Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 4 Mar 2021

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session March 4, 2021

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/commissioners/board-of-carroll-county-commissioners-weekly-agenda/

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Good morning, carroll county, it's uh commissioner, ed rothstein. It is thursday march 4th and we're.

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Beginning our open session uh for this morning, as we do at all open sessions, let's rise for the.

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Pledge of allegiance and then just take a moment and pause. Think of those that are continuing to.

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Be in harm's way uh continue to praise and give strength and courage to those. uh You know that are.

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Serving uh selflessly whether they are in uh blue red, green health care workers taking care of our.

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Community neighbors and then again that's just my my opening thoughts. So let's rise for the pledge.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to.

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The republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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I'll tell you, I love that pledge. um Okay, let's start with uh priority carol, um commissioner, lance.

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Go for it wow, I'm out of the gate this morning, all right. Let's start with.

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First of all, good morning, everyone- and uh I hope everyone is as well we're gonna hear.

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A uh which I think, you'll probably expand on commissioner osteen, but we're gonna hear another.

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Press conference this afternoon at 1 30 about vaccine equity, interesting topic so we'll see.

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Where that goes, uh I listened to mayor brandon scott. This morning uh he had a live uh on-air.

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Event with wbal radio- and he had a lot of interesting things to say, but I won't go there.

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Right now, but we'll hear more about vaccine equity which which is sorely needed and we'll see what.

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Plan they have a couple positive things that are occurring in carroll, uh the be the bge emergency.

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Response and safety grant came out and it's always been my honor to attend those in person. I've been.

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Doing it for the last gosh six six years now I actually was there before. I was commissioner.

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I continue to encourage folks to put in for these grants, they're very important and they go a long.

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Way in helping a lot of a lot of our non-profits and fire departments uh get the much needed.

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Equipment that they can't afford, on a regular basis, so happy to inform everybody that we have.

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uh Six recipients this year I don't have the dollar amounts, but I know the arc of carol.

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uh Is receiving um a grant the pleasant valley community fire company, you all heard that little.

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Place, I think, a few times: uh reece fire company sykesville uh fire company westminster.

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And winfield, so I applaud the fire companies for putting in for these, and I also want to thank bge.

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And their partners, exelon, etc, for allowing uh that to occur, good stuff, always like uh money coming.

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Into carol uh this afternoon, I will be taking uh the next step with the chesapeake connect that I'm.

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Involved with, as a representative of carroll through the baltimore metropolitan council,.

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As a result of the chesapeake connect trip not happening they're doing podcasts, there's a link.

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On our website, for that and the new podcast will be me all right. All kinds of applause wait. Wait.

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I said all right: okay, that's good, uh but I have the opportunity. The golf clap.

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I have the opportunity today to uh to to speak with my good friend don fry, uh who is.

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Who is the president and ceo of the greater baltimore committee and uh don, and I will be.

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Bantering back and forth this afternoon, and that will be on our website. Probably the beginning of.

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Next week, but if you haven't tuned into that yet uh let's be clear, I turned the television.

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On last night, there's nothing on tv they're all repeats, there's nothing on football's over.

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So turn the tv off go to our website, listen to the bmc podcast and on friday's top 100.

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In the daily record, so he is a standout exactly absolutely um and the only other thing I have.

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And uh mr osteen, I know you're uh in tune with this as well uh tomorrow evening at 6 p.m.

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uh The the state will will pause to pay tribute uh to the fact that it's been one year uh that.

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We've been battling uh this this, I know it seems unbelievable uh and we're not done.

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Battling yet by the way, uh but anyway more to come on that. But uh tomorrow evening, uh at five.

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uh The governor, the first lady, the lieutenant governor, uh our senate president house speaker.

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Some clergy and uh and other folks will pause at 6 p.m. At the government house in the statehouse dome.

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And they will be lighting up the dome with amber lights.

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And they have asked all jurisdictions in the state uh to to that as well. So.

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I want to give a shout out to chris weinbrenner who's been working with our facilities. Folks.

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We're trying to get the amber lights for here, working on it uh and it's in the mail. It's in.

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The mail, so if that occurs, uh I I encourage everyone to uh to to take notice to that.

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uh But also, I would ask that, beginning at dusk tomorrow evening, which is about 605 ish,.

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uh That we, uh everyone pause for a moment of silence. uh This is, I think,.

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This is really important and I applaud the governor for taking the steps to do that.

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uh This this battle hasn't been easy. It's been a huge challenge for everybody. It continues to be.

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uh I know that none of us now have have not been touched by this by this pandemic.

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I lost a very dear friend in my uh first responder community, and uh you know it just. uh We cannot.

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Forget so uh take a moment tomorrow evening at 605.. uh We're attempting here to do our best.

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To get the uh 225 north center lit up in the way it should be, uh but, most importantly.

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Paul's at 605 just to reflect on where we are where we've been and where we're going.

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uh One last thing for priority carol: for me, we had a very interesting planning and zoning committee.

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Meeting a work session last night, the importance again of our involvement as a.

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Board of county commissioners- because I know this has come into question- uh is- is off the charts.

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Last night they're working on the solar for for the county and you you all know that we've been.

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Looking at ag remainders and what have you, I can tell you that last night was incredible.

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Conversation by the members of our planning and zoning board, uh also, our staff uh brenda.

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Den was on there, tom devilbiss was on there. uh Jay voight was on there. I'm gonna miss some.

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Folks and of course, linda who leads that charge eisenberg but really great conversation, and we.

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Really need to begin to pay attention here to what is happening with solar and what's going.

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To happen with that and I'll give you an example last evening one of the solar folks were on there.

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Because they allow public comment on there and uh his response, and I don't don't quote me.

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But uh we really want to be able to come in there and tell you where to put your solar.

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Okay, which which threw up flags uh whistles, went off. I fell off my chair, tom double biss. I think.

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Is still on the floor, um but uh the the point of the matter is: this is a really important uh topic.

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That sets the future of carol and where these things are going to be, the ugliness of them came.

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Up because it always does- uh and so it's a very interesting topic, so I want to applaud uh it's.

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A perfect example of good government in work when you've got these boards working and uh gosh. I sure.

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Am glad I was on there last night to give the the the you know the aspect of what we as the board of.

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Commissioners will anticipate uh from the work that our planning and zoning board is doing so.

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Shout out to them more work to come, it's not ready for prime time yet, but we're getting there.

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And I'll tell you just um also not to be, you know, we want to be able to tell our story and not have.

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The state come down with additional legislation, so the importance of getting our story out and.

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The other thing people are watching, people are listening, developers and builders are seeing.

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What we're going to be doing with solar? I was talking to a couple yesterday as a matter of fact,.

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And it I didn't know you had the conversation last night, but we were talking about solar, yeah.

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So yeah well, the ag community was on there. Let the president of the ag board was on there last.

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Night we heard from them uh we're getting emails from our ag community very important, uh so it it's.

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Good and ed, you raise a great point because we're in the middle of this general assembly down there.

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I don't know about you guys. I don't want annapolis telling us what to do.

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Who knows better about what happens in carroll? Absolutely, oh! I know the answer to that. We do.

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With that, thank you, commissioner, rusty. Absolutely the community of carroll county knows better for.

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What's best in carroll county, okay, commissioner weaver, you are up yeah good morning.

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Just a comment here on the uh solar, uh I know one company that already was hot and heavy.

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In carroll county they pulled out when they found out, they couldn't clear the forest to.

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Put their solar panels in uh under our present uh um proposal as it's in present time so.

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Yeah there's a lot to talk about and uh uh you know we have to do this and do it right with.

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The county- and I believe that um one thing I just want to mention uh you- have a group.

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Over my end of the woods and up in your end of the woods, uh commissioner, wants uh working to.

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Put an electronic sign at manchester valley high school, I think it's, the only high school doesn't.

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Have one in the county and they have raised the money they're paying for it, I'm going to put it up.

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For everything, and by the way, uh as far as tv, the big ten wrestling conference uh uh is on.

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All weekend, it'll cover the whole thing throughout the weekend. Yes, it is good job, weaver, good tv, all.

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Weekend um now, commissioner fraser and I had the opportunity to uh tour the uh veterans.

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Independence project here- and uh I tell you- I've been familiar with frank, valente and ed kramer for.

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The last I guess, five six years and they've worked hard to finally get a facility that they have.

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As the veterans independent project, it is beautiful what they put together and they.

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Spent a long time on it, they have an executive director now and they are working to get some.

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Part-Time people and helping them with it, they have a day room. That is uh very nice. In fact, very.

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Comfortable and well put together- and uh you know, they're, hopefully to work with our veterans.

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Advisory council and put together the gaps, fill in some of the gaps there. We don't want duplication.

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Of that uh effort anywhere, but they are trying to fill in some of those areas, whether it's some job.

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Training or some skills out there that can happen, so I was really impressed to see what they've done.

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um You know depends your numbers, but there's between 12 and 14 000 veterans in carroll, county.

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And with at least 300 disabled veterans in carroll county, maybe more but it's hard to.

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Count people come and go, but that is definitely uh a good project and they work hard to get to.

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This point- and I I do give frank and it a lot of credit they've hung with us for years uh and.

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Never quit never gave up on the mission so um give those guys credit. The other thing is vaccines. I do.

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Out in the community talking to more more and more people that are getting vaccinated.

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uh At least coming up it's starting to roll along a little better. I know we don't have enough and we.

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Can't go fast enough, but it is starting to get a little bit of momentum behind it. So um I hope.

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That can continue. I hope the governor can help us and everyone else along the line. Thank you.

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Thank you very much, commissioner weaver, commissioner fisher well. Thank you um I'll.

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Say that, as commissioner weaver did mention about the veterans independent project, we were there.

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The difficult thing about that for me was finding the building in my district.

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I drove around it once or twice, but I did find it and I won't go in mr weaver. Did you know talk.

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About it, it's a tremendous thing here in carroll county and he did check out the day room. I think.

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He sat in all the chairs and leaned back and put his feet up, and so he he checked it out thoroughly.

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So my guess is: it was a good day room. So I move on to expiration comments. I have some pictures here.

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um Of experts I went in there uh last last friday. It is amazing how much work is done.

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They've got walls up and really you know we went in there before the walls were up. We looked around.

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It looks bigger now because now it's divided up and you see all these little workspaces and.

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Stuff that they're going to do down there it's moving forward. Everything looks great, I believe.

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They're going to be opening spring the summer area to have it open for the public to come in.

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They've had a delay or two because of weather and steel. I have to mention that.

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But they're moving forward very, very well everybody's, very enthusiastic about it.

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And when this is all said and done, this will be the only place like this in the state of maryland.

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It really will the other uh library systems from around the state have already asked to.

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Come in and see what you know when it's finished to see how it's going to be working at all, so.

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This is a big big plus and it's right down in downtown westminster. That's a great job.

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I also want to say that we had a meeting of the opioid senior policy meeting.

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Yesterday um so they do a lot of good work, but one of the things that that stood out for me.

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Was that the the problem with the opioids actually has gotten a little bit worse over the coronavirus.

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Time, and one of the reasons pointed out, is that the stimulus checks that have come out, it's.

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Extra money in people's hands that they weren't expecting and then they go back to the old habits.

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Oh well, what can I do with this money? I have it to use something with it. Perhaps maybe they wouldn't.

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Have had you know they didn't have the money they wouldn't have that temptation so that that's a I.

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Guess a bad thing for the stimulus checks, but you know the the opioid policy group is working.

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uh The sheriff's department's doing everything they can to keep everything in check and.

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We heard from sheriff dewees they're still doing all the stuff that they're supposed to be doing.

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And more but there's extra money coming in the community into the hands and it's just it's just a.

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Big temptation- and it really is, but you know like I said things are moving forward and and I applaud.

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That group for everything to join, I applaud the sheriff and everyone else involved with trying.

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To keep this you know uh in in under control. um I just want to say about the coronavirus numbers.

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Are heading in the right direction, but they're heading in the right direction: it's not over.

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It's not over where the mass social distance hand sanitate, you know, wash your hands. Do all the.

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Stuff that we're supposed to do, but the numbers are trending down, I'm very, very hopeful. I hope.

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And I'd like to thank everyone else is as well and that's about it. Thank you and I appreciate.

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It and uh I think, they're hitting the right directions, because we are doing the right things.

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um It's interesting about the opioids, because thinking through secondary tertiary effects of.

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That stimulus money is wow all right. That's yeah, uh commissioner boucher.

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Morning, commissioners, commissioner, fraser thanks for those photos that you have there.

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Now we have the shares bar, but thanks for the photos you put up of the library.

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It's really important for the public to see where all the resources going and uh you bring the.

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Photos back up, mr swam. I did a tour of the sheriff department training facility this week. There we go.

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Wonderful operation out there, the sheriff had told us that he needed some expansion.

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I'd been out there before but went out a second time to see how well he's expanded.

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A lot of enthusiastic young men and women there I think, one class. They said it was 50.

