Jan 13, 2026 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting beginning

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 13TH, 2026 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING,

[Call to Order: Invocation— Rev Don Reynolds; Calvary Baptist Church, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

[00:00:07]

AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE. PASTOR REYNOLDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FATHER, WE COME THIS MORNING, AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING SO GOOD TO US.

WE LOOK BACK OVER THIS PAST YEAR OF 2025 AND KNOW THAT YOU CARRIED US ALONG AND YOU BLESSED US.

WE ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY OF TRIALS, LORD, BUT IT'S YOU HAVE BEEN SO GOOD TO HELP US TO RESPOND.

TODAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THESE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFF.

I SEE THEY HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF DECISIONS AND PRIVATE SESSIONS TODAY.

SO I ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THAT, AS WELL AS OPEN SESSION.

AND LORD, WE JUST WANT TO PAUSE RIGHT NOW AND ASK YOUR BLESSING AS WE GO FORWARD IN THIS YEAR, 2026. LORD, HELP US TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL TO YOU AND TO ALL OTHERS.

LORD, 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. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO PRAISE.

ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A CLOSE OUT REPORT. THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION DURING THEIR JANUARY 16TH MEETING. JANUARY 16TH? JANUARY 6TH. 6TH. MEETING UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 3-305(B)(1) TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS AND RECEIVE UPDATES REGARDING DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.

THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, JENNIFER REIBLY, CRYSTAL DADDS,

[President’s Closed Session Report Out]

WOULD YOU LADIES WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAMES AND WHO YOU'RE WITH? HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

I'M CARLY PALMER, AND I'M OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH AND MARKETING FROM FOR ALL SEASONS.

AND I'M DIANA AMBROCIO. I'M OUTREACH AND MARKETING ASSOCIATE FOR FOR ALL SEASONS.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING AND REQUESTING THIS PROCLAMATION.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH.

[Human Trafficking Awareness Month Proclamation]

AND WHEREAS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM ON THE EASTERN SHORE, WHEREBY TRAFFICKERS USE VIOLENCE, THREATS, DECEPTION, AND OTHER MANIPULATIVE TACTICS TO FORCE AND COERCE BOTH YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS, BOYS AND GIRLS, TO ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL SEX ACTS OR TO PROVIDE LABOR AGAINST THEIR WILL.

AND WHEREAS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS AMONG THE FASTEST-GROWING CRIMINAL INDUSTRIES IN THE WORLD, SECOND ONLY TO DRUG TRAFFICKING. AND WHEREAS THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS ENACTED COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAWS, WITH A FOCUS ON CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND VICTIM SUPPORT.

AND WHEREAS, CAROLINE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE CONSIDERABLE MORAL AND ECONOMIC HARM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR STATES, AND THE NATION, AND RECOGNIZE THAT BRINGING A GREATER AWARENESS TO THIS PROBLEM WILL HELP VICTIMS. AND WHEREAS BY BRINGING AWARENESS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITHIN THE MID-SHORE REGION OF MARYLAND, WE BRING VICTIMS HOPE, AND WORK TO SECURE THE NATURAL-BORN FREEDOMS ALL HUMAN BEINGS SHOULD ENJOY.

AND WHEREAS CAROLINE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECOGNIZE AND AID IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, DO HEREBY DECLARE THE MONTH OF JANUARY HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO ACTIVELY WORK TOWARDS THE ERADICATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND THE GREAT SEAL OF CAROLINE COUNTY, THIS 13TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2026.

[00:05:07]

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? SURE. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S ON WESUPPORTSURVIVORS.ORG. THEY CAN FIND A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND WHAT TO BE AWARE OF, AND WE'RE A GREAT RESOURCE TO REACH OUT TO IF THEY DO SEE THOSE SIGNS IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN CALL US OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT FORALLSEASONSINC.ORG AND LET US KNOW AND WE CAN RESPOND. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT? SO BESIDES YOUR WEBSITE. SURE. WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? I MEAN, IN THE, MADE SURE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS, BECAUSE I'M SURE. I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE I LIVED IN A BUBBLE FOR SO MANY YEARS.

SURE. IT HAPPENS MORE THAN WE REALLY KNOW. SO WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO BESIDES YOUR WEBSITE TO KIND OF BRING ATTENTION THAT THIS COULD BE HAPPENING IN THEIR IN THEIR COMMUNITY? WE HAVE A REGIONAL NAVIGATOR THAT WORKS WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SUSAN AHLSTROM, AND SHE DOES TRAININGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND KIND OF A HUMAN TRAFFICKING 101, AND SHE CAN RESPOND OR GO TO ANY GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY AND KIND OF TEACH THEM THE BASICS, WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR. WE DO, YOU KNOW, MANDATED REPORTER TRAININGS.

WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS AVAILABLE WITH OUR CENTER FOR LEARNING, SO ANYBODY CAN REQUEST THAT TRAINING FOR THEIR GROUP.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT RESOURCE TO KNOW ABOUT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANKS.

SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D APPRECIATE IT.

WOULD YOU MIND DOING THE MICROPHONE AS WELL? THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SIT DOWN. YEAH, THEY DON'T SEE US.

YEAH. STAY THERE. DON'T MOVE. OH. GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS THIS MORNING IS A LEGISLATIVE BILL.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE NOW HAVE OUR SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL

[Legislative Bill# 2025-015, Chapter 18 Commissioners, An Act to Amend the Compensation of the County Commissioners of Caroline County]

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY MR. BARROLL.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON DECEMBER THE 16TH WITH ITS FIRST READING.

THE NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY THE 3RD.

WE ARE HERE FOR THE SECOND READING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO PROCEED, WE WOULD GO FORWARD WITH THE THIRD READING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT ON THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH.

THE EFFECTIVE DATE UNDER THIS SCHEDULE WOULD BE MARCH THE 14TH.

I'LL START BY READING. THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NO.

2025-015, AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS, SUBSECTION A, OF SECTION 18-5, "COMPENSATION AND COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION" OF CHAPTER 18 "COMMISSIONERS" FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING THE CURRENT RATES OF COMPENSATION FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AFTER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION, WHICH COMMISSION UNDERTOOK A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE RATE OF CURRENT COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS; AND GENERALLY RELATING TO COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION; AND PROVIDING THAT THIS TITLE BE DEEMED A FAIR SUMMARY OF THIS PUBLIC LOCAL LAW FOR ALL PURPOSES.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON JANUARY 13TH, 2026, 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.

[00:10:04]

PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT (410)479-0660.

OKAY, AND I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HAVING COME IN.

ALL RIGHT. EITHER YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO. GOOD. YOU WANT TO MOVE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

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

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

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON, AND ANY COMMENT LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING. THE COMMISSIONERS RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE FREELY, BUT ALL COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-015.

AT THIS TIME, WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE AND 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.

IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? DO WE HAVE A SIGN UP? NO. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. NONE SEEN. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

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

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? SO. SO THE JUST TO REITERATE WHAT MR. BARROLL SAID, THE APPOINTED COMMITTEE CAME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO 24,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEXT BOARD. WE CANNOT, BY STATE LAW, GIVE OURSELVES A RAISE.

SO IT IS ONLY EXTENDED TO THE NEXT GROUP OF ELECTED COMMISSIONERS.

CURRENTLY, THE SALARY IS 15,000 FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.

THE PRESIDENT GETS 16,000. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS TO GO TO 24,000 AND THE FIRST YEAR, AND INCREASE 2000 A YEAR, UP TO 30,000 BY THE END.

WE HAVE ELECTED TO REDUCE THAT TO 24,000 THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN GO UP ONE STEP TO 26,000 FOR THE COMMISSIONERS. THE PRESIDENT WOULD GET 25,000.

THE FIRST YEAR, AND THEN STEP UP TO 27,000 AND STAY THERE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NEXT TERM.

