AGAINST THE CAROLINE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX FOR DWELLINGS OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON NOVEMBER 18TH WITH THE FIRST READING.

THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON THE 22ND.

I WILL READ THAT RIGHT NOW. THIS WILL ALSO, BY READING THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, CONSTITUTE THE SECOND READING.

CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-014, AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A TAX CREDIT AGAINST THE CAROLINE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX FOR DWELLINGS OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH TAX CREDITS, AND GENERALLY DEALING WITH THE AMOUNT, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TAX CREDIT BY ENACTMENT OF A NEW ARTICLE 14 OF CHAPTER 166, TAXATION OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2025, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M. IN ROOM 106 OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND. 21629. TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING EMAIL, THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN.

VISIT THE WEBSITE ITS 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 4790660. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY. NO, WE HAVE NOT. NO. OKAY.

WELL, THEN, IF EITHER 1 OF YOU WANT TO COMMENT BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I JUST I PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING I'M GOING TO SAY.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO. TO OFFER.

I DON'T THINK THE AMOUNTS ARE GOING TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO BEGIN TO TO TRY TO, TO TO RECOGNIZE IN SOME RESPECT THE DEDICATION AND TIME AND EFFORT THAT OUR 1ST RESPONDERS, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES PUT IN, AS I SAID LAST WEEK.

THIS IS NOT JUST SHOWING UP AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING ON A FIRE TRUCK OR RESCUE TRUCK AND PULLING HOSE AND PUTTING OUT FIRES OR HELPING PEOPLE IN AN ACCIDENT SITE. IT'S ALSO THE FUNDRAISING PART THAT THE WORK THAT IS DONE TO RAISE MONEY TO,

[00:30:04]

SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO DO THIS NOW. SO THANK YOU.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER. BARTZ. COMMISSIONER PORTER PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING.

GOTCHA. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING THEN.

SO MOVED. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

OKAY. I HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT STATEMENT THAT I'LL READ.

WE APPRECIATE ALL CITIZENS FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES PER PERSON, WHICH I'LL EXTEND THAT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE HERE. SO ANYONE WHO LIKES TO SPEAK DON'T DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO STICK TO THE 3 MINUTES FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

THIS COMMISSION RESPECTS YOUR RIGHT TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE FREELY, BUT ALL COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO COUNTY MATTERS.

WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.

STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR OFFICE, WE ASK THAT YOU EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN A RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER.

SO WITH THAT, DON'T. DID WE HAVE A SIGN UP BOOK? WE DID. RIGHT HERE. OKAY. DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE'S OKAY, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK IN RELATION TO THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

OKAY. I DO NOT SEE ANYONE. OH, WAYNE. YEAH. MR. BRADDOCK GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS WAYNE FREDERICK. I RESIDE IN DENTON, MARYLAND.

ANY STREET ADDRESS? NO. YOU'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO COME KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR. THERE YOU GO. VERY GOOD. I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO THE FIRST OPENING OF THIS KIND OF I CALLED INTO IT A LITTLE BIT LATE. SO MY POINT IS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU GUYS THE BACKGROUND OF HOW THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN T3 MINUTES OR LESS.

AND THE FIRE SERVICE. DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE GOOD.

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME. I HAVE 37 YEARS IN FIRE SERVICE HERE IN DENTON AND CAROLINE COUNTY.

TIMES DEFINITELY HAVE CHANGED. WHEN I STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL, A BASIC FIREFIGHTING CLASS WAS ABOUT 108 HOURS THAT HAD JUMPED PROBABLY WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS PRIOR, FROM 60 TO 80 HOURS UP TO THAT LEVEL.

1989, IT WAS 110 HOURS. TODAY'S WORLD, A FIREFIGHTING CLASS IS PUSHING 160 SOME HOURS.

THE EMT CLASS IS PUSHING 200 HOURS OF JUST A BASIC LEVEL EMT.

EMPTY. YOU'VE SEEN THE COST OF LIVING GO UP AS WELL AROUND HERE, AND THAT'S THINGS THAT ARE WAY OUT OF OUR CONTROL, I BELIEVE. AND THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, WE HAVE WATCHED THE DECLINE.

WE HAVE SEEN COMPANIES REDUCE SOME OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO TRY TO KEEP MEMBERS AROUND.

I'VE SEEN DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE TRIED TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT THEY COULD NOT FINANCIALLY KEEP UP WITH AND HAVE CUT THE SERVICES.

IN THE EARLIER AGES OF IN THE 80S, YOU HAD THAT SINGLE, SINGLE JOB.

WE HAVE REALLY TRANSITIONED OVER TO MULTIPLE JOBS, MULTIPLE PARENTS, MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLDS DUAL INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO MAINTAIN WHERE TODAY IS I JUST REFINANCED MY HOUSE AND I'M TELLING YOU, MY JAW HIT THE FLOOR OF WHAT I FELT LIKE IT WAS VALUED AT COMPARED TO WHAT I WAS TOLD IT WAS VALUED AT, AND TO BRING ALL OF THAT AROUND IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT VOLUNTEER PORTION OF IT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE LOOKING FOR ANY HELP THEY CAN.

ANY HELP THEY CAN GET. PROBABLY I WANT TO SAY ABOUT A DECADE AGO, THEY INTRODUCED THE VOTECH PROGRAM.

SO WE STARTED GETTING THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A LITTLE BIT INVOLVED.

OF COURSE, THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE BUYING A HOUSE.

RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT'S THE FUTURE. THAT'S THE FUTURE OF THE FIRE SERVICE.

THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF THEM ARE WORKING ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

[00:35:04]

TRUTHFULLY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH EFFORT ARE WE PUTTING IN COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF? OUT OF THAT, THERE'S MULTIPLE FUNDRAISINGS GOING ON, BUT THIS IDEA OF A PROPERTY TAX IS NOT THE FIRST THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED ANYWHERE IN THE TRI COUNTY AREA. SOME PLACES LIKE OXFORD, MARYLAND AND ALL, THEY'VE ACTUALLY HAVE INSTITUTED PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES FOR YEARS TO ENTICE. AND AND THAT'S A COMMUNITY THAT IS AN ELDERLY COMMUNITY.

