[00:02:18]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 16, 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.
THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE, REVEREND DUNN.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR WAY IN ON THIS CHILLY TUESDAY MORNING.
>> FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT WE CAN LIVE THROUGH.
WE CAN DO THAT, WHICH IS RIGHT AND PLEASING TO YOU THAT WE CAN GIVE A HELP TO OTHER PEOPLE.
I THANK YOU THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF THESE MEETINGS ARE DILIGENT TO COME EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT FEELING GOOD, HEALTH OR HIGH TEMPERATURE TO COME AND DO THE JOBS IN WHICH THEY ARE SET TO DO.
[Call to Order: Invocation— Rev Buddy Dunn; Faith Fellowship of Preston, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE ASK THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM WISDOM IN DEALING THESE PROCEDURES IN A WAY THAT YOU GET THE MOST GLORY FROM IT.WE HAVE UNDER OUR SEAL IN GOD WE TRUST, AND NO OTHER CAN WE TRUST ANY MORE THAN YOU.
I PRAY TO GOD THAT YOU WOULD WORK IN EACH ONE OF US, WHICH IS WELL PLEASING TO YOU, BRING HEALTH AND STRENGTH AND SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE WINTER YEARS OR SEASONS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>>THANK YOU, SIR. DURING THE DECEMBER 9TH COMMISSION MEETING,
[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE 3-305B17&8.THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETINGS WERE TO CONDUCT AN EMPLOYEE EVALUATION AND RECEIVE UPDATES FROM OUR ATTORNEYS REGARDING POTENTIAL LITIGATION WITH A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO FOLLOW UP DRAFTING AND AT WILL CONTRACT AND LETTERS OF RESPONSE.
ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING, WHICH IS BOB ZIMMER HOF,
[Special Recognition—Brenda Walls, Ridgely Pharmacy]
DIRECTOR AND KENDALL TEAGUE, OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH OUR CAROLINE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WITH A SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF BRENDA WALLS FOR RIDGELY PHARMACY.AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, GOOD MORNING?
[00:05:05]
EVERYBODY WANT TO COME UP FRONT?>> [BACKGROUND] COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
[NOISE] ALTHOUGH SOME FOLKS RETIRE AND TAKE IT EASY AND GO SOAK IN THE SUN, SOME FOLKS JUST SHIFT GEARS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT BRENDA IS DOING, BUT SHE HAS MEANT AN AWFUL LOT TO THE COMMUNITY, BOTH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY COMMUNITY AND ORIGINALLY IN PARTICULAR SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE TO HONOR HER.
KENDALL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING?
>> YEAH, SURE. FOR TWO DECADES, BRENDA WALLS HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF RIDGELY, SERVING RESIDENTS NOT ONLY THROUGH HER BUSINESS, BUT THROUGH HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.
HER LEADERSHIP IN CREATING A SIGNATURE CAR SHOW BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO TOWN, ENERGIZED LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND PLACED RIDGELY FIRMLY ON THE REGIONAL MAP.
HER LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO BE FELT THROUGH THE CONNECTIONS SHE BUILT AND THE COMMUNITY SHE HELPED STRENGTHEN. THANK YOU.
>> BRENDA, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND I HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION HERE, WHICH I WILL READ, WHICH IS PRESENTED TO BRENDA WALLS IN APPRECIATION FOR 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN THE TOWN OF RIDGELY.
THROUGH THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF RIDGELY PHARMACY, BRENDA WALLS PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CREATED ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND BUILT LASTING RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHENED HER SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
BEYOND HER BUSINESS, SHE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL CIVIC SPIRIT BY DEVELOPING AND COORDINATING THE RIDGELY CAR SHOW, DRAWING THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AND SHOWCASING THE TOWN AS A VIBRANT DESTINATION WITHIN RURAL CAROLINE COUNTY.
AS SHE ENTERS A WELL EARNED RETIREMENT, WE RECOGNIZE HER LASTING IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY, HER COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY CONNECTION, AND THE POSITIVE LEGACY SHE LEAVES BEHIND.
PRESENTED WITH HEARTFELT APPRECIATION BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, THIS 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR 2025, SIGNED BY J. TRAVIS BREEDING PRESIDENT, LARRY C. PORTER VICE PRESIDENT, AND FRANKLIN BARTZ THIRD COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT REPORTER.
>> I DON'T FEEL GOOD, BUT I WASN'T GOING TO MISS THIS.
>> [NOISE] HE ASSURES ME HE'S NOT CONTAGIOUS. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M NOT CONTAGIOUS. [LAUGHTER] I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME. I WON'T SAY HOW LONG.
BUT HERE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY WHO THE COUNTY COULD NOT REALLY FUNCTION WITHOUT AND I THINK YOU'RE JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO JUST SAYS, I WILL DO IT.
GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO, BUT I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS, AND I KNOW WHERE YOUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN.
I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I'VE TALKED WITH YOU IN THE CAR SHOW, HAS JUST HAD YOU FRAZZLED, BUT YOU ALWAYS PULLED IT OFF AND IT ALWAYS BECAME SUCCESSFUL.
AS A CUSTOMER, I KNOW YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND AS A FRIEND, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE, SO THANK YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
CERTIFICATES ARE GREAT, BUT DO KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT YOU. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, BRENDA.
EVERY TIME I SPEAK, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A KIND WORD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR NONPROFIT WORK IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND BEYOND.
YOU'RE FROM HERE TO NORTH CAROLINA WITH YOUR NONPROFIT WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I THINK ONE THING STANDS OUT TO ME, YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUNGER WOMEN BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR AND DOING A NONPROFIT WORK TO [NOISE] REINSTATE COMMISSIONER PORTERS.
YOU JUST DO IT YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
YOU JUST, HEY, I'M GOING TO DO IT, AND I DO IT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING CAROLINE COUNTY A NICE PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU.
MANAGING EMPLOYEES, MAKING SURE THE DOORS ARE OPEN WHEN MAYBE AN EMPLOYEE CAN'T MAKE IT IN.
WE DON'T AS BUSINESS OWNERS GET TO TAKE TIME OFF YOU'RE COMMITTED.
IT IS A COMMITMENT, AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY AND THEN TO ALSO FIND TIME TO VOLUNTEER AND DO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DID IT'S VERY INSPIRING.
WELL DESERVED AND GLAD WE HAD YOU IN THIS FORUM AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS.
[00:10:06]
>> DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, BRENDA OR NOT?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE EVER DONE FOR ME.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOR ME, WHETHER IT'S BEEN THE CAR SHOW, IT'S BEEN MY STORE.
JUST IN GENERAL, TALKING TO ME. BUT I LOVE WHAT I DO.
