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OKAY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 10TH, 2026, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DON REYNOLDS OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DENTON. AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF EVERYONE COULD, PLEASE RISE. PASTOR REYNOLDS.
[Call to Order: Invocation, Don Reynolds, Calvary Baptist Church of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
LET US PRAY. FATHER, WE LOOK OUT IN EXPERIENCING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY, WE LOOK BACK OVER THE WINTER, SO MUCH ICE AND SNOW. WE THANK YOU FOR HELPING US WITH ALL OF THAT. BUT LORD, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU WORKING IN THE PRESENT THIS DAY. I SEE ON THE AGENDA THAT THERE'S LOTS OF BUSINESS TO CARE FOR. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR STAFF THAT WORK SO HARD TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS GOING AND BALANCED. I SEE THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE, TRYING TO CONNECT WITH US CITIZENS.AND THANK YOU I CAN'T IMAGINE THEIR EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS AND JUST TRYING TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. SO WE ASK YOUR BLESSING. WE ALSO KNOW, LORD, THAT OUR NATION IS AT WAR. WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT WOULD BE IN HARM'S WAY, THOSE THAT WOULD BE DEALING WITH BEREAVEMENT. AND WE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY ABOVE US, OUR STATE LEADERS, OUR NATIONAL LEADERS. IT'S SO MANY DECISIONS. AND LORD, WE READ IN YOUR WORD THAT YOU RAISE UP LEADERS AND SOMETIMES YOU REMOVE THEM. WE ALSO KNOW THAT ELECTIONS ARE COMING IN A FEW MORE WEEKS AND MONTHS.
WE PRAY YOUR WILL BE DONE, NOT ONLY AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL, BUT STATE LEVEL AND NATIONALLY.
WE ASK ALL 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.
[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
3RD, 2026, COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER MARYLAND CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS 3-305B AND 1 AND 7.TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS IN A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS TO CONSULT WITH THEIR LEGAL TEAM ON PENDING ITEMS. THE CLOSED SESSION WAS TO DISCUSS INTERNAL OPERATIONS REGARDING PROCEDURAL PLANS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSING SEVERAL LEGAL MATTERS THAT MAY BRING PENDING LITIGATION.
OKAY, OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS SHANNON HANAWALD, ENDO WARRIORS OF THE EASTERN SHORE, WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ IS GOING
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TO READ FOR US IF YOU AND MARGIE ARE HERE WITH SHANNON, OR YEP, IF YOU GET, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE TO THE TABLE. AND COMMISSIONER BARTZ WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. GOOD MORNING, I'M GOING TO SPEAK BEFORE I DO THIS AND THEN THAT WAY EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW? JENNIFER ASKED ME IF I'M GOOD WITH THIS, AND I SAID, YES. I ALWAYS STEP UP ON THIS.BECAUSE I DON'T, YOU KNOW, SUFFER WITH THIS. AND I KNOW THE EFFECTS OF IT. SO I JUST WANTED TO ENCOURAGE EVERY YEAR THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS. IT'S PHENOMENAL. I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THE COURTHOUSE, WE HAVE IT UP YELLOW. SO I GUESS THE TOWN IS LIT UP. IT'S LIT UP YELLOW, TOO. THE TOWN IS LIT UP YELLOW. YEAH, GOOD, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, BUT I JUST WANNA THANK YOU.
AND EVERY YEAR, I'VE ALWAYS SAID, HEY, THIS IS A GREAT AWARENESS MONTH. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHEREAS ENDOMETRIOSIS IS A CHRONIC, PAINFUL, AND OFTEN DEBILITATING SYSTEMATIC DISEASE AFFECTING AN ESTIMATED 1 IN 10 INDIVIDUALS, ROUGHLY ABOUT 200 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE. AND WHEREAS ENDOMETRIOSIS OCCURS WHEN TISSUE SIMILAR TO THE LINING OF THE UTERUS GROWS OUTSIDE OF THE UTERUS, LEADING TO CHRONIC INFLAMMATION, SEVERE PAIN, INTERNAL SCARRING, AND POTENTIAL ORGAN DAMAGE.
WHEREAS, DESPITE ITS PREVALENCE, THE AVERAGE TIME TO DIAGNOSE RANDOM UTERUS IS OFTEN 7 TO 10 YEARS, CAUSING PATIENTS TO SUFFER THROUGH THE YEARS OF DEBILITATING SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN, INFERTILITY, AND FATIGUE, WITHOUT PROPER CARE. WHEREAS, THE LACK OF AWARENESS, STIGMA, AND NORMALIZATION OF PAIN SURROUNDING THIS CONDITION LEADS TO SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN TREATMENT, WHICH CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE EDUCATION, CAREER, AND PERSONALIZED DOSE EFFECT.
WHEREAS, UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE, CHARACTERIZED BY CHRONIC PAIN, INFERTILITY, AND POTENTIAL PREMATURE MORTALITY, IS CRUCIAL TO REDUCING DIAGNOSIS TIME AND ENSURING A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SUFFERERS. AND WHEREAS MARCH IS RECOGNIZED GLOBALLY AS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND LAWMAKERS TO UNITE IN SHATTERING THE MYTHS SURROUNDING THE DISEASE AND PROMOTING BETTER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, STU. HERE AT PIPER PLAIN, MARCH 2026 IS ENDOMETRIOSIS AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO WEAR YELLOW, EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON THE SYMPTOMS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS, AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT FOSTER FASTER DIAGNOSIS, INCREASED RESEARCH, FUNDING, AND BETTER TREATMENT. SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BY JAY TRAVIS, BREED'S PRESIDENT, LARRY C. PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT, AND MYSELF AND FRANKLIN BARCA III COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR READING THAT AND GETTING ENDOMETRIOSIS RIGHT EVERY SINGLE TIME. BECAUSE YOU'D BE AMAZED WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CALL IT. SO SOME OF THIS IS A REPEAT, SO I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL WHO HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE. BUT IF I DON'T KEEP REPEATING IT, THEN IT'S NOT GOING TO KEEP RAISING AWARENESS. I'M A WIFE AND A MOTHER. I AM ALSO ONE IN TEN, ONE IN TEN WOMEN WHO HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS. I AM THE FOUNDER OF ENDOWARRIORS AT THE EASTERN SHORE AND AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENDOMETRIOSIS ASSOCIATION.
ENDOMETRIOSIS IS A DISEASE THAT AFFECTS ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE. EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, AND PHYSICALLY, ENDOMETRIOSIS CAN TAKE EVERYTHING FROM YOU, AND IT DID TO ME UNTIL I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO FIGHT BACK. WHEN I WAS 17, I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD LISTEN TO ME, AND I KNEW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT I WAS AT THE BREAKING POINT AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. MY PAIN STARTED WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND STARTED OUT AS THE DOCTOR SAYING THAT I HAD OVARIAN CYST RUPTURING.