SO THE PROCESS IS LAID OUT IN STATE LAW WHERE WE HAVE TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, AND WE CAN GO UP TO WHATEVER THEY RECOMMEND, BUT WE CANNOT GO MORE.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. WE DO HAVE ONE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND THIS PRIOR TO PASSAGE, WHICH WILL BE AT OUR NEXT MEETING. YES. WELL, IT'LL BE THE 27TH.

27TH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I JUST THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO GIVE YOURSELF A RAISE, BUT I THINK THE COMPENSATION HASN'T BEEN INCREASED, I THINK SINCE 2008 OR 9.

9. 9. 2009. SO IT'S BEEN A WHILE, AND THE JOB HAS CHANGED.

BELIEVE ME, IT'S CHANGED SINCE 2009. BUT I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT GO TO THE ENTIRE AMOUNT THAT THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY PUT INTO IT, BUT.

ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE HERE.

IT'S. YEAH. YEP. TIME. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE THAT.

COMMISSIONER PORTER. I WOULD SAY, I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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

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

MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[Consent Agenda]

THE LAST TIME I. SAW THEM. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT AN UPDATE FOR THIS MAP WAS STILL REVIEWING THINGS AND THEN THERE WAS A FOUR

[00:15:02]

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SINCE THEN? NO. YEAH. AND SO WE'RE WAITING ON THE DEVELOPER.

IS THAT RIGHT, TO FILL THEIR TO DO THEIR PAPERWORK? I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. I HAD GIVEN MY COMMENTS TO MATT AND I THINK HE JUST WAS GOING.

SO MATT'S PROBABLY FINALIZING THINGS WITH THE DEVELOPER. YES.

SO JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS A COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT.

IT IS NOT ONE THAT WILL BE GENERATE ENERGY THAT WILL BE SOLD TO THE GRID, IT'LL BE USED TO BENEFIT LOCAL RESIDENTS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE BENEFIT WOULD BE TO DISCOUNTED CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

OKAY. YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND IT'S BEING INSTALLED ON THE CLOSED HOBBS ROAD LANDFILL.

RIGHT. WHICH CAN'T BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

SO IT'S A LOGICAL PLACE TO INSTALL SOLAR, SO.

DANNY, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS REPORT FROM MARTIN'S HOUSE? YES, SIR. STACEY'S BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THAT COMPLETED, AND THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SEMIANNUAL.

OKAY. OKAY. I WOULD MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

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

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

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. WE ARE MOVING FAST TODAY.

[County Administrators Report]

I HAVE A FEW ITEMS TO UPDATE YOU ON AND THEN I BELIEVE DANNY HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU ALSO.

FIRST THING TODAY, RECREATION AND PARKS WILL BE RELEASING THE BID DOCUMENTS FOR NORTH COUNTY PARK.

SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS. MAYBE WE'LL GET THAT BEFORE THE END OF THIS.

BEFORE THE END OF MY LIFETIME. BEFORE THE END OF YOUR LIFETIME.

SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF. THERE WAS A FURNACE MOTOR FIRE IN THE DETENTION CENTER WITHIN THE LAST DAY OR SO.

WARDENS GOT NOTIFIED ME SUNDAY NIGHT. I GUESS IT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT THAT HAPPENED.

WE HAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL RESPOND.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE EQUIPMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, AND FINANCE IS WORKING ON FILING THE INSURANCE CLAIM, SO EVERYTHING IS GOOD. THAT WAS SUNDAY NIGHT.

AND THE ONLY OTHER TWO THINGS I HAVE. I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM TO THE NEWSLETTERS THAT HUMAN RESOURCES HAS SENT OUT, THEY'VE SENT TWO SO FAR. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEW HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, SHANICE, WHO I THINK SHE'S NOT. OH, THERE SHE IS.

SHE'S HERE. I THINK THERE'S A NEWSLETTER. THOSE LOOK FANTASTIC AND THEY ARE FILLED WITH REALLY GREAT INFORMATION.

IT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN SHE INTERVIEWED FOR THE JOB AND AFTER SHE ACCEPTED THE POSITION.

AND I THINK THAT I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THEY LOOK GREAT.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO REMIND YOU AND EVERYBODY, THERE IS NO MEETING NEXT WEEK BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAY ON MONDAY, SO THERE WILL BE NO COMMISSIONERS MEETING. AND THEN THE LAST THING, I THINK DANNY HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MORNING. I WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES THIS MORNING AND JUST TOUCH BASE ON A PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, SPECIFICALLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SOME HVAC ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE.

SO I KNOW THIS MORNING, SHERIFF AND CAPTAIN HELMAN ARE BOTH HERE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS WITH ROB AND SO FINANCE, PROCUREMENT COUNTY BUILDINGS AS WELL AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN HAVING A COUPLE MEETINGS NOW TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE HEATING ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE BACK OF THE BUILDING THERE.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO REMEDY THAT INSIDE A FIXED BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR ESSENTIALLY HEAT IT.

I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THE WORDING. THE WATER COOLED.

LIKE A RADIANT HEAT. RADIANT HEAT, THANK YOU.

YES, I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS STRUGGLING WITH RADIANT HEAT.

IN THE BACK OF THE OFFICE THERE WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXTENSIVE WORK.

SO THE PROJECTED COST OF THAT IS EXCEEDING THE $40,000 NUMBER, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT TO BID.

TO PUT IT TO BID WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO HIRE AN ENGINEER OR FIND SOMEBODY TO WRITE UP THE SPECS OF ALL THIS.

AND IT'S REALLY DIVING INTO THIS LARGER PROJECT THAN IT PROBABLY REALLY NEEDS TO BE TO SOLVE THE SMALL ISSUE BACK THERE.

SO BEFORE WE STARTED ENGAGING WITH CONTRACTORS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST BET TO GO THROUGH THIS WOULD BE ANYTHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE BOARD.

ANYWAY, WE WANT TO SEEK YOUR INPUT TO WORK WITH 2 OR 3 LOCAL VENDORS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER THIS MASSIVE BID PACKET THAT'S GOING TO COST MONEY

[00:20:08]

AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE OVER $40,000, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH WITHOUT SEEKING APPROVAL FIRST.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHILE WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY TO DO THAT.

OKAY. WORK LOCAL AND GET IT DONE. OKAY. YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

HAVING AN ENGINEER BEFORE WE GOT US IN TROUBLE ANYWAY.

YES, YES, I KIND OF GOT US IN THE SITUATION WE'RE IN, BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTED A QUICK BLESSING ON THAT REAL QUICK.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I KNOW THE SHERIFF WOULD BE HAPPY AND ROBIN AS WELL TO ANSWER ANYTHING.

OKAY. JUST TRY TO GIVE ALL OF THE LOCAL ALL IN COUNTY VENDORS AN OPPORTUNITY.

AT LEAST TRY TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECT AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRICE IT.

OKAY. CERTAINLY. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. GENTLEMEN.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAN. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? SURE.

WE ATTENDED, ME AND COMMISSIONER PORTER ATTENDED THE BOY SCOUT CEREMONY FOR BILLY QUICK ON SATURDAY.

[Commissioners Open Discussion]

IT WAS ALREADY IN GREENSBORO, BUT HE STARTED THE ONE IN DENTON. AND THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR THAT THEY DID IT, AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT'S GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY. SO IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE STARTED SOMETHING FOR HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A EVERLASTING THING, WHICH IS WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND VERY WELL ATTENDED.

I DID, I'LL LET COMMISSIONER PORTER SPEAK ON THE MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL LAST WEEK.

WE HAD THE SEDS, WHICH YOU KNOW, TALKS ABOUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER PORTER GOT A LITTLE FIRED UP, BUT THEN I'LL LET HIM SPEAK ON THAT, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

OKAY. WELL, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT I GOT FIRED UP, BUT.

IT WAS A GOOD FIRED UP. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I THINK MRS. BEULAH PRESENTED HER PROJECT TO THE BOARD FOR THE EXPANSION OF AARON'S PLACE, AND I THINK SHE HAS BEEN IN HERE BEFORE US IN THE PAST AND TALKED ABOUT UTILIZING, WE, WHAT I CALL THE THERMAL LINK BUILDING, WHICH IS THE BUILDING AS YOU'RE COMING IN OFF OF 404 INTO DENTON.