I'M NOT GOING TO STOP. I'VE RETIRED, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE IN MY PINK CARTS AT THE EASTERN SHORE.
I JUST STILL ARE DOING A LOT OF STUFF WITH RICHARD PETTY, VOLUNTEERING AND DOING THINGS ALL THE WAY TO TENNESSEE, SO I WON'T STOP THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
>> THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO RISK A PICTURE? [BACKGROUND].
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE MARK SHERIDAN,
[Presentation on Whole Blood Program]
DIRECTOR OF OUR DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND DR. FRATTA, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH A PRESENTATION ON OUR WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM.>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS?
>> TODAY, WE WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON AN INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE ARE INITIATING A WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM, WHICH I WON'T STEAL DR. FRATTA [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE HE HAS A PRESENTATION THAT HE'LL GO GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND ON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.
WE THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE IN A COUNTY WITH NO HOSPITAL, WE CAN'T RUN TO A TRAUMA CENTER.
WHOLE BLOOD IS A LIFE SAVING EVENT.
IT'S A PROCEDURE THAT'S LOW COST, REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF RISK TO THE PATIENT GIVEN SO THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD BE A RISK TO THE PATIENT ITSELF.
WE BROUGHT THE EQUIPMENT TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS WAS AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION, SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
WITH THAT, I'LL LET DR. FRATTA GIVE HIS PRESENTATION.
>> I'M GOING TO TRY TO RUN THROUGH IT WITH YOU.
>> PERFECT. JEN IS THE CLICKER.
[LAUGHTER] THE BIGGEST THING WITH BLOOD, LIKE MARK SAID, IS THAT IT IS LIFE SAVING.
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS WE'VE HAD IN THE PREHOSPITAL MEDICINE [NOISE] TO DATE.
BASIC OVERVIEW OF WHAT PREHOSPITAL WHOLE BLOOD IS, IT'S GIVING BLOOD TO THE PATIENT AT THE SITE OF THE INJURY OR ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.
IT'S RAPID ACCESS TO LOW-TITER O POSITIVE WHOLE BLOOD AND WE'RE DOING THIS WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DELMARVA BLOOD BANK AND THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION WITH THE GRANT MONEY TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
I WASN'T SURE IF THERE'S A CLICK Q.
WHY PREHOSPITAL WHOLE BLOOD? BLOOD CONTAINS ALL OF THE THINGS TOGETHER RATHER THAN WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL, IF YOU GET A BLOOD TRANSFUSION, TYPICALLY, IT'S PACKED RED BLOOD CELLS OR PLATELETS, IF YOU NEED PLATELETS OR PLASMA, IF YOU NEED PLASMA.
WHOLE BLOOD IS ALL OF THAT PUT TOGETHER.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY DIRECTLY BLOOD OUT OF ONE DONOR, SCREENED FOR INFECTION,
[00:15:02]
GIVEN SOME MEDICATIONS TO MAKE IT LAST LONGER AND THEN TRANSFUSED TO SOMEBODY IN TRAUMA OR IN HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK.THE RED BLOOD CELLS ARE WHAT'S GOING TO CARRY THE OXYGEN TO THE TISSUE AND KEEP YOUR BRAIN, YOUR HEART ALIVE. WE SKIPPED ONE.
PLASMA IS GOING TO CONTAIN ALL OF OUR CLOTTING FACTORS WITHOUT WHICH NONE OF THE CLOT SYSTEM WORKS AND PLATELETS ARE THE PHYSICAL BUILDING BLOCKS, THE BRICKS THAT MAKE THOSE CLOTS TO HELP STOP THE BLEED.
OVERALL, THE SCIENCE BEHIND BLOOD, LIKE I SAID, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS THERE IS, 10-20% OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE WHOLE BLOOD IN THE TRAUMA SETTING OR IN THE HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK SETTING SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THAT.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO OTHER STUFF WE DO, AND WE HAVE DONE FOR YEARS LIKE EPINEPHRINE AND CARDIAC ARREST, OVER 100 PATIENTS HAVE TO RECEIVE EPINEPHRINE FOR ONE OF THEM TO SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THAT MEDICATION.
AMIODARONE A VERY NEW FANCY DRUG THAT CAME OUT PROBABLY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, ONE IN 30 WILL SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THAT MEDICATION BEING DEPLOYED.
BLOOD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE IN 10 TO ONE IN FIVE WILL SURVIVE BECAUSE OF BLOOD.
TIME THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN A COUNTY WITHOUT TRAUMA CENTER, DEPENDING ON MSP AVIATION TO GET PEOPLE TO SHOCK TRAUMA.
THIS IS REALLY GOING TO EXTEND THAT VIABLE PERIOD OF TIME FOR PEOPLE.
IT'S OVERALL SHOWN TO INCREASE SURVIVAL, DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED MASSIVE TRANSFUSIONS AT THE TRAUMA CENTER AND IMPROVE NEUROLOGIC OUTCOMES BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE MAY BE SALVAGEABLE, BUT THAT PROLONGED PERIOD OF HAVING NOT ENOUGH OXYGEN WILL CREATE GRAND DAMAGE.
>> OUR ROLE REALITY. WE HAVE LONG TRANSPORT TIMES.
WE DON'T HAVE MANY TRAUMA CENTERS, AND THE TRAUMA CENTERS WE DO HAVE AREN'T SHOCK TRAUMA.
WE HAVE TO BASICALLY RELY ON MSP TO GET US TO THE TRAUMA CENTERS, AND CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TO RELY ON MSP OR DELAWARE FOR BLOOD ADMINISTRATION.
BASICALLY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BRING THAT TRAUMA CENTER LEVEL CARE TO OUR AMBULANCES TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
SAFETY AND OVERSIGHT, LIKE MARK SAID, THIS IS A VERY LOW RISK INTERVENTION.
IT IS FILTERED WHOLE BLOOD, SO THERE'S VERY LITTLE ANTIBODIES IN IT.
VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE REACTIONS TO THIS.
WHAT SMALL INTERACTIONS ARE POSSIBLE, WE ALREADY HAVE EQUIPPED TREATMENT IN OUR PROTOCOL AND IN OUR BLOOD ADMINISTRATION BAG. THIS IS FULLY TESTED.
IT'S DEPLOYED BY THE US MILITARY, AND WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS BEEN FAIRLY WIDESPREAD IN THE CIVILIAN EMS WORLD, ESPECIALLY SAN ANTONIO, PITTSBURGH, UPPER NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA, AND NOW MARYLAND IS REALLY GETTING INTO THE SCENE AS WELL.
I THINK THE CITY OF MARYLAND HAS CURRENTLY ABOUT 300 UNITS OF BLOOD ADMINISTERED.