BEING A FIRE INSTRUCTOR DOWN THERE, I, I TAUGHT A CLASS DOWN THERE EARLIER AND I WAS LIKE, GOD, I DON'T WANT TO KILL THESE GUYS. AND THEY THEY WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND ALL JUST TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE AT AN AGE.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY YEARS OF SERVICE I'M I'M STILL RELATIVELY ACTIVE PERSON WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT.

TRUTHFULLY TIMES HAVE CHANGED, FAMILY REQUIREMENTS AND ALL HAVE CHANGED.

BUT AT THE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FIRE SERVICE IS LOOKING AT WHAT THEY CAN DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO REMAIN THAT VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND KEEP THE TAX BURDEN OFF OF THE COMMUNITIES AND OFF OF THE MUNICIPALITIES.

YEARS AGO, WHEN ANNAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT TO A 4 SHIFT, IT WAS ABOUT $2.8 MILLION INCREASE FOR 30 FIREFIGHTERS. AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY'S POCKETS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CITY GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE READY TO FORCE THAT.

YOU'VE SEEN HOW YOUR COUNTY EMS SYSTEM HAS BEEN GROWING AND THE DEMANDS JUST TO KEEP THE AMBULANCE ON.

SO I JUST LOOK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF JUST SIMPLE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHAT WE'RE FACING IN TODAY'S WORLD. YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU, WAYNE.

THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, I WILL MENTION FAMILY SERVICE, TOO.

I MEAN, YOUR DAD DID IT FOREVER. AND I WAS GOING TO SAY THERE WAS NO MORE EXAMPLE OF A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER THAT I'VE EVER KNOWN IN MY LIFE THAN YOUR DAD.

I MEAN, THIS IS A GUY WHO WORKED. I KNOW HE WORKED SHIFTS SO THAT HE WOULD WHEN MOST PEOPLE WOULD RATHER BE OFF, HE VOLUNTEERED. I KNOW HE WORKED SHIFTS SO HE WOULD BE HERE, AND IT WAS NOTHING FOR HIM TO MAKE 150 AMBULANCE CALLS AND 100 FIRE CALLS A YEAR.

SO YOU COME FROM GOOD, GOOD STOCK, AND BUT THERE WAS A TIME AND IN, IN THIS TOWN WHEN, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE WHEN THE FIRE WHISTLE BLEW. BRAD HORSEY WOULD SHUT THE HARDWARE STORE.

LESTER WOULD LEAVE A PATIENT IN THE CHAIR. CHOPTANK ELECTRIC WOULD EMPTY THOSE PEOPLE, LEFT THEIR JOBS AND CAME.

NOW. AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO BE NEGATIVE, BUT NOW EMPLOYERS SAY YOU WON'T.

YOU WON'T FIGHT FIRE. YOU GO SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY YOU TO DO IT. I NEED YOU TO WORK HERE.

SO THAT HAS PUT A REAL CRUNCH ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE TIME AND ARE AVAILABLE TO DO IT.

BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND YOU KNOW, AND AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOOD OR SAYING IT'S BAD, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT IT USED TO BE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THE TOWN WOULD SHUT DOWN AND PEOPLE WOULD STOP AND LEAVE TO GO TO THE FIREHOUSE HOWEVER LONG THEY WERE GONE.

THAT'S HOW EVER LONG THEY WERE GONE. AND YOU KNOW, I WON'T, I WON'T, I WON'T GET INTO THE THINGS THAT I'VE SAID IN HERE SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU HEAR, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE.

AND THEN YOU'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO GO BACK AND DO YOUR JOB AND GO HOME AND GET UP AND DO IT THE NEXT DAY.

THAT'S THE NEXT THING I THINK WE HAVE TO TACKLE HERE.

SO. BUT THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND JUST TO REITERATE, THE POINTS YOU MADE ARE ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HUB OF DENTON. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT PRESTON, RIDGELY, GREENSBORO, GOLDSBORO AREAS, BERRIEDALE AREAS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE THE LARGE BUSINESS DRIVE OR ANYTHING ELSE AT THE SAME POINT IN TIME.

SO NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE LOCAL FARMER OR, YOU KNOW, THE BUS DRIVER OR WHATEVER THAT IS SITTING HERE TRYING TO JUST GET THE FIRE APPARATUS OUT. SO THOSE ARE ALL VALID POINTS, AND WE COULD PROBABLY GO ON ALL DAY LONG BACK AND FORTH OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS REQUIRED, WHAT WE GIVE OR WHATEVER.

SO BUT JUST, YOU KNOW. THERE'S A LOT MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS.

ABSOLUTELY. IT'S BUSIER THAN IT WAS. AND PEOPLE DRIVE CRAZIER THAN THEY'VE EVER DRIVEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH VERY LITTLE RESPECT FOR, FOR EACH OTHER ON THE ROADS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

[00:40:03]

I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF IT'S ON 404 THAT ARE OUT OF STATE OR, YOU KNOW, OR OUT OF THIS COUNTY, AND IT FALLS ON US AS THE COUNTY THAT THEY'RE DRIVING THROUGH TO PROVIDE THAT EMERGENCY SERVICE.

SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOOD LUCK TO US GETTING IT DONE, THAT, THAT THERE IS SOME STATE AND FEDERAL CULPABILITY HERE AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THREE YEARS OF SITTING HERE, I FOUND THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FALLS BACK TO TO THE 3 OF US OR WHATEVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO FILL THOSE GAPS THAT THAT THE LARGER GOVERNMENT MISSES.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS AND HELP WITH RECRUITMENT AND, AND ABSOLUTELY WHAT YOU GUYS DO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN TERRIBLE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE TRYING TO RELAX AND DO OTHER THINGS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH SOMETHING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULT BALANCE FOR US IS GOING TO BE FIGURING OUT HOW TO FUND IT BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE ASSESSMENTS. WE'RE I MEAN, WE'RE PROBABLY TAXING SOME ELDERLY PEOPLE RIGHT OUT OF THEIR HOMES RIGHT NOW WITH THESE INCREASED ASSESSMENTS, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'VE SEEN YOUR HOUSE VALUE.

I MEAN, IMAGINE SOMEONE LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME WHERE THEIR PROPERTY TAXES HAVE DOUBLED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE ASSESSMENTS GOING UP.