FROM WHAT I GATHER FROM HER PRESENTATION, IN TALKING TO HER INDIVIDUALLY, THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WERE, THAT WERE GOING ON WITH A COMPANY THAT OWNS THE BUILDING.

I THINK THE COMPANY IS LOCATED IN CANADA. THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE BUILDING.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BUILDING IS. ALL THEY KNOW IS THEY OWN A BUILDING, AND THEIR DECISION WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING BECAUSE SHE WAS RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

THEY JUST DECIDED THEY WERE JUST GOING TO CUT OFF NEGOTIATIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS HERE ABOUT CODES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I AM NOT PREPARED TO LET A COMPANY JUST COME IN HERE AND OWN A BUILDING AND LET IT SET AND FALL INTO DISREPAIR AND BE AN EYESORE AND JUST CONSTANTLY, JUST CONTINUOUSLY LET IT SIT THERE.

SO I'M GOING TO PROPOSE HERE. I'M GOING TO ARGUE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT IS AT LEAST GOING TO MAKE THESE COMPANIES LIKE THIS TAKE CARE OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND MAINTAIN THOSE BUILDINGS.

I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THEY DO WITH THE BUILDINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO LET A COMPANY COME IN HERE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY AND LET A BUILDING SIT HERE AND JUST DO NOTHING WITH IT.

I'M SURE IT'S SOME KIND OF A TAX ADVANTAGE TO THEM.

THAT'S FINE. THAT'S UP TO THEM. BUT YOU KNOW, MRS. BUEHLER HAS PUT AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME INTO THIS PROJECT.

SHE IS LOOKING NOW. COMMISSIONER BARTZ IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND AS, AS THE PROPERTY NEXT TO IT NOW TO GO THROUGH.

BY OWNER NEXT TO IT. OVER THE WEEKEND, I HAD SEVERAL PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE THAT BUILDING SITTING THERE AND, AND YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AND JUST IGNORING THE BUILDING AND JUST LETTING IT SIT. SO I QUESTIONED THE REPRESENTATIVES THERE FROM SENATOR [INAUDIBLE] BROOKS AND SENATOR VAN HOLLEN, VERY NICE PEOPLE.

[00:25:02]

WHERE ARE THEY? YOU KNOW. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CALL US IF YOU NEED US.

WE'LL BE. YOU WERE CALLED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, COME ON, MAN, YOU WERE CALLED.

SO THIS JUST, LIKE, IS LIKE THE NEVER ENDING STORY.

AND I'M FRANKLY TIRED OF THIS. AND I'VE SAID THIS OVER THE YEARS.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE GATEWAY INTO THIS, INTO THE COUNTY SEAT.

AND THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU PULL OFF A 404 IS THIS BUILDING SITTING THERE WITH GRAFFITI ALL OVER IT.

AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE, AND IT'S OWNED BY A BY A COMPANY IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, AND THEY DON'T CARE.

AND WE GOT TO MAKE THEM CARE. I DON'T CARE HOW WE DO IT.

WE GOT TO MAKE THEM CARE. SO THAT'S MY SOAPBOX ON THAT.

CRYSTAL, WE HAVE A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT? YES. IS, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE AGENDA. REMIND ME, IS IT PRETTY HEAVY? YES. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, WELL, MAYBE NEXT MONTH, IF WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO ORIGINATE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION, RIGHT, OF PROPERTY, SOME TYPE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE THING.

MAYBE WE CAN GET STACY, SOMEONE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES AND JUST HAVE IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM.

MAYBE SOME PICTURES OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING FROM THE ROAD AND MAYBE NOT WEDNESDAY, BUT NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.

WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IDEAS FOR JUST TO SEE WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S THOUGHTS ARE ON SOME TYPE OF MAINTENANCE CODE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES OR SOMETHING, SO. YEAH, I WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THAT BUILDING OUT THERE AS FAR AS PARTIES BEING THROWN IN IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT'S BEEN NOT A HUGE ISSUE, BUT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR US.

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, 2 OR 3 TIMES A YEAR. RIGHT.

AND I MEAN, WE, WE ALL WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM THERE IS THE WATER, THE WELLS.

BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MRS. BEULAH. BUT, I MEAN, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SHE WAS WAITING FOR INFORMATION ON.

THEY WERE NOT GOING TO UTILIZE THE EXISTING WELLS THEY WERE GOING TO DRIVE ANOTHER.

SHE COULDN'T EVEN FIND OUT HOW DEEP IT HAD TO BE. SHE COULDN'T. SHE GOT NO COOPERATION FROM ANYBODY.

AND HERE YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO IS OUT HERE EVERY DAY SERVING THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY ON HER OWN.

I MEAN, SHE WORKS HARD AND THEN JUST GETS ROADBLOCKED EVERY TIME SHE TURNS AROUND.

IT'S NOT FAIR. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW TO HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S MY SOAPBOX ON THAT ONE. SO LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD, ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. I GOT AN EMAIL YESTERDAY AND FOLLOWED UP WITH A PHONE CALL WITH BRUCE BARRINO.

IT APPEARS THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS NOW DETERMINED THAT THE PROPOSALS TO BUILD THE BUILDING IN DENTON IS NOW GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

THIS IS AFTER THEY ALREADY HAVE A DEVELOPER WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK AND PREPARED A PROPOSAL AND DONE BUILDING PLANS TO BUILD A BUILDING. SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO, I'M NOT GOING TO, BUT SO THIS THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO, I THINK, BE AVAILABLE SOMETIME THIS WEEK SOMETIME, IT'S GOING TO BE OPENED UP TO OTHER DEVELOPERS.

I HOPE WE DON'T RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WE DID, YOU KNOW, WITH DAYSPRING, WITH A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST GOING TO TIE THIS THING.

BECAUSE EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TORE THE DS AREA IN THE DISTRICT COURT BUILDING, IT IS GETTING SMALLER AND SMALLER. I MEAN, WE DID A TOUR LAST NIGHT OF THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.

THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO MAKE THAT AREA WORKABLE.

AND SHERIFF, THEY WERE VERY, VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF IN ALLOWING THEM TO USE SPACE OUT, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR BUILDING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN WE SIT HERE AND WE HEAR ABOUT THESE CASES OF CHILDREN, IT KILLS YOU. IT JUST BREAKS YOUR HEART, YOU KNOW.

AND WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AREAS FOR CHILDREN.

[00:30:02]

AND I'M LIKE, WELL, THEN APPROVED THE MONEY TO LET US BUILD THE BUILDING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW.

GET OUT OF THE WAY AND JUST LET THE BUILDING BE BUILT.

AND, BUT THEY ARE DOING I MEAN, THEY, THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

BUT AGAIN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY.

AND SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. THEY'LL PUT THE THING OUT TO BID AGAIN, HOPING THAT THE PERSON WHO HAS ALREADY DONE A LOT OF THIS LEGWORK IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO DO THE JOB OR SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE GUIDELINES. BUT THAT BUILDING SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT TEN YEARS AGO.

AND, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT IF YOU HAD NOT ALLOWED THEM, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DOING THIS, BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE AREAS FOR THEM TO COUNCIL YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD, YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE THE CHILD.

YOU CAN'T HEAR WHAT THE CHILD SAYING. YOU KNOW, THE PARENT, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

SHERIFF, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? AND THESE ARE DEDICATED PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHOSE JOBS I WOULD NOT WANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU'RE CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH ABUSE AND HORROR, HORROR STORIES ALL THE TIME.

SO, BUT THE PROPOSAL IS APPARENTLY COMING OUT THIS WEEK.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT THIS BUILDING NEEDS TO BE BUILT.