MOST BY THE MSP, BUT A GOOD NUMBER BY MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY, HARFORD AND CECIL ARE COMING ON BOARD NOW.
OVERSIGHT IS GOING TO BE THROUGH MYSELF, THE QAQI TEAM AT CCDS, AS WELL AS THE BLOOD BANK PARTNERS.
WHEN WE GET THIS UP AND RUNNING, WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SHORE RUNNING HOLE BLOOD.
ESSENTIALLY WITHIN THE FIRST 10 COUNTIES, PROBABLY THE FIRST EIGHT OR NINE COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO RUN WHOLE BLOOD.
THIS IS REALLY A CHANCE FOR US TO STEP AHEAD OF THE PACK AND BRING OUR EMS LEVEL OF CARE UP TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE.
THIS IS THE BEST THING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
BIGGEST THING IS PEOPLE THINK OF THIS FOR GUNSHOT WOUNDS, STABBINGS, WHICH IS STILL A POSSIBILITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
MVCS IS ACTUALLY THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE FOR PEOPLE TO GET BLOOD, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF ONE IN THREE BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS FOR A MEDICAL BLEED.
GI BLEEDS, OB BLEEDS, POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE, RUPTURED ECTOPIC PREGNANCIES, ESPECIALLY AS THE COMMUNITY GETS A LITTLE BIT OLDER IN GENERAL.
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE START TO TAKE BLOOD ENDING MEDICINES.
THESE GI BLEEDS BECOME REALLY PROFOUND.
THIS IS JUST OUR BEST STEP FORWARD TO OFFER HIGH QUALITY CARE.
IT'S MAJORITY FUNDED EXTERNALLY.
WE'RE EXPECTING 12-25 TRANSFUSIONS PER YEAR.
STATISTICALLY FROM THE NUMBER NEEDED TO TREAT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SAVE LIKELY ONE OR TWO PEOPLE PER YEAR IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHO WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE DIED EN ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL.
TRAINING IS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF ROLLING OUT.
WE DID DEPARTMENT WIDE TRAINING ON THE BASICS OF BLOOD PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.
COMING UP IN JANUARY, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ROLLOUT WITH MEMBERS FROM HOWARD COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS WITH DELTA TO PHYSICALLY SHOWCASE THE EQUIPMENT AND TRAIN PEOPLE UP.
[00:20:06]
WE'RE IN COORDINATION WITH THE MIMS FOR BLOOD ADMINISTRATION.EVERY BLOOD ADMINISTRATION GETS QAQI-ED, AND HAS A TIGHTER LEASE ON IT.
OVERALL, TRYING TO BRING THE TRAUMA LEVEL CARE TO US HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, INCREASE SURVIVABILITY, GET IT A LITTLE BIT MORE EQUITABLE WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WHEN IT COMES TO RURAL SYSTEMS AND HOPEFULLY SHOWCASE OURSELVES AS ON A STATE LEVEL.
>> IGLESIAS. GREAT. MR. REPORTER.
>> [NOISE] THIS WILL BE DONE JUST LIKE A BLOOD TRANSFUSION ON THE SCENE.
IT CAN BE DONE ON THE SCENE OR IN TRANSPORT.
>> ON AVERAGE, IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE-ISH MINUTES TO ADMINISTER THE BLOOD.
IT GOES THROUGH A SYSTEM CALLED THE LIFE FLOW, WHICH IS LIKE A PUMP TRIGGER ACTION PUN POOL SYSTEM, WHICH ADMINISTERS BLOOD WAY FASTER THAN YOUR TYPICAL IV FLUIDS OR EVEN, LIKE SQUEEZING AN IV BAG.
WE CAN SHOW YOU SOME OF THE FUN STUFF.
>> THIS IS THE COOL WE CARRY ON OUR SUPERVISORS TRUCK TO CARRY ONE UNIT OF BLOOD.
WE STIMULATED THIS, BUT THE BLOOD WILL BE HELP.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE BLOOD BANK HAS VERY STRICT REGULATIONS ON BLOOD.
TO THEM, IT'S A COMMODITY THAT.
>> WE HAVE A ZERO WASTE SETUP WITH THE BLOOD BANK.
EVERY 14 DAYS, A COURIER WILL DROP OFF BLOOD TO DS HEADQUARTERS, SWITCH THAT OUT WITH THEM, AND THEY TAKE IT BACK AND THEY CAN SPIN IT DOWN AND REUSE IT.
IT'S NOT WASTED, SO WE DON'T WASTE ANY BLOOD.
WE'LL CARRY THIS AND THIS BAG, WE'LL GO WITH THE SUPERVISOR.
BASICALLY, THE SET UP IS THE BLOOD WILL BE TAKEN OUT OF THE COOLER.
THERE'S A Y SET THAT WE WON'T OPEN, BUT THERE IS A Y SET THAT GOES INTO THE IV OR INTO THE ACTUAL BLOOD.
THEN IT'LL RUN THROUGH THIS, WHICH IS CALLED A POINT FLOW.
THIS ACTUALLY BECAUSE REMEMBER, IT'S PACKS UP IT'S FROZEN OR IS COLD.
THIS ACTUALLY WARMS THE BLOOD BEFORE IT'S ADMINISTERED INTO THE PATIENT. THAT'S HOW IT GOES.
THE GUN BASICALLY GOES JUST SQUEEZE IT IN.
LIKE DR. PRADA SAID, PROBABLY IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES YOU CAN TRANSFER THAT.
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A REAL BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR COUNTY.
I REALLY DO FEEL AS I TOLD YOU, I THINK IN A CLOSED SESSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD ACTUALLY HAD THREE CASES.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A CASE LAST NIGHT.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THAT PERSON WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BLOOD, BUT THEY APPLIED TWO TOURNIQUETS [NOISE] BLEEDING AND TRANSPORTED TO THE TRAUMA CENTER WITH MSP.
BUT THE WEEK BEFORE THAT, WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO ADMINISTRATIONS BY MSP AND ONE BY SUSSEX COUNTY MS WAS A ACCIDENT THAT WAS ON THE DELAWARE MARYLAND LINE.
OUR SUPERVISOR WAS THERE, SO HAVE WE HAD WE HAD BLOOD, WE COULD HAVE ADMINISTERED IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT PERSONALLY, I THINK ALL THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO, AND I'VE BEEN IN EMS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
I COMPARE THIS TO WHEN CPAP CAME OUT, WHICH IS WHERE YOU BASICALLY PUT A MASK AND SOMEONE'S HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING, AND YOUR POSITIVE PRESSURE BACK INTO THE LUNGS.
I COMPARE IT TO THAT BECAUSE BEFORE PEOPLE LIKE THAT JUST DROWNED WE ENDED UP INTUBATING THEM WITH AN ADVANCED AIRWAY.