SO AND YOU GUYS, DO, YOU KNOW, THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE ABSOLUTELY DOES SAVE THE COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, HOW WE FIND THAT BALANCE, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT WE CAN FINANCIALLY DO. SO I APPRECIATE.

I THINK AND I THINK THE TOWN, YOU KNOW, I THINK TO BE TO BE FAIR TO I MEAN MUNICIPALITIES HAVE KICKED IN.

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS I HATE TO KEEP SAYING I REMEMBER, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN, WHEN I WAS A COUNCIL PERSON IN DENTON, I THINK 3 OF THE 5 COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN, AND WE GAVE $5,500.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS NOW. I KNOW I THINK IT'S 80.

80 SOMETHING THOUSAND. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, I THINK DENTON MAKES A TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO GIVE WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WHAT IS THE TOWN OF GOLDSBORO.

WHAT IS THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO ABLE TO. SO I MEAN, BUT A FIRE TRUCK DOESN'T COST ANY LESS FOR THE TOWN OF GOLDSBORO THAN IT DOES FOR THE TOWN OF DENTON. SO, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S THE PROPORTIONAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK HERE.

BUT I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE TOWN, THE MUNICIPALITIES, DENTON'S MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN THE MONEY, IN THE FUNDS THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE. AND I THINK GOOD FOR THEM.

I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB. BUT YOU KNOW, PART OF THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE IS, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BREEDING HAS MENTIONED THIS, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER GROUP THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP AND SAY, WELL, WHAT ABOUT US? AND I'LL THINK ABOUT EVERY ONE OF YOU. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING UP, PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE, THE MOTTO OF THE FIRE COMPANIES IS TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S YOUR GOAL. AND IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, FIRE TRUCKS AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO COST.

OUR FIRST RESCUE TRUCK WAS A BREAD TRUCK. RIGHT, EXACTLY.

I MEAN, IT WAS OLD BREAD AND BREAD TRUCK. SO, I MEAN, BUT THOSE THINGS EVERY DAY ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THE FIRE COMPANIES HAVE TO FACE. AND SO WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT MAKE THE EFFORT AS WELL. THANKS, WAYNE. I REMEMBER IN HIGH SCHOOL, THIS IS WHERE YOUR HEART WAS.

I'M GLAD TO SEE, 37 YEARS LATER, YOUR HEART'S STILL IN IT.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ABSOLUTELY.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY REAL QUICK, WE GOT FOUR PEOPLE FROM THE CLASS OF ´92 HERE.

YOU GOT ROBIN CAHALL, ROBIN EATON, WAYNE AND MYSELF, AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO HELP.

WE ALL STAYED HERE AND STILL TRY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNTY.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR CLASSMATES, THEY MOVED AWAY AND DID BETTER THINGS.

BUT YOU GUYS ELECTED TO STAY HERE. SO THANK YOU.

HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU HAVE NOW IN THE VOLUNTEER? 37.5 YEARS. 37.5. YEAH, HE LIVED IT, MAN. YEAH.

HE LIVED IT. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU. I REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS JUST A CHILD.

ALL RIGHT.

[00:45:05]

THAT WASN'T NICE. WHAT'S THAT? I SAID THAT WASN'T NICE.

I KNOW, I APOLOGIZE. I KNOW HOW OLD SHE IS. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. MR. BARTZ, VOLUNTEER MEMBER OF GOLDSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE SOME OF YOUR STAFF AND MY FRIENDS WHO ARE IMPLEMENTING A MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM. NOT TO PUBLICLY SPEAK ON THIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A HOT SECOND TO DO THAT.

I THINK I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ALL THREE OF YOU, AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHERE I AM WITH THIS, BUT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE THIS MORNING, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS THAT I WOULD HAVE MADE, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID. IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT YOU TAKE HOME WITH YOU AFTER SOME OF THESE CALLS.

I'M NOT QUITE AS OLD AS WAYNE. BUT I'M 30 YEARS IN VOLUNTEER SERVICE THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED AND I CERTAINLY CAN'T DO 30 MORE.

I'M TIRED. I THINK A LOT OF US ARE TIRED, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE FINISHED, THERE'S SOMEONE BEHIND US TO TAKE OVER. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT THE BIG THINGS.

IT'S THE SMALL THINGS. IT'S TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY TO DO THIS REALLY GREAT WORK.

I'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I'VE DONE.

AND I'M HOPING I CAN TALK MY KID INTO COMING BACK AND DOING THE SAME THING.

SO JUST, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, UNIQUE WAYS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAPPENS IN A DIFFERENT SETTING THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS FOR PEOPLE AND THE WAY THAT THEY NEED IT TO BE. YEAH. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? NO.

I KNOW YOU AND I HAD EMAILED AND BEEN IN COMMUNICATION, AND I'VE DONE SOME CREATIVE THINKING WITH DANNY, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT ANY BURDEN ON THE GENERAL FUND.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN THIS BOARD WAS SEATED, WE MADE AN INVESTMENT IN LOSAP TO MAKE SURE, SO I THINK WE MAY BE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN OFFSET THE COST OF THIS BY GOING AHEAD AND USING OUR INVESTMENT IN THE LOSAP TO SELF-FUND ITSELF, AT LEAST IN A PORTION. NOT TOTALLY. WE'RE NOT AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN TOTALLY STOP CONTRIBUTING TO LOSAP OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND YET, BUT THE STOCK MARKET'S BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD.

THE INVESTMENT HAS DONE GOOD. SO I THINK WE'RE MAYBE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN FUND OR REPLACE THE MONEY THAT WE WOULD DEFER BY DOING THIS BY, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO PULL OUT OF THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE.

SO IT'S AN AMAZING PROGRAM AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT JUST TAKES US A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND SO JUST LIKE WORK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE ONBOARDING SOMEONE YOU KIND OF WANT THEM TO STAY AROUND. AND I THINK LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET, YOU KNOW, FOLKS INVESTED A LITTLE SOONER, THEY WON'T MAKE IT TILL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T KEEP THEIR INTEREST.

TERM WILL BE A GOOD INVESTMENT IN THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S GREAT TO SAY TO A 25 YEAR OLD, WHEN YOU TURN 60, YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

SO THEY'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY'RE 60. THEY WANT SOMETHING NOW. SO BUT THE LOSAP HAS BEEN A GOOD PROGRAM.