THIS BUILDING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A MANNER THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO BECOME ACCREDITED THROUGH ALL OF THESE AGENCIES THAT CONTROL ALL THESE THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW, I ASK THEM LAST NIGHT TO BE SURE THAT WHEN THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, WHICH THEY ARE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY THAT WHEN THIS BUILDING IS DESIGNED AND THE FLOOR PLAN IS DONE, THAT IT WILL ALLOW THEM TO TO HAVE ALL THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ACCREDITED.

THEY'VE BEEN ACCREDITED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. THEY CAN'T GET ACCREDITED ON THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS UNBELIEVABLE WORK, UNBELIEVABLY HARD WORK. AND SHERIFF, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

I CAN'T TELL YOU. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU WERE BEING PRAISED LAST NIGHT FOR YOUR WORK, FOR YOUR HELP WITH THEM, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR ME.

EXCEPT, AGAIN, TO CONGRATULATE BILLY QUICK AND CONGRATULATE WALT PALMER.

WALT IS THE FATHER OF EAGLE SCOUTS. I MEAN, I'D SAY CAROLINE COUNTY LEADS MUST LEAD THE WORLD IN EAGLE SCOUTS, BECAUSE WHEN THEY READ THAT LIST, IT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 50S.

40S. 40S. AND I MEAN, MAN, IT IS INCREDIBLE. AND THESE KIDS JUST KEEP COMING AND THE, THE PROJECTS THAT THEY DO ARE, ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND YOU KNOW, SO THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THEM, THE FAMILY SUPPORTS THEM.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE GET TO DO, YOU KNOW, TO GO TO THESE CEREMONIES AND SEE THESE YOUNG MEN AND WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. SO HE SAID HE HAD ONE.

HE ANNOUNCED HE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT JUST GOT THEIR EAGLE SCOUT BOARD APPROVED.

YEAH. YEAH. BE COMING UP AGAIN. SO. YEAH. AND THEY DO THEY DO GOOD WORK.

AND WALT PUTS HIS HE PUTS HIS LIFE AND HIS HEART INTO THIS, AND HE DOES.

AND SO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG. THANK YOU. THAT'S FINE.

WE'RE ROLLING. WE'RE ROLLING RIGHT ALONG. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FASTEST MEETINGS WE HAD.

SO I BELIEVE YESTERDAY WE WERE ALL BLIND COPIED ON AN EMAIL FROM STEWART ABOUT THE, SOME POTENTIAL BURN BAN LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

I THINK IT'S COME UP A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES, SO.

BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING ALONG SO QUICKLY, STEWART DO YOU WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF RUN OVER WHAT THAT LEGISLATION, THAT LEGISLATIVE BILL WOULD ENTAIL? YES, IT'S CREATING A NEW CHAPTER.

LET ME PULL IT UP HERE. SO WE CAN WORKSHOP THIS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

[00:35:04]

WE CERTAINLY COULD. IT CREATES A NEW CHAPTER, 124 OF OUR COUNTY CODE, WHICH WOULD CONSIST OF TWO ARTICLES.

THE FIRST ARTICLE ADOPTS THE MARYLAND STATE FIRE PREVENTION CODE AS THE CAROLINE COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION CODE.

AND ARTICLE 2 AUTHORIZES THE COMMISSIONERS TO ADOPT A BURNING BAN IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTY OR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE DURING SPECIFIC DROUGHT RELATED CONDITIONS, BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND THE ARTICLE GOES ON TO PROVIDE FOR HOW NOTICE IS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC OF THE BURNING BAN, AND PROVIDES FOR A RIGHT OF ENTRY TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE STARTED IN VIOLATION OF A BURNING BAN.

IT PROVIDES FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER 124 BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND PROVIDES FOR CIVIL PENALTIES. SO, IN EFFECT, IF YOU HAD A VIOLATION OF THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION CODE, THAT WOULD ALSO CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION CODE.

AND EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE A STATE FIRE MARSHAL INVOLVED OR SOMEBODY TO CITE THE VIOLATION OF THE STATE CODE, WE CAN DO IT LOCALLY USING OUR OWN PERSONNEL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S YOU WANT TO SCHEDULE IT FOR JUST WORKSHOP GO OVER.

IT GIVES US TWO WEEKS TO REVIEW IT AND HAVE ANY COMMENTS BACK.

SO WE'LL DO THAT. YEAH, OKAY. SOMETHING, BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT TOGETHER. STEWART.

WELCOME. SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH. I'VE GOT A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT WITH THE, WITH A PRETTY LENGTHY AGENDA. AND THEN HAVE A MEETING WITH MDE ON FRIDAY REGARDING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, SEPTIC SYSTEM REGULATIONS, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LITTLE LESS BURDENSOME ON OUR RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO PUT ADDITIONS ON OR BUILD NEW HOMES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ONE.

I GUESS LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS TOMORROW? TOMORROW, TODAY? I THINK SO, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT SURE. I KNOW IT SAYS WHEAT, RIGHT.

OUR EVENING MEETING START, I THINK. NEXT MONDAY.

NEXT MONDAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S ALL I HAD.

SO WITH THAT, I WOULD HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WHICH AGAIN.

I WOULD READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT STATEMENT. WE APPRECIATE ALL CITIZENS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.

ANY COMMENT LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING. THE COMMISSIONERS RESPECT 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.

[Public Comment]

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

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE MANY WE DON'T ALWAYS STICK TO THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT.

THAT'S UP TO MY DISCRETION. BUT ANYWAY, IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WHAT ARE YOU, GENTLEMEN? YES. IF WE COULD COME FORWARD.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BILL MANDICH, AND I'M HERE WITH MY FATHER, MAURICE MANDICH. WE HAD EMAILED EARLIER REGARDING A REQUEST THAT WE HAD TO CLOSE, CONSIDER THE CLOSURE OF GOODIN ROAD.

IT'S A SMALL DIRT CUT OFF ROAD TO THE NORTHEAST OF HENDERSON, MARYLAND.

I PREPARED SOME MAPS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD HELP FOR YOU TO SEE WHERE IT IS AND THE LOCATION, BUT. I KNOW WHERE IT IS. YEAH. OKAY, WELL, IF YOU DON'T NEED THAT, THEN.

NO. IT'S FINE. IT'S FINE. I CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU OUR CONCERNS.

THE FARMS THAT ARE LOCATED ALL AROUND THAT ROAD, THAT CUT OFF ROAD THEY ARE, BELONG TO MY FATHER AND I.

AND FOR YEARS, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE, THERE HAVE BEEN, IT'S BEEN A DUMPING GROUND FOR TRASH.

ANY NUMBER OF THINGS, WHETHER IT'S DEER CARCASSES TVS, TRIM, TIRES.

WE'VE HAD TO CALL THE COUNTY MANY TIMES, MANY, MANY TIMES TO CLEAN IT UP.

IT ALSO ENABLES PEOPLE TO JOYRIDE. THEY GO ON TO THIS ROAD, THEY DO WHEELIES, THEY GO ONTO THE FIELDS, AND THEY DO THAT AS WELL. I CAN ALSO SAY THAT I EXPECT IT'S A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT COST FOR THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN

[00:40:06]

I KNOW THAT THERE WERE CAMERAS INSTALLED THERE AT ONE POINT TO TRY AND MONITOR INDIVIDUALS DUMPING.

I THINK WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM DELAWARE WHO COME OVER AND DUMP THEIR.

SO OUR CONCERN WAS THAT THIS ROAD IS CONTINUED TO SERVE THAT PURPOSE.

AND WE WERE HOPING TO CONSIDER, THE COUNTY WOULD CONSIDER JUST CUTTING IT OFF.

IT'S ONLY, I THINK, LESS THAN HALF A MILE FROM A ROAD THAT ALSO GOES.

IT GOES BETWEEN 311, I SHOULD SAY, AND RIVER BRIDGE ROAD.