THE OLDER YOU ARE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE WEANED OFF EVENT, SO IF WE CAN PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM BEING INNOVATED, THEN THAT'S WHAT CPAP DID.
I COMPARE THIS TO CPAP, AND I THINK DR. FRODO FEEL THE SAME WAY.
COMPARED TO LIKE RSI WHERE WE TAKE SOMEBODY'S AIRWAY WAY AND THEN WE DON'T GET AN AIRWAY, AND THERE'S A RISK THAT SOMEONE COULD DIE FROM WHAT WE DO.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE RISK TO THIS AT ALL FOR US.
>> WHAT WAS THE I KNOW I SEE TERRY MEADE BACK THERE, AND I KNOW HE'S THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION STEPPED UP ON THIS, WHICH THEY DO.
>> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FOUNDATION AT SOME FUTURE MEETING SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF ACTUALLY WHAT THEY DO, BUT IT'S INCREDIBLE.
WHAT WAS THE COST OF THIS TO IMPLEMENT THIS?
>> I THINK THE ACTUAL BUDGET WE HAD LAID OUT WAS LIKE 32,000.
I DON'T THINK WE QUITE SPENT THAT BECAUSE WE CUT BACK ON SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT ONCE WE WORKED WITH THE MANUFACTURERS AND THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION GAVE US A $20,000 GRANT.
WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 5,000 OF OUR OWN MONEY IN IT EQUIPMENT WISE.
THE ONLY EQUIPMENT THAT WE WILL REALLY NEED TO REPLACE
[00:25:02]
IS THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATION STUFF AND THE WARMER.I TALKED TO DR. CHISMAR, STATE MEDICAL DIRECTOR LAST WEEK.
WE ALSO ARE HOPING THAT WE'RE GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THE ROYAL GRANT HOSPITAL MONEY, AND THAT WILL PAY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL GIVE US MONEY TOWARDS WHOLE BLOOD PRODUCTS.
>> EJ AMBULANCE WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH.
>> [OVERLAPPING] JUST A SUPERVISOR SUPERVISOR.
IT'S REALLY TIGHTLY REGULATED BY THE BLOOD BANK.
>> BLOOD HAS TO BE BETWEEN TWO AND SIX DEGREES CELSIUS.
THERE'S ALARMS THAT GO TO A PUSH NOTIFICATION TO A PHONE.
IF IT GETS OUTSIDE OF THOSE TOLERANCES, IF IT PREDICTS IT'S GOING TO GO OUTSIDE, IT'LL TELL YOU WITHIN AN HOUR, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'LL SAY WITHIN ONE HOUR, YOU WILL GO OUTSIDE OF TEMPERATURE SO YOU CAN GO AND FIX IT.
>> EACH AMBULANCE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE SUPPLIES SO THAT WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY NEED BLOOD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE SUPERVISORS.
>> THEY WILL HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP AND THEN BLOOD WILL BE DELIVERED.
>> JUST ONE UNIT? REALLY? THAT LITTLE BIT MAKES THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE.
>> YES, THE WHOLE BLOOD ITSELF ACTUALLY IS MORE VOLUME THAN YOUR TYPICAL BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS.
IF ANYONE'S SEEN A BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN LIKE A HOSPITAL, IT'S LIKE A BAG LIKE THAT LIKE 100 MILLILITERS.
BLOOD IS ABOUT 500 MILLILITERS.
TYPICALLY IN TRAUMA, WE'RE ONLY GIVING 500-1,000 OF SALINE, AND HONESTLY, THE SALINE IS PROBABLY ALMOST MORE DELETERIOUS THAN BENEFIT.
>> HOW DO YOU MAKE TAKE REGULAR BLOOD VERSUS WHOLE BLOOD? HOW DO THEY DO THAT?
>> WHOLE BLOOD IS ESSENTIALLY BLOOD THAT IS NATURALLY IN YOUR BODY.
THAT IS WHOLE BLOOD, WHICH JUST MEANS THAT IT HAS THE NATURAL PROPORTIONS OF RED BLOOD CELLS, PLASMA, AND PLATELETS.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S ADDED IS CITRATE, WHICH IS A PRESERVATIVE THAT HELPS KEEP THE BLOOD LAST LONGER.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOSPITAL TRANSFUSIONS, THEY SPIN THAT BLOOD DOWN IN A CENTRIFUGE TO REMOVE THE PLATELETS AND REMOVE THE RED BLOOD CELLS.
THE PLATELETS ARE ACTUALLY WHAT GO BAD FIRST.
WHEN WE RETURN BLOOD THAT'S SPIN USED, THEY'LL SPIN IT DOWN, AND THEY STILL GET RED BLOOD CELLS AND PLASMA OUT OF IT, THAT IT WILL BE GOOD FOR WEEKS.
PLATELETS ACTUALLY GO PRETTY FAST, SO THEY'LL PROBABLY NOT WASTE THOSE EITHER BECAUSE MOST CANCER PATIENTS NEED PLATELETS.
>> YES. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH MOST SYSTEMS. SUSSEX COUNTY WHERE I CAME FROM, THEY'RE RUNNING ABOUT 40,000 CALLS.
THEY ONLY RUN TWO UNITS OF BLOOD, ONE AND NEED SUPERVISOR TRUCKS.
IT'S JUST NOT COST EFFECTIVE NOR LOGISTICALLY WITH PUTTING A UNIT ON EVERY AMBULANCE.
THIS IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE TO DO WITH THE CHASE UNIT.
MOST OF THE COUNTIES ARE RUNNING IT'S ALL A SUPERVISOR.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS THAT WAY, IT'S ON THEIR MEDICAL DUTY OFFICERS.
>> THIS IS EXCITING. I THINK THIS IS VERY GOOD STEP FORWARD AND INCREASING OUR CAPABILITIES, AND I APPRECIATE DR. FRODO, YOU COMING ON AND I DON'T KNOW.
WHO TOOK THE INITIATIVE HERE? WAS DR. FRODO. [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] WITH A LOT OF GROUNDWORK ALREADY DONE, WHICH WAS VERY HELPFUL.
ANYTIME YOU IMPLEMENT SOMETHING NEW, I'M SURE STAFF HAS MAYBE SOME HEARTBURN HERE OR THERE, BUT IT'S ANOTHER TRAINING PROGRAM.
IT ABSOLUTELY IS NECESSARY STUFF.
WE CAN SAVE A LIFE OR TWO A YEAR FROM ANY OF THE AILMENTS THAT YOU POINTED OUT.
THAT'S A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
>> IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT DUE TO NOT HAVING A HOSPITAL.