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Female at one time, so it's good to see more females, a lot of law enforcement, their dedication.

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uh It's a tremendous operation to have out there and I think it's important for.

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The public to know what's going on and that our public safety is in good hands for a fair share.

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I also like to mention that two weeks ago was the fourth anniversary of losing my daughter.

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To the opioid epidemic, so I'm very grateful for commissioner frazier being on top of this.

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And making people aware that this is going on, it hasn't gone away and I've had a business.

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Person in the county contact me about what they can do, where they can make donations, and I said.

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The best thing you can do is contact their citizen services. Department, celine, stack or director is on.

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Top of it she's close to the public, she knows what resources are needed out there and what.

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Non-Profits could use some donations so if you are an individual who's in a financial position or a.

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Business and want to make some donations reduce your taxable income. Please contact our citizen.

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Services, department and and make some donations these organizations they can really use your help.

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Like commissioner fraser said, the numbers have gone up and for a whole variety of reasons, but.

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It's their responsibility and I think it shows how compassionate and caring we are as a community.

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For those who are in the addiction and the mental illness that they need help, so please remember.

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Those individuals also like to give mention to new employees of the county. Welcome aboard I'll.

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Run down a list of some people that the county has hired caitlin harvey, comprehensive planner.

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Deanne coakley office associate sarah pro neckiac office associate amy, feel traffic engineer. We also.

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Have a lot of contact contractual employees that have come on board as park assistants at piney run.

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Which I very much love- that's karine, white, reed, shoemaker eric pools, david watson, jr, evan, simpson,.

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Seller oakley sarah mcgee and edward devin. If I mess up anyone's name my apology but welcome.

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Aboard it's wonderful, have new employees going to be imported team, so thank you very.

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Much oh before I want to. I want to mention the little ducky in front of commissioner williams.

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I I had that put up there once again there you go. Thank you, commissioner. There you go.

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We're advertising for union bridge they're doing their duck derby again this you'll be may 22nd.

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Thank you, commissioner. What's really important, I think about this duck derby.

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Is last year was postponing and they were set it up to do a donation of some of the proceeds.

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To suicide prevention in honor of perry, jones iii, perry jones, junior son had suffered and.

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Had committed suicide last year, so this is a very important issue. I lost his stepson.

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I know his pain haven't, lost his steps onto it and haven't lost a daughter to addiction.

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So please support these organizations, we're trying to raise money for suicide awareness and.

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Help those people are suffering from mental health issues. Thank you, commissioner. Lance.

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Okay, a few things first, um I do want to give a shout out to a very close friend of mine.

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Her name is karen gibson she's, a retired, lieutenant general.

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And she is the only one. I know that can be promoted from general to sergeant and she was.

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Just announced to be the sergeant of arms in the u.s senate, so that's pretty exciting and uh what's.

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Really cool about her: she is a cancer survivor and a poster child of resiliency and leadership. So.

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Shout out to her um dealing with the vaccines, we did get a handful of more vaccines this week.

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A few hundred johnson johnson vaccines, which is the single dose and a couple hundred more.

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Of moderna into our health department, we are still- and I don't want to say, woefully short.

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We are challenged with the numbers that we are getting.

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To administer to the most vulnerable, we are continuing to stay in 1b, which is 75 and over. I.

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Reach out to our administration, our state administration.

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To share my very candid thoughts on how we can get more, they are opening regional centers, which.

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Are good for the state as a community, but not necessarily for us here in carroll, county and.

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Just like commissioner wan said, who knows carroll county better than carroll countians, so we'll.

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Continue to drive towards getting more vaccines in the county, we will be having a town hall webinar.

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On tuesday, the 9th at 5 p.m, where I will be joined by our health department.

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Mr ed singer to answer any questions and again share our candid thoughts on.

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Moving forward where we are today and moving forward into the near future, I do applaud.

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The governor in recognizing the importance of friday, as we have gone through a year.

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um You know lighting up a building is a good thing, but I'm not as enthused about you know the lights.

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As I am about the efforts in um uh working hard to minimize the impact of this pandemic, so.

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You know continuing as leaders do lead by example, where the mask, like commissioner fraser said, and.

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Social distance you're in public buildings, you will be wearing a mask. We are starting to.

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Get more folks in public buildings, by law and by doing what's right, which is called integrity. We.

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Will be wearing masks and keeping ourselves uh as best we can in safe distance, as we are here.

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On the dyess again it's hard to see we have pexi glass between each of us and.

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Then another piece of plexiglas between it, so it's like two pieces of plexiglass between.

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Each commissioner and uh feeling comfortable that we're we're we're being as safe as we can.

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Let's see yeah so the the vaccine equity, the governor is going to be talking. He is opening.

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A couple more regional, centers, highlighting one in the west in hagerstown, but that's not.

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Scheduled to open until march 31st, so I'm still very carroll and seeing how we can continue.

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To highlight those that are uh most vulnerable and getting sick here in carroll, county working.

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With the health department, I really applaud everything that they are doing. They're they're.

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Amazing in their selfless efforts, um one of you mentioned about uh oh manchester valley, sign.

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There are some things that you know the school or government can and will can and will pay for.

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There's other things that they cannot or would not pay for, and some of it's the playgrounds and.

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In eldersburg there is a freedom elementary school, a playground that is in uh really rough shape.

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And uh the pta and others and volunteers have started a gofundme page to raise the appropriate.

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Money to uh build that playground, I really applaud the initiative of the neighbors and.

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Neighborhood and community rallying around in elementary school to raise the money necessary.

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Because that's how it's going to get done! It's going to get done through folks, helping.

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Each other and putting a few dollars in, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for that.

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Find grants when they're available uh and continue to share in the good work that they're doing so.

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Just keep that up. um Okay, I think we are done uh with priority carol, it's a relatively long one, but.

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There's a lot of activity happening and a lot of activity happening in our in our great community.

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This conference will now be recorded. I'd like to hand it over to. I think mr daggett should be on.

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For recognition, okay and jeff, why don't you take it from here.

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Thank you, commissioner, and good morning very happy to be joined this morning by.

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Two of our staff and I'd like to ask them to come into the meeting. Now we have matt decker.

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Matt is the sports, complex manager, and he also works closely with the charles carroll rec council.

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The reason they're both here this morning is they recently received certification from national.

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Recreation and parks association: they have become certified recreation and parks, professionals.

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In order to get that certification, you need to take an exam. That's about 150 questions. A couple.

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Hours long talking about general administration, programming and operations management, it is not.

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An easy test- and it's quite an accomplishment to have passed that and we are certainly very proud.

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Of them not only for the job they do for us all year long, but for taking the initiative to take.

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This test and pass it so we've congratulated them, and we wanted to highlight that with you.

G

And with that I'll turn it over to the board, if you all have anything you'd like that jeff thank.

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You very much and uh a very uh deep and sincere congratulations, becky and matt for the work.

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That you do and the representation you have in carroll county. uh My fellow commissioners like to.

D

Share just want to thank you for for the work you do in carroll, county.

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And especially going for you know getting the the advanced accreditation.

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Very important keep moving forward. I appreciate- and you know the kids in all and carol. They really.

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Do appreciate everything that the rec department does so. Thank you very much. I just want to say.

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You know you, you two represent us on the front lines. All the time and uh education is valuable.

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But thank you for what you do. um What you know, uh everything you do is fantastic out there. I hear.

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About it from the rec councils and the people you deal with so you're doing great keep it up.

A

Okay, I want to add that thank you. The wrecking parks is so vitally important to her children.

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And their development and sports activities, so I appreciate everything you do.

E

I wonder if you guys are kayakers as well, because we're open up there, you go.

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I love to see that I'm also curious of director daggets. If we're going to have some form of a.

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Opening ceremony for the double pipe creek kayak ramp. If these two would want to be out there and.

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Launch with this, that would be a wonderful thing, a little bit of a spree decor for us.

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And encourage people to get out there and enjoy the outdoors, especially after this long pandemic.

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It's been a bit depressing, so what you guys do in your department is extremely critical to our.

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Community and I appreciate the effort you put into advancing yourself and becoming more of an.

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Asset to the county, so thank you very much and hopefully I'll see you in kayaks this spring.

A

Commission wins, uh so I echo all the positive comments from my colleagues matt. I hear about.

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You a lot up in my area, uh the charles carroll rec council and the north and the and the.

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And the sports complex you're doing you do an amazing job up here in this in the northern.

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Part of the county, and we we truly appreciate that and uh becky as as commissioner weaver says,.

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uh Your your efforts have also not uh fallen on, uh have not been silent. We we hear.

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uh All the time, uh the amount of uh things and positive things that you bring to a rec council so.

B

uh Thank you very much for all the work that you do. We certainly do appreciate it. Matt. I'm.

B

A little setback because you don't have anything in your background. It's just you today, there's no.

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Trees or anything back there, but whatever you went in fine, uh you could have put up like the.

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Sports complex, you know with the with the anyway um anyway. uh Thank you all very much for all you.

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That you, that you do- and I know listen taking those tests are not easy. So I applaud you.

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uh For for getting through them, uh job well done and uh continue the good work.

B

For for us here in the county, thank you very much, um jeff any final words on it.

G

I do think we need to give matt a different background. It looks a little bit like a mug shot right now, we'll have to work on that.

G

The commissioners take some time this morning to uh to recognize these staff as.

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I said they've done a great job and we're we're very fortunate to have them in our department.

A

Absolutely absolutely congratulations again, so thank you very much um before we get into.

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The next topic, one other priority carol: it was discussed about a piney run uh the other day.

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In open session and different courses of action, it was more of a discussion on where we are today and.

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Potential where we want to be tomorrow and in the future on march 11th, there will be two town hall.

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Meetings, they'll be virtual, two being one in the early afternoon and one in the evening to cover as.

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Many folks in the community, as we can there'll, be expertise from aecom who we have contracted to do.

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The uh study, along with our subject matter, experts within uh within the county that will be on the.

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Virtual meetings um and I'm trying to think of the times is it eleven one, five to seven or.

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One one o'clock and I believe, six o'clock: okay thanks uh the first will be starting at 1 p.m.

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And then the second will be starting at 6 p.m. The details again are in the carroll county uh webpage.

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On social media we'll, I know it was in the paper and we'll continue to push it because there's.

A

A lot of interest on moving forward uh here in carroll county and the pioneer run reservoir. Okay,.

A

Let's get into the meat of this: has there been any additional state directives or updates.

A

More than what we've already talked about, no no, the highlight for me is the vaccines.

B

So yeah, I don't think so. Everything's been about vaccines lately and I think that's.

B

Again, that's what this afternoon's gonna be so, okay! um Okay, do we have mr singer on.

H

Yep as soon as I can find my button and my camera button good morning, commissioners.

H

I uh get the ability to share. Thank you just uh get this up here and.

H

All right so uh good morning, commissioners, I actually you know the the last few weeks have.

H

Been very stressful, as uh we as we've been trying to reach that uh that very difficult to reach.

H

Population and our most vulnerable citizens and not having enough vaccine. I actually feel like.

H

While we would have liked to have gotten this done faster and it's been a relatively slow prog.

H

Process we're starting to see a little bit more light at the end of the tunnel and I'm.

H

Going to talk about some of this as we progress through the slides this morning, I do appreciate.

H

The continued emphasis of the commissioners to talk about wearing her masks and keeping.

H

Our distance, um we're gonna, get to the point where some of these uh restrictions at some.

H

Point in time may be scaled back, but now is not the right time. We need to uh stay vigilant about.

H

This as we continue to get people vaccinated and get the spread down in the community.

H

First thing I just want to again, as I saw jeff on here this morning, jeff degetts, your your uh your.

H

Senior staff at the county have been wonderful, uh essentially lending us staff from citizen services.

H

Emergency management, recreation and parks and and public works staff and many others.

H

uh They're awesome at what they do. They've been assigned all kinds of duties working in.

H

Our vaccination clinics and our testing sites and they're really just a great bunch of people and.

H

You know I always try to emphasize with our staff that we want to be treating the public, as as our.

H

Customers- and we want to provide great outstanding customer service and your staff are just.

H

Doing a wonderful job supporting us and all these efforts and- and uh you know their interactions.

H

With the public are just just great, so it's uh I I can't say enough about the support.

H

Everybody's provided, as we've gotten through as we're as we're getting through this pandemic,.

H

H

um The numbers uh this week are relatively flat compared to last week uh again, as I.

H

Pointed out last week, a lot of people aren't getting confirmatory pcr tests, we're seeing.

H

Close to 200 cases per week, right now in carroll county, um our number of of.

H

The antigen tests that that we've seen this week are actually outpacing our number of confirmatory.

H

Pcr tests, I think people are just uh that now, if they, if they have symptoms and they go get tested.

H

With a uh with a rapid test, a lot of folks are not following up with a pcr test. It's confirmatory, but.

H

Kind of kind of this this graph here, I think, really helps us understand.

H

Where the spread is in our community- and uh you know, we're we're seeing.