AFTER THAT, MY PAIN JUST INCREASED AND THE HELP AND THE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE DOCTORS DECREASED. MY PARENTS TOOK ME TO SO MANY DOCTORS, I HAD MORE CT SCANS AND ULTRASOUNDS THAN I CAN COUNT, ALL COMING BACK WITH THE RESULTS OF NOTHING.
HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE? I WAS IN EXCRUCIATING, DEBILITATING PAIN THAT NOBODY COULD SEEM TO HELP ME WITH. MY PARENTS STARTED TO BELIEVE THE DOCTORS THAT I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL. AND HONESTLY, WHEN I LOOK BACK ON IT NOW, THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE. ENDOMETRIOSIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS YOU PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY AS WELL. I HAD SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY BECAUSE NOBODY WOULD LISTEN OR HELP ME. I FELT SO ALONE AND SO DISMISSED BY EVERYONE THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AFTER FIVE YEARS, I FINALLY FOUND A DOCTOR THAT WOULD LISTEN TO ME. AND AS SOON AS I TOLD HIM MY SYMPTOMS, HE SAID, I'M CERTAIN YOU HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS. ENDOMETRIOSIS? WHAT WAS THAT, AND WHY HAD NOBODY EVEN MENTIONED? THE ONLY WAY
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TO DIAGNOSE ENDOMETRIOSIS IS THROUGH LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY.NO BLOOD WORK, NO ULTRASOUNDS, NO MRIS, NO CT SCANS, JUST SURGERY. WE SCHEDULED MY SURGERY AND, SURE ENOUGH, I HAD STAGE 4 ENDOMETRIOSIS.
THAT WAS THE FIRST OF MY 20 SURGERIES TO TRY AND HELP REMOVE THE LESIONS, TO HELP WITH THE PAIN. ONE OF THE OTHER MAIN SYMPTOMS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS IS INFERTILITY.
THANK YOU. THE LONGER IT TAKES TO DIAGNOSE, THE LESS CHANCE YOU HAVE OF GETTING PREGNANT.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO HAVE MY SON WITH NO INTERVENTION, BUT MY SECOND SON, I HAD TO GO THROUGH FERTILITY TREATMENT.
ENDOMETRIOSIS HAS TAKEN SO MUCH FROM ME. I MISSED SO MANY IMPORTANT DATES AND CELEBRATIONS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT TOOK AWAY MY ABILITY TO HAVE CHILDREN LIKE OTHER WOMEN. IT TOOK A BABY FROM ME DURING FERTILITY TREATMENTS, A BABY THAT WAS LOVED AND DREAMT OF, AND A BABY THAT IS MISSED AND TALKED ABOUT DAILY. ENDOMETRIOSIS HAS NO CURE. ONLY TREATMENTS. SOME DOCTORS WILL SAY TO HAVE A HYSTERECTOMY, BUT THAT WILL STILL NOT STOP IT FROM GROWING ON OTHER ORGANS.
SOME WOMEN DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE PAIN FROM ENDOMETRIOSIS.
THEY ONLY FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR CONDITION WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO CONCEIVE A CHILD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NOT MANY DOCTORS, ESPECIALLY ON THE EASTERN SHORE, WHO HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS DISEASE. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS DOCTORS TELL ME THAT THEY GET 30 MINUTES OF EDUCATION ON ENDOMETRIOSIS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? ENDOMETRIOSIS IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE MOST PAINFUL CONDITIONS. IT AFFECTS ONE IN TEN WOMEN, YET YOU GET 30 MINUTES OF EDUCATION IN MEDICAL SCHOOL. IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
THANKFULLY, OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN MORE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS, BUT WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR WE NEED TO BE, NOT EVEN CLOSE. ONE OF MY NIECES SAID IT BEST, AND I THINK IT APPLIES TO ALL OF US WHO FIGHT ENDOMETRIOSIS.
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. THIS QUOTE SHOWS TO ME SUCH IMPORTANCE IN EACH OF OUR STORIES AND THE CONSTANT BATTLEFIELD WE ARE ON. I KNOW SOME WOMEN DO NOT WANT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT A DISEASE THAT IS SO PERSONAL, SO I WILL SPEAK FOR THEM. I WILL NOT STOP.
UNTIL WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THE WORD ENDOMETRIOSIS, EVERY SINGLE PERSON WILL KNOW WHAT THAT IS AS MUCH AS THEY KNOW WHAT STREP, THROAT OR EAR INFECTION ARE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH THIS JOURNEY. MY PASSION AND DRIVE ARE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE. SO I HAVE CHOSEN TO FIGHT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING AND LEARNING FROM YOU. I HAVE A LOT OF NIECES THROUGH BLOOD AND THROUGH LOVE, AND THEY ARE THE REASON THAT I DO THIS, BECAUSE THE THOUGHT OF THEM HAVING TO GO THROUGH WHAT I WENT THROUGH LITERALLY SHATTERS MY HEART.
THIS SUMMER, I WAS ON VACATION, AND ONE OF MY NIECES WAS WITH US, AND I WALKED OUT OF THE BEDROOM, AND SHE WAS CRAWLING ACROSS THE KITCHEN FLOOR, AND I ASKED HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING, AND SHE SAID THAT HER CRAMPS WERE SO BAD THAT SHE COULDN'T EVEN STAND UP. AND IT HIT ME AGAIN AS TO WHY I CONTINUE TO DO THIS, WHY I CONTINUE TO PUT MY PERSONAL STORY OUT THERE, WHY I CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT INTIMATE DETAILS OF MY LIFE, BECAUSE IF I CAN PROTECT ANY OF THEM, THEN IT'S ALL WORTH IT TO ME. I ASK THAT YOU REMEMBER, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE LOOKS OKAY ON THE OUTSIDE DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE OKAY ON THE INSIDE.
IF SOMEONE SAYS THEY HAVE ENDOMETRIOSIS, PLEASE REMEMBER THIS POINT IN TIME AND YOU WILL KNOW HOW THEY FEEL. ENDO AFFECTS EACH OF US DIFFERENTLY. IT IS A COMPLEX DISEASE THAT REQUIRES NUMEROUS SPECIALISTS FOR EACH PATIENT. THERE ARE NO TWO STORIES THE SAME. I WILL ALWAYS BE ONE IN TEN, BUT I ALSO WILL BE THE ONE WHO SPEAKS UP AND FIGHTS FOR HELP FOR ANYONE WHO SUFFERS FROM THIS DISEASE AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT PATH IN LIFE. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU, SHANNON. WHEN DID YOU START ENDOWARRIORS? SEVEN YEARS AGO. SEVEN YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE LONG RUN AND GOOD JOB BRINGING AWARENESS. THANK YOU. I HONESTLY DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD TAKE OFF AS MUCH. I'M VERY GLAD THAT IT DID BECAUSE THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE'RE REACHING MORE.