I'M SURE IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA THAT YOU'RE WITHIN MINUTES OF A HOSPITAL, THEN THEY CAN PROBABLY DO THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO ADAPT, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
AGAIN, TERRY, THANK YOU TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE REALLY DON'T KNOW THE STORY, SO WE NEED TO TELL THAT STORY, BUT THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION IS DEVELOPED, AND I KNOW THAT THEY GIVE AWAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND ALL OF IT I THINK HAS TO GO TOWARD HEALTH RELATED ISSUES.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL THAT STORY, BUT THANK YOU, TERRY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS.
IT'S A GREAT STEP FORWARD. THANK YOU.
[00:30:02]
>> BUT RIGHT NOW, AN INJURED OR A PERSON INJURED OR SUFFERING FROM SOMETHING IS WAITING FOR MSPS HELICOPTER TO ARRIVE BEFORE THEY'RE ADMINISTERED WHOLE BLOOD.
IF IT'S NOT FOGY OR BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE. DO YOU HAVE?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT IN THIS.
I GUESS IF YOU JUST SAVE ONE PERSON-
>> MEANS A LOT TO THAT PERSON?
>> YES. 12-25 TRANSFUSION, AND THAT'S ONE OR TWO LIVES.
DR. FRODO SAID THAT THIS COULD SHORTEN RECOVERY TIMES, COULD SHORTEN IMPACTS OF THE INJURY ON REHABILITATION, AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT THE PATIENT GETS BACK, THE LEVEL OF RECOVERY THAT THE PATIENT ULTIMATELY EXPERIENCES BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS BLOOD ADMINISTERED.
THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE LIVES.
>> WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO HAVE A FREEZER BECAUSE THESE I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOWED YOU, THESE COME OUT.
I WILL GO TO THE PHONE ON THE SUPERVISOR ALSO GOES TO THE BLOOD BANK.
KD WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT ON HER PHONE BECAUSE IT'S VERY HIGHLY REGULATED ABOUT THAT TEMPERATURE.
IT HAS TO STAY AT A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE.
WE HAD TO ACQUIRE A FREEZER AND THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THROUGH ROBIN AND CHRISTA DEEDS, THEY REALLY LOOKED OUT FOR US.
THEY GAVE US A LIST OF STUFF THAT THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAD IN A WAREHOUSE, OBVIOUSLY, PROBABLY FROM COVID.
WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE A FREEZER AT NO COST BASICALLY TO THE COUNTY.
IT'S A HUGE WIN BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A $10,000 FREEZER THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF OUR FUNDS IN OUR BUDGET.
>> DON'T LET MY WIFE SEE THOSE BAGS BECAUSE SHE'LL WANT ONE BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS TAKING FOOD DOWN TO THE KIDS THAT SHE HAS FOO BAG.
[LAUGHTER] LET' DO IT, LARRY. GUARANTEEING THIS.
>> KEEP THAT UNDER WRAPS THERE.
>> HOW OFTEN WILL THE BLOOD BANK BE?
>> WE'LL SWITCH IT OUT WITH THE BLOOD BANK.
THERE'S A PROCESS WE GO TO TO HAVE A BAG RESTOCK.
>> ALL THAT'S THROUGH THE BLOOD COM SOFTWARE THAT WE HAD.
>> THERE'S NO COST WITH THE BLOOD BANK FOR THE BLOOD?
>> NO. THE ONLY COST THERE WOULD BE IS IF FOR SOME REASON WE DIDN'T MAKE EXCHANGE OR SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE COOLER WHERE IT GOT OUT OF TEMPERATURE AND THEY CAN'T USE IT.
INITIALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT PROBABLY $600 A UNIT IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE BLOOD.
THE BLOOD BANK OF DELMARVA GIVES BLOOD TO ALL THREE COUNTIES IN [OVERLAPPING]
>> DELAWARE. IT WAS A EASY PARTNERSHIP, THEY'RE GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH.
>> STAND BY. WE WILL BE DOING A BLOOD DRIVE.
[LAUGHTER] CAN WE DO A COUNTY-WIDE BLOOD DRIVE?
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I ASK.
WE ACTUALLY SAID YES. ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THAT.
>> WHERE ARE THEY OUT OF THE LOCATION?
>> BUT THEY HAVE A VAN THAT GOES AROUND.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SET A COUNTY-WIDE BLOOD DRIVE THE MONTH RIGHT AFTER WE LAUNCH TO HELP.
>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK BEFORE WE'RE UP AND RUNNING WITH THIS?
>> I THINK OUR INITIAL WAS FEBRUARY.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON OUR STAFFING.
I HOPE IT'S GETTING BETTER, WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE HEALTHIER, GET TO [INAUDIBLE] BUT OBVIOUSLY ONCE THIS GOES UP ON THE SUPERVISOR'S TRUCK, IT HAS TO STAY UP BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IF IT'S SITTING IT'S A RESOURCE NOT AVAILABLE TO RESPOND.
IT'S NOT REALLY DOING THE COUNTY ANY GOOD.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFFING IS AT OUR APPROPRIATE LEVEL, SO WE CAN KEEP THIS UP AND RUNNING.
THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN LINE, ALL OUR PROTOCOLS HAVE TO BE SIGNED OFF BY THE BLOOD BANK, AND IT WON'T BE ANY PROBLEM GETTING IT SIGNED OFF BY THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR IN THE STATE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO PUSH ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE TO HAVE HOLD.
>> BUT WE'RE THE THIRD THAT YOU KNOW OF.
>> WE'RE THE FIRST ON THE SHORE.
[00:35:02]
HARFORD, FREDERICK MSP.>> WE WANT TO BE FIRST. ALWAYS FIRST.
>> WELL, EXCITED. THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> THAT'S TO LEAD US FROM THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION AS OF NOVEMBER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING THE AGENDA.
>> THANKS, SIR. NOW WE HAVE A SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[• Legislative Bill #2025-015 Amending the Compensation of the County Commissioners]
>> WE GO TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MR. BARREL.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE TODAY A LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-015, WHICH IS AN ACT THAT WOULD AMEND THE COMPENSATION OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS BILL.
SECTION 10-302 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE OF THE MARYLAND CODE ALLOWS AND PROVIDES FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ENACT ORDINANCES, WHICH ESTABLISH A COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION.
CAROLINE COUNTY RECENTLY ENACTED THAT PURSUANT TO THE STATE LAW.
THIS REVIEW COMMISSION CONVENED AND REVIEWED EXISTING COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND ALSO OF OTHER COUNTY BOARDS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THE COMPENSATION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN UNCHANGED SINCE 2009. REVIEW COMMISSION SUBMITTED ITS RESOLUTION DATED NOVEMBER 13, 2025, REGARDING COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON NOVEMBER 18 OF THIS YEAR.