H

Still relatively high number of cases uh close to 200 uh a week in carroll county, as as we.

H

You know think things are better, but they're they're, certainly not in a great spot at.

H

This point: we still have a substantial spread of this disease in our community.

H

And uh here's the 14-day rolling average- and this is the just the confirmed cases.

H

And I would note on this chart here where we talk about the uh the coveted cases by age group. The.

H

Rates amongst the 18 to 29 year old age range seem to be uh pretty high uh in comparison. They they're.

H

A lot fewer people in this 18 to 29 year old age group, but uh but the uh they almost uh are as high.

H

As the uh 45 to 64 year old age group, which is a much larger demographic here in carroll, county.

H

So we're seeing a lot of a lot of transmission and spread amongst that that younger population.

H

uh Good news on the hospital front: this is our hospitalizations graph that we normally share.

H

I think the hospital's feeling, much better generally we've been seeing a.

H

Number of cases that the hospitals treating somewhere in the neighborhood of about.

H

About 10 total, you know we were really uh struggling just a couple of months ago, where.

H

The number of people in the icu were over 10 on a regular basis and, and today we're looking at.

H

Just the number of cases that they're treating in the hospital are are around that 10 mark.

H

They have had a few more pui's today, people under investigation than they've had over.

H

Recent weeks, but uh you know the hospital numbers are trending in a very good direction.

H

And here's our hospital hospitalizations and deaths by age group.

H

And our um our confirmed deaths, we we had another three deaths last week. As far as I know this week,.

H

You know I always talk about how the deaths lag, the case numbers and the.

H

Case numbers have finally started to come down. Our hospitalizations have started to come down.

H

And I think we're getting to a point where we may see this death number start to trail off.

H

uh Next week as well, I don't think that I've seen any confirmed deaths this week uh in the.

H

Data that's been out there, so let's hope that we get back down to what we were seeing in the.

H

Over the summertime, where we were where we weren't having this number of deaths,.

H

That we've been seeing over the past several months in in our community.

H

Our ag center testing- um we talked briefly about this. Well, we talked about this.

H

Extensively last week, and and where we are with things and uh our testing demands still down.

H

uh We we did make a a little bit different adjustment than what I what I had told you that we.

H

Were thinking about doing last week, I was telling you that we were thinking about going to two days.

H

A week, but we want to make sure that uh we're able to provide timely testing to people, so my staff.

H

Came back to me and they said well, why don't we just reduce the number of hours that we're testing.

H

And keep the three days a week on sunday, tuesday and thursday, so we've cut the hours back at the.

H

Testing site uh that we can keep up with the demand and we could certainly ramp back up again.

H

If we had uh had a higher demand for testing, but the uh right now we're going to maintain uh three.

H

Days of testing on sunday, tuesday and thursday, and we're going to run the testing site from 10 to 12.

H

uh That's that's cutting it back by essentially two hours from what we were doing before.

H

Okay, now the thing that everybody wants to talk about is vaccinations, and you know today today.

H

And yesterday were the first days that I I felt like we're, starting to see a little bit of light.

H

At the end of the tunnel, with what we're doing with our vaccination efforts- and I mean we've- got.

H

A long way to go to get uh the percentage of the population vaccinated that we want, so that we can.

H

uh We can really cut down on the community spread, but uh the I do want to just mention this. The.

H

State's uh mass vaccination sites, the one thing that concerns me, the most and they've talked about.

H

Tightening up on this is, is we've been focusing so much on trying to reach our most vulnerable.

H

Individuals and and certain priority groups that are in high-risk professions and things like that.

H

But the state has told us that essentially, if they're at their mass vaccination sites,.

H

But they're doing an honor system and it concerns me that you know we've got people who.

H

Aren't even in these priority groups that are that are claiming that they're in 1c or or 1b.

H

And essentially they're taking their word for it now they have said that they're going to try to.

H

Find a way that they could start requiring some documentation, but uh it's it's just concerning.

H

When we we've had such a difficult time, reaching our 75 plus population and really even trying to.

H

Get out of 1b that uh that we're not we don't have a little bit more tighter controls on that.

H

um Commissioner um rostein had mentioned that we've been in 1b, um but I actually wanted to tell.

H

You today that we're getting ready to gradually progress somewhat into 1c. It's not going to be.

H

Everybody in one seat can get vaccinated today, type of thing, but we are gradually.

H

Opening things up to the people who are over 65 and and some we're going to start looking.

H

At some other uh categories that are in one c and we're going to start opening it up to those people.

H

And we're going to work through that, just like we did in 1d. So um as we get into 1c, you know.

H

When it's your turn to get vaccinated, you're ready, we want to get you. We want to get you vaccinated.

H

um One of the things we're going to be doing with 1c is uh it gets into manufacturing and and.

H

Lab services and agricultural production and things of that nature want to be working with.

H

Our economic development uh department and potentially well specifically reaching out.

H

To some of our manufacturers in the county and looking to potentially even take uh clinics.

H

To their facilities, there are a couple that I specifically have in mind right now, but I want.

H

To talk to the folks over in economic development and develop a plan so that, as we get into that.

H

Part of 1c uh we we could potentially make it easy for for people to get vaccinated, maybe even on.

H

Site where they work, if we have a large enough population to vaccinate there, um I wanted to.

H

Mention that the uh the the uh national guard's doing some uh restructuring of their support.

H

And I I have to give the air force a hard time, because they're bailing out and going to timonium.

H

But we're being upgraded and getting army soldiers, so you know the air force can only stay in one.

H

Place for a month or two at a time the army goes in and occupies and sticks around. So I look at.

H

It as we're getting upgraded and we'll be getting army soldiers to support our vaccination efforts.

H

Okay, so where are we in the week of february uh 28th we're we're continuing 1b but, as I mentioned.

H

We're gradually getting into uh some of the 1c there's new enhancements in the registration.

H

System did an experiment this week with a higher education and the continuity of government. Folks.

H

By sending out single links- and that seems to be working uh fairly well, there were some glitches.

H

In the system, but we identified them and got the state to help fix some of those um we're reaching.

H

Out to our senior housing and homebound patients and I'll talk about that on one well, I might as.

H

Well, talk about that here, we're partnering with lifebridge. um You know we're focusing very much.

H

On wanting to try to get as much of the population vaccinated that are most vulnerable as quickly as.

H

Possible um so we're trying to put hundreds of people through mass vaccination sites, but there.

H

Are homebound patients who are very vulnerable can't get out to uh uh to a mass vaccination site.

H

And that type of thing, so we've uh partnered with lifebridge and we've got a team of nurses from.

H

Lifebridge that are working with us essentially pick up some vaccine from us. We've identified.

H

People through citizen services, social services and the health department's adult evaluation.

H

Program here here to find people who are truly homebound and send this team of nurses out. They.

H

Pick up vaccine from us at the health department go out and vaccinate some people stop by one of.

H

Our clinics pick up some more vaccine and and go vaccinate some more homebound. We just started.

H

Doing this yesterday, there there are about 40 or 50 people that have been identified so far.

H

That that we're reaching out to um we're prioritizing those people that have come through.

H

Either social services, citizen services or through the health department's uh evaluation program.

H

For for being truly homebound, so if somebody feels that they know somebody who's homebound,.

H

They should have somebody reach out to that. Those agencies and those agencies can send those names.

H

Forward to the health department to try to get those people prioritized.

H

um Next week, we're reaching out to uh we're going to be doing a a low-income senior housing.

H

Vaccination clinic that we're doing in conjunction with uh with lifebridge on site and we're also.

H

Looking at coordinating um some transportation and registration of people who are living in.

H

In the uh low-income housing for for seniors that don't have the technology and don't have.

H

Transportation to get them to some of our our mass vaccination clinics next week, we're.

H

Also doing a higher education and continuity of government uh clinic that will reach most of the.

H

Carroll community college, mcdaniel college and some of the critical government infrastructure.

H

Just want to make sure I don't give too many slides forward. This is our.

H

Vaccine distribution chart that talks about how many doses we've been allocated each week and.

H

uh The commissioner referred to us getting a few extra doses. This week we got an extra 500 doses.

H

And you know the governor's really been pushing us to get things out as quickly as possible. So.

H

In some cases, you'll see where the blue line's a little higher than the green line, and that's.

H

Because we've we've essentially um this week, I got the extra 500 doses that we.

H

Were um allocated, we got those on tuesday. I uh actually put opened up an extra 200 slots in a.

H

Clinic on tuesday, and and we we put those out the same day, we essentially got them and we opened up.

H

A clinic for the johnson and johnson vaccine, where um we opened this to everybody, 65 and above which.

H

Will be held on on on friday, so we're starting to get into that one see somewhat our um as we.

H

Get into the next slide, we'll talk about some of these numbers and where we see things going.

H

So this week we had, uh I think, essentially 900 people that we vaccinated on monday and tuesday.

H

We're over 75 and uh we're still reaching out to people by phone and those that are that are hard.

H

To get in touch with to to make sure that we can get them registered using our staff staff.

H

From citizen services, a lot of people making phone calls and getting people signed up, as I mentioned,.

H

The friday clinic will be open to 65 plus and, as we start, having fewer people who are over 75.

H

Who need to be reached? We're going to start opening up those clinics to people who are.

H

Over 65, at least portions of those clinics, we actually have a clinic in eldersburg today.

H

To give second shots to the folks that got them the first time that are over 75 and.

H

We're going back to eldersburg next week to give first doses again and we're we're filling that.

H

Clinic right now with people who are over 75. But if we, uh if we start finding it difficult to fill.

H

We'll start opening it up to people who are over 65. in the week of uh march, the 21st we're going.

H

To uh we're going back out and do first doses again in uh in mount area in north carolina, so.

H

We're we're progressing along and if you look at this chart over here, where we talk about the the.

H

Number of estimated people vaccinated in the 75 plus age group we've got about 4 000 people.

H

Left we've we've had 7 300 that are vaccinated in carroll, county and uh roughly 4 400 of those.

H

Have been done by the health department's clinics and the other 3 000 could be folks who are living.

H

In assisted living's or nursing home, or have gotten their shots elsewhere, so not everybody's.

H

Going to want to get vaccinated- and I see that we're- I think- we're within the next week or two.

H

We're going to have most of the people who are over 75 that one wanted a vaccine haven't been.

H

Offered an opportunity to get vaccinated and we want to continue to encourage people who are over.

H

75 that if they've they've thought about it change their mind whatever to please sign up with us and.

H

And and get vaccinated if people know somebody who's over 75, that's they're having difficulty.

H

uh Getting an appointment have them call us, because right now, they're our highest.

H

Priority and they're the people that we need to get into our clinics and get them vaccinated.

H

Our school system, I talked to the superintendent this morning. uh He said that we opened up a clinic.

H

We've got a clinic coming up in the next week or two: that's that's going to vaccinate another.

H

450 teachers- and he said this is the first time they didn't have the clinic fill up within minutes.

H

So they're going to do a survey for me and kind of figure out how many people we have that.

H

Still need to be vaccinated, we uh we don't have a good way of tracking people that have gotten.

H

Vaccinated to the mass vaccination sites or through a pharmacy or something else, so we.

H

Just kind of I need him to figure out for me how many people we think we have left.

H

That are in that group and and we're gonna we're gonna get them. uh Try, try to get them vaccinated.

H

And essentially, hopefully be done with that part soon. um Continuity of government and the higher.

H

Education we've got a clinic for that coming up next friday. I think we'll be able to reach.

H

Most of that group in the one clinic we've got 550 slots scheduled there for people to be vaccinated.

H

And and then we can start moving more seriously in the phase 1c as we get these groups done.

H

The um I will say when I reached out to higher ed and whatnot have found that about 20 to 25 percent.

H

Of the people had already been vaccinated, uh whether they went to mass clinics or or they went.

H

Somewhere else, so, um while while we had certain numbers that we were expecting to have to reach.

H

Not all of them are needing to be vaccinated through our clinics and and I'm glad you know.

H

It's good to uh have less people to vaccinate than what we anticipated it'll help us get into.

H

Those other phases more quickly. I do want to talk about something. That's very important. That's just.

H

Starting the day, we had some discussion about this, but the quarantine requirements for people.

H

Who have been fully vaccinated um and this all may change at some point in time, but as of today.

H

The new requirement is, is that, if somebody's been exposed to uh somebody with covet normally we're.

H

Requiring the people to quarantine for for a minimum of 10 days, if the person's.

H

Been fully vaccinated now, which and it's it's got to be at least two weeks after.

H

They received their their final dose so with the pfizer or moderna. It would be after this.

H

Two weeks after their second dose or with the j and j vaccine, it would be two days after.

H

I mean two weeks after their uh initial dose. Those people would not be required to quarantine. Now.

H

It's it's from uh two weeks after their their final dose up until three months. After that final.

H

Dose so it gives you about a a really a two and a half month window, and I I see this as being really.

H

Most helpful to us in our schools, as as many of the school staff have recently been vaccinated and.

H

And um you know it may help the the superintendent with staffing there, because uh those people that.