AND IF YOU WENT SOUTHEAST MAYBE HALF A MILE, YOU'D GET TO BEECH TREE ROAD, WHICH IS AN ADDITIONAL PAVED ROAD THAT GOES BETWEEN THE SITES. OKAY. YEAH. CAN I? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. GO AHEAD.

I WENT UP, I THINK IT WAS LAST FRIDAY, AND I CALLED MR. MANDICH WHILE I WAS THERE. AND SO, INITIALLY MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS AN EMERGENCY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, IS IT AN ACCESS ROAD FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES? SO, I REACHED OUT TO CHIEF BARTZ, JT BARTZ FROM GOLDSBORO FIRE COMPANY.

HE GAVE ME HIS OPINION, AND THEN HE ALSO HAD ME CHIEF BUFFY MADDEN FROM MARYDEL CALLED ME BECAUSE HE SAID THAT WAS PROBABLY THEIR AREA THAT THEY RESPONDED TO AS MUCH AS ANYTHING.

SO TALKED TO BOTH OF THEM OVER THE WEEKEND. NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS.

THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A CRITICAL ACCESS PERIOD FOR THEM AS FAR AS FIRE RESPONSE.

ALSO REACHED OUT TO MARK SHERIDAN, OUR EMS DIRECTOR, BY TEXT MESSAGE.

AND HE DID NOT SEE, YOU KNOW, ANY PROBLEMS AS WELL.

AND ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE SHERIFF ON SUNDAY.

SORRY, BUT REACHED OUT TO HIM ON SUNDAY. BUT AND HE HAS PROVIDED US WITH SOME INFORMATION HERE ON CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THERE.

AND SO, I MEAN, I NORMALLY WILL, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, LOOK AT THINGS FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY STANDPOINT. SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE IS ANY YOU KNOW APPARENT PROBLEMS AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED. SO YOU. THOSE MAPS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO SHOW US.

BUT YOU, THERE ARE TWO HOUSES THAT YOU WHEN YOU TURN OFF OF.

IS IT 313 OR 311? 311. 311. THERE ARE TWO SMALL HOUSES THERE, BUT BEYOND THAT TO RIVER BRIDGE ROAD ON BOTH SIDES. EITHER YOU OR YOU OWN ALL THE LAND AND ALL THE STRUCTURES.

IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THERE ARE NO OTHER STRUCTURES.

YEAH. IT GOES THROUGH A SMALL WOODS AND. YEAH, IT'S FARMLAND ON EITHER SIDE.

OKAY. WHEN YOU. YEAH, WHEN YOU EXIT ONTO RIVER BRIDGE ROAD, THERE'S ACTUALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RIVER BRIDGE ROAD IS OUR FARM AS WELL.

OKAY. SO IT'S ON EVERY SIDE. AND EXCEPT FOR ONE SMALL BLUE HOUSE AT THE EXIT POINT FROM GOODWIN ROAD.

AND WE CONTACTED. THAT, CARLTON GOODWIN BUILT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU REMEMBER. I DO REMEMBER HIM.

YEAH, AT THE RAGGED ROBIN. AND HE BUILT THAT FOR HIMSELF.

HE WAS A COUSIN OF THE PRITCHARD BOYS. AND THEY ALLOWED HIM A LOT AREA THERE.

AND THERESA PROUD. WHO OWNS THAT? SAYS SHE WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THAT ROOM CLOSED BECAUSE HER DOG BRINGS UP TRASH AND CARCASSES OF DEER OR WHATEVER.

SO SHE HAS NO PROBLEM WITH CLOSING IT. AND JUST I DID FORGET TO SAY ONE PUBLIC SAFETY MATTER.

PEOPLE DO PARK THERE AND THEY DRINK AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO DOING WHEELIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE PROPERTY TO THE SOUTHEAST OF IT, MY DAD AND I SPENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS IN THE FIELD CLEANING UP BEER BOTTLES AND THINGS THAT WE HAD BEEN THROWN THERE AS WELL.

OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED A COUPLE OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I'M ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, NOT VERY SMART. I HAVE TO GO LOOK AT THINGS SO IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO GO DRIVE IT AND THEN CALL YOU.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE.

I DON'T KNOW, IN ALL MY YEARS THAT I'VE EVER BEEN DOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THAT ROAD TO THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK AGAIN, FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER, THE SHERIFF'S HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU THINK AS FAR AS CALLS WE'VE HAD THERE OR, YOU KNOW. AS FAR AS MY STANCE ON CLOSING THE ROAD.

NO, I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS FAR AS CRIMINALITY, THAT THAT TAKES PLACE ON THAT ROAD. YEAH, WHEN I WAS A DEPUTY AND I WAS RIDING IT, IF I WANTED TO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY WHO WAS DOING DRUGS OR DOING SOMETHING, THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T, I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. SO BUT AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, US ACCESSING THE EITHER SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE CALLS FOR SERVICE.

[00:45:02]

BUT PRIOR TO THAT, WE RODE THE CAPTAIN AND I RODE IT YESTERDAY.

IT'S A DIRT ROAD, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DIRT ROAD IN THE COUNTY. AND THE ONLY TWO RESIDENCES ARE THE TWO AT THE BEGINNING OF 311.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. AND. OH, JUST IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILE, I BELIEVE, THE LENGTH OF THE ROAD THAT WE'RE ASKING TO CLOSE.

I GOOGLED IT YESTERDAY AS WELL. ALSO GOOD. THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE.

I LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD AS WELL. AND I'M FROM THE AREA ORIGINALLY.

I LIVE ON A. BUT I LIVE IN DENTON. I STILL LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD, AND I THINK AS FAR AS THE THINGS YOU EXPERIENCE MOST DIRT ROADS EXPERIENCE.

I EXPERIENCED THE WHEELIES. I, YOU KNOW, THE TEARING OF THE DIRT ROAD.

I EXPERIENCED THE CARCASSES AS WELL ON MY DIRT ROAD.

TRASH IS NOT SUCH AN ISSUE. PARTIES NOT SUCH AN ISSUE.

MY THING IS IF THE ROAD IS CLOSED, IF THAT'S THE WAY WE DECIDE TO GO.

I MEAN, AS FAR AS MAINTAINING THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF THERE'S SPECIFIC TILES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DRAIN, IS THERE ANY DRAINAGE THAT.

THERE'S ONLY ONE CULVERT THAT GOES UP UNDER THE ROAD.

RIGHT. DOES IT SUPPLY ANY, YOU KNOW? WELL, IT DRAINS FROM ONE SIDE OF OUR FARM TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FARM.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE TILE SOMETIMES GET EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD TO GO REPLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW. WELL AND POTENTIALLY THE CREATION OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, SHOULD I MEAN, I'M SURE YOUR INTENTION IS TO OWN THE ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO OWN BOTH PARCELS, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE OF THOSE PARCELS BEING OWNED BY DIFFERENT ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, SO THEN YOU'VE GOT THE DRAINAGE EASEMENT ISSUE THAT YOU'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.

SO, WELL, I THINK WE'D BE WILLING TO EVEN TAKE THE TILE.

I MEAN, THE, THE CULVERT OUT, WE CAN JUST LEAVE IT AS AN OPEN STREAM LIKE THE REST OF IT, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY WOULD REQUIRE.

YEAH. BUT I MEAN YEAH, IT'S JUST, I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, YOU KNOW, BUT I MEAN JUST, BUT YOU KNOW, THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD YOU KNOW I, I CAN RELATE TO A LOT OF THAT AS WELL.

IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I GET, YOU KNOW, I NEVER SEE THE PEOPLE DOING IT.

AND I GO DOWN THERE, THEY JUST SCRAPE THE ROAD NEXT TO, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S DOING DONUTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND I GET SO AGGRAVATED AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. I LIVE, I MEAN, MY DAD LIVES ON 311 RIGHT NEXT TO IT, AND I LIVE ON RIVER BRIDGE ROAD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

AND WE SEE CARS COMING UP THERE ALL HOURS OF NIGHT.

AND, I MEAN, I'M THERE WITH MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG KIDS, AND IT'S A CONCERN FOR US.

THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT YOU LIVE IN DENTON.

WE LIVE NEXT TO DELAWARE. YES. AND THEY'RE TIPPING FEES.

I GUESS PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO AFFORD OR WHATEVER.

AND THEY COME OVER AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DUMP STUFF EVERYWHERE.

YEAH. YEAH, I THINK WE EXPERIENCED THAT OVER ON THE.

WHAT'S THAT? IT TURNS INTO STEEL ROAD ON THE, GO UP PEACHTREE WHERE B3 EXTENDS OFF JACKSON LANE.

I THINK THEY EXPERIENCED THIS AS WELL THERE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE DUMPING THERE.

RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. IF THERE WAS SOME QUESTION AS TO HOW MUCH TRAFFIC THERE IS.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO A LAYOUT A, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTERS THAT THEY USUALLY HAVE ON ROADS.

WE'LL FIND THAT WE DO MOST OF THE TRAVEL. WE HAVE DONE SOME SURVEYS OF DIRT ROADS TO DETERMINE OUR SURFACING SCHEDULE, WHICH GIVES US TRAFFIC, BUS TRAFFIC.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.

STEWART COULD YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AS FAR AS CLOSING A ROAD? I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A HEARING PROCESS AND SO ON.

SO MAY I ASK A QUESTION? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SELL THAT PORTION TO US? WELL, THAT'S CONSIDERED A CLOSING OF A ROAD OR AN ABANDONMENT OF A ROAD.

SO THIS IS THE PROCEDURE THAT'S LAID OUT IN STATE CODE AND ALSO COUNTY CODE TO DO, TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION THAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

BECAUSE IT'S A, BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC ROAD, RIGHT.

WE CAN'T JUST. IT'S GOT TO GO THROUGH THIS SERIES OF HOOPS.

I UNDERSTAND. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOUR ATTORNEY, TAKE A LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE 12-512, WHICH DEALS WITH OPENING, ALTERING OR CLOSING ROADS BY PETITION.

YOU WOULD FILE A PETITION WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND YOU WOULD HAVE A SURVEYOR, SURVEY THE METES AND BOUNDS, THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS THE GROUND UNDER THE COUNTY ROAD THAT YOU WISH TO HAVE CLOSED.

[00:50:08]

EVENTUALLY, THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS WHERE THE RECORD IS MADE.

AS TO THE ARGUMENTS, THE EVIDENCE, THE POSSIBLY YOUR SURVEYORS THERE, WHATEVER.

AND PEOPLE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE. AND THE COMMISSIONERS THEN HAVE 60 DAYS FROM THE PUBLIC HEARING IN WHICH TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO CLOSE ALL THE ROAD THAT YOU ASKED FOR OR PART OF THAT OR WHATEVER.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF LEGAL.

YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A LAWYER FOR THAT AND A SURVEYOR.

MAY I ASK? I THOUGHT YOUR INITIAL EMAIL SAID THE COUNTY COULD START THE PROCESS ITSELF AS WELL, IF THE COMMISSIONERS SO CHOSE. IT DOES ALLOW FOR THAT IF THE COMMISSIONERS WISH TO FUND IT.

THANK YOU. WHAT WAS THE LAST ROUTE? DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE LAST DIRT ROAD THAT WAS CLOSED BEFORE ME? MAYBE MARBLEHEAD. DEAN. BATES. I MEAN. RED, YOU GOT RED ROAD.

AND MODULATE ARE THE ONLY PLACES THAT LIVE DOWN THERE. I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER. HIGHWAY.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST ONE. I KNOW THAT DIRT PART OF TUCKAHOE ROAD.

AT ONE POINT, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND IT WOULD NOT GO THROUGH, SO.

WHEN YOU NOTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNERS, WHAT DISTANCE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE ROAD? I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR WHO HAS TO BE NOTIFIED.

I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE ANYBODY ON THAT ROAD, BUT LET ME SEE WHAT IT SAYS.

SO THE TWO PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE, ALL FOR 311.

DO THEY RENT OR DO THEY? DO THEY? ARE THEY OWN OR DO YOU KNOW? I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT. THE HISPANIC FAMILY WHAT WORK THEY'VE DONE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY OWN IT. BUT THE HOUSE NEXT TO IT, I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK. THERE IS ONE PARCEL THAT I WAS INFORMED OF THAT I WAS TOLD I DIDN'T LOOK THIS UP MYSELF.

THAT HAS, IT'S A REGISTERED TO A PENNSYLVANIA ADDRESS AND IT'S AN LLC.

DOES THAT, DOES, IS THAT ANY ONE OF THEM, YOU? NO, IT'S NOT US. THAT MUST BE THE SMALL ONE. YEAH, IT MUST BE ONE OF THOSE TWO, I GUESS.

YEAH. IT'S A FARM. NO, IT WAS A FARM. OH A FARM.

NO, IT'S JUST A LOT. THERE IS A. I MEAN, WHAT'S CONTIGUOUS TO GOODEN ROAD IS OURS.

BUT IF YOU WENT A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH, THERE IS A CUTOUT OF A 20-ACRE FARM THAT USED TO HAVE ALPACAS, I GUESS, ON IT, SO I DON'T THAT COULD BE IT. BUT IT DOESN'T DIRECTLY TOUCH THE ROAD.

OKAY. AND I THINK WHEN WE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT IT, I MEAN, WE'D OBVIOUSLY BE THERE, WE COULD DO A CUL DE SAC THERE FROM OUR PROPERTY.

IF THE COUNTY NEEDED IT, WE WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE LAND IN THE FARM FOR A CUL DE SAC IF NECESSARY.

OKAY. THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE APPLICATION HAS TO INCLUDE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF ALL OWNERS ACCORDING TO THE TAX RECORDS OF THE COUNTY OF ALL REAL PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO SUCH PUBLIC WAY, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION.

IN ADDITION, YOU WOULD, YOU CAN REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT MAY HAVE OVERHEAD OR UNDERGROUND FACILITIES IN THE VICINITY. THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE AREA PROPOSED TO BE CLOSED.

SO THERE'S A, IT'S ALL DETAILED IN THE COUNTY CODE.

AND THERE ARE TELEPHONE POLES THAT GO THERE ARE.

CHOPTANK ELECTRIC HAS POLES ON OUR PROPERTY ON THE FARM PORTION, NOT ON THE ROAD.

THAT GOES TO. THAT GOES ALONG THE SIDE OF IT.

THAT GOES TO ONE ABANDONED HOME ON OUR PROPERTY.

THEY JUST, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY JUST INSTALLED NEW POLES WHICH AREN'T BEING USED, BUT DELMARVA POWER SERVICES, THE TWO HOMES. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE POLE RIGHT AT THE RAILROAD TRACK AND ANOTHER POLE JUST OPPOSITE OF THE HOUSE OR ONE OF THE HOMES THAT SERVES BOTH HOUSES.

OKAY. DOES THAT INCLUDE ALSO TELEPHONE, UNDERGROUND TELEPHONE OR

[00:55:03]

IT PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE LOCAL FIRE COMPANIES.

YOU KNOW, ANYBODY THAT THAT WE THINK COLLECTIVELY SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THIS IS BEING DONE? YEAH. JUST WOULDN'T CALL IT COMMON COURTESY, BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE A NEED FOR, WHETHER IT'S A SCHOOL BUS OR THE BOARD OF ED JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO THIS.

DES. I WOULD IMAGINE THE SCHOOL BUS STOP, IF IT DOES, IS OUT ALONG THE 311, WHERE THEY WALK TO THE END OF THE ROAD.

YEAH. I DON'T EVEN. THEY, I THINK SO, YOU'RE.

THE ONE HOUSE I THINK ON 311. THEY DO STOP. YES.

THERE ARE CHILDREN THERE. ALL RIGHT. AND.

I DO THINK THAT THE COUNTY WOULD SAVE MONEY FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW.

AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, SNOW REMOVAL OR JUST MAINTAINING THE, YOU'VE GOT GREATER COMING THROUGH EVERY 3 OR 4 MONTHS. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TRASH PICKUP THAT THEY HAVE TO COME OUT AND PICK UP THAT PEOPLE HAVE DUMPED.

SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT I THINK THE COUNTY COULD SAVE MONEY ON.

RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY. ROBIN, DID YOU WANT TO. YEAH, I HAVE A FEW THINGS.

AND I THINK YOU'VE TOUCHED ON A FEW OF THEM, UTILITIES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS AREN'T FORGOTTEN IN THIS, BUT THERE MAY BE CHOPTANK FIBER DOWN THE ROAD IN THE RIGHT OF WAY TELEPHONE.

NO THERE ISN'T. IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO ME, BUT. OKAY, I JUST.

SO YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE CAN FIGURE IN THE ANNUAL REVENUE WE GET FROM THE STATE FOR THAT SECTION OF ROAD IS APPROXIMATELY $1,000.

IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, SINCE ADAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED OUR WORK ORDER SYSTEM.

THERE'S BEEN FIVE WORK ORDERS THERE. ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TREE TRIMMING AND ROAD WIDENING.

FOUR WERE EITHER TRASHED, FURNITURE, TREES OR TIRES.

THE TIRES I PICKED UP MYSELF. AS FAR AS UPGRADING IT, IT'S APPROXIMATELY ABOUT EVERY EIGHT WEEKS WE GRADE IT AND IT TAKES ABOUT APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS EACH TIME. YEAH I HAVE CONCERNS.

YOU KNOW UTILITY EASEMENTS ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

THE DITCH, THE CULVERT. THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

ON OUR STUDY THAT WE DID FOR THE DIRT ROADS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DID RATE IT LOW.

THE EMS SYSTEMS RATED IT LOW. I WENT OUT AND GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM THEM.

I WILL SAY, WHEN WE CLOSE THESE ROADS. AND DEAN ROAD IS THE ONE THAT COMES TO MIND.

WAZE AND GOOGLE MAPS STILL HAVE THEM OPEN. I TRIED, I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM CLOSED ON THOSE TWO SYSTEMS. I GOT A RESPONSE EMAIL BACK ABOUT A YEAR TO THE DATE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST.

THANK YOU, AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. SO TO GET THEM OFF OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE CONCERNING.

AND THEN THE LAST THING FOR ME IS THAT IF WE WERE TO CLOSE AND HAVE ACCESS OFF OF 311 TO THOSE TWO PROPERTIES, I WOULD PREFER THAT IT BE TARRED AND SHIPPED AS A GRANER COULD NO LONGER READ ANYMORE THAN IT WOULD BE VERY TOUGH FOR THEM TO TURN AROUND. YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE OF THE DEAD END ROAD THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S THERE IS SOME SPACE THERE, BUT IT'S STILL TIGHT TO TURN THOSE BIG GRADERS AROUND.

SO THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS IF WE TURN IT INTO A CUL DE SAC, THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO HARD SURFACE IT SO THAT IT WASN'T, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T READ IT ANYMORE, TOO MUCH SO, OR ALLOW FOR SOME BROADER AREA TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE GRANER AROUND.

THAT'S THE INPUT I KIND OF HAVE FOR YOU GUYS AND CONCERNS OR THINGS THAT I JUST DON'T WANT TO KNOWING TO NOT THINK ABOUT.

THAT'S ALL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I THINK WELL, I THINK THE FIRST STEP IN INVESTIGATING THIS POSSIBILITY IS TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT UTILITIES ARE IN THAT RIGHT OF WAY AND WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE, BECAUSE IF WE CLOSE, IF WE DO AWAY WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DO WE HAVE TO PAY THE UTILITY PROVIDERS TO RELOCATE IF THERE ARE ANY UTILITIES THERE? IN THEORY, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED DAMAGES WHICH IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE STATE CODE.

RIGHT. IF A PARTY IF YOU'RE GOING TO CLOSE A ROAD AND FOR EXAMPLE, IT COULD DEPRECIATE SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY VALUE AND THEY'D BE ENTITLED TO SOME

[01:00:05]

SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S THERE. THAT PORTION OF IT IS THERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHARGE OR ANYTHING? YEAH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'D BE A PROBLEM IN THIS. I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT UTILITIES, IF THERE ARE ANY.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE.

YOU ONLY GO TO AN ABANDONED HOUSE? YES. OKAY.

ON OUR PROPERTY. THEY ALREADY GO ACROSS OUR FIELD.

SO, CHOPTANK, ACCESS IS OUR FIELD WHEN THEY NEED TO BE ON IT ANYWAY.

RIGHT. OKAY. ROBIN, HOW MANY FEET, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY FEET IT IS PAST THE RESIDENCE, THE HOUSE? HOW MANY FEET OF ROAD WOULD WE HAVE TO? I BELIEVE THE TOTAL ROAD IS ABOUT 0.6 MILES, AND PROBABLY THE DISTANCE IS PROBABLY RIGHT CLOSE TO A HALF MILE. BUT I MEAN, HOW MUCH? IF WE CLOSED IT, HOW MUCH WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN OPEN TO SERVICE THE TWO HOUSES? 100FT, 200FT, 300FT? PROBABLY. NO MORE THAN 100 YARDS.

OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WOULD SAY THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO TALK TO ALL THE UTILITY PROVIDERS AND FIND OUT WHAT'S THEIR TORQUAY CHOPTANK FIBER, CHOPTANK ELECTRIC, DELMARVA. I HONESTLY THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT IT'S OVERHEAD CHOPTANK COMING OFF OF THAT RIVER.

NOTHING, BUT NOTHING OFF OF 311. WELL, THERE IS, BUT POSSIBLY IN THIS SECTION OFF 311 WOULDN'T BE CLOSED.

IT WOULD STILL BE PART OF THE ROAD. RIGHT. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'D BE AN ISSUE ON THAT END.

OKAY. YEAH. THEY RECENTLY INSTALLED CHOPTANK FIBER AND IT DID NOT GO DOWN GOOD ROAD.

THEY WERE WORKING ON IT. THEY JUST DID DROPS INTO THOSE TWO HOUSES IF THEY EVEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVEN DID IT BECAUSE THEY'RE ON 311, RIGHT.

THEY CAME OFF 311. DOUBLE THE POWER. COMCAST.

PROBABLY HAVE PROBABLY HAVE COMCAST. YEAH. OKAY.

HOW ABOUT SURVEY DATA, WHAT KIND OF, DO WE HAVE ANY SURVEY DATA THAT STEWART WAS TALKING ABOUT? HONESTLY, WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SURVEY DATA ON THE 311 END BECAUSE THERE WAS TWO, WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIDENING PROJECT THAT WE DID RECENTLY THERE BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS OF IF YOU'D DONE MORE POWER POLES WERE IN OUR EASEMENT OR RIGHT OF WAY, AND THERE WAS A TREE THAT WE ULTIMATELY TOOK OUT BECAUSE IT WAS INSIDE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.

SO LANE, RECENTLY, A SMALL SURVEY ON THAT END.

RIGHT. SO, I MEAN, I PROBABLY EVEN HAVE THAT IN AN EMAIL.

OKAY. WHEN I TALKED TO THE SURVEYORS, THEY MENTIONED THAT THE RIGHT OF WAY WAS 35FT AND THE ROADS, COUNTY ROADS SAID IT WAS 30FT. DID WE EVER RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM? DO YOU KNOW? NO, NOT ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD. OKAY.

I MEAN, I JUST SAW IT ON THE SURVEY ITSELF, BUT RIGHT NOW, SITTING HERE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU.

WHAT THE WIDTH OF THE RIGHT OF WAY IS, RIGHT? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT TO DO? I DON'T SEE ANY OBJECTION ON MY PART TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, THE PETITION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT? I MEAN, AGAIN, I, I THINK I'VE GOT THE ANSWERS I NEED FROM THE EMERGENCY PEOPLE AND SO ON, BUT I WOULD NOT TELL YOU AT THIS POINT THAT I WOULD SAY, FORGET ABOUT IT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT FOR ME. SO I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HEARINGS.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY'S GOING TO SHOW UP OUT OF THE BLUE SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, TO SAY SOMETHING.