THE LAW STATES THAT THE SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY NOT BE CHANGED DURING THEIR TERM IN OFFICE, AND MUST BE ESTABLISHED FOR THAT TERM PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE TERM.
2026 IS AN ELECTION YEAR FOR ALL THREE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE NEW TERMS WILL COMMENCE AFTER NOVEMBER OF 26.
EXISTING SECTION 18-5 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY CONTAINS THE CURRENT PROVISIONS FOR THE COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES, WHICH HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED, AS I SAID, SINCE 2009.
THE REVIEW COMMISSION RESOLUTION, AND I WILL NOT READ IT IN TOTAL BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT RECOGNIZED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER THESE YEARS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATORY AND CONSTITUENT DEMANDS ON THE TIME OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THEY RESOLVED THAT THE CURRENT COMPENSATION IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH COMPARABLE JURISDICTIONS OR THE WORKLOAD EXPECTED OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
THEIR RECOMMENDATION, WHICH THIS BILL DOES NOT FULLY IMPLEMENT, BUT THE COMMISSION'S RESOLUTION RECOMMENDED ANNUAL SALARY FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO BEGIN AT $24,000 A YEAR.
THE SALARY TO INCREASE BY $2,000 PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, REACHING 30,000 BY THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE TERM.
THE ANNUAL SALARY FOR THE PRESIDENT WOULD BEGIN AT 25,000, WHICH IS $1,000 ABOVE THE BASE SALARY FOR OTHER MEMBERS, AND WOULD INCREASE BY $2,000 PER YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, REACHING 31,000 BY THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE TERM.
ALL OTHER BENEFITS, INCLUDING HEALTH INSURANCE WOULD REMAIN THE SAME.
THE INPUT FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS RESULTED IN THIS BILL PROVIDING FOR THE YEAR 2026-2027, THAT TERM YEAR, AND THEREAFTER UNTIL MODIFIED BY ACT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS $25,000, AND THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS IS $24,000.
THE GRADUAL INCREASE EVERY YEAR THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION IS NOT BEING FULLY IMPLEMENTED AT LEAST IN THIS BILL.
THIS IS GOING TO BASICALLY PUT A $10,000 INCREASE INTO EFFECT BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST TERM YEAR AFTER THIS BOARD HAS EXPIRED ITS TERMS.
[00:40:08]
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THAT IS WHAT IS HERE BEFORE YOU.THIS THIS BILL HAS PROSPECTIVE EFFECT ONLY.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE CURRENT BOARD'S COMPENSATION.
IT WOULD BE FOR A FUTURE BOARD AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE, A LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR, WHICH HAS ITS INTRODUCTION OBVIOUSLY FOR TODAY.
WE ANTICIPATE IF ASSUMING THE COMMISSIONERS AGREE TO PROCEED, WE WOULD ADVERTISE A NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY DEMOCRAT ON JANUARY 3.
WE WOULD HAVE THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY THE 13TH, AND WE WOULD HAVE THE THIRD READING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT IT ON TUESDAY, JANUARY THE 20TH.
IF THIS CALENDAR CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS BILL WOULD BE MARCH 7.
BUT AS I SAID, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE EFFECT EXCEPT FOR THE NEXT TERM.
>> FOR THE NEXT BOARD. THANK YOU, MR. BARREL.
>> DISCUSSION ABOUT THE COMPENSATION, THE POSITION THAT I TAKE IS THAT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE INCREASE TO 24,000 AND 25,000 FOR THE PRESIDENT AND ALSO TAKE ONE OF THE STEPS.
AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, IT WOULD GO TO 26 FOR THE MEMBERS AND 27 FOR THE PRESENT.
THAT'S WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE, OR WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE PENDING LEGISLATION TO REFLECT WHAT I'VE JUST SAID.
>> I WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO THAT AS WELL.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
THEN I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCHEDULING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. ANY OTHER LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS? WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? [LAUGHTER] I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ALL OF THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. CONSENT AGENDA.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[Consent Agenda]
JAMIE, YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT THE LOCAL PARKS AND PLAYGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE.THESE EXTENSIONS OF OUR EXISTING APPLICATIONS, ARE WE ACTUALLY MAKING THE APPLICATION?
THE LPPI WAS THE REMAINING $750,000 FROM THE BOND ISSUE.
UNTIL DNR STRAIGHTENED OUT HOW THEY WANTED US TO ENCUMBER THE FUNDS.
I WAITED, AND THIS IS HOW THEY HAVE DECIDED WE SHOULD APPROACH IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER PREVIOUS MONIES THAT WE HAVE.
THE LPPI IS ADDING ON TO THE PREVIOUS 350,000.
THE POS, ONE OF THEM IS ADDING ONTO THE PREVIOUS MONIES THAT WE HAD.
THEN THE STANDALONE POS IS FOR THE PUMP TRACK THAT WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN A GRANT APPLICATION.
IT'S JUST AMENDING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR INDUCTS ARE IN A ROW.
>> IS THIS THE FINAL ENCUMBRANCES FOR NORTH COUNTY PARK TO GET THAT STARTED? WE SHOULDN'T EXPECT ANYMORE?
>> THIS PUTS THE WHOLE LUMP TOGETHER.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrators Report]
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A LENGTHY REPORT TODAY.
[00:45:02]
THE ONE UPDATE I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU, I GUESS TWO THINGS.JUST ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE CLOCK TOWER, SO THE SCAFFOLDING WILL BE COMING DOWN THIS WEEK.
GLASS HAS ALL BEEN PUT IN PLACE SO THE CLOCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
IT SHOULD BE SOON. ASIDE FROM THAT, IT WAS A REALLY BUSY WEEK AT MACO LAST WEEK.
I THINK I WAS EXHAUSTED WHEN I GOT HOME ON FRIDAY, SO I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THAT.
>> KATHLEEN, DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THE FRONT DOOR?
[Commissioners Open Discussion]
I'VE NOTICED IT LOOKS LIKE THE DOOR HANDLE'S ABOUT TO FALL RIGHT OUT OF IT.BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT DOOR REPLACEMENT, CORRECT?
BUT I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT STATUS, SO I'LL CHECK ON THAT AND GET BACK TO YOU.
>> JUST SOMETHING TO KEY. I WALKED IN THIS MORNING AND I NOTICED THE HANDLE FALL OUT.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER BARS.
>> THE ONLY REAL THING I ATTENDED, THE REACH ACROSS AMERICA AT THE DENTON CEMETERY ON SATURDAY, VERY WELL ATTENDED.
>> I HELPED MOVE THE REES, BUT THEN WE WENT TO SATAN SOUNDS AND SAW HIM NO.
>> I'VE SEEN YOU GOING IN DELIVERING THEM.