I THINK I'VE HEARD THIS SEVEN TIMES. YEAH, YOU HAVE. EACH TIME, IT GETS MORE POWERFUL.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK I HAVE A DRAWER FULL OF RIBBONS. SO I SHOULD HAVE WORN ONE OF THEM TODAY AND SAVED YOU THIS ONE. BUT NO, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. AND I KNOW IT'S TOUGH TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
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YOU NEED TO BRING AWARENESS AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. AND I'M SURE YOU'VE COUNSELED A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU TOO. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE. PICTURE TIME.
LARRY'S LOOKING AT ME. IF YOU WANT TO DO IT ALL. I CAN DO IT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I GOT 12 ACCOUNTINGS TONIGHT, SAID MY CALENDAR ACCOUNTINGS TOMORROW.
NO, THEY WON'T BE, ABSOLUTELY NOT. YEP, OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE KATHLEEN DORMADY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CASA. OF CAROLINE, WITH A FORMAL INTRODUCTION AS A NEW DIRECTOR. MORNING. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE TIME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I IN POST I. SO I STARTED IN JANUARY 9TH. I CAME FROM ACTUALLY RUNNING THE MATURE SITE OF PARTNERS AND CARE AND HAVE STARTED MY CAREER OUT IN EDUCATION. SO I'VE GOT SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CHILDREN. AND I'M WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS AND TWO OTHER CASA EDS. SO WE'RE WORKING ON REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COURTS, WITH DSS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD, POSITIVE YEAR. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE TIME TO MEET YOU AND INTRODUCE MYSELF AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ABSOLUTELY, YEAH. I JUST JOTTED DOWN A COUPLE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE. SO HOW MANY CHILDREN? I MEAN, HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE ASSISTED IN CAROLINE COUNTY EACH YEAR? SO I'M STILL DIGGING THROUGH THE WEEDS. BECAUSE MY PREDECESSOR, TO BE QUITE HONEST, WAS NOT A RECORD KEEPER AND LEFT ME WITH VIRTUALLY NO TRAIL BEHIND.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE SIX ACTIVE CASA ADVOCATES, TWO CHILDREN THAT WE ARE SERVING. I JUST MET WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURT AND THE ATTORNEYS YESTERDAY. OKAY, SO WE WILL FOCUS ON RETRAINING OUR CURRENT CAUSES, IMPROVING OUR TRAINING PROGRAM, AND REPAIRING THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT WE CAN GROW, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A HUGE INFLUX OF CHILDREN. WE'RE HOPING THAT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE CAN START SERVING MORE CHILDREN.
MY GOAL IS TO GROW, AND IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW. IT MIGHT BE UNREALISTIC, BUT I'D LIKE TO. I'D LIKE TO RECRUIT AN ADDITIONAL 24 ADVOCATES THIS YEAR SO THAT WE'VE GOT A POOL OF AT LEAST 30. BECAUSE THAT WAY, AS THE NEW CASES START, KEEP COMING. AND CASA IS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. AND DO YOU KNOW, JUST OFFHAND YOUR TOTAL BUDGET? AND SO I KNOW YOU MAKE A REQUEST OF US, BUT IT'S A PRETTY SMALL REQUEST, BUT WHAT'S YOUR TOTAL BUDGET AND WHERE DO YOU GET, WHERE ARE YOUR OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME? SO WE RELY ON TWO MAJOR GRANTS, THE AOC GRANT AND THE VOCA GRANT.
WE'VE GOT SOME SMALL SPONSORSHIPS. I KNOW THAT THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION GRANT WAS NOT APPLIED FOR LAST YEAR.
THAT IS ON MY RADAR TO ADDRESS THIS YEAR. AS WELL AS THE WOMEN AND GIRLS FUND GRANT. WE DID RECEIVE $10,000 FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FROM THE MITCHELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, BUT I'M LOOKING TO, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH VICTOR, I'M LOOKING TO INCREASE OUR SPONSORSHIPS.
HAVE NOT YET MET, HAVE NOT YET WORKED ON THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET.
THAT'S ON OUR RADAR TO DO. I UNDERSTAND, I THINK LAST YEAR IT WAS OVER, JUST OVER $100,000. BUT, LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO INCREASE THAT. I DID PUT IN A REQUEST AND I REQUESTED A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM YOU. BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST TO IMPROVE UPON AND RETRAIN.
AND SO WE'D LIKE TO PUT SOME MORE MONEY INTO THAT EFFORT. SO THAT
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PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ROLE, THE TRUE ROLE OF A COP. THANK YOU. OKAY, YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. BERGSON, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.YOU'RE WELCOME. I GUESS, PRETTY MUCH YOU'RE THE VOICE FOR.
CHILDREN THAT, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T HAVE ANYBODY THERE, SO THAT THAT TAKES A SPECIAL, SPECIAL EFFORT, YOU KNOW? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, THANK YOU. WHAT NICE TO MEET YOU. YES, OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I HEAR A MOTION TO GO IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO MOVED MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE, AYE, AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THE AYES HAVE IT. TODAY WE HAVE THREE SECOND READINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED. SO I WOULD TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARROW FOR THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE BILL.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BREEDING. THE FIRST BILL THAT WE ARE HERE FOR IS NUMBER 2026-001, WHICH DEALS WITH, AGAIN, CHAPTER 175, OUR ZONING ARTICLE, ZONING CHAPTER, ARTICLE 12 OF THAT CHAPTER. I WILL FIRST READ THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED EARLIER IN FEBRUARY, ACTUALLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO. AND DUE TO ALL SORTS OF WEATHER RELATED PROBLEMS, WE'RE HERE FOR THE SECOND READING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-001. AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 175-202, ENTITLED ZONING MAP CORRECTIONS IN ARTICLE 12 AMENDMENT PROCEDURES OF CHAPTER 175. ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY. THE CODE TO PROVIDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO CORRECT MINOR TECHNICAL OR CLERICAL ERRORS IN THE ZONING MAPS OF CAROLINE COUNTY. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON FEBRUARY 24. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL NOTICE. IT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH THE 10TH.
BEGINNING AT 915 A.M. IN ROOM 106 OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629.
TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING, EMAIL INFO AT CAROLINEMD.ORG, VISIT, ADDRESS IS GIVEN OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629.
PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. OKAY.
LAYMAN'S TERMS, THIS BILL, WE HAVE TRANSFERRED OUR ZONING DOCUMENTS OVER THE YEARS ONTO DIFFERENT FORMS OF EITHER PAPER OR ELECTRONIC MEANS OF SHOWING THE MAPPING. AND IN SOME CASES, THOSE MAPS DO NOT REFLECT THE ACTUAL INTENT OF OUR ZONING, ORIGINAL ZONING CREATION. SO THIS GIVES OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR AN AVENUE TO CORRECT THOSE MISTAKES AS THEY ARE FOUND. SO, RIGHT, THAT'S BASICALLY IT. SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? OH, I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT, LARRY, I'M NOT CALLING YOU.