IT'S BEEN I THINK IT'S BEEN ENHANCED AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S.

AND WE DO. AS SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING CLOSER TO 60 THAN I CARE TO MENTION, I APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT IT DID TAKE A MINUTE FOR ME TO RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE VALUE OF THAT WAS.

SO AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF COUNTIES THAT AREN'T DOING MUCH.

AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME COUNTIES, LIKE QUEEN ANNE, WHO'S GIVEN A $2,500 PROPERTY TAX CREDIT TO THEIR VOLUNTEERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, QUEEN ANNE ALSO, I BELIEVE IF THEY RAISE PROPERTY TAXES ONE PENNY, THEY RAISE LIKE $3.3 MILLION.

IF WE RAISE IT ONE PENNY, WE RAISE $300,000 IN REVENUE.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S DIFFICULT, THE INEQUITY BETWEEN THE COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, TO DO THAT.

BUT I THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING SO WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE TIME. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO BLS AS THE, YOU KNOW, COORDINATOR, I DON'T KNOW YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE THERE.

I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE. WE TRY NOT TO HAVE ONE THAT WAY.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, VAGUE, BUT. FROM WHAT I HEAR, CHRISSY, YOU'RE KIND OF THE GLUE THAT HOLDS IT TOGETHER.

YOU KIND OF KEEP EVERYBODY GROUNDED AND AND ON THE SAME PERSPECTIVE.

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR US.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO BLS.

THANK YOU. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT GROUP WORKS REALLY HARD TO BE THE LIAISON BETWEEN OUR CAREER PROVIDERS AND OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK AND TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO.

THERE WAS A SMALL INVESTMENT INTO THE MIH PROGRAM, THE INITIAL FUNDING FOR LOOKING AT WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE AND PLANNING FOR THAT CAME FROM THE BLS ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE. AND WE WERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE KINDS OF NEEDS GET MET FOR THE CITIZENS.

CAN YOU TELL HOW MANY AED MONITORS DO WE HAVE OUT THAT BLS IS FUNDING?

[00:50:01]

OKAY. PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH RECREATION AND PARKS.

BUT THE BLS COMMITTEE HAS AGREED TO SUPPORT PLACEMENT OF THOSE IN AREAS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF COUNTY LOT.

SO ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT'S INTERESTED IN PLACING IT AT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GATHER AND PLAY OR HAVE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HIGH VOLUME AND FOOT TRAFFIC. WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A REACH OUT FOR CROSS PARK AND ALSO I REACH OUT FOR ATKINS.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH ANY COMMUNITY PARTNER WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR LETTING THE BLS COMMITTEE SORT OF, YOU KNOW, DRIVE SOME OF THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.

SO, YEAH, IT'S GOOD. THANK YOU, FRANK I APPRECIATE THAT.

BLS, BOARD OF ED. YOU KNOW YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

THE CHRISSYS, LIKE, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY COMMITTED.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT ROUND HAS THE SAME SUPPORT THAT WE'VE HAD.

WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED, LIKE LARRY SAID, LIKE THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT MADE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN, BUT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE GOING AWAY, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT. WE'RE NOT SURE WE WANT ANOTHER WAYNE, BUT.

I LIKE HIM. HE'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SHE'S ON THE CAROLINE TOO. LOOK, I DIDN'T EVEN HIT HALF THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DOING, PROBABLY.

BUT. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. NONE. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

SO WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND. OR WE COULD JUST MOVE FORWARD TO THE THIRD READING, AT WHICH POINT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND OR SO.

RIGHT. DECEMBER 9TH WOULD BE THE THIRD READING.

SO ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME OR DO WE JUST WANT TO MOVE FORWARD? I THINK I GUESS WHAT WE NEED TO COME UP WITH IS THE ACTUAL MONETARY VALUE THAT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH.

I MEAN, DO WE WANT TO DO THAT NEXT WEEK AND TALK MORE? THE WAY THIS IS DRAFTED, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY IN THE BILL ITSELF SPECIFY AN AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE DONE WITH A RESOLUTION EACH YEAR.

AND DANNY AND I DISCUSSED HOW THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, I SUPPOSE.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE AMOUNT COULD VARY. IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE YOU TO, EACH YEAR, GO BACK TO THE ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING AND AMEND THE ORDINANCE.

YOU WOULD DO IT BY RESOLUTION, RIGHT? CORRECT.

AND THE BILL CURRENT DRAFT HAS THAT. I THINK MY TAKE AND PERSPECTIVE AS THE PERSON WHO'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO HAVE TO APPLY THE TAX ON THE TAX ROLL AND START THE BUDGET PROCESS. IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE A LOT EASIER IF THAT AMOUNT WAS DETERMINED PRE HAND OF THE BUDGET.

SO I WOULD CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN IF WE WANT TO LIKE, SAY HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT BUILDING SOME MODEL INTO THE BILL.

IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER TAX CREDITS THAT WE PROVIDE LIKE THE SENIOR CREDIT THAT IS CERTAINLY STATED THE BILL AND ADOPTED INTO CODE AGAIN, MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH WHATEVER PROCESS THE THREE COMMISSIONERS CHOOSE.

I THINK FOR SIMPLICITY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT PLACED IN THE BILL.

OKAY. CAN I SUGGEST THAT WE DO THE AMENDMENTS NEXT WEEK? SIR. WE HAVE THE FINAL HEARING AND AND ENACTMENT.

I'D LIKE TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO THINK FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND SO THAT MEMBERS WOULD KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE. I MEAN, WHEN, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WHEN YOU LEAVE IT UP TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY HAVE EXPECTATIONS OR SOMETHING, I THINK IT'S BETTER THAT WE DO PUT NUMBERS, BUT I'D LIKE TO DO IT NEXT WEEK IF WE COULD.

YEAH. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. CERTAINLY. AND I SORRY.

THAT WOULD BE DECEMBER 9TH. CORRECT. DECEMBER 9TH. I THINK JUST THE NUANCE OF THE BUDGET AND WHEN WE ACTUALLY ADOPT AND HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF THE FINAL NUMBERS FROM THE STATE WITH CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS. IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT REALLY HARD TO KIND OF PRE BAKE A NUMBER IN TO THE SYSTEM WHEN WE NEED TO HAVE IT TO PUBLISH THE TAX ROLL. SO IT'S REALLY A FLOW OF WORK AND NOT THAT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT. RIGHT?