>> GOT TO HELP MOVE THEM, BUT I MISSED THE CEREMONY.
>> WHAT DID YOU SET THEM UP AT EACH STATION?
>> JUST DROVE AROUND AND THEY UNLOADED THEM AROUND.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKED OUT.
IT'S HARD TO JUDGE WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE VETERANS GRAVES ARE, BUT WE TRIED TO GET THEM AS CLOSE AS WE COULD.
>> THE MAIN SPEAKER WAS MR. ROBERT ROUSE. HE WAS ON 328? HE WAS A COUNTY COOP EXTENSIVE AGENT YEARS AGO, BUT HE WAS IN KOREA WAR, AND HIM AND JIF BAKER WERE VERY GOOD FRIENDS.
THAT WAS THE MAIN SPEAKER, DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
I ATTENDED THE SERVICE OR TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE SERVICE FOR MR. TRUETT IN FELLSBURG.
IT WAS MACO WEEK, BUSY, LOT OF NETWORKING, TALKING TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS FROM OTHER AREAS.
>> I THINK WE ALL SPLIT UP AND ATTENDED THE SESSIONS AND THE RURAL BREAKFAST.
THE MAIN SESSION THAT I ATTENDED WAS FOR BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE, WHICH WAS THE SAME OLD.
THEY COULD HAVE RECORDED THE ONE FROM FIVE YEARS AGO AND JUST PLAYED IT, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CHANGE THAT'S BEING MADE.
WHEN THEY CALLED ON ME FOR A QUESTION, I DID POINT OUT TO THEIR CHAGRIN THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS MADE UP OF FIVE PEOPLE, AND TWO OF THEM ARE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TWO OF THEM ARE FROM BALTIMORE AND THE OTHER IS FROM ANNE ARUNDEL.
NO ONE OBVIOUSLY IS FROM THE EASTERN SHORE.
THEY JUST SHOOK THEIR HEADS AND THAT'S TERRIBLE.
THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MADE A BIG POINT OF SAYING THAT UTILITY SOLAR FACILITIES WERE BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
I POINTED OUT TO HIM AFTER THE MEETING THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IS ON OUR PRIME FARMLAND.
THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH PROGRESS ON BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY.
THERE IS A STUDY BEING DONE THAT THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN 2026, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO FROM THERE.
OF COURSE, MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT DO WE DO TILL 2026? NO ANSWER.
IT'S A CLOWN SHOW, HONESTLY, AND I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN IT, AND IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.
I THINK WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME CONTACTS.
WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE DOWN THERE.
SOME OF THE COUNTIES THAT I TALKED TO WERE VERY INTERESTED IN OUR COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, AND THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IMPLEMENTING THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT I WAS HOME COUGHING.
[00:50:02]
>> IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STAY SILENT DURING THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BREAKFAST.
>> I GOT SOME DIRTY LOOKS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER ELECTEDS, BUT WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES THERE FROM ONE OF THE LARGE POWER COMPANIES THAT DID A PRESENTATION PRIOR TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BREAKFAST ON THURSDAY MORNING.
THEY WERE DISCUSSING THE PROBLEMS WITH ENERGY GENERATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OUR GENERATION OFFLINE WHILE DEMAND HAS GROWN.
WE'VE DECOMMISSIONED NATURAL GAS AND COAL FIRE POWER PLANTS, WHILE DEVELOPMENT OF EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL LOAD PUT ON THE GRID BY DATA CENTERS HAS COME ONLINE.
THEY HAD STATISTICS, WHICH THEY WENT OVER, AND THEY PAINTED A PRETTY BLEAK PICTURE FOR THE STATE'S ABILITY TO NOT ONLY KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASE OR EVEN TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASE IN DEMAND, MUCH LESS CLOSE THE GAP.
THEY EXPECT THE GAP TO ACTUALLY GET WIDER, AND I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE COMMUNICATING THIS TO THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T LISTENING TO US.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO POINT OUT TO THEM.
ONE OF THE OTHER ELECTEDS I ASKED THEM A QUESTION, WHAT COULD COUNTIES DO TO HELP ADDRESS MARYLAND'S ENERGY GENERATION CRISIS? ONE OF THE EXECUTIVES STARTED TO RESPOND WITH, WE COULD STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, AND I SAID, WELL, YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH TAKEN THAT AWAY FROM US, SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE THAT THE SENTIMENT OF THE DECISION MAKERS AND THE STATE IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE COST OF ELECTRICITY.
I THINK THAT'S THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN AND UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE ENERGY COSTS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE COURSE AT THIS POINT.
>> I TAKE THOSE DIRTY LOOKS AS A BADGE OF HONOR BECAUSE I'VE CERTAINLY GOTTEN THEM OVER THE YEARS, AND I DON'T CARE.
YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S LIKE A SNOWBALL THAT KEEPS GOING DOWN THE HILL AND THEY CAN'T STOP IT BECAUSE NO ONE'S WILLING TO SAY-
>> THAT IT ISN'T WORKING, BECAUSE NO ONE'S WILLING TO SAY THAT.
THEY PARADE THESE PEOPLE TO SET UP THERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND TRY TO TALK ABOUT WITH ALL THESE CHARTS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO GENERATE THE ELECTRIC THAT WE NEED.
WHEN I HEAR THAT WE'RE BUILDING THEM OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, THEN THAT REALLY GETS ME.
LOOK WE'VE HAD OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH MERCOR ABOUT WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE A VICTORY AND WHAT WE DON'T CONSIDER TO BE A VICTORY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, ALL YOU CAN DO IS KEEP SAYING IT, AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT, THAT'S GOOD. I'M GLAD THEY DO.
BUT THE POLICY MAKERS ARE NOT WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
THEY JUST KEEP DOUBLING DOWN, I AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE STATE IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY GOING FORWARD.
WE DON'T HAVE A $1.4 BILLION DEFICIT FOR NO REASON.
I ATTENDED TO BLUEPRINT DISCUSSION AS WELL, AND IT WAS THE SAME THING.
SENATOR HERSHEY WAS ON THE PANEL.
THEY HAD SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE SAME THING THAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING EVER SINCE THE BLUEPRINT WAS IMPLEMENTED, THEY WERE SAYING THE OTHER DAY, SO IT NEVER CHANGES.
IT'S JUST LIKE, WE'VE DONE THIS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADMIT THAT IT'S WRONG, AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP BECAUSE WE'D RATHER MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE COUNTIES JUST TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO SAY WE WERE WRONG, AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIDN'T SOUND THE GREATEST, SO WE'LL SEE.
>> I THINK THEY'RE IN A SPECIAL SESSION TODAY.
>> THEY'RE IN A SPECIAL SESSION TO PICK A SPEAKER, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DONE.