SECOND. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THE AYES, HAVE IT. PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-001 IS NOW OPEN. IS ANYONE, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP TO TESTIFY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? REGARDING THIS LEGISLATION, OKAY, NONE SEEN. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND MOTION. SECOND, ALL THOSE WHO EVER SAY, AYE, AYE, ALL THOSE OPPOSED THE EYES HAVE IT OKAY, OUR NEXT LEGISLATIVE BILL, EXCUSE ME. I BELIEVE THAT JEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAD WRITTEN TO REQUEST A POSTPONEMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS BILL, OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, A 14-DAY EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD TO ALLOW FOR THE SUBMISSION OF WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS CRITICAL HISTORICAL EVIDENCE, AND THIS IS PERTAINING TO WHAT IS ALLEGED TO BE A TECHNICAL ERROR IN THE MAPPING OF THE CHILD.
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INDIAN PURCHASE LANDS, REFERRING TO FEDERAL PENSION RECORDS AND 19TH CENTURY CENSUS. DATA THAT THIS PERSON BELIEVES IS VITAL TO THE TECHNICAL AND CLERICAL CORRECTIONS AUTHORIZED BY THIS BILL. I'M NOT SURE HOW THE MATTER DESCRIBED HAS ANY PERTINENCE TO THE ZONING MAP CORRECTIONS THAT THIS BILL PERTAINS TO. SO I SIMPLY PUT THAT OUT THERE, RATHER THAN A POSTPONEMENT OF THE HEARING, WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU WANTED TO DO. I SUPPOSE THE COMMISSIONERS COULD GRANT THE APPLICATION TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR 14 DAYS. OR FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME TO ALLOW THIS PERSON TO SUBMIT THE CRITICAL HISTORICAL EVIDENCE. WHEN IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE THIRD READING AND ENACTMENT ON THIS? IT IS THIS COMING TUESDAY. I WOULD, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-001 THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY.WHERE WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE LETTERS OR EMAILS REGARDING THIS LEGISLATION. OKAY, MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. SORRY, I FORGOT TO ASK IF WE HAD RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE. I WILL DO THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO BILLS.
NOTHING LIKE LAST SECOND. CAN YOU SAY WHO IT'S FROM? YOU JUST GOT IT THIS MORNING? YEAH.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, FORWARD THAT TO US, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT LEGISLATIVE BILL. NEXT LEGISLATIVE BILL, WE'RE HERE FOR THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-002. AND THIS BILL, AGAIN, CONCERNS CHAPTER 175, WHICH IS ZONING. AND WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS TO AMEND BASICALLY THE TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS TO PERMIT MANY STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE VILLAGE CENTER ZONING DISTRICT. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED BACK ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH. THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH THE 7TH. IT READS AS FOLLOWS. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-002, AN ACT TO AMEND THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS.
175, ATTACHMENT 3-2 OF CHAPTER 175. ZONING TO ADD WAREHOUSE MINI STORAGE FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE V.C. VILLAGE CENTER ZONING DISTRICT. AND TO ADD NEW SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING THE CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON MARCH 10, 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, VISIT, THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN, OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629.
PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. OKAY, THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL BASICALLY DOES WHAT ITS TITLE SAYS, ALLOWS MANY STORAGE IN THE VILLAGE CENTER ZONING DISTRICT.
WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO WHO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-002.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY LETTERS OR CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL? NO. NO. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? FAVOR OR OPPOSE? OKAY, NONE SEEN, AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP.
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SO, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-002.SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY, THAT WILL MOVE ON TO A POTENTIAL VOTE TO AMEND OR ENACT NEXT TUESDAY AS WELL. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, ON TO OUR THIRD AND FINAL BILL.
WE'RE HERE FOR THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-003, WHICH IS ENTITLED CHAPTER 175, ZONING, CREATION OF R3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, IN ADDITION OF TOWNHOUSE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS. THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON MARCH THE 7TH. READS AS FOLLOWS.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-003, AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE R3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND ADDITION OF TOWNHOUSE.
SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS BY 01, AMENDING SECTION 175-8 WORD USAGE IN ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, THE CODE. TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF TOWNHOUSE DWELLING UNDER THE TERM DWELLING. 2.
AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION SECTION 175-12A OF THE CODE TO ADD R3, MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, AS A PRIMARY ZONING DISTRICT OF CAROLINE COUNTY. 3. AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION SECTION 175-12B, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS OF THE CODE TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF R3, MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. 4, CREATING A NEW SECTION 175-21 TOWNHOUSES IN ARTICLE 5 SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS OF THE CODE. 5, AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USES 175 ATTACHMENT 3-1 TO ADD TOWNHOMES. AS A PERMITTED USE IN THE R3 DISTRICT AND SUBJECT TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL IN THE V.C. DISTRICT. AND AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION, THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF GENERAL DESIGN REGULATIONS 175 ATTACHMENT 4-1 TO ADD THE DESIGN REGULATIONS FOR THE R3 DISTRICT. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON MARCH 10, 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 AS GIVEN, VISIT THE WEBSITE'S ADDRESS AS GIVEN, OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629. PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. OKAY, THIS IS THIS BILL WILL RESTORE A PREVIOUS, I GUESS, REGULATION THAT ALLOWED TOWNHOMES IN THE R3 AREA. WE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT AFFECTED ONE PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO RESTORE THE REGULATIONS THAT WERE IN PLACE WHEN THAT COMPLEX WAS BUILT, ESSENTIALLY. YES, SIR. OKAY.
SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-003.
AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL? WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY. OKAY. I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE HAS SIGNED UP. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. NONE SEEN. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-003.
SO MOVED. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. ALL THREE OF THESE BILLS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT TUESDAY FOR THIRD READER POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT. YES, SIR, AND ALL THREE WOULD HAVE THE EFFECTIVE DATE, IF ENACTED, NEXT TUESDAY OF MAY, THE 2ND.
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OTHER LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS. OKAY, MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO MOVED. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, THE AYES, HAVE IT. YOU'RE GOOD ON THE LEGISLATIVE. YEAH, I WAS OUT OF TOWN A FEW DAYS. WE'RE STILL REVIEWING BILLS AND WE'LL HAVE A REPORT NEXT WEEK.SLOWING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, I THINK. STILL A LOT OF TALKING GOING ON IN ANNAPOLIS. DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE CROSSOVER DATE IS? ISN'T THAT THE NEXT DEADLINE? YEAH, I'M NOT SURE, JEN. CAN YOU LOOK THAT UP? IT SHOULD BE COMING UP. ALL RIGHT. IT'S MARCH 23RD.