H

Have been that recently, vaccinated they've got that essentially three-month grace period just.

H

Like people who have uh actually had covet, it's essentially the same type of thing where they.

H

Won't have to be quarantined if they've been exposed. Now they do have to monitor themselves.

H

For symptoms, if they were to become sick, they would have to stay isolated from people until.

H

They could have coveted ruled out, but it does help with uh not having the quarantined people who have.

H

Who have been vaccinated for that period of time? I don't know what they're going to do in the future.

H

I don't know whether there's going to be a booster shot. There's there's a lot being done to study.

H

uh The long-term effectiveness of the vaccine, whether or not we we change how long uh people.

H

Could be exempt from quarantine or or whether or not boosters are eventually going to be required.

H

We're going to have to see where all that goes, but right now as of today, if, if I got my my.

H

Second shot two weeks ago, I'm good not to have to be quarantined if I'm exposed from that from from.

H

The date of that shot until three months out, so it's all in our um it's all in our contact tracing.

H

System that system's actually going to interface with something called emunet, which has the records.

H

Of all these immunizations in there, and it's one thing that you know a lot of these data systems.

H

Haven't done what we wanted them to do, but this is a great opportunity, because uh the the actual.

H

Vaccination database system, when we do contact tracing, we talk to somebody. We can know whether.

H

They they've been vaccinated or not and whether they can be exempt from quarantine. So all that.

H

Documentation is all together in one place so that it makes it easy for our contact, tracers and the.

H

People in the public who have been vaccinated to know whether they need to be quarantined or not.

H

um Talk about the homebound with the lifebridge team, I really love the fact that we're working.

H

With lifebridge, because that lets us focus on our mass vaccination clinics and uh the one.

H

Thing I want to mention about our mass clinics. Is we've got the capacity to do more for sure.

H

um I'm looking forward to next friday, with the higher ed and the continuity of government, we're.

H

uh We're going to try to put 550 people through in a two and a half hour period, which I think we can.

H

Easily do that'll, but uh that's that's a fairly high capacity, and you know at that rate you could.

H

Be looking at easily doing uh over a thousand doses at any of our clinics on a given day.

H

um The the last piece that I want to talk about is the travel order is still in effect and and.

H

That is a legal order and it doesn't have the the your vaccination status doesn't have any bearing.

H

On this, and so until the state changes the uh the travel order, uh people who, even if you've been.

H

Vaccinated still have to follow the the quarantine or testing requirements that are in the uh in the.

H

State order regarding travel so that that doesn't get impacted like the quarantine does. I think the.

H

Kind of important things for people to know as we're progressing through some of this stuff.

H

So you all mentioned equity this morning and the fact the governor is having a press conference.

H

On equity- and this is something we've uh sue doyle who's- my behavioral health person has.

H

Been assigned as our equity officer and we've been, uh we've been trying to figure out how we.

H

Make sure that we're not leaving anybody behind in carroll county? Obviously, we don't have a very.

H

Large minority population here, but this uh this graph uh that depicts this this chart, depicts.

H

How we're doing percentage-wise with the people who are over 75 that are in specific populations.

H

So, as you can see, our our um non-hispanic white population we've reached 54.4 percent of those.

H

Those people with our vaccinations as of the date that this report was run.

H

We're doing pretty good with our african-american population. uh We've reached 50.9 percent, the.

H

The hispanic and the asian population are lagging and we're trying to figure out how we reach them.

H

uh We, I think, the reason that we've been successful is we. uh We ran a clinic over.

H

At access carroll last last week to help uh reach some of the uh some of the underserved population.

H

That they served and and that was was really good at reaching some of the uh targeted minority.

H

Populations that were that are harder to reach um continuing to work on these low-income housing.

H

Facilities that we have and partnering with your with your folks at citizen services.

H

To uh to figure out how we uh reach the people in this, these low-income housing communities.

H

For seniors, um we have a clinic scheduled next week with lifebridge that we're going to go out.

H

To one of these facilities and vaccinate people on site we're assisting people with registering that.

H

Don't have access to uh the internet and you are offering transportation assistance to people that.

H

Can't get out and get to the mass vaccination clinics is very helpful, so we're going to keep.

H

This in the uh report for the next uh well, as we continue to provide these updates on.

H

A regular basis and just kind of keep an eye on where we're going. I actually think we're.

H

We're being probably more successful than most other places in the state.

H

In reaching some of our minority populations, uh I'd be you know if anybody has ideas, I'm certainly.

H

Willing to listen, but we've been talking to all of our community partners about how to best.

H

Make sure that we can reach uh populations as we, even as we move through the phases we want.

H

To continue to make sure that we're reaching out to our minority populations and they're.

H

Keeping up with everybody else, I think I've covered everything that I intended to cover.

H

Today there was a lot of information and I did a lot of talking but uh as always visit our website.

H

uh Give us a call if, uh if you've got questions at our call center and we'll continue to get through.

H

This uh I'm I'm actually very encouraged this week about where we are with the whole vaccination.

H

Process and finally, starting to get into 1c is very important. Maggie koontz always puts it to.

H

Me it was a really bad year to be 74 years old, because the people who are in that 65 the 74.

H

Year old age group have been very upset that we haven't been able to reach them because of.

H

Our focus on the most vulnerable people who are over 75 and- and you know, as we're starting.

H

To progress, it's going to take us a lot of time, because there are a huge number of people in in.

H

One sea even more than we're in 1b, so we need some patience but we're starting to progress in the.

H

1C and be able to reach additional people who were not eligible to be vaccinated by us before.

H

So that's all I have commissioners if you've got any questions I'll be glad to try to address them.

A

Ed, um thank you, as always to you and your team for incredible selfless work that you're doing.

A

And uh continuing due diligence taking care of our community uh just the only comment I have is.

A

When you talk about equity, it's also equity on locations, it's equity in demographics, but it's.

A

Also equity in locations of carroll county and ensuring that carroll county is covered.

A

The best we can as a blanket not one district over another one community over another hoping.

A

To do that is also communicating to us uh where you're gonna be um so we can continue to share.

A

That with the community, even uh even if they're, already filled this way, we know this is where.

A

You're distributing doses and vaccinating folks. So uh again I applaud everything you're doing.

A

Lifebridge is uh having their vaccination clinic on um 26 liberty, road in old court in baltimore.

A

County and that's also close to eldersburg just down liberty, road, so there's folks that can go.

A

From you know, closer eldersburg right down there and I think they're already in one sea. So that's.

A

Another avenue for them to uh to go after uh getting vaccinated so um anything for the group.

E

Mr singer I'll tell you what you're doing an excellent job presenting information and.

E

Talking you ought to run for county commissioner, one day, we'd love to have you on the board as a.

E

Replacement, I really like the I really like the numbers being around 65 percent now, with.

E

The 75 plus, that is very encouraging. I think that's where our focus had been that they were.

E

The most vulnerable, so I applaud you all and I really appreciate the update of the mobile.

E

Vaccination because I just received a phone call yesterday from a constituent who has a 90 plus.

E

Parent living with them and they were concerned, they didn't want to get their parent out of house.

E

So this this is really good for all those people out there. Faced with the same situation,.

E

So I applaud you and your staff, I also want to mention. Hopefully we can get you and your staff.

E

Out kayaking at double pike creek park when we do the ceremony, I think that'd be a wonderful thing.

E

And then you know we can celebrate getting out of wood so to speak and have a little bit of fun.

E

And uh not have mass while we're out there on the water, kayaking and yell at one another and.

E

Play around so I applaud you and your staff for everything you've done. Thank you very much.

A

Anything else which way yeah, I'm good. I just I'm sorry, just real, quick yeah. I want to thank you for.

B

You for the assistance that you're providing for those in that age group of 75 and over because a.

B

Lot of the folks are having trouble uh navigating through you know the computers and and what have.

B

You so I've gotten a lot of calls on that and you guys have been right there to assist with those.

B

Folks, that's very important too, because not only are folks frustrated about it's taking a while.

B

To get the vaccine yeah but they're frustrated in trying to sign up, because you know am I supposed.

B

To do this, do I have you know I had a couple people say well, do I have to take a photo of my.

B

Insurance card, I mean there's a lot of stuff on there and you know so. We got a lot of.

B

Really bright, smart, sharp over 75 and they still have trouble navigating the system so.

B

You guys have been right there that's an important aspect too. We can talk about all the.

B

Rest of the stuff all day long, but your personal connection that you're making you and your staff.

B

To help those folks is also very important, so another great thing about what happens here.

B

In the county, I don't know that that kind of service is happening in other jurisdictions. I.

B

Kind of hard to tell that but appreciate that too. So, thank you. Yep absolutely.

H

I've taken the opportunity. I've got some new new friends that are in that uh and that demographic.

H

Is 75 plus the a couple of them that they just happened to get a hold of me and, and it takes.

H

About two minutes for for me to sign somebody up, I've been through the system so many times now.

H

Sometimes, if they're on the list and it's their turn, I just go ahead and sign them up and.

H

And uh so I've made some new friends that way, so it's been kind of uh kind of a needed experience.

H

And uh anyway, so so uh it's I'm glad that we were able to help people get get through this.

H

Process, yes, the the system's, not not perfect, by any means they are making uh improvements and.

H

We just want to make sure that we, uh I guess my my thought is, and the the message to the community is.

H

Is that we want to make sure that everybody you talk about equity, commissioner,.

H

Rossine, I think you're right in trying to reach the different corners of the county.

H

And is is to make sure that everybody who wants to be able to be vaccinated when it's their turn.

H

Has an opportunity, and that's what that's what it's all about to me is- is to make sure that we.

H

Don't we don't leave anybody behind whether they got challenges with technology or they they've got.

H

Challenges with transportation and we've we've tried to address all those kind of things or.

H

If they, if they can't get out- and it's taken us a while to get around to the homebound but.

H

You know we really needed to try to reach as many people as we could early on as quickly as.

H

Possible and now we're able to go back and try to pick up some of these pieces where.

H

We want to make sure that nobody falls through the cracks, so certainly have them reach out to.

H

Us here at the health department, if, uh if they need assistance and and we want to make sure that.

H

Everybody has an opportunity to to get vaccinated, so we can get through this and and move on yep.

A

Okay and uh speaking of moving on, we are going to move on now um to firing ems, ed.

A

I will see you on the ninth. um I think at 5 p.m, uh for our virtual town, hall and webbing.

A

Whatever we call it so, uh thank you again and thank you to your team.

A

Thank you see you later. Yes, sir okay, mr mccoy, let's talk about where we're at with firing ems.

I

Okay good morning, commissioners uh appreciate the opportunity to join you again today.

I

uh We're gonna start back up with our presentation, as we've been doing.

I

um I'm gonna also have taylor and ted zaleski with me to assist.

I

All right so, as we started, I'm going to breeze through the three primary questions of why we're.

I

Doing this and the actions that we're taking the ultimate goal is transfer the burden of.

I

Employment from the volunteers to the county and our other goal is to transition current.

I

Station positions to career positions based on your approved hiring schedule.

I

So, as a reminder, november, 12th uh of last year we met uh the four milestones, were mou budget hiring.

I

In the public safety training center uh last week, we discussed hiring we're still on that.

I

Hiring option as of today so today we wanted to present some hiring scenarios of looking at two.

I

Three or four stations per year, all the models we're going to be presenting for you are based on.

I

The same number of stations per year over the next five to seven fiscal years for planning purposes.

I

No final actions required today. Information is presented just for your direction. Regarding the.

I

Recommended budget just a reminder: carroll county is comprised of 14 stations with 13.

I

Stations having employees and ems units.

I

Our recommendation has always been to transition those uh employment responsibilities to mirror to.

I

Mirror the existing complement, meaning that if a station is trying to employ a minimum of one ems,.

I

Unit and a fire apparatus driver that we try to offer the same as we go through this transition.

I

So the assignment goals. When you look at the breakdown of our schedule, we have one station with.

I

24 personnel, three stations that would require 20 personnel nine stations that would require 12.

I

Personnel and we'll talk a little bit more about those three uh groups as we go through our hiring.

I

The original departmental uh goal was to start july 2021. We continue to work towards that when.

I

In our work, steps staffing, the busy stations first, which provided coverage to the highest.

I

Populated areas highest call volumes, it would give us the ability to evaluate and.

I

Test our employment processes and the needs of the different offices within the county.

I

Government to support the firing ems department and it would provide the optimal coverage.

I

So we, as we discussed last week, we understand we have a difficult budget process with a lot of.

I

Legislation needs of multiple departments within the county as we continue to move towards our goal.

I

Of possibly six stations in fy 22, we understand that the goal may need to be adjusted based on.

I

Budgetary requirements, so today what we want to focus on is how many stations do you want to hire.

I

We're focusing basically on our costs, providing a clear picture of the funding. That's needed without.

I

Any complication of any grant money anything else, but basically what we need to budget.

I

To show you those scenarios so scenario, it would be two stations per year.