[00:55:02]

THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO AMEND, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT.

WE SHOULD PROBABLY NOT AMEND THAT MUCH AND THEN ENACT SAME DAY.

RIGHT? YOU WOULD NEED TO PRODUCE A WRITTEN VERSION OF THE AMENDED BILL.

RIGHT. FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE AVAILABLE AT THAT MEETING.

SO I AGREE WITH YOU. RIGHT. UNLESS WE'RE PREPARED, UNLESS YOU JUST WANT TO AMEND IT ON THE NINTH AND THEN PUSH ENACTMENT ANOTHER WEEK, THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW. I MEAN, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WHICH DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING TO DO.

RIGHT NOW WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE DECEMBER TO.

SO YOU CAN DO THE CAP NUMBER IN TODAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE, AND THEN.

RIGHT? YOU ALL DECIDE. WELL, LET ME. BEFORE WE GO THERE, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THERE.

LAST WEEK THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHO WOULD MAINTAIN.

YEAH, WE GOT. THE RECORDS AND WHO WOULD KEEP TRACK OF IT.

YEAH. SOME SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS. CORRECT. POST THE MEETING I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE HERE FROM THE FIRE AND EMS ASSOCIATION TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WAS DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING.

AND AGAIN, TO TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT SIDE CONVERSATION.

THE LOW SAT PROCESS CURRENTLY GOES TO FIRE AND EMS ASSOCIATION THROUGH CONTACTS AT THE FIRE COMPANY.

AND THEY ASKED TO CONTINUE THAT DO THAT PROCESS FOR THIS.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE COMPANIES WOULD PUT TOGETHER OUR 20 MEMBERS, PROVIDE IT TO THE CONTACT, AND THEN THEY WOULD BRING THOSE PACKETS TO DES.

SO AGAIN, THE STRUCTURE OF THE BILL DOES CALL OUT FOR THEM TO COLLECT AND PROVIDE THAT TO DES, WHICH I THINK MIRRORS THE DISCUSSION WE HAD POST THE MEETING.

SO WE'RE CLEAR. WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT THAT PART. YES.

OKAY. IF WE WANT TO AMEND THIS TODAY, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT WE START THIS WITH A $250 CREDIT AND CAP IT AT $500.

HOW WE GET THERE AS FAR AS INCREMENTALLY, IT'S UP.

I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO DISCUSSION HERE, BUT THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.

I'M FINE WITH THAT. AND THE ONLY REASON FOR THE INCREMENTAL IS SO THAT WE WOULD KNOW FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, AND THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THE CREDIT WOULD KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CERTAINLY. AND I THINK WITH NICE ROUND EVEN NUMBERS, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR TRACKING AND PROJECTING THAT BUDGET.

IF WE DO PERCENTAGES, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH AN ODD $0.13 OR SOMETHING.

SO TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER PORTER, IF IT WAS A 250 WITH AN INCREASE OF, AGAIN, PICK YOUR POISON OF NUMBER IN BETWEEN INCREMENTALLY INCREASING TO A $500 CAP. BETWEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MYSELF, I'M SURE WE COULD CREATE SOME LANGUAGE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

SO AGAIN, WHATEVER THAT INCREMENTAL INCREASE WOULD BE, WE COULD STATE THAT AND PUT THAT INTO THE BILL.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? FOR THEM TO DRAFT 50 BUCKS A YEAR UP TO I GUESS TO 500 INCREASE? OKAY. AND THAT WOULD TAKE THAT WOULD TAKE YOU THROUGH FIVE YEARS? THE LAST YEAR OF THIS BOARD, PLUS FOUR MORE YEARS OF THE NEXT? OKAY. IF THAT WORKS, I'M FINE WITH THAT. START THERE.

CAN YOU DO A MOTION TO AMEND? ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

WHAT WAS THE INCREMENTAL AMOUNT? $50 A YEAR. SO I WOULD MOVE THAT WE AMEND LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-014 TO BEGIN THE QUALIFIED PROPERTY TAX CREDIT AT A FIGURE OF $250 FOR IT TO BE INCREASED INCREMENTALLY EACH YEAR BY $75 UNTIL WE REACH A $500 CAP.

ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO GO $75 OR $50? I SAID $50.

YOU SAID $50. I'M FINE WITH $50. OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

OKAY. SO ADD $75 ON MY MIND HERE. NO, NO. GOOD.

YOU WANT A SECOND? SECOND, SORRY.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE.

SO YOU'LL MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE AMENDED VERSION FOR THE DECEMBER 9TH MEETING,

[01:00:05]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT HELP? YES, THAT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda]

BUT ANY OF THE OTHER ITEMS? CLOSED SESSION? I'M ASSUMING THAT'S SOME TYPE OF CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION.

DAY SPRINGS. WE HAD IT YESTERDAY. STEWART, WE HAD AN EMAIL AND IT SAID, SEE THE RESPONSE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THE RESPONSE ATTACHED FROM THE NOTICES THAT WERE SENT OUT.

I HAD RECEIVED A VERY BRIEF RESPONSE FROM MR. PULVER AT THE STATE, THANKING ME FOR SENDING THE FORMS AND SAID THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THE FIRST BATCH THAT I SENT THEM THE WEEK BEFORE, AND THEY WILL REVIEW THEM AND GET BACK TO ME.

THEY ALSO SAID THEY'RE GOING TO OWE US A LOT OF EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR THE INTERESTED PARTIES THAT WE HAVE TO NOTIFY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER BARTZ, ANYTHING? NO? ALL RIGHT. MEETING CALENDAR DATES.

SO I HAD A FEW THAT I WANTED TO PROPOSE CHANGING IN LOOKING AT BOTH THE BUDGET CALENDAR AND THE PROPOSED MEETING CALENDAR.

SO WE DO HAVE A BOARD OF ED MEMBER HERE, SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

SHE'S GETTING READY TO WALK OUT.

SO THE WELL, I'LL JUST START AT THE BEGINNING, SHEILA.

THE JANUARY 20TH MEETING IS THE DAY AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, BUT THAT IS.