MARCH 23RD. ANY BILL WILL HAVE TO MOVE FROM THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER, RIGHT? OKAY. OKAY, MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, THEN.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER BARTZ, YOU GOT ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT.
COMMISSIONER PORTER? JUST TO BE, THE HOBBS. WEST OPTION, THAT IS THE COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON, THE OLD LANDFILL? ON OUR LANDFILL, YEAH, ON THE COUNTY'S LANDFILL, YES. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE OTHER PROJECT THAT IS IN THE EARLY STAGES, I GUESS, OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVAL. RIGHT, RIGHT. YEAH.
OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OTHER THAN THAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF BRIDGES ON HERE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE BRIDGES WILL BE 100% FUNDED, SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY COUNTY MONEY INVOLVED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE BRIDGES, WHICH DESPERATELY NEED TO BE DONE. AND WE HAVE MORE BELIEVE, WE HAVE MORE BRIDGES THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE WORKS. SO I THINK IT'S LIKE EIGHT, EIGHT TO TEN DIFFERENT BRIDGES AROUND THE COUNTY SHOULD BE REPLACED.
THAT RELATIVELY LITTLE TO NO COST TO THE COUNTY, WHICH IS VERY BENEFICIAL.
WE'LL LEAVE. ANYTHING ELSE IS GOOD? SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO MOVED. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. LET'S SEE, A FEW ITEMS FOR YOU TODAY. FIRST THING, JUST A VERY BRIEF UPDATE, NOTHING CRITICAL, KIND OF AMUSING TO ME. THE COMCAST FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IS STILL BEING WORKED ON. APPARENTLY THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE OR REORGANIZATION AT COMCAST. SO OUR ATTORNEYS, COHEN LAW GROUP. KIND OF HAMMERING COMCAST TO GET THIS DONE, THEIR REVIEW SIDE, AND COMCAST HAS BEEN SLOW TO DO SO. I ONLY SAY IT'S AMUSING BECAUSE I THINK WHEN DANNY AND I FIRST STEPPED INTO THESE ROLES TWO YEARS AGO IS WHEN WE STARTED THIS. IT'S STILL NOT DONE. SO OUR ATTORNEYS ARE WORKING HARD, TRYING TO GET THIS WRAPPED UP, AND COMCAST IS KIND OF HOLDING US UP. ITEM NUMBER TWO, JUST A VERY SHORT UPDATE ON DAYSPRINGS. THE PURCHASER IS WORKING ON THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD, GETTING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF EMAILS COMING THROUGH ABOUT SURVEYS BEING SCHEDULED AND LOGISTICAL THINGS. AND THEY'RE STILL SHOOTING FOR, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, A MID-APRIL SETTLEMENT. SO DANNY'S LEFT ME A SHORT LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS. NOTHING TO DO RIGHT NOW, SO I'M JUST MONITORING THAT SITUATION, BUT THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE DETENTION CENTER. SO, TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH WARDEN SCOTT A COUPLE DAYS AGO ABOUT THE POSSIBLE FUTURE OF THE DETENTION CENTER, INCLUDING POSSIBLE RENOVATIONS, NEW BUILDING, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING STATUS.
SO DURING THAT CONVERSATION, HE DID TELL ME THAT THE CONTROL PANEL HAS BEEN INSTALLED. THAT WAS A BIG THING WE WERE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF BECAUSE WE HAD THE MAGNETIC WAND SITUATION BEFORE. HOWEVER, IT'S MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL. I MEAN, IT'S FUNCTIONAL, BUT I GUESS DUE TO MULTIPLE
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RENOVATIONS, DIFFERENT COLORED WIRES. THE ELECTRICIAN IS STILL TRYING TO GET CERTAIN DOORS HOOKED UP.BECAUSE WHAT'S A YELLOW WIRE ON ONE END MIGHT NOT BE THE YELLOW WIRE ON THE OTHER END. SO THEY'RE WORKING OUT KINKS, BUT THE CONTROL PANEL IS INSTALLED.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE FUTURE OF THE DETENTION CENTER.
CHARLES AND LUKE, DEPUTY WARDEN AND WARD SCOTT, ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST. A SUMMARY WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE, THEY'RE JUST REPACKAGING IT FOR IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THERE FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS. AND WE KNOW IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE WOULD GET FUNDING TO BUILD A NEW DETENTION CENTER, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE GO IN. THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A PACKAGE OF WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE TO THE DETENTION CENTER TO MAKE IT COMPLIANT FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO OUR PLAN IS FOR THEM TO GET THAT PUT TOGETHER AND THEN TO COME IN AND HAVE JUST A DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD. AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO ABOUT WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE IN THE DETENTION CENTER AND HOW WE'RE PLANNING ON MOVING FORWARD. WE HAVE THREE, I GUESS, CONTRACTORS SENDING US PROPOSALS TO COMPLETE OUR PART ONE AND PART TWO FOR A POSSIBLE NEW DETENTION CENTER. I THINK THOSE ARE DUE FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY. WE ALREADY HAVE ONE, WE HAVE TWO MORE COMING, AND THEN, BY THE TIME WE ALL SIT DOWN AND MEET, WE'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THOSE ALSO. AND JUST KIND OF START LAYING OUT OUR PATH FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S RENOVATIONS OR WHAT RENOVATIONS NEED TO BE DONE WHILE WE'RE WAITING, AND WHAT OUR PLAN IS. SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO YOU. AND THEN THE LAST ITEM HAS TO DO WITH THE OPIOID FUNDS. DANNY AND STACY, WHO'S HERE, THERE SHE IS, THERE SHE IS, STACY'S HERE, ASKED ME TO BRING THIS UP WITH YOU.
DANNY AND STACY HAVE RANKED PROPOSALS TO USE THE OPIOID FUNDS, AND THEY WOULD LIKE ONE OF YOU, IF YOU COULD SELECT ONE OF YOURSELVES, TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH THEM AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND FURTHER RANK THEM TO BRING BACK TO THE FULL BOARD FOR DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN GET MOVING ON USING THE OOP.
OPIOID, I CAN'T SAY THAT WORD, OPIOID MONEY. OKAY. SO I THINK, DID I BUTCHER THAT? OR DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YOU'RE GOOD? OKAY. SO IF WE COULD GET ONE OF YOU, IF YOU GUYS CAN DECIDE TO MEET WITH, I GUESS, STACY.
AT THIS POINT, SINCE DANNY IS OUT HAVING, HIS WIFE HAVING HAD THE BABY LAST WEEK. OKAY. ANY VOLUNTEERS? NO? I'LL DO IT.