I

And I apologize my it's in the way of my slide up in the corner. It tells you how.

I

Many fiscal years it would take to complete the hiring, but with two stations per year.

I

It would be staffing of 24 personnel for fy22 would be assigned to station 3 in westminster.

I

That would be two ems units, one being an ems supervisor, one evod emergency vehicle operator.

I

Driver and one supervisor per shift, then staffing of 20 personnel would be assigned to sykesville.

I

Station 12, that would be two ems units and one emergency vehicle operator driver per shift, hey.

A

Bob just um clear how long is a shift shift is 24 hour shift and it's the 24 on 72 off.

A

24 on 72 off, so this would be a 40 42 hour work week.

A

Okay, because I'm just looking at the.

A

One one understanding what shifts are and the numbers- um because I I just don't know so I.

A

Appreciate that um some of the basics does 24, are we talking about 24 people or 24 positions.

I

There would be 24 assigned to westminster station uh with six personnel assigned to work per shift.

A

Does that give flexibility um for the shifts, if uh there's folks, that are either.

A

Sick or you know long-term leave, or you know I mean I I don't know um is it is, and this.

A

Is all full-time correct? This is all full-time personnel, not full time. That is correct. Yeah, okay,.

A

Okay, I okay and I do have taylor we're going to kind of go back and forth with these scenarios.

I

Because I want, um I want to be able to discuss the financial aspect of what the new dollar.

I

Costs are going to be so taylor and ted are going to be on with me so taylor. If you want.

I

To go over this slide, he didn't answer: hey bob. Could you go back to uh commissioner rostin's.

B

The other question about the flexibility: what what what happens if someone calls out sick or or what.

B

What you know, what are we doing about that? What we can do is um we can look at uh establishing.

I

uh The daily shift staffing, but also have a minimum number to deal with leave abatement.

I

But there are going to be times where, until we get more personnel in the field.

I

uh That there may be over time, okay well, so so that is actually that that is part of my.

A

Concern and you're hitting at the overtime um right is there. Is there a course of action or a.

A

You know a model that can have a hybrid of full-time and part-time um positions.

A

Where part-time positions can fill in gaps, where we're uh not, you know using over time and also.

A

I don't know maybe less expensive, because we're not also providing benefits to part-time. I.

A

Don't know if there's a hybrid effort or is that something that should not be looked at.

I

No absolutely I I've discussed that since last year that I would like to continue.

I

Part-Time employment. uh Just for that reason to um to assist with leave abatement, because what.

I

I'm providing you is pretty much minimum numbers to mirror the complement of the stations now so.

I

If we could employ part-time as well for leave abatement.

I

And vacancies that would be perfect, uh and that is definitely my recommendation that I.

I

Will be working with hr on yeah, so I think that needs to be part of this model. If you're talking.

A

Personnel 24 personnel and that's full time what would be the supplemental part-time? You know.

A

Personnel for that matter, um correct to be able to be able to you know, look at this whole thing.

A

Or to look at this holistically, um I don't know if I'm using the right words or not, but.

A

I'm close, that's close, I mean I mean I'm looking over commissioner wentz because I mean he lives.

B

And walks it so you know the thing that I and you're you're, hitting on it a little bit uh ed is.

B

When we begin to do this, we're going to have.

B

An obvious uh the obvious issue of those that have been loyal and dedicated as part-time employees.

B

We're going to almost say: hey thanks for what you've done and there's the door.

B

So I want to make sure that that those that are currently uh employed as part-time personnel.

B

Keeping in mind also that a lot of these folks may be.

B

Employed elsewhere that are supplementing their income uh as a result of being able to get extra.

B

Dollars here in in the county have the ability to to not just be uh exited out the door there.

B

You know some sort of a phased-in approach. If you will- and I think that's where you were going.

B

Ed right, I am, and and keeping them engaged, because if we minimize them they will walk out the door.

A

um I I would think I mean that that's what I would do I'd be looking for other employment, so.

A

um I don't know if it's a phased-in approach or if it's a model, that is a hybrid where you have.

A

Full-Time and part-time together- and I think I think the latter is a better solution. But.

A

Again, I I don't know, maybe uh budgeting can uh talk about the the cost associated with this or.

A

Are we just not there yet uh taylor, so the cost that bob has on the next side.

J

They represent um this model that he has in front of you, um so the if yeah. So, if you'll see on the.

J

Bottom line there, where it says total general fund needed um year over year, that money would increase.

J

If we were going to do a part-time, if we assume that we're going to keep the model that he's.

J

Already talking about, if it's in addition to what we've already had so these numbers could change.

J

But what you see in front of you, commissioners, is a breakdown according to a hiring schedule.

J

Of two stations per year, um so in the first year it's westminster sykesville.

J

And there's a salary and benefits line, ongoing operating costs, additional county employees and.

J

That includes three employees for hr, two for management and budget, and one for accounting.

J

Then there's one time costs and those include ambulance purchases as well as outfitting of our.

J

New employees, scba masks and fire suppression gear and then the revenues that will be offset.

J

Which includes the ems billing revenue that we would receive and then pulling back on some of.

J

The money that we currently get visa through ems, 24 7 and through our payment of their evod people.

D

Hey bob, I have a question for you: we're starting off if you're doing this scenario.

D

With 44 personnel, uh first between westminster and sykestowe, instead of doing two stations.

D

For this scenario a year, why don't we do 44 personnel a year and that way it wouldn't take.

D

Seven years to fill out the entire county, have you looked at that and spread the 44 across yeah.

D

Like the other stations require less personnel, so in year, two, instead of two stations you might get.

D

Three stations done in year: three, you might get four or five stations done, but there's 44 people.

A

Where are the most needs and- and I apologize because commissioner went you- you were about.

A

To say something, I guess I'm just saying: where is the most needs within the county to make this.

A

Model work I mean, is it where the highest capacity is, which is westminster, sykesville.

A

Or is it the smaller stations that are in a challenging situation, I mean that's what.

A

This is all about is to keep the doors open and keep the equipment, and you know taking care of.

A

The community uh reliable- um and I don't know if that is westminster, sykesville uh or if it's one.

A

Of those plus others, I I don't know um so well to answer several of your questions. Let me go back.

I

Let me go back to the part-time um in all the discussions that I've had with the volunteers a.

I

Lot of the existing employees we're looking at the avenues to ensure that we don't have a mass exodus.

I

Of service providers, so what we've? What we've looked at is one as career personnel are assigned.

I

To stations, any part-time employees that are not in a position to apply with us will have other.

I

Stations further down a list to be able to offer their services, so we're hoping that will assist.

I

Those other stations, as they move we're also looking at volunteers in the county if they take.

I

A position with us can they also volunteer, and I believe we've resolved that issue, that they will.

I

Also be able to do that, we will also have the possibility in the beginning phases of the.

I

Department that employees will also be able to work part-time for the individual corporations.

I

On their days off, so we're trying to make sure that there's plenty of opportunity that we.

I

Don't lose the personnel by addressing all those issues when you look at the.

I

Placement of personnel there are stations that probably are in more need than others.

I

um But as we look at this as building a system, uh instead of patching holes, we're looking at.

I

The cost that's going to be associated with the county having to establish this system.

I

So what we're doing is we're looking at sykesville and westminster, providing 50 percent out of call.

I

Volume out of two stations out of 14., some of the largest population, the most opportunity for calls.

I

And then we continue to utilize station employees that we will continue to fund and.

I

Available part-timers to continue to support these smaller stations as we continue to grow the system.

I

But also too, to keep the gap between what the volunteers pay and what the counties pay.

I

It's also very strategic that we start with the highest response stations uh to.

I

Also generate the most ems revenue to keep that gap minimal. So those are that's the approach.

I

That we're taking and why we started uh with the busiest stations and working our way backwards.

A

Our report timers- and this is a carroll county fire department, culture question- are part-timers.

A

In the stations, more loyal to their stations or to the role as being a part-timer willing.

A

To shift from one station to another because and and the reason I'm bringing this up is.

A

Kind of where commissioner, lance you know said, which is extremely important to me, is.

A

You know the centerpiece of the community are these fire stations and the and the fire men and.

A

Women that are uh serving in those stations- and I don't want to kick them to the curb.

A

You know as we're moving towards this. You know career uh level approach and that and again I'm.

A

Not saying we shouldn't move forward, I want to move forward. I just want to make sure that.

A

You know it's we're taking care of people as well as we're taking care of the.

A

This effort- I don't know if I'm making much more sense than that. I think uh the last thing.

A

Is I imagine, you're having these conversations with the esac and others and they're engaging in.

A

These type of uh discussions as well, um I think, that's more rhetorical than anything, because I.

A

Expect it's a fact, but um that's just a concern of mine is people you know, especially as we're.

A

Going through this transition, I mean yeah, it's, um oh I'm, sorry! Well, how do part-timers.

C

Work now are they? um Is it working very well or is it an issue? uh I you know. I.

C

Don't know it would be easier to fill in full-time uh across the board or with the part-timers.

C

uh Working on it, well, I'm sure you have to understand part-timers if they're committed to.

I

Another job they could sign up to fill a shift for us and we believe that we have that vacancy filled.

I

And then their job requirement interferes and they have to cancel the shift.

I

Right now there are up. There are a lot of times in volunteer stations where they have.

I

A vacancy at a last minute cancellation from a part-timer, I'm not saying that the system won't.

I

Work but as we place personnel in firehouses, we have an obligation to keep those positions.

I

Filled at all times and us as a county having a pool of volunteers available, will definitely.

I

Assist us with the overtime abatement, but also too from the from the thought process.

I

Of part-timers and their loyalty to a station- um yes, there might be, you know, there's no.

I

Perfect scenario where everyone is going to be happy with what we're doing building a system.

I

But if a part-timer is not going to apply with us but has to vacate sykesville, there will be 10.

I

Other stations that they will have the opportunity to to provide their services for- and we are.

I

Hoping that we can push their efforts to another station that maybe run less calls and will be able.

I

To assist us for several more years or possibly become a member of the county pool of part-timers.

D

Okay, what about looking at 44 people uh per year instead of two stations per year.

I

I mean we we we can do that, I mean, but as far as that would get done weaker. That way.

I

Yeah yeah and you'll see you'll, see our option down the road we're looking at.

I

Looking at those different models of the 24, the 20 or the 12s.

I

And we're going to discuss that a little bit further down the options but, like I said, to get.

I

The trying to limit that gap, um even if we want to say 44 people, I would still focus on the two.

I

Stations in the beginning that deliver 50 percent of the county service right. I agree with that.

I

Yes, uh just one question uh taylor, I guess this goes back to you.

C

uh We're looking the bottom line, this is additional money from the general fund needed.

C

Every year out to make this happen correct, correct, commissioner! Now if we were to get safer uh grants.

C

And that would start in like it's 25 is where we'll hit the wall on that. Would we put this money.

C

In anyway, right now, so we're prepared for it or how would that work.

K

Well, let me jump in for a second.

K

We'll have to talk more about what we will go after and save for grants and and when we would.

K

Do that, but I think the easy answer to your question is yes, we have to build a plan for.

K

How we're going to pay this until we have some reason to expect that a safer brand is going.

K

To be part of the picture, when you're looking at these bottom lines, going to go back to your.

K

Earlier questions about part-timers, I just want to make sure it was clear that this does not include.

K

Funding for that part-time staffing, so if we take that route, these numbers get bigger, correct, yeah,.

B

That's the no yeah that that that's correct but yeah, which I'm not sure we can afford for them.

B

To get a whole lot bigger, which is why I think we're getting all these questions because are.

B

There things that we could or couldn't do right uh in order to get to that bottom line. That's.

B

Acceptable to us uh you, you mentioned bob that or maybe it was you, taylor, one-time funding. That's.

B

On this first scenario, what how many scenarios do you have? Maybe we should get through the scenario.

B

We're kind of we're kind of stuck on scenario, one. Why don't we get through the.

B

What do you got three, I think bob four, oh well, then, okay, why don't we get through the four first.

B

And then then, maybe we ma, maybe that'll, give us the options of the questions that are popping in.

B

Our minds here, yeah and and the scenarios are very similar in the fact that we're looking at a two.

I

Two two stations per year or we can convert it to personnel three stations per year or four. So.

I

Basically, scenario: two: it would be three stations, um but it would be factored out over.

I

How many fiscal years for planning purposes, which means just in fy 22? We would secure staffing for.

I

Westminster sykesville and mount airy and those numbers that you're seeing underneath each station.

I

Is based on per shift, so four per shift, um and so on. So what we want to do is give you the.

I

Numbers of especially the bottom line, what's your true cost? What new dollars you will need.

I

On a three station per year, hiring point so taylor it. If you want to go with this one.

J

Sure so all the assumptions are the same at just speeding up the schedule.

J

The main changes that you'll see here are to speak to commissioner ranch's question that the one-time.

J

Funding and again that's based on us purchasing the ambulances so buying them out of their current.

J

Assets and then taking ownership ourselves, as well as the outfitting of our employees, with a cba.