BUT I DON'T, I WOULDN'T SAY AT THIS POINT I WOULD BE OPPOSED BASED ON THE PETITION AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE GET GOING FORWARD.

I WOULD SAY MY MAIN CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT'S APPROACHED US ABOUT CLOSING ROADS, DIRT ROUTES.

AND I JUST DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW, ONCE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE START IT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, WE WANT OUR DIRT ROAD CLOSED AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO, AND THERE'S SOME ROADS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T CLOSE.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING CONCERNS ME, YOU KNOW.

WELL, THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE THERE ARE NO HOMES OUTSIDE OF THE TWO RIGHT NEXT TO 311.

YEAH. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GOING THROUGH A HEARING AND ALL THAT.

I MEAN, WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS? I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, THAT'S THE ONLY THING IS OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN

[01:05:01]

HOMES ON, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WIDELY POPULATED.

YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT'S. YEAH. THE ONLY THING REALLY, REALLY SCARES ME.

I LOOKED AT IT. I THOUGHT THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA ADDRESS, IT DID CONNECT.

IT DOESN'T. NO, IT'S OVER ON RIVER RIDGE ROAD.

OKAY. IT'S TIDY. TIDY ISLAND CREEK OR TIDY. OH.

THAT'S US. SORRY. YEAH. MY DAD DID A REVERSE 1031 EXCHANGE WHEN HE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

AND THERE WAS AN LLC INVOLVED THAT HAS SINCE TRANSFERRED THE PROPERTY TO MY DAD'S NAME.

OH, MY APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T REALIZE. SO THE PROPERTY THAT IS TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE OF GOODIN ROAD THAT WAS AT ONE TIME IN AN LLC WHEN WE WERE PURCHASING FROM DAVID PROUD'S ESTATE.

OKAY, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S OWNED BY MY IT'S BEEN SINCE IT'S BEEN TRANSFERRED TO MY DAD'S NAME EXCLUSIVELY.

OKAY. IT WAS FOR TAX PURPOSES. WE HAD AN LLC BRIEFLY.

OKAY. SO I HAD IT WAS SEVEN DIFFERENT PARCELS ADJOINING THE ROAD AND IT'S ONLY THREE DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS THEN EACH OF THOSE SEVEN PARCELS.

IT'S YOU AND THEN THE TWO OUT ALONG THE ROAD THEN.

CORRECT. OKAY. THAT'S ALL POPS UP ON THE. YEAH.

THAT'S THAT. OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT SHOWED UP ON STAT OR NOT THAT WE HAD TRANSFERRED IT FROM THE LLC TO MY FATHER'S NAME, BUT WE DID THAT AT LEAST A MONTH OR TWO AGO. YES.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE HELD OFF BEFORE COMING TO YOU IS WE WERE FINISHING THE PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY.

RIGHT. SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING AROUND THERE. WAS I? OKAY.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THAT THAT MAKES SENSE THEN. WELL, SO IS IT.

SO ARE YOU DO YOU OWN PROPERTY THERE AS WELL OR IS IT.

IT'S THE SAME. IT'S JUST ONE HE DOES TOO. OKAY, I'M ON OUR JOINT OWNERS.

YEAH, I GET IT. GOTCHA. OKAY. IS MR. MANDRCH, IS YOUR NAME COME UP AT YOUR, YOURS DID.

IF THE FARM TO THE SOUTH WEST OF GOODIN ROAD IS ALSO JOINTLY OWNED BY ME.

OKAY. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK MY, MY BEFORE I MADE A DECISION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UTILITY PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN IF THERE'S NO LIABILITY ON THE COUNTY AND NO, NO RESPONSIBILITY ON THE COUNTY TO RECTIFY ANYTHING IF.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. IF YOU GUYS ARE WILLING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, PAY THE SURVEYOR.

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY COUNTY MONEY INVOLVED. CRYSTAL, DO WE HAVE DESIGN GUIDELINES ON A CUL DE SAC OR SOME TYPE OF TURNAROUND THAT WE COULD PROVIDE TO THEM? PROBABLY BEEN SINCE 08, SINCE WE DID, A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT.

RIGHT. WOULD HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT THOSE STANDARDS, BUT.

MAYBE LIKE THE LAST CUL DE SAC THAT WE DID, RUN IT BY ROBIN AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT HE THINKS THAT THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH.

YEAH, PROBABLY THE LAST ONE WE DID WAS OFF OF DRAPERS MILL ROAD FOR BIKE STEERING'S DEVELOPMENT.

RIGHT. AND THEN THE LAST ONE THAT WE DID. AND IF YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE US ENOUGH LAND TO INSTALL THE CUL DE SAC, THEN YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, ROBIN.

I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO TURN IT, YOU KNOW, OUT OF OUR BUDGET.

BUT IF WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 300FT OF ROAD.

I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW MY CONCERN. WHO DOESN'T? YEAH. IT'D BE WORKED OUT, BUT. YEAH, I MEAN I DID FIND THE DOCUMENT FROM AN ENGINEERING SURVEY IN MY EMAILS, AND IT'S A 30 FOOT PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. OKAY.

OKAY. I WOULD SAY 35 SOUNDED ODD. I'VE HEARD WE HAVE 30S AND WE HAVE 40FT, BUT I HADN'T HEARD OF A 35.

NOT SAYING THEY DON'T EXIST SOMEWHERE, BUT, YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHERE I THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT WITH IT.

ARE THERE SURVEYORS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS TYPE OF THING BEFORE THAT WE COULD ACCESS? YEAH. JUST SO WE KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT THE COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH AND IS WILLING TO.

WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND HAVE ROBIN AND YOU KNOW, ROBIN REACH OUT TO YOU OR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO RUN THROUGH THIS DIFFERENT STUFF. AND MAYBE WE CAN PROBABLY GET YOU SOME NAMES.

WE CAN'T. I DON'T THINK WE CAN. RECOMMEND. YEAH.

RIGHT. YEAH. YEP. YEP. SO BUT ASSUMING, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THE UTILITY PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING, THEN I'M OKAY WITH IT.

SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.

AND ROBIN AND CRYSTAL WILL BE, PROBABLY MAINLY ROBIN.

I, YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST WANT TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC WORKS, HAVE ONE POINT OF CONTACT, AND THEN HE CAN GET HE CAN GET MAYBE SOME STANDARDS AND

[01:10:03]

SO APPRECIATE THAT. MR. GOODWIN WAS AN INTERESTING GUY.

YES. HE WAS. YEAH. YEAH, VERY VERY SMART. YEAH.

DID I DID I UNDERSTAND AT ONE POINT HE HELPED BREAK THE CODE, JAPANESE CODE? YEAH, I BELIEVE SO. THANK YOU SIR. HE HAD THE UPSTAIRS AND WE WOULD PLAY PING PONG UP THERE WITH HIM.

HE WAS A GOOD PING PONG PLAYER, TOO. HIKED A LOT.

DID A LOT OF HIKING AND WROTE ARTICLES ABOUT HE.

HE DID THE WHOLE APPALACHIAN TRAIL. YEAH, I REMEMBER HIM.

WOW. YEAH. WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

YUP. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE ANYONE. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS.

ARTICLE 3-305(B)(1). THE BOARD WILL CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE, COMPENSATION OF ONE OR MORE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS CLOSED SESSION IS TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS AND RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES FROM STAFF.

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ROLL CALL.

[Closed Session: General Provisions Article §3-305(b)(1), the Board will convene in closed session to discuss personnel matters concerning the appointment, employment, performance, compensation, of one or more County employees. The purpose of the closed session is to conduct employee evaluations and receive departmental updates from staff.]

AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ? AYE. FIVE MINUTE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.