HOW MANY APPLICATIONS DO YOU HAVE? EIGHT. AND YOU WANT TO NARROW IT DOWN BEFORE? RIGHT. THIS IS OPIOID MONEY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT. OKAY, ALL RIGHT, WELL, COMMISSIONER PORTER CAN DO THAT. OKAY, THAT'S IT? THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD. WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? YEAH, SURE. ALL RIGHT. I SPOKE WITH KENNY FENDER LAST WEEK. THE TURTLE FENCING DOWN TO DOVER BRIDGE IS PRETTY MUCH ALL CAVED IN, COLLAPSED. SO I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THAT. SO THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FIXING THAT BEFORE ALL THE TURTLES START CROSSING. SO THAT'S ON THEIR AGENDA. LET'S SEE, I WANNA THANK ROBIN FOR MEETING YESTERDAY, THAT CONSTITUENT, ABOUT THE ISSUE WE HAD DOWN IN WILLISTON. HE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE, GOT A PHONE CALL, JUST VERY, VERY THANKFUL. AND THE OTHER THING IS, HOW'S THE TREE TRIMMING COMING IN THE STORM CLEANUP? I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A PROCESS, BUT I JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS COMING ALONG. IT'S A PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE CURRENTLY THREE CONTRACTORS IN, THREE CONTRACT CREWS. AND THEN WE HAVE THREE IN-HOUSE CREWS WITH. CHIPPER'S ON AS WELL, SO WE'RE ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
THE THREE CREWS WE HAVE IN ALL HAVE BUCKET TRUCKS THAT ARE WORKING IN HANGING LIMB SITUATIONS, AND THEN OUR OWN CREWS ARE TRIMMING UP OR PICKING UP ROADSIDE STUFF, LIKE LAST NIGHT,
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I CUT ACROSS. WILHELM ROAD, WHO GETS THERE, IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE OUT THERE FOR A SOLID WEEK. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT, THEY KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A PROCESS. MY WIFE'S BEATING ME UP ABOUT OUR ROAD, AND IT'S ONLY TWO OR THREE TREES. SO I GET IT, EVERYBODY SEES THEIR OWN ROAD, BUT IT'S BAD OUT THERE WHEN YOU GET RIDING AROUND. OH, DEFINITELY. I KEEP HEARING ABOUT LINE ROAD, TRUE LIMBS, DEAD CUT. ARE WE CUTTING THEM, OR IS WHO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.I THINK IT'S THE DIRT ROAD SECTION OF LINE ROAD. OKAY.
AND WE HADN'T BEEN DOWN THERE AND SOMETHING GOT CUT, BUT WE SENT ANOTHER CREW DOWN THERE TO DO SOME MORE CUTTING, BUT WE'VE KIND OF PRIORITIZED, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, OPEN THE ROAD ENTIRELY.
SECOND, WE'RE LOOKING AT DANGEROUS HANGARS THAT ARE HUNG UP IN TREES. AND THEN COMING BACK AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S LEFT ON THE SIDE.
BUT IT'S THE DIRT. WHAT'S LEFT ON LINE ROAD IS PRIMARILY STUFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I GET SOMEONE DRUG, SOME STUFF OUT ON THE ROAD. EVEN THAT HAD BEEN PUSHED OFF AT ONE POINT OR SOMETHING. SO YEAH, WE HAD OKAY ISSUES TOO, BUT I THINK THAT I TOOK CARE OF, THAT'S ALL I GOT. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I NEED STACY FOR REAL QUICK. I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE AND I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY A DANTIC.
BUT WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY, OR I DON'T HAVE MY PHONE WITH ME, BUT WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MICHAEL SANDERSON FROM MAKO ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT COST. IT SAID SOMETHING LIKE HE HAD BEEN HEARING COUNTIES SAYING THAT THEIR BLUEPRINT COSTS HAD NOT GONE UP AS MUCH AS THEY THOUGHT, BUT DON'T BE TOO FAST.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE OUR, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, OUR BLUEPRINT NUMBER FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS AROUND $18 MILLION. AND THEN THERE WAS TEACHER PENSION AND CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE LIBRARY COST. HE HAD ON HIS CHART $20 MILLION. FOR FY26. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, IS THAT THOSE THREE, THOSE THINGS COMBINED? OKAY.
IT SHOULD BE ALL THREE COMBINED. I'LL REVIEW. I CAN.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR BUDGET. BUT, I MEAN, SO I GOT A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN I READ THAT, BECAUSE. NO, IT SHOULD BE EVERYTHING COMBINED.
THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I WAS, BECAUSE I GOT THAT WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOWN AND I WAS PANICKING.
NO. WELL, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY JUST THE TEACHER PENSION AND THEN OUR. ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE, MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
BUT I THINK THIS YEAR'S PROJECTION IN THE BUDGET, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OVER WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES ESTIMATE WAS GOING TO BE FOR FY27.
BUT THE NUMBERS WE HAVE ON OUR SPREADSHEETS ARE CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THIS DLS PROJECTION HAD US, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, AT $21.5 MILLION.
AND I THINK IF YOU ADD THE TEACHER PENSION TO THE ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE, I THINK WE'RE AT LIKE 22.4 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO WE'RE LIKE 900,000 OVER WHAT THIS PROJECTION WAS.
SO I GUESS SOME COUNTIES MUST BE UNDER SHOOTING THIS.
BUT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ENROLLMENT. AND LIKE SOME COUNTIES, IF YOU LOOK AT QUEEN ANNE'S, THEY STAY FLAT FOR. LIKE, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW, THEY'RE AT 75 POINT. OF COURSE, IT'S 75 MILLION, AS OPPOSED TO US BEING 21. RIGHT. BUT THEY STAY FLAT. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH NUMBERS NOW. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER. WE ALL KNOW IT COULD.
WELL, IT COULD, AND IT PROBABLY WILL. BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, NOT US.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE. OKAY. OKAY. I THINK THE WEATHER HAS FINALLY GOTTEN GOOD ENOUGH THAT SHARP ROAD IS DRIED OUT. WHERE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING THE LIGHTING CONTRACTOR COME IN AND INSTALL THE LIGHTS. SO THERE SHOULD BE SOME MOVEMENT THERE WITH LIGHTING INSTALLATION ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND THE BASEBALL FIELD. NOT MUCH HAS REALLY HAPPENED THERE IN TWO MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND RAIN AND JUST BAD.
WEATHER CONDITIONS. SO IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE SHOULD SEE LIGHTS GOING UP BEHIND FOOD LINE. OTHER THAN THAT, BASEBALL SEASON STARTED
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MARCH 1ST. SO AT THREE O'CLOCK EVERY DAY, I'M ON A BASEBALL DIAMOND AT COLONEL. SO THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. WE HAVE OUR FIRST SCRIMMAGE GAME TONIGHT. I CAN ATTEST TO THE TREE ISSUE BECAUSE I SPENT ALL LAST WEEKEND, WHEN I WASN'T COACHING BASEBALL, CUTTING UP AND CLEANING UP TREES IN MY BACKYARD, AND I'M STILL NOT DONE. SO IT WAS QUITE THE STORM, AND I COMMEND. PUBLIC WORKS FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS AND GETTING THE MESS CLEANED UP.KENNY FENDER DID CALL ME THIS MORNING JUST TO TOUCH BASE. HE SENDS HIS REGARDS. HE HASN'T SPOKEN TO YOU IN A WHILE.