WELL, THAT IS THE. TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE OUR JOINT MEETING WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT EVENING, SO WE COULD JUST NOT MEET IN THE MORNING, JUST DO AWAY WITH THAT MORNING MEETING.

AND IF THE BOARD OF ED STILL WANTS TO MEET ON JANUARY 20TH, WE COULD DO THAT.

YOU GUYS GOOD WITH CANCELING THAT ONE? YEAH. OKAY, SO WE'LL CANCEL THE COMMISSIONER MEETING ON JANUARY 20TH.

AND THEN I WANTED TO PROPOSE MOVING THE MAY 26TH MEETING TO JUNE 2ND, BECAUSE ON THE BUDGET CALENDAR, THAT WAS THE DAY THAT DANNY HAD PROPOSED ADOPTING OUR FY26 BUDGET.

27? 27. SORRY. ALWAYS A YEAR BEHIND. 27. BUDGET.

SO YOU GUYS GOOD WITH MOVING MAY 26TH TO JUNE 2ND? SO NO MEETING ON THE 26TH THEN, RIGHT? RIGHT.

AND THEN DOING THAT SHIFTS ALL OF THE SUMMER MEETINGS SO THAT DOES AWAY.

SO THAT MEANS WE'D MEET JUNE 2ND, AND THEN AGAIN WHAT, THE 9TH? JUNE 9TH? YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL GO TO OUR EVERY OTHER SCHEDULE, WHICH IS FINE.

AND THEN I WOULD PROPOSE CANCELING THE SEPTEMBER 7TH MEETING, BECAUSE THAT'S THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY.

AND THEN WE HAD A REQUEST FROM JEN TO CANCEL DECEMBER 1ST JUST BECAUSE OF.

THANKSGIVING. YEAH. YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK. I MEAN, YEAH, IT JUST MAKES IT COMPLICATED.

RIGHT. LIKE, THIS YEAR, WE'RE HAVING THAT MEETING.

OKAY. SO. YEAH. AND THEN CANCEL DECEMBER 1ST.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE CALENDAR TO REMOVE THE JANUARY 20TH MEETING, MOVE THE MAY 26TH TO JUNE 2ND, TO CANCEL THE SEPTEMBER 7TH AND TO CANCEL THE DECEMBER 1ST MEETING.

SECOND. OKAY. MOTION, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. SO THAT'S THE AMENDED CALENDAR.

AND THEN I WOULD ALSO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SECOND. MOTION, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[County Administrator’s Report]

THE FIRST ITEM IS, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, WE HAD A MEETING WITH MR. DUNCANSON REGARDING THE DETENTION CENTER AND OUR FUTURE PLANS.

[01:05:04]

CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE ALREADY UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE CASE, PART ONE IS DUE ANNUALLY.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUILDING A DETENTION CENTER ON MARCH 1ST, PART TWO, DUE JULY 1ST OF THAT SAME YEAR.

WARDEN SCOTT IS HERE. HE CAN EXPLAIN FAR MORE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT PART ONE AND PART TWO ARE THAN I CAN.

AFTER THAT, WHAT WE DID LEARN WAS THAT FUNDING IS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OUT.

SO ONCE WE SUBMIT, LET'S SAY WE SUBMIT PART ONE AND PART TWO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR PROCESS TO HAVE FUNDING FOR A NEW DETENTION CENTER.

WE DID TALK ABOUT RENOVATING THE EXISTING DETENTION CENTER AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST DOING AN EXPLORATORY PHASE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST THING TO DO IS.

HE DID CLARIFY, AND I MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

AIR CONDITIONING IS COVERED IN STAFF AREAS. IT'S JUST NOT COVERED IN THE HOLDING AREAS FOR THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEY'RE WORKING ON FIXING IT. AND THEY'RE WORKING ON FIXING THAT. SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BY THE TIME, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN WE GET TO FUNDING HVAC AND CLEANING, AIR CONDITIONING WOULD BE INCLUDED FOR ALL AREAS OF THE DETENTION CENTER, POSSIBLY. IN ADDITION, ON THE SAME LINE OF THOUGHT, NOT THE MEETING WITH MR. DUNCANSON, BUT WE DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING THAT WE'RE SCHEDULING WITH THE FOLKS WE MET WITH FOR THE JAIL SEMINAR DOWN IN FLORIDA.

YOU KNOW, THEY SEEM PRETTY ACTIVE. THEY WANT TO MEET AGAIN WITH OUR TEAM ABOUT WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE AND HELP GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE ON WHERE TO GO NEXT.

SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORING THOSE OPTIONS. BUT I GUESS THE MAIN TAKEAWAY I RECEIVED FROM THE PHONE CALL WITH MR. DUNCANSON IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE BUILDING IN2 OR 3 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A FIVE YEAR PROCESS. SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN TOUCHED ON, BUT I HAD IT ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT WITH DAYSPRING'S, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITY PROJECTS.

WE ARE MOVING THROUGH OUR REQUIREMENTS AND NEXT STEPS, AND WHEN I SAY WE, IT'S PREDOMINANTLY COUNTY ATTORNEY BARROLL AND DANNY, WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK ON THIS.

DANNY'S BEEN WORKING WITH US, EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND GETTING THE DOCUMENTS WE NEED TO GET TO OUR BUYERS.

STEWART HAS BEEN CRANKING OUT THE DRAFT LETTERS AND HELPING TO COORDINATE WITH THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET THAT EMAIL LIST AND THE APPROVALS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS.

BUT THIS HAS BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITY AND WE ARE MOVING AS FAST AS WE CAN.

I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT MR. PULVERS´ RESPONSE ABOUT HOW TIMELY WE'LL GET EVERYTHING BACK FROM HIM, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL STAY ON THEM. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS HOLIDAYS TOO, SO IT CAN BE HARD.

BUT HE DIDN'T RESPOND RIGHT AWAY WITH, YES, THIS LOOKS GOOD, WHICH CONCERNS ME.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT. I GUESS THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION IN MY REPORT BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IS, DANNY AND I WENT TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE ANNUAL ADMINISTRATORS BUDGET MEETING YESTERDAY.

WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE COLLEGE ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THEIR PLANS ARE, AS WELL AS A SPREADSHEET OF THEIR, I WOULD SAY, ROUGH DRAFT BUDGET OUTLOOK FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OUR SHARE AT THIS POINT, AS IS BASED ON STUDENT POPULATION, IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN 2%.