J

And fire gear, and so you'll see fiscal, the last fiscal year it does match with all of these.

J

So fiscal year, 28 you're all around that 11 million dollars an additional general fund needed.

I

Okay and then, if you go to scenario, three four station hiring.

I

This is the quickest method to uh to get through our initial hiring plan. uh First year.

I

Fy22 would be westminster, sykesville mount area in tawneytown. So then this would be your true dollar.

I

Cost new dollars if we were to hire four stations per year until the initial plan was.

I

I

Okay, I think pretty much the explanations. Taylor are the same on this.

I

Just the increased amount yeah. Why is this cheaper than scenario two for three yeah two.

C

Say that again, why is this one cheaper than scenario two or it isn't yeah? It goes into four.

I

Three right: yeah, it's not cheaper and then the last thing that we brought up when we were talking.

I

In budget sessions um is like a 2, 2 and 3 model, when you start looking at the three groups, I.

I

Showed you we have one group of 24 personnel for one station 3 to 20, and then it goes down to.

I

12, for the remaining nine is that for the first two fiscal years we could hire two stations per.

I

Year uh and then the remaining since the number would drop down to 36, you could hire staffing.

I

Three stations per year, the third fiscal year out, so you basically be looking at hiring 44 fy, 22 40.

I

And 23 and then 36 personnel, the three remaining you would accomplish a goal in five budget years.

I

uh And this is what that would look like uh total of employees as you.

I

Can see with that schedule what I just said: basically, the stations that would be filled.

L

That's closer to what you were talking about, yeah, which is what that's: what dennis you were.

B

You were trying to hit on more from more from a personnel perspective. Yeah yeah go ahead bob. I.

B

Want to let you finish good, no, no, not a problem, sir um taylor, if you want to just discuss this.

I

Real quickly, um yeah so again the same approach, and I think this does kind of address more of.

J

What commissioner frazier had suggested with coming with a more personnel approach? It's.

J

A little bit more smoothed out and again, you still get it done within the five fiscal years.

I

And one thing um one thing I want to remind everyone of is: when we look at the.

I

In one of the earlier slides um you, you saw that uh our ems only.

I

And our evod money, the ems 24 7 and the evod money. We we provide the volunteers approximately.

I

Five million dollars, I believe, per year. You also have to keep in mind that most.

I

Of the volunteer stations will tell you that they utilize the ems billing money.

I

And many are subsidizing their employees now with fundraising activities. So if you look at the 5.

I

Million we provide, and then I know in 2019 there was 4.3 million dollars of ems revenue generated.

I

You're, looking at almost 10 million dollars of what total cost that we estimate the volunteers.

I

Are trying to with the service that the volunteers are trying to provide.

I

So because that ems revenue stays with the volunteers to help pay for those employees, so.

I

They're expending anywhere from 10 over 11 million dollars per year to provide this service.

I

Yeah, these costs also have the projected income from billing into these numbers.

J

Yes, they do, commissioner, that's in the bottom line, their revenues, and so I think bob just mentioned.

J

Around 9 million, if you look under fiscal year 26 in the second to last row, that's that.

J

10 million, so that includes the evod money. Ems building, as well as what we currently give visa.

I

And I realize there's a lot of discussion on the ems billing and percentage splits and and.

I

Items like that, but we have to keep in mind that the ems billing uh is the other half of funding.

I

That volunteers utilize to employ their um their people, um so that that is a true picture. That 10.7.

I

11 million dollar estimate of what it's costing to deliver the service. That's currently in the field.

I

And that's not counting operation operational costs as far as.

I

Disposable supplies and station and apparatus maintenance.

B

I kind of like scenario for better, but that's kind of where I'm leaning towards.

D

Alex scenario for not just because I brought it up, it did only because you bought it.

B

I'm still stuck on the one-time funding, uh I I'm I'm gonna tell you, I don't. I've got to be talked.

B

Into the fact that we should be buying all these ambulances, I'm just not there yet. um You know.

B

Have we, when we talk about what we have to do internally, in order to support what we're doing.

B

Here you know are guys in fleet ready to work on ambulances. um Are we gonna? Are we gonna we're.

B

Gonna have to add somebody out there, probably because these ambulances are on the road. A lot.

B

Who works on them? Now they just go to private uh okay, they take them yeah because they own them.

B

So they're guys yeah, so each station just has someone. I mean you know someone that they trust.

B

To work on these things, but in a lot of cases you can't just put a diesel mechanic to work on a on a.

B

On an ambulance because from the from the engine back to the to the box, great right. But from from.

B

The back seat, all the way to the back of those ambulances, you're talking about wiring and and.

B

And all kinds of electronics, somebody that needs to be really uh able to do that and in many cases.

B

These individual stations will will send the ambulance back to either the manufacturer.

B

Or someone uh who the manufacturer has has hired subcontract wise to work on these things, because.

B

No disrespect to a diesel mechanic, but man they're, that's tough. How often does that happen, though,.

D

I mean well, I don't know, I would think that you don't send them back there all the time. Just when.

D

There's a problem and right: my guesses are built pretty well so you're not going to send them back.

D

That often you want to weigh in on that one bob, because you- and I have talked about this when I.

B

Yeah, I'm still not convinced that buying all these ambulances is the way to go. I just.

B

I gotta, I got a challenge with that, but anyway yeah one. um What what I want to add is when you.

I

Talk about there's so many moving parts with this when you look through the operating budget, um even.

I

Though we may purchase the ambulances, we would continue to use the volunteer vendors that they.

I

Use we would continue to use those vendors to work on those units. It's basically would still be in.

I

The operating budget- I know for fy, 22 and possibly 23 that money would remain with the volunteers, so.

I

Basically, if we have not, we have had talk with public works, we're not in a position for fleet.

I

To be working on any of our vehicles, so we would continue to use the private vendors for that.

I

When you look at the ems picture, um you you look at the cost and the gap.

I

Of what the volunteers are paying and what they're subsidizing out of fundraising and what we're.

I

Going to be paying employees, the 100 funding uh from the ems uh is critical to decreasing that gap.

I

When you look at purchasing the ambulances, um it is a one-time purchase, we get them in the rotation.

I

uh But it's also a clean process for the for the stations or for the county, where.

I

With a split of revenue, we're going to have to track where that revenue is generated, who should.

I

Get what percentage based on the call and make distributions, and I I went through each station's.

I

Call volumes- and you know I'm looking at this from a neutral party- um you know from post july.

I

But when you look at this, if you take station x, that's 36 percent of the ems call volume.

I

uh With a one million dollar revenue pool to be split, they would get 360 000.

I

Over five years we would give them 1.8 million dollars, yet the ambulances may last more than.

I

Five years, and even after five years, they could replace, let's say three: ambulances.

I

For nine hundred thousand dollars so we're looking at giving anywhere from.

I

Six to nine hundred thousand dollars away in revenue, but as you go farther down the list.

I

You have stations uh that their call volume is small enough that, even if they don't.

I

Replace an ambulance for ten years, they're still not going to generate enough revenue.

I

With their percentage to purchase an ambulance they're going to have to continue to fundraise.

I

From the insurance perspective, the amount of money we pay to insure vehicles because.

I

We don't own them. This makes this a clean um break for the volunteers that they don't.

I

Have to fundraise for ambulances: they don't have to maintain them. Fuel them, repair them.

I

Anything or insure them and we can put the entire fleet.

I

In the replacement schedule, and also on legit, serve insurance at a considerable savings. But.

I

Bottom line, this all provides more revenue to the county to transition that burden of employment.

I

From the volunteers to the county, so it is a necessity uh in, in my opinion,.

B

Okay, that's that's a pretty good.

B

I mean you, I've heard some things there that I hadn't heard before, so that that that makes.

B

Sense, uh maybe seeing that I don't know, I always say I want to see it on paper, but.

A

Yeah, that was very clear. I appreciate it um about what you just shared yeah and we'll.

F

Certainly can put that on paper and make it one of the briefings um here coming up, um so that.

F

That you feel you know you can make a decision on that and feel comfortable with it. um Yeah was this.

A

The last part of uh your presentation- bob was this okay um and there's your answer yeah. I think.

A

That you know a handful of us were going was to do a deeper dive in both those courses of action.

A

Three and four, um you know uh or a more in-depth uh look at them. um I think, would help us and I.

A

I you know would like to see uh um look or analysis on the part-time uh situation and how.

A

Again, I just don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water and they are. They are a staple in.

A

Our community, um you know just like our volunteers, and I want to do what's right, so um it doesn't.

A

Mean holding on to people just to hold on to them, but it means to put them in a position of service.

A

In a community that they have served in many times for a long time, so uh I.

A

I would like to see that, but um any other, I think that's a good start. I really do. uh I think.

B

Dennis I I agree with you on, I think, if we should be focusing on personnel and not really stations.

B

And you know I don't in line with what you're saying ed about the part-time people.

B

uh If you hire 44 people or whatever the number is, and you see that there's a need at union bridge.

B

One day because they don't have anybody working part time, then you can take one of those people.

B

Because they're they're county employees they're not westminster sykesville employees.

B

And then put that person at union bridge so that you can, you can assist over there so.

B

I think the emphasis has to be on that, but with that you're right, the the part-timers have been.

B

An integral part of what we have done, I mean it, we couldn't be where we are today without.

B

All of them actually, so I don't know if we've ever done a breakdown bob you may have because you're.

B

You're all over this, as you should be, of course, but uh do we do we know on these part-time people.

B

How many work for other? How many people our career in other places that just do this to.

B

Supplement their income versus those that work for our stations that are considered full-time.

I

I I I can get that breakdown for you. I don't have that number off top of my head. I know it's.

I

A considerable amount, okay, so yeah. We could definitely work on that and I also know you.

I

Know one of the things taylor and I had talked about before because we meet weekly um for a.

I

Couple months now on this is that um when you start wanting to factor in over to.

I

uh Part-Timers, where we were looking at potential overtime line item to.

I

For preparation that part-timer, that part-timer factor can be looked at within that number itself.

I

So they would would offset each other, so I can definitely work getting those numbers.

I

For you yeah, and I think that that's also an additional reason to do this- is to offset.

A

That overtime consideration so right, right, okay, so so, where are we with the safer grants? Did we.

B

Have to don't we have to put in for those by the 12th. I think that's next, uh so, okay, so we're gonna.

B

So today was just sort of the the primer for the decision about safer for next week. Is that right? I.

A

Think it's on our agenda for next week for uh okay, making a decision to okay cool apply so yeah. If we.

B

Could is that on tuesday or thursday- and I don't I don't, have it well yeah, I do have it, but it's on.

B

Tuesday, thursday team could stand for tuesday or thursday. Give me something it's on tuesday.

A

Bob and debbie are coming back to us on tuesday at 9 45, not six, but five.

A

To request approval for the safer questions, all right, all right, so yeah, so maybe.

B

Maybe we could get you don't have to get it right down to the number bob. But if we.

B

Could have a little bit better understanding of who who's? Who and the in the in the part-time.

B

World versus who's actually considered full-time that might help too, with that decision, so that'd.

B

Be great and maybe a little bit better breakdown taylor of what those uh other uh expenses are.

B

You know give us a give us a little bit more uh uh specificity when it comes to what other means.

B

Okay, excellent, okay, really appreciate your uh your time, great job, taylor. Thank you very much uh and.

A

Yes, please sorry, um just two things. um um I think it will be helpful if you, uh if we send you these.

F

Spreadsheets uh spread send them to the board, so you can look them over and you know it's hard to.

F

See them here and to really analyze them, and you can't see them, you know you can't lay them all.

F

Out next to each other, um so I think that might be helpful to you um and um in in making a decision.

F

Because I see ted's ringing in and um uh he wants to ask you something: do you want to say it ted.

K

Okay, yeah and just on the question about more detail, I know taylor already has all the details.

K

Just there was no way to put all that on these spreadsheets in a easy to look at way, but on this.

K

Idea of which option we want to pursue, you don't have to make a decision today that can't gain, but.

K

If you do have a preference, if you could say today, this is where we think we're going. We can then use.

K

That goal in our our fiscal plan right, yeah and, I think, uh no ted, I think you're absolutely right.

A

We don't need to make a decision, we can make a decision if there are throwaways, which I believe.

A

One and two are throwaways and getting more depth into three and four, but highlighting four. I think.

A

Is getting more attention because it's more people focused? I don't want to speak out of turn amongst.

A

The other commissioners, but is there comments- I don't want to say anything which number I prefer.

B

Yeah does that does that help if we get it to 50 ted? Now you, instead of one two three.

B

And four, you got three and four so well, not unless we're going to build two plans.

A

Well sometimes you know you need to have that comparison and uh you know um well, I I yeah I.

B

Gotta say I'm I like four yeah I do. I like I like the emphasis on the personnel, as opposed to I like.

D

The fact that we started off with two stations- but we finish up quicker because we're working.

D

The personnel inside instead of just stations, so maybe we are ready to give them a little direction.