[00:55:02]
>> THE OTHER TOPIC THAT I WAS ABLE TO BRING UP WITH A FEW PEOPLE FROM MDE, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MIDDLE OF JANUARY, JANUARY 16TH.
I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE A ONLINE MEETING WITH LEE CURRY AND LES NAP AT MDE, WATER AND SCIENCE DIVISION.
THE PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF RURAL COUNTIES ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW ARE WITH ONSITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, SEPTIC SYSTEMS. REVEREND DUNN, YOU WENT THROUGH IT WHEN YOU HAD TO REBUILD THE CHURCH.
HOW BIG OF A RINGER DID THEY RUN YOU THROUGH AS FAR AS PUTTING A SEPTIC SYSTEM BACK IN OUT THERE?
>> WE PUT SOME RINGERS ON THEM TOO.
>> BUT EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING THAT.
THE CONVERSATION THAT I WANT TO HAVE WITH MDE IS, I THINK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE PUT IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION WHERE THEY ARE ONLY THE MESSENGER WHO MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THE REGULATIONS THAT MDE IS PUTTING IN PLACE FOR THEM TO ADMINISTER.
I THINK WHAT IS RESULTING IS CONFUSION, OVER REGULATION, OVER INTERPRETATION OF REGULATIONS TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM BEING REPRIMANDED FOR MAKING A MISTAKE.
I THINK WE HAVE OVER-REGULATED THE ONSITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. WELL, THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT ANYBODY IS GOING TO GET SICK OR HAVE AN HEALTH IMPACT FROM THESE SEPTIC SYSTEMS. I THINK WE'VE JUST TAKEN IT TO WAY OVER, BLOWN IT WAY OUT OF PROPORTION WAY MORE THAN WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING.
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, A LOT OF THESE REGS HAVE NOT BEEN REVIEWED OR ANALYZED SINCE THE EARLY '90S, LATE '80S, AND TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED A LOT.
WE HAVE NITROGEN SEPTIC TANKS NOW, WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF GEOLOGY, AND THE SOIL, WATER TABLES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WE'RE NOT USING ANY NEW TECHNOLOGY OR NEW INFORMATION IN THE DESIGN OF SEPTICS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO START TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE HOUSING SHORTAGE AND JUST PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT IF YOU WANT TO ADD A BATHROOM AND AN OUT BUILDING, IT SHOULDN'T BE SO DIFFICULT TO DO THAT, OR IF YOUR HOUSE OR YOUR FACILITY BURNS DOWN, AND IT WAS WORKING FINE ON THE PREVIOUS SEPTIC.
WHY DID WE HAVE TO START ALL OVER AND MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT?
>> WELL, I THINK TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
IT'S LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS THIS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE THING.
ON ONE HAND, WE SIT THERE AND TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR HOUSING, WE TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF HOUSING AND HOUSING SHORTAGE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED, SPRINKLERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SEPTIC.
>> THE SPRINKLER WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY A DECD AN EMPLOYEE.
>> ON ONE HAND, YOU WANT TO TRY TO MAKE HOUSING CHEAPER.
YOU WANT TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE AVAILABLE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU GET THIS DEPARTMENTS OVER HERE WHO PASS THINGS THAT MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO BUILD HOUSING.
LOOK, I DON'T KNOW, BUT ANYONE WHO HAS BUILT A HOUSE OR TRIED TO SIGNIFICANTLY TAKE A HOUSE AND RENOVATE IT KNOWS WHAT THE DEAL IS UNTIL FINALLY, I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST SAYING, NO, I POINTED OUT TO SOMEONE WE HAD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK TWO AREAS IN THIS COUNTY THAT WERE ZONED FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING THAT WERE ADJACENT TO A TOWN THAT HAD WATER AND SEWER AVAILABLE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING? THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS AGREED AND APPROVED THAT PROPERTY TO BE COVERED WITH SOLAR PANELS.
HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU DECIDE THAT? WE MADE THAT ARGUMENT, CORRECT, STEWART.
WE MADE THAT ARGUMENT. I THINK THE ARGUMENT WAS MADE VERY WELL.
[01:00:03]
ON ONE HAND, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GREEN ENERGY PEOPLE STEP IN.IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO COORDINATION.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO COMMON THREAD ON WHAT THE POLICIES ARE? THERE'S NONE.
IT'S LIKE ONE GROUP IS ARGUING AGAINST ANOTHER, AND WE GET CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE WE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY TO DO THESE THINGS, BECAUSE WE'RE THE PEOPLE THEY SEE.
ON THE OTHER HAND WE GET THE STATE THIS REGULATING THESE THINGS AND SAY, YOU GOT TO DO THIS, AND IF YOU DON'T, WE'RE GOING TO COME DOWN AND PENALIZE YOU.
THERE'S NO COMMON THREAD OF TRYING TO PICK A GOAL AND TRYING TO STICK TO IT.
BUT I POINTED THAT OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHEN THEY WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT HOUSING, AND I THOUGHT THAT ARGUMENT WAS MADE VERY WELL, AND INSTEAD, IT WAS JUST COMPLETELY IGNORED.
>> WORCESTER COUNTY IS GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME CASE RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR PLEADINGS, THE WORK THAT MR. HAMMOCK HAD DONE ON.
THEY HAVE A SOLAR PROJECT TRYING TO BE PUT IN RIGHT OUTSIDE OF BERLIN.
IN THE SAME IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL SITUATION WHERE IT'S A GROWTH AREA, AVAILABLE WATER AND SEWER.
THE COUNTY'S CONCERNS ARE ABSOLUTELY IRRELEVANT, BEING IGNORED.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF ALL OVER THE STATE.
>> YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN TALK AND YOU CAN SPEND THE MONEY TO PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU'RE STANDING THERE, IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T.
THEY VOTE DECISION IS GOING TO BE MADE.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME OPINION THAT'S GOING TO BE ISSUED.
IT GETS FRUSTRATED, SO I'LL SHUT UP.
>> IS THERE ANYONE IN AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN
[Public Comment]
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? NO ONE SEEN.I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE 3-305B1&7.
[Closed Session: General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1)(7), the Board will convene in closed session to discuss personnel matters concerning the appointment, employment, performance, compensation, of one or more County employees, and to consult with counsel to receive legal advice. The County does not waive the attorney-client privilege. The purpose of the closed session is to conduct an employee evaluation and receive departmental updates.]
THE BOARD WILL CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION DISCUSS NOW MATTERS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT PERFORMANCE COMPENSATION OF ONE OR MORE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE.THE COUNTY DOES NOT WANT TO WAIVE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CLOSED SESSION IS TO CONDUCT AN EMPLOYEE EVALUATION AND RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES.
>> MOTION SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.