PLEASE TELL COMMISSIONER PORTER THAT I'M STILL HERE. IF HE NEEDS ME, CALL ME. HE'LL HEAR FROM YOU. YEAH. HE'LL PROBABLY NEED YOU. YEAH.
YEAH, I THANKED HIM FOR THE ASSISTANCE. HE SAID HE WAS SORRY THAT HE COULDN'T GET US MORE HELP, BUT I GUESS YOU GOT ONE TREE CREW FROM THE STATE TO HELP WITH THAT. HE SAID IT SEEMED LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY WAS THE BULLSEYE FOR THE SNOW THAT CLUNG TO EVERYTHING. I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF TREES DOWN HERE JUST BECAUSE, I GUESS THE WEATHER CONDITIONS MUST HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR THAT SNOW AND ICE TO JUST CLING TO THE BRANCHES AND THE WIRES.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH, SO WE'LL JUST STAY AFTER THAT. THE ONLY THING I CAN POINT OUT IS AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET TO THE ROADS AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOLS, MAYBE TRY TO GET TO CLEANING THOSE LIMBS UP BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NEW DRIVERS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THOSE ROADS. AND WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS KIND OF BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, AND I DON'T KNOW. THAT IT WILL HAVE, IT WILL REALLY CHANGE THE CONDITION, BUT WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS A LOT OF OUR ROADS, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AMERICAN CORNER ROAD IS CONSTANTLY THE SHOULDERS. WHEN YOU GET OFF THE EDGE OF THE BLACKTOP, YOU GET THESE HUGE DROP-OFFS.
BECAUSE OF VEHICLES, I GUESS, CANNOT STAY ON THE ROAD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS, BUT IF YOU GET OFF THE EDGE OF AMERICAN CORNER ROAD, CORNER ROAD. I MEAN, ROBIN, YOU'VE MULTIPLE TIMES FILLING THOSE THOSE VOIDS IN IT. I GUESS I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT WAS BROUGHT, YOU KNOW.
SOMEONE MENTIONED TO ME THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT PUTTING WHITE LINES ON THE EDGES OF THE ROADS.
IT'S A MINIMAL COST, BUT AGAIN, I MEAN, IT'S DISTRACTED DRIVING. IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WHITE LINES. I DON'T KNOW THAT MY SON LIVES ON THAT CORNER ROAD, SO I SEE THE TRAFFIC OUT THERE, BUT I SEE A LOT OF.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE AWARE THERE ARE TWO FARMS OUT THERE THAT SELL LOTS OF HAY AND STRAW. THE TRAILER IS UP AND DOWN THE ROAD. SO I THINK IT'S THE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE STAYS ON THE ROAD, BUT THE TRAILER GETS OFF THE ROAD. THEY'RE GOING TO PICK UP STRAW AND HAY AND I'LL FEED THEM. AND THE SCHOOL BUSES. THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOL BUSES THAT GO, YOU KNOW, UP AND DOWN. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING. WE WANT TO LOOK AT IS MAYBE PICKING A FEW OF THE HIGHLY TRAVELED ROADS AND LOOK AT DOING SOME SCRAPING.
WHO HAS OUR SCRAPING CONTRACT RIGHT NOW, ROBIN? ARE WE DOING, I GUESS, THE TAR CHIP CONTRACTORS WHO WE'VE BEEN DOING IT THROUGH? WE DO HAVE THE TAR CHIP CONTRACT. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, AMERICAN CORNER IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WIDENING, PUTTING SHOULDERS DOWN BOTH SIDES, AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR SHOULDERS, BECAUSE IT'S A. I KNOW IT'S A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH YOU GUYS FILLING THOSE THOSE DROP OFFS IN THAT FORM THERE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HAPPENED. DOES IT HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER ROADS THAT, LIKE, NOT AS MUCH AS, NOT AS OFTEN? YEAH. YOU SEE ON THE 16 AND THEY ACTUALLY WIDENED A COUPLE OF THOSE INSIDE CURVES. YEAH.
YEAH. BUT I DON'T KNOW. IT'S CONCERNING THERE. BUT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT DOING IS LOOKING INTO ADDING SOME WHITE LINES, MAYBE LIKE ON OUR MAJORLY TRAVELED ROADS LIKE AMERICAN CORNER OR PAYNE ROAD. OR, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE IT ON CENTRAL AVENUE AND RIVER. ROAD, SOME AREAS OF IT DO, DO, YEAH. SUBSTATION WAS SHIPPED OFF. YEP, JUST WANTED
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TO MENTION LAST NIGHT WAS THE DISTRICT 36 EVENT IN ANNAPOLIS. THEY HAD A GOOD TURNOUT AND, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK OUR DELEGATION FOR THE WORK THEY DO. I KNOW IT'S A BUSY TIME AND THEY TOOK TIME TO COME OVER AND TALK WITH PEOPLE. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM CAME OVER AND THEN TOOK OFF AND WENT BACK TO HEARINGS. IT'S A LONG, LONG DAY. APPRECIATE YOUR HOSPITALITY. EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT'S ALL I HAD. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM. YES.YEP. PLEASE. MY NAME IS SABINA YEAGER. I LIVE IN RIDGELY AND ON MAPLEWOOD. I TRAVEL CENTRAL AVENUE TO HOLSINGER DAILY. AND WHAT I SEE IS WHEN I MAKE THAT TURN, WHERE THAT CHURCH IS, THERE'S THIS OLD HOUSE THAT FOR YEARS, I'VE BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR SIX YEARS, THAT HOUSE HAS, I THINK, CHANGED OWNERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. AND NOBODY COULD EVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WHAT CONCERNS ME NOW IS THE HOUSE IS NOT FINISHED, I DON'T CARE, BUT IT'S WHAT'S SURROUNDING IT.
AND UP UNTIL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A LONG, FLATBED TRAILER THAT HAD TRASH ON IT, I MEAN, LOADED.
THEY HAVE STARTED AGAIN, BUT THE WHOLE SURROUNDING OF THAT HOUSE HAS A LOT OF WOOD FROM, I BELIEVE, WHAT'S ON THE INSIDE. WHAT DOES IT DO? IT'S GOING TO ATTRACT VERMIN, WHATEVER.
DOES IT GO TO THE OTHER PEOPLE? I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT COULD. BUT I JUST THINK IT'S AN AWFUL SIGHT. THAT MAYBE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO THIS, COULD BE LOOKED AT AND MAYBE CLEARED UP. THE PEOPLE LIVE IN CAMPERS, AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
IT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THAT OUTSIDE PROPERTY.