B

On that ed, I don't know yeah, no, I I definitely want to be people focused and if that's what.

A

The course of action 4 is going to allow us to do and to focus on other resources like the part-time.

A

uh Resources then sure I'm I'm all for it, um I'm not ready to be out. So what's that I'm 4-4.

A

Commissioner weaver I like four but keep in mind. We have to have a ver, be very methodical. How.

C

We go through this and yeah. You know these little part time and how they fit together.

C

Is going to be very difficult for us so, uh but I do like four, I think of all of them. Okay,.

A

Okay- and I saw commissioner boucher- you share it as well. um You know in doing this just.

A

Let's move forward uh also be prepared to, you know, adjust appropriately, as uh you have been doing, and.

A

I really appreciate the uh this dialogue. I think we're moving in the right direction. Wow through a.

A

Lot of work being done so, okay, anything else. Just this just helps some staff set up the recommended.

F

Budget, so in that case we're not going to make a decision yeah, no yeah, I don't want to help staff.

B

Forget it I'm back yeah. No, I think two, three and four are all good. I think option five yeah.

D

Where's five and six five, so roberta you know when you they say when you make the sale, stop.

A

Selling that's right and uh the sale had been made. um So let's move on with four but understand: okay,.

A

Really appreciate it: okay, let's move on bob and again. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay,.

A

Let's, uh let's talk about submitting a grant for the carroll county regional airport,.

A

And I should have eric mark and debbie. Let's see, I got one, I got two. I got three.

A

Who wants to start debbie? You want to start.

M

Or I'll defer to public works they can they can handle this. Thank you. Okay. Go ahead! Mark.

M

Okay, if eric, if eric's, okay with that uh good morning, commissioners uh as a result of the.

M

Coronavirus response and relief, supplemental appropriation act crrsa. The airport has the.

M

Opportunity to apply for a grant in the amount of 23 thousand dollars to help offset any airport.

M

Operational expenses and any extra expenses relating to the corona buyers pandemic. The.

M

Faas requested the money to be secured under the grant as quickly as possible deadline is june.

M

30Th of this year, once we have been awarded the grant, we have four years to spend it.

M

However, the faa is encouraging recipients to spend the funds as expeditiously as possible. We're here.

M

Today, to request your approval to submit the crrsa, grant application and approve the acceptance of.

M

The grant in the amount of twenty three thousand dollars for the carroll county regional airport.

A

Okay, any uh discussion.

B

Why 23? Because it couldn't get 24 good question, commissioners.

N

We're we are identified in the national plan of integrated airport systems as a regional.

N

Airport, all regional airports in in that plane uh have been given the 23 thousand dollar mark. Okay,.

B

So your answer was was partially correct. Pretty close, I guess the answer is, why wouldn't we do.

A

This yeah exactly is there a reason we would not go after this grant. I don't think so.

N

I'm not aware of so I mean this. This cover any any funds that the airport spends as.

N

Operational dollars, so we can certainly spend that in place of the money that we would typically.

N

Spend for operations, so we can't think reason not to accept this grant all right, then I'll.

D

Make the motion the board of county commissioners approve the submittal of the chronovirus response.

D

And release supplemental appropriation act, grant application and improve acceptance of the grant.

D

For the carroll county, regional airport, second, I got a motion and I got a second okay any further.

A

Discussion comments all in favor, aye, aye, okay, we got 500.. Thank you, gentlemen, and miss debbie.

A

And now, let's talk about the thank you, you consolidated transportation plan priority letter.

A

Ms eisenberg, there you are good morning good morning, commissioners, so I'm here again before you.

O

Today, to review the letter that we prepared for you, I sent it up last week and put incorporated.

O

The changes that was discussed at our last meeting so we're here to review this today and see if they.

O

Get your approval that we can now begin to work with mike fowler to have the delegation also.

O

Endorse the letter and send it to secretary slater at maryland, department of transportation, so I can.

O

Just share my screen for a moment: please, I'm just going to run through just a couple things with you.

L

Okay, I think you can.

O

See that so again we were here before you two weeks ago reviewing this year's consolidated.

O

Transportation program county priority letter again just the purpose of the letter.

O

And the presentation is to review the process update the letter review. The proposed changes.

O

And talk about timing and next steps and to answer any questions you might have.

O

So again, just very quickly: this is the list of the state transportation priorities for.

O

The county that includes state highway, streetscapes, county trails and transit.

O

So in the timing and coordination, we are at your review and approval of the letter so that we can.

O

Try to get this to mdot by april, so we have four capacity enhancing projects in the letter maryland.

O

32, which has been a long-standing project, maryland 26 to the carroll county line for dualization.

O

Maryland 97 bachmann valley, road to maryland, 140 in the westminster area, maryland 26.

O

Which is from maryland 32 east to the liberty, reservoir and added last year as an additional.

O

Priority is maryland 140 corridor improvements from the county line to case mill, room.

O

And again, these are all outlined as one two three and four in your letter.

O

So for this year the maryland 32 project, the priorities continue to be the same as well.

O

As the breakout projects, there were no new breakouts associated for this year, but we're.

O

Hoping to continue to work on moving these forward and future years, and that was the breakout project.

O

For engineering design of criney ridge parkway from macbeth wayne north of springfield avenue.

O

Maryland 851, which is also a future project that we have in the list for urban reconstruct and.

O

Then another breakout project for design funding second street to main street, so these projects are.

O

Outlined and identified on page two and three of the letter that you have in front of you.

O

And again, here's just a scope of the project from the howard county line, just south of.

O

Maryland 26. now parts of this has already been dualized throughout the process, so we're looking.

O

For full dualization to the county line eventually- and that is the total outcome of this project.

O

Maryland 97 bachmann valley, road to maryland, 140 in westminster, there's been a great deal.

O

Of work already done on this stretch of roadway, a successful breakout project um was the safety.

O

Resurfacing, improvements from south of airport drive and magnolia just north of pleasant valley.

O

So we're going to remove this from the ladder, but this is building upon.

O

This and now the next step is, is to request a feasibility study for this project. What this does.

O

In working with state highway administration is make it eligible for chapter 30 scoring chapter 30.

O

Scoring is important because that's how maryland's partner transportation identifies projects to move.

O

Forward in the ctp for capacity enhancement, so that's why it's important that we try to really.

O

Get them to do a feasibility study upcoming in the next few years, also working with department.

O

Of public works, they're recommending the beginning of land acquisition for the remaining portion of.

O

The project, so we can secure those rights of way through the future. Those are outlined on page.

O

Three number: two in that paragraph: talking about the additional needs for the stretch of roadway.

L

Okay well linda hold on that that section of roadway, we're focusing on the whole.

B

The whole section right linda, including the including the magna way, uh that's already been.

B

Been done, but just on both that what we're looking at is on both ends of it then.

B

The 140 end and the the um pleasant valley to bachmann valley and of it to make all of that.

B

That way, correct, and what we're really wanting to do is get this feasibility studying done.

O

And working with state highway so that way we can begin to move this project forward um to make it.

O

Eligible for that chapter, 30 scoring, which we have not been able to do to this point yeah. I wonder if.

B

There and the reason I asked that question is because I'm wondering if I don't want to change.

B

The letter now I know, we're past that, but we could but absolutely that's what we're here again today.

B

Okay, the section from 140 to wagner way, uh I know they're getting ready to put a royal farms out.

B

There, at the um what's the name of the industrial park out there dennis yeah, you insert mess here.

B

I mean that's going to be a mess. I don't know what they're planning on doing there.

B

But maybe we could emphasize that because of the because of that coming.

B

That maybe the focus should be the priority should be that portion of it, uh and maybe there's already.

B

Plans in place- because I know you can't just drop a rural farms in anywhere, I guess without.

B

The right infrastructure- maybe there's already plans in place there to assist with that, but you.

B

Know go out there at four o'clock in the afternoon, and you're gonna put a royal farms there now right.

B

So so let me reach out to development review um and just double check to see if they have anything.

O

For the site plan regarding this section, so that way we can see if there are any mitigation.

O

Efforts that have been recommended as part of that site plan approval. So I'm not aware, but I will.

O

Double check that uh particular section to make sure that we're covering all our bases, yeah, maybe.

B

Just maybe just to prioritize that section over over the other part of it would be a good thing.

B

uh You know, because uh I don't know they have good chicken and they have the best coffee in the world.

B

Right so I don't know you know if you look at that road, like you said four o'clock or five o'clock in.

D

The afternoon, that's where all the bottleneck is is right in that section right, because with that.

D

Improvement that they made I'm so amazed how well that works. The improvement that they made when you.

D

Get past here, it's not really as bad exactly yes, I agree with you and I both talked about this and.

B

Said how in the world is that going to help? Well, it did yeah, but it's and and also in the morning.

B

Because I guess folks are going to want to take a left that are coming out of.

B

The northbound or whatever that is westbound what eastbound yeah whatever it is to get into the rofo.

B

Yeah something's got to give there. I don't know so.

B

Anyway enough about rofo, but that's that that's a that. That's a genuine concern.

O

Okay, I will work on that and um we can incorporate that into the letter. um The next is maryland 26.

O

From maryland, 32 east to the liberty reservoir, this has been a long-standing project. um It is.

O

In the ctp, but currently unfunded, we do have some breakout projects to propose for moving.

O

Forward, based on a recent maryland 26 study that was approved by this body several months ago, that.

O

We came forward with the state that we've worked with state highway administration on.

O

So again, uh in reference to the bullets on the screen in july of 2020 state highway did complete.

O

The maryland 26 corridor study traffic analysis, targeted improvement, recommendations to look at.

O

The redesign of maryland 26 and to reconfigure the 30 design that was already finalized or believed.

O

In 2005-2000 so again, rather than complete widening of the six lane improvements, it will.

O

Consist of a more limited breakout projects, and this may be achieved through the extension as we.

O

Discussed before auxiliary lanes, increased signalization and a center median segment.

O

So this is the complete stretch on the map that I'm showing you the orange line.

O

That is for the entire scope of the maryland 26 project on this slide is the um breakout project.

O

That we are recommending included for this year's priority letter and that is to convert.

O

The eastbound maryland 26 right turn only lane at georgetown boulevard and the purpose of the.

O

Project is to increase safety and operations at this intersection.

O

The project is to extend the lane back to eldersburg, crossing and west to homeland drive.

O

And the next slide is a map, so you can see where this is located and the scope of the project is.

O

Almost entirely within existing right-of-way and will allow conversion of the right turn only lane.

O

And eldersburg crossing to a through lane um and not the project as all the projects along.

O

Maryland 26 include sidewalk, and this would be from carroll bank to georgetown boulevard.

O

And the initial cost estimate, as proposed by state highway administration, is six million dollars.

O

And so here's a map of the scope of um the project, and this would help with that homeland drive.

O

And this would be a proposed median and proposed sidewalk.

O

Improvement so as this project moves forward, we'll have more detail drawings, but this is just the.

O

Estimate estimated drawing of the design from that maryland 26 plant and if you.

O

Recall terry susan state, highway administration representatives did come and give you a detailed.

O

Report um on the maryland 26 corridor redesign, so this is what we would be recommending is an.

O

Initial breakout, since it's well delineated and has a dollar amount associated with it,.

O

And was one of the first projects mentioned in this report as a breakout.

O

um And then next this was added uh last year to the party letter um and it's maryland.

O

140 corridor improvements from county line, decays mill and an initial breakout project.

O

um That's also in the letter uh we're requesting design funding for the intersection following the.

O

Recent completion of a concept study to evaluate this jug handle design for westbound traffic.

O

And that's something that state highway has been working on for several years.

O

So we're hoping to continue with that momentum and have improvements along the stretch of roadway.

O

And again here is a map of the scope of the project and the circle. Delineates the jug.

O

Handle and intersection improvements that are long overdue and the stretch of maryland 140.

O

Another change for this year's letter is just the reordering of these two projects maryland.

O

851, the sykestall main street springfield avenue project and the maryland 31 new windsor.

O

Main street high street, the reason for the rankings is the importance of moving forward.

O

With maryland, 851 for the improvements that are happening with drainage and the sewer underground.

O

Work that the county is working on to make sure that we can time any resurfacing and road.

O

Improvements to those infrastructure upgrades that are much needed in the sykesville area.

O

So again, a concept has been completed for this project for the maryland 851, but it's.

O

Not currently funded for design, so we want to try to move that forward. um One of the major.

O

A milestone in this was getting the maryland 851 road classification upgraded from a local.

O

Major local road to a major collector and now this will make it more competitive for federal money.

O

The book ends of this stretch of maryland 851 are considered a major collector, but the middle.

O

Section where the project um scope is was not so this will help, and this was recommended by.

O

State highway administration, mdot and we worked with the town and them to change this in the.

O

Federal government uh did send a letter recently approving the upgrade of this classification and.

O

Again, another breakout project is to address storm drain replacement. First, as I just spoke about.

O

And again, here is the scope of this project in its entirety and the orange.