SO IT'S ABOUT A $40,000 DIFFERENCE FROM THEIR REQUEST LAST YEAR JUST FOR THEIR OPERATING.

AND THEY SHARED WITH US SOME OF THEIR PLANS, THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND SOME OF THEIR FUNDRAISING PLANS.

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION AS WE GET MORE CONCRETE INFORMATION FROM THEM.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD WHEN I'M DONE, DANNY, FEEL FREE. THE OTHER THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING, HOWEVER, I DID BRING UP WITH DOCTOR COPPERSMITH THE THOUGHTS FROM LAST WEEK ABOUT THE EXPEDITED PARAMEDIC TRAINING PROGRAM, AND HE PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THEIR TWO LEAD INSTRUCTORS, SO I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM ALSO, JUST TO START SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO THERE.

AND I NEED TO INCLUDE MARK AND KJ IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALSO.

[01:10:06]

SO ANYWAY, HE DID PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND WE'LL KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

OKAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE ENROLLED IN THAT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW, DO YOU KNOW? IN CHESAPEAKE'S CURRENT PROGRAM? YEAH. I HAVE TWO, ONE THAT'S GETTING READY TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER,

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

THERE WAS SOME PUSHBACK FROM CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WAS THE PUSHBACK? THEY SAID IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL.

THEY HAD DATA TO PROVE THAT A AN ACCELERATED SCHEDULE WASN'T SUCCESSFUL.

BUT OUR THING WAS OUR KIDS NOW GO ONCE A WEEK AND THEN EVERY OTHER WEEKEND.

OUR PLAN WAS TO MAKE A PROPOSAL TO YOU TO HIRE.

WE WOULD HIRE AN EMT AND SEND THEM TO PARAMEDIC SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD.

IF WE GOT PEOPLE GOING TO OTHER PLACES. YEAH.

BECAUSE IT'S QUICKER, WE DON'T FUND THE OTHER PLACES.

WE FUND CHESAPEAKE. SO TELL THEM TO BRING THEIR DATA AND COME IN AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION. OKAY. YEP. HAVE I GOT A QUICK QUESTION? WE CAN GO INTO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION. MIGHT NOT BE QUICK, BUT.

WARDEN, DO YOU FEEL. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT IT WOULD BE FEASIBLE TO RENOVATE THE CURRENT DETENTION CENTER AND MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MEET GOING FORWARD? NO, NOT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT FACILITY IS WE DON'T HAVE PROGRAM SPACE. WHERE WE WERE LOOKING TO PUT PROGRAMS BASED, THE PLAN REQUIRED US TO DIG DEEP INTO THAT WAY TO HAVE ENOUGH CEILING CLEARANCE TO HAVE INMATES IN THAT AREA.

YOU NEVER REALLY WANT OR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS IN AN AREA WHERE THEY EVEN CAN JUMP AND REACH THE CEILING.

AND OUR PROGRAM ROOM, DEPENDING ON YOUR HEIGHT.

OH, I KNOW, YEAH. JUST TO WALK THROUGH THE ROOM.

I'VE BEEN TO THANKSGIVING DINNERS DOWN THERE.

I KNOW, AND I'M NOT THE TALLEST GUY IN THE WORLD, BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

SO I THINK IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REALISTICALLY LOOK AT THIS, I THINK.

SO, IN YOUR OPINION, THEN WE TAKE RENOVATION OF THE CURRENT FACILITY OFF THE TABLE.

YES, BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE THE SITUATION WITH THE ROOF.

WE HAVE LEAKS, A LOT OF LEAKS, ROOF LEAKS. THE WINDOWS, THEY'RE NOT.

THE BUILDING'S NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT. THE WINDOWS ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY OLD.

AND EVEN THE CEILING OF THE THIRD FLOOR PORTION OF IT IS NOT EVEN REALLY SECURE.

THAT'S HOW WE HAVE AN INMATE GO THROUGH THE CEILING AND COME OUT IN THE ATTIC.

AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT LIVES UP THERE. A FEW COLONIES OF BATS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND CEILING. I MEAN, ROOFS CAN BE FIXED AND WINDOWS CAN BE REPLACED.

I'M JUST SAYING FROM A SPACE STANDPOINT, BECAUSE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, I HOPE THAT WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE STARTS TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IT'S GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS ONE BUILT IN HERE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM IN FINDING AN AREA TO BUILD IT.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.

AND IF IT CAN'T BE DONE, THEN I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE A LOT OF TIME SPENT EVALUATING WHETHER THAT CAN BE DONE OR NOT.

I MEAN, IF YOU PLAN TO GO UP AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN GO UP.

IF YOU PLAN TO ADD ANOTHER FLOOR, THEN THE THING ABOUT IT, ONCE YOU RENOVATE A HOUSING AREA,

[01:15:01]

RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF LIKE GRANDFATHERED IN.

BECAUSE OUR HOUSING UNIT AREAS DON'T MEET THE CODE FOR ADA AND SIZE OF CELLS AND THE WAY THE UNITS ARE SET UP.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO UP. THEN ONCE YOU RENOVATE HOUSING SPACE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO RENOVATE THEM ALL.

I DON'T. COMMISSIONER PORTER TO YOUR POINT, I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

IT MAY BE THE ONLY OPTION THAT WE HAVE, BUT THE THE DRAWBACKS TO RENOVATING THEIR.

WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I THINK. HOPEFULLY WE CAN.

I KNOW WE CAN INVESTIGATE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, PROBABLY BASED ON.

OR WE COULD USE THE ARGUMENT THAT OUR CURRENT FACILITY IS LOCATED IN THE CRITICAL AREA POSSIBLY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE, DIFFERENT THINGS. SO THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP US OFFSET THE COST OF BUILDING A NEW FACILITY BY RELOCATING OURS OUT OF THE CRITICAL AREA, OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

AND THAT TWOFOLD COULD HELP US BECAUSE IF WE OBTAIN.

AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED JIM DUNCAN ON FRIDAY WAS, IF WE OBTAIN FEDERAL DOLLARS, WE COULD THEN ADHERE TO THE FEDERAL WAGE SCALE, DAVIS-BACON WAGE SCALE, AS OPPOSED TO ADHERING TO THE STATE WAGE SCALE, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER. SO IT COULD DRIVE CONSTRUCTION COSTS DOWN IF WE COULD ACTUALLY OBTAIN SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO I THINK THE FIRST STEP, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PREPARING OUR PART ONE AND PART TWO, I THINK WE NEED TO TRY TO PURSUE FEDERAL GRANTS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME FEDERAL MONEY TO RELOCATE. THE, MAIN DISADVANTAGE TO RENOVATING THERE IS, IF WE CONTINUE, WHICH I THINK WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE POPULATION GROWTH AND POTENTIAL INCREASE IN INMATE POPULATION.

THERE'S NO ROOM TO EXPAND OVER THERE. YOU CAN'T REALLY GO UP BECAUSE I'M SURE THE FOUNDATIONS WERE ONLY DESIGNED AT THE TIME TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE. SO I'M SURE WE CAN'T GO UP WITHOUT TOTALLY, YOU KNOW, DEMOLISHING THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND STARTING OVER BY PUTTING IN DEEPER FOOTINGS OR MORE SUBSTANTIAL FOOTINGS TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING.

SO IF WE DO A FULL RENOVATION OF THAT FACILITY, WE'RE KIND OF LOCKED THERE FOREVER WITH NO WHERE TO GO.

YOU CAN'T GO UP, CAN'T GO OUT. SO IF WE DON'T TRY TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE, WE WELOSE ALL THAT FLEXIBILITY TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY.

SO I THINK IT'S AN OPTION, BUT I THINK IT'S AN OPTION OF LAST RESORT, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO STAY THERE REALLY IS WHERE I'M AT, BUT. A FEW PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH CONSTITUENTS WISE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BAD TASTE OF BUILDING A NEW DETENTION CENTER.

IT WASN'T A BAD SENTIMENT, OR FEELING THAT THAT I'VE HEARD.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW WHERE HAVE YOU PROPOSED IT THEN? THAT'S WHERE YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING COULD SAY, HEY, HE'S GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT. RIGHT. WELL, GOING TO THE FEDERAL. TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL FUNDING, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE DID WITH THE SCHOOL. YEAH. SO YEAH. AND HOPE HOPEFULLY IT'S AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION WE'RE IN.

AND MAYBE, MAYBE WE GET A NEW FACILITY AND SAVE THE COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, SAVE OVER ACTUALLY HAVING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD HAVE IN RENOVATING WHERE WE'RE AT NOW. SO BUT IT'S ALL THEORETICAL AT THIS POINT.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO GET SOME OF OUR PEOPLE WORKING ON THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IN BRINGING IN, IF WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING IN SOMEONE EXPERIENCED WITH DETENTION CENTERS, MAYBE THEY CAN HELP US FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES TO DO THIS AS WELL.

SO. OKAY. BUT THE PART ONE, PART TWO, WARDEN SCOTT WOULD HAVE TO.

WE'D HAVE TO INDICATE IN THAT PART ONE WHETHER WE INTEND TO RENOVATE OR BUILD NEW THOUGH, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T. YEAH. SO WE REALLY GOTTA KNOW BEFORE WE START PUTTING TOGETHER THE PART ONE, PART TWO.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I MEAN, YEAH, IF WE ELIMINATE RENOVATION OF THAT FACILITY, THEN I THINK IT MAKES IT A LOT CLEARER WHERE WE'RE GOING.

RIGHT. BUT REALLY BEFORE WE SUBMIT THAT PART ONE, PART TWO OR THE PART ONE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE TOWN AND SEE, YOU KNOW, IS IT EVEN AN OPTION? RIGHT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THE TOWN MANAGER.

[01:20:05]

YEAH I THINK YEAH. YEAH. SO. ASSUMING WE LOOK AT THE SITE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OR PONDERING, I GUESS IS BEHIND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. DOUBLE HILLS ROAD.

SO THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THE TOWN OF DENTON. YOU SAID MARCH 1ST DEADLINE ON THE PART ONE? SO WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS MARCH.

NO. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'VE GOT TIME. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE NEXT MARCH.

YEP. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT DOES THAT DETENTION CENTER HAVE TIME? I ALREADY TALKED TO KATHLEEN ABOUT THAT. WE NEED TO SET UP A MEETING WITH.

I MEAN, HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME WHEN WE FIRST COME IN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON. RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASSESS, YOU KNOW, WITH WARDEN SCOTT AND DEPUTY WARDEN DICKSON IN PARTICULAR.

AND OUR FACILITIES PEOPLE. AND OUR FACILITIES PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IN THIS INTERIM TIME FRAME.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX THIS OFF AND DO SOME.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME REPAIRS TO THIS THING. SO.

ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOUR OPEN DISCUSSION? YEAH, JUST I RECEIVED AN EMAIL YESTERDAY FROM MISS BULA ABOUT AARON'S PLACE.

BUT I SPOKE WITH DANNY. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE ON THAT AND POSSIBLY PUT IT, OR IF YOU ALREADY HAVE FOUND OUT. SO JUST A FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

STACY SEWARD, OUR GRANT COORDINATOR, DID FOLLOW UP WITH DHCD THIS MORNING.

THEIR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RESPONDED BACK IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE MEETING AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A MEETING IN JANUARY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

SO WE WILL TOUCH BASE WITH THEM, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IMMEDIATELY THERE IS A NEED FOR A LETTER OR APPLICATION.

SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH DHCD AND IF ANY MORE INFORMATION COMES AVAILABLE, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD.

YOU'LL FOLLOW UP WITH MISS BULA? YES, WE WILL.

COMMISSIONER BARTZ. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. OKAY, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING EITHER.

WE THEN HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. DO NOT SEE ANYONE. THEN I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER MARYLAND OPEN MEETINGS ACT GENERAL PROVISION ARTICLE 3-05B1 TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTER

[Closed Session Closed Session under the Maryland Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1), to discuss a personnel matter involving the appointment, employment, performance, compensation, or separation of one or more county employees. The purpose of this discussion is to discuss personnel and receive advice from staff as appropriate.]

THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION IS TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL AND RECEIVE ADVICE FROM STAFF AS APPROPRIATE.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION, SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE.

COMMISSIONER PORTER. AYE. COMMISSIONER BREEDING. AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

AYE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.