YES, MA'AM. WE ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS BROUGHT IT UP MULTIPLE TIMES. SO, CAROLINE COUNTY RIGHT NOW DOES NOT HAVE REALLY ANY PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, CORRECT? AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR, WHAT, AT LEAST, WELL, YOU'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS.
YEAH. SO, WE ARE FINALLY GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AND GENERATE SOME TYPE OF PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
THERE IS A PERMIT ATTACHED TO THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW TO RENOVATE, I BELIEVE TO RENOVATE. THE HOUSE SO PLANNING AND CODES HAS BEEN MONITORING THAT CLOSELY AND WE HAVE BEEN ON THEM ABOUT CLEANING UP THE DEBRIS AND AND TRASH THAT THEY GENERATE FROM THAT RENOVATION PERMIT. SO JUST NOTHING HAPPENS, THOUGH. YEAH, THEY JUST KEEP IT THERE AND LIKE I SAID, I KEEP GOING BY, SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. AND I THOUGHT, MAYBE THERE WAS A STOP, WHICH, AGAIN, I DON'T CARE BECAUSE THE HOUSE DOESN'T BOTHER ME. YEAH. AND THERE'S TWO MORE PROPERTIES ON HOLSING THAT ARE CAVED IN. SO, AGAIN, WOULD THAT FALL INTO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? I THINK IN THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS. ONE IS LIVING IN CAMPERS. SO THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CREATING A PERMIT PROCESS TO. SO WE CAN AT LEAST TRACK HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE LIVING THERE AND THAT THERE ARE PROPER SANITARY CONDITIONS TO ALLOW THAT. AND WE CAN TRACK IT, WE KNOW, AS THE COUNTY. SO THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE THE OFFICE OF LAW IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
THAT'S A LITTLE FURTHER BEHIND BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO GET INTO PLANNING, COMMISSION AND BRAINSTORM. AND COME UP WITH AN OUTLINE OF WHAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS THROUGH PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE ARE
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WORKING ON. WOULD THEY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING INTO THAT GARBAGE? THAT'S, IT'S BAGGED UP, BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT GETS INTO IT? YES. I MEAN, THAT TRAILER WAS LIKE SEVERAL BAGS HIGH AND A LONG BED TRAILER. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.YES, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WE HAD ANOTHER ISSUE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY. AND IT TOOK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THE COMPLAINT FILE TO ACTUALLY GET ANY COURT ACTION.
MOVING. SO THEY ARE EXTREMELY SLOW BECAUSE THEY ARE A STATE AGENCY. SO REALLY, THE SOLUTION IS FOR US TO ADOPT A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO GO TO.
YEAH, YOU CAME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ANY IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN WE'RE WORKING ON IT. YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ONCE WE FINALLY SETTLE ON WHAT WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT.
AND AS YOU SAW TODAY, THIS WAS THE SECOND STEP, SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO WE HAVE AN INTRODUCTION, THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A VOTE TO AMEND OR ENACT. SO I BELIEVE THE WHOLE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS, WHAT, TWO MONTHS, ROUGHLY, GIVE OR TAKE, FROM THE DATE AT WHICH WE GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE MINIMAL BANDWIDTH HERE.
YOU KNOW, AS A SMALL COUNTY, WE TRY TO RUN THE TIGHTEST BUDGETS THAT WE CAN, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY MEANS WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO ATTACK THESE NEW ISSUES THAT COME UP. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE DELAY HAS BEEN.
YOU KNOW, STAFF IS WORKING THROUGH ALL THE DAY-TO-DAY BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO BY STATE LAW.
AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY, BEING ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE THE TIME TO GENERATE THESE REGULATIONS, WHICH, FRANKLY, ARE VERY COMPLICATED, AND WE'VE GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO IMPEDE ANYONE'S PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS EITHER. SO WE'VE GOT TO RUN THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING NEIGHBORS AND ALSO PROTECTING THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RIGHTS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A DELICATE BALANCE, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN. WE CAN SEND CODE ENFORCEMENT BY THE PROPERTY JUST TO DO ANOTHER LOOK AT IT. I'M SURE THEY'RE KEEPING PRETTY CLOSE EYES ON IT. BETWEEN THAT AND THE DOG RUNNING LOOSE, THERE'S A DOG HOUSE, BUT THE DOG IS IN THE STREET MOST OF THE TIME. REALLY? MS. YEAGER, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. I WILL TELL YOU REAL QUICK, THOUGH, THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE, AND THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS, I MEAN, I REALLY FOR MANY YEARS HAVE TRIED TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES ABANDONED HOUSES AND HOUSES THAT ARE NOT HABITABLE. AND A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE A FIRE AND, YOU KNOW, THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAYS, DON'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT, TO DO ANYTHING. WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE. IT SHOULDN'T TAKE THEM YEARS TO INVESTIGATE THINGS.
BUT THE DIFFICULT PART IS WE'RE A RURAL COUNTY AND PEOPLE SAY, WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU OUT HERE. TELLING ME THAT I CAN'T HAVE A CAR THAT I'M WORKING ON IN MY YARD. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO THAT. WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
IN NOT INFRINGING ON PEOPLE'S RIGHTS IN A RURAL COUNTY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT INFRINGING ON THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THEM AND AFFECT THEIR PROPERTY VALUES. THAT'S WHERE WE'VE TRIED TO DO IT. MAYBE SOMEDAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT, AND WE HAVE WORKED ON IT, AND WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. YES, MA'AM. IS THERE A WAY? THAT THE COUNTY, LIKE THERE'S TWO HOUSES THAT ARE CAVED IN, THAT IF YOU CONTACT THE OWNER AND THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING, THAT THE COUNTY TAKES OVER AND PROPERTY, OR YOU CHARGE THEM FOR THE CLEANUP? WELL, NORMALLY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WHAT HAPPENS IN MUNICIPALITIES IS YOU NOTIFY THE OWNER. AND EVENTUALLY, THE COUNTY WILL RAISE THE PROPERTY, WILL TEAR THE PROPERTY DOWN, AND THAT WOULD BE ASSESSED TO THEIR TAX BILL ON THE PROPERTY. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT PERSON, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE IS EVENTUALLY A PROCESS, BUT IT'S A TOUGH ONE. ONE WAS BURNED DOWN, JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THERE.
MAYBE THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF GETTING RID OF THE OTHER TWO. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. DO NOT SEE ANYONE
[01:05:07]
ELSE. I DON'T. DO WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION? WE DO. OKAY.SO WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER MARYLAND CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS 3-305B1. 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 DISCUSS PERSONNEL. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO IN CLOSED SESSION? SECOND.
SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PORTER? AYE. COMMISSIONER BREEDING? AYE. MR. BARTZ.
AYE. ALL RIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.