O

And then again, the maryland 31 new windsor main street high street continuing to put this project.

O

In that will include improvements to sidewalks enhancements to bike pet accessibility and roadway.

O

Improvements and this would be coordinated with the town's replacement of water lines.

O

And I'm not sure quite the status of this, but I know it's not moving as quickly as they had.

O

Thought it once was so we'll continue to work with the town on progressing this project forward.

O

And the orange again delineates the scope of this project.

O

Again, some new items for transit that were part of our discussion last time.

O

Is that this request will be identical to the annual transportation plan that transit completes.

O

Yearly and the request for 2022 um in your document, you can see that they have asked.

O

For additional replacement buses, preventative maintenance funding, as well as funding for.

O

Extended hours for the trailer laser routes, um and so that again is continuing to be asked for.

O

As well as I apologize new language um that we look at outside, of the annual transportation.

O

Plan because it was not delineated in that that we are also looking.

O

At the early planning stages of preparing for alternative fueled vehicles along the.

O

Supporting infrastructure- and this is something that commissioner frazier.

O

Mentioned as we move some of our fleets to other alternative modes of fueling, that we look.

O

At having the infrastructure in place for those buses very happy to see that in there absolutely.

O

I'm again continuing to put forward our two.

O

Trail projects, the governor frank brown chart, which has been a long-standing project.

O

We've been working with brecken park on this and they've been very actively involved in making sure.

O

That, whatever happens will happen, including the trail portion that was to go near the readiness.

O

Center, so jeff diggets is very much on top of this, as well as the westminster community trail project.

O

Again, these were long-standing friends that would continue to move forward until their completion.

O

Which one is number one? Because on the paper I have it says, westminster community.

O

um Then that is correct. I'm sorry! I did not switch that in the presentation, so I apologize. Okay.

O

The letter is the priority. Thank you for saying.

D

Okay, thank you um and then finally, uh in more detail, obviously than the slide shows, we did add.

O

In the two new discussion points that we had for maryland, 31 medford road and maryland 26.

O

Johnsville um the medford road, as I said before, this will be.

O

An assessment of safety concerns at this intersection. We have already reached out.

O

To our district engineer, terry seuss, to see what she can pull together.

O

In speaking with state highway, as opposed to actually being um one of the capacity enhancing.

O

Projects, this would really be that same funding source that we used for maryland 27 at gillis.

O

Falls but using that safety funding, programmatic money that state highway has would be best applied.

O

To this intersection, so state highway is aware and we're going to be working with them to continue.

O

To see what improvements can be made after they do an assessment of the stretch of maryland 31.

O

As well as we're requesting a study of the safety concerns at the intersection of maryland, 26th and.

O

Johnsville road, we know that was a concern of commissioner allstein's, so it is something that.

O

We're also, including in the letter and we'll be reaching out just as part of our interactions.

O

With statewide state highway administration to address that roadway- and they are very aware of.

O

That of those concerns as well so again, I know there's some changes that want to be made out of.

O

Today's discussion, so we will work on this for you, um the idea is. We would like to get approval of.

O

The letter from you and your signature, so that way we can pass it on to mike fowler to get delegation.

O

Support- and um it doesn't have to be there by april, we'd like to try to get it. There's.

O

Close to april 1st is possible to the secretary of ndot. So are there any questions and um please.

O

Let me know what additional changes you would like to see in the letter based on today's conversation.

A

I I think it was just the one adjustment that was requested right, that they're 140. yeah. I mean.

D

97 97, I'm 97, I mean. Did you say that I think I saw an email from you linda that uh the runnymede.

B

Elementary school issue at 140 in mayberry, that's in the queue, so it doesn't have to be on this.

O

Letter, yes, that is already something they're working on again through that safety funding.

O

And so yes, they are we've afforded you, everything that I had received from the district engineer.

B

Okay, so there's not there's not a need to list it on this letter just to remind them so because.

O

They're already very aware and already have um a project and and lined up for that and that's.

O

Not a capacity enhancing so again, those are those safety funds that will be used for that project.

O

If you'd like to add it in, we can always do that they're just to re-affirm that.

O

If you want to add that, in um into the document, I'm happy to do that as well.

B

Yeah, I think you should so that it doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

D

Put it in the end, where we're talking about safety projects right, yeah, right absolutely, and you can.

B

Make that the last one, so it's easy to throw it in there yeah. I think we'll go ahead and do that.

B

Out of sight out of mind, sometimes yeah these projects and you're talking about.

A

Sidewalk well, this is to add the the right turn lane up there at 140 and mayberry got it.

B

To get into the elementary school because it's a mess up there, yep, okay, uh just just a lot as.

C

We move ahead on these. You know when we did the gillis road intersection. We put.

C

About 300 000 of county money, I think into the planning to get expedite that and get it started.

C

uh This year, looking ahead as we look in the budget, we are going to have some one-time money.

C

Coming about that, we hadn't anticipated. It may be worth tying a couple dollars into some of.

C

These projects that we really feel need to get moving at a faster rate, so just something to.

C

Think about as we uh move into budget to help uh push some of these along well, I understand that.

D

We have about 200 thousand dollars less left in that fund that we put that money aside for.

D

And if we're going to use it, I would like to see used for some of these safety concerns.

D

But we can we don't talk about that now, but it's just something I you know if we're going to use.

D

Safety, while this is fresh in your mind, just think about your priority projects.

A

So why don't we um make the adjustments linda as directed and then let's get it on the agenda.

A

For tuesday, for decision uh just for us to review the letter itself, not going through a presentation.

A

And then, with the decision for approval, okay, okay sounds good. I will get that sent up to.

O

You by the end of the week for your review, I have to thank you for all the changes that.

D

You've made so far and they reflect what we said. I really appreciate that absolutely so absolutely.

O

Well, thank you for your time this morning and we'll see you on tuesday with those changes.

A

Okay, let's uh move on with uh mr jack lyburn and let's talk about the harrison leicester, property.

A

Jack, you may want to fix the camera, so we see more than just your nose and forehead.

P

Yeah my time my eyes, okay yeah, I was gonna, say you had a face for radio.

A

But can't say it now so keep going just for the record. I kind of liked it before.

B

Is that better, that's a lot better! That's right!.

P

You guys will miss me, you know herds and light share property. It's uh it's.

P

Roughly about 255 acres, uh the property is located um in the county in its own r40 or you know.

P

40 000., the land has really high visibility. It's located along 27 and it's close to washington and.

P

Coarse dc and frederick market, and it's only about five miles away from I-70 the the county gave the.

P

Property needed the property to the the industrial development authority a little over 10 years ago.

P

They requested it and elected not to pursue the annexation. The development.

P

Of the harris unleash your property and they are requesting the county, accept the property back.

P

You have the copy of the deed. We notified the mount airy on february, the 5th that we were.

P

Not going to pursue the annexation of the property or pursue the project sent out to the town.

P

Part of policy, the county, if you have to you, have to uh deem it the portion of the property surplus.

P

And my recommendation is that it's approximately, like I said, 255 acres.

P

That we deem surplus, 169 acres surplus and an 85 acre parcel. You know you have the map there, that.

P

It you know, has constraints, it has environmental issues and factors in topo. Therefore, I recommend.

P

A parcel remain under county ownership that we would put out the rfp out for 169 acres, which.

P

We know is developable land and the county keep the 85 acres of land now to do that.

P

You know you're going to have to uh solicit bids from minister interesting parties and the.

P

Acquisition, development of property, but you have to deem it surplus the uh you know the property so.

P

I'm ready I'm recommending that you deem surplus the uh the 169 acres of the 254 acres.

P

Of that and allow us to um what you've done in the past, to put an rfp out to developers and.

P

Let them come back show them. Let us see a master plan. What they're going to do design sketches.

P

And then you know the financing piece of the property. So I guess that's what I'm missing.

P

You forward to uh theme it's surplus, the uh 169 acres and the county. Keep the 85 acres.

P

Allow us to put it out: okay, any uh thoughts, questions comments in moving forward.

E

If there is none I'd like to make the motion, I moved the county commissioner's.

E

Routine, to plus or minus 85 acres of land that was originally designed to.

E

Remain as publicly owned land to be used for public purpose and approved to selling the.

E

Remaining 169 acres previously designated for development by seeking requests for proposals.

E

While retaining all monitoring and production wells and access there, too,.

A

Okay, I have a motion on the floor. Is there a second.

A

I will second that motion I mean, gives us an opportunity.

A

And uh ida walked away from it, so it's surplus property. Okay, so does this.

B

Fit or maybe I better rephrase the question: how does the town of mount airy feel about.

B

Do we do we know how they would feel about this? This recommended direction. They rather.

A

And not go in this direction; they rather it go back into the ida. Okay, for them mount airy to.

A

Retain opportunity and receiving revenue from that property. Okay, the ida had it for over 10 years and.

A

Walked away from it, it is now surplus property, or at least 169 of the 255 acres is surplus to now be.

A

Developed in accordance with what it's zoned and it gives us the county, the opportunity to reach.

A

Out and get that property developed in accordance with what it zones? Okay, so that's I mean.

A

The town as the uh councilman um talked a couple weeks ago, right.

A

Was relatively adamant, along with others, to to work with the ida for the idea to come back and.

A

Retain that property, the idea has no interest from my understanding and retaining that property. So.

A

Jack and the economic team is coming up with a solution of how to you know, use that property use.

A

That land yeah- I just have a question about the wells that are the monitoring wells. What are they.

D

What are they monitoring? Why are they on the property.

F

So wells um you always know too there's a real well that would um the water would come from.

F

When you draw water from it and then there's a monitoring well, that can watch.

F

That well, I'd have to have tom double this. Give you a lot better explanation than that.

F

That's about I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry to cut you off, but there's no.

D

I guess problem that we're aware of they're just that that's just standard procedure to have a while in the monitoring. Well, absolutely that's! That's normal! That's correct!.

A

Being put in here and the motion, the way it is is that those wells are protected right, yeah.

A

Kept underneath the county and not right- and I understand that I just wanted to make sure.

D

There wasn't something near like there was an old landfill there, there's something radioactive.

D

Or you know what I mean it just typically, they have the two wells, we're good we're in sykesville.

A

um Yeah, so this uh this allows the county to go after and uh to potential opportunities.

A

To occupy the property and purchase property and develop it in accordance with the way it's owned.

A

And we know of large developers that would like this property because of its location.

A

um You know do it no, that better way, we believe there are developers that would want to.

A

Develop on this property, so, okay, in order for them to do that, we have to take this next step.

B

Yeah, I understand all that I I know we can't have land out there in limbo right. uh I just.

B

In the interest of making sure that we work and with our municipalities, because they are what.

B

They are they make us what we are absolutely. I just want to make sure that this would be.

B

A viable alternative that they can work with as well and that they'll be part of this.

B

This discussion moving forward on whatever happens there- I don't want to- I don't want to to.

B

I don't want to alienate them from the discussions of what we're going to do. I I just want to be.

B

Clear that we're merely taking the property back so that we can entertain those viable alternatives.

B

Working with mount airy right, working with mount airy, but us having control of it, and I.

A

Think we have to work with mount airy right right. I just don't want that to get lost in the equation.

B

Exactly correct: okay, all right yeah! I think um a lot of discussion has been had uh bringing mount.

A

Airy into the conversations um with the ida with our team, um the ida made their decision.

A

Now that they made their decision, something has to be done with that property and that's okay,.

A

Where we're at is, am I misstepping this or mis, stating this uh check no you're on target.

P

Okay, I I appreciate all my colleagues giving not only clarification but expressing their concerns.

E

And awfully I want the public to know that whatever path is chosen with the purchaser.

E

There'll be public hearings and and input. You know everyone's not out of the equation so to.

E

Speak and even a town everyone's all want to weigh on whatever happens in the future.

E

I just want to make sure the public understands that we're not closing and doing them that.

E

Their voices and concerns will always be heard by not only us as commissioners.

E

Particularly me, since it's my district, but also the officials within the town of manor, so thank.

E

You jack for what you're doing. I appreciate my colleagues for expressing their concerns as well.

P

We're just putting the rfp out, I you know, I personally have no idea. You know who's gonna,.

P

You know answer it or what they're gonna come back with a program, but we, you know, of course,.

P

You know we'll give them about five or six weeks to come back and then we'll present everything.

P

To you, but uh whoever comes in it's a long process. They're gonna have to jump through.

P

A lot of hoops and a lot of meetings you know in through the county here, so it's.

P

You know it's, it's a good piece of property. It's you know, like I said it's close to 70. It's one.

P

Of the best pieces we have in the county, it's only five miles away and you know the tug pose.

P

You know fairly, it's good to potent to develop, you know and we need good. You know.

P

Economic development, property- and this is our this- is a really good piece of property to develop.

L

Okay, I'd just like to see what's out there with developers, you know what their plans would be for.

A

Any uh further questions discussion- this is a very important uh piece of property- is a very important.

A

Decision we're making okay, seeing and hearing none. I have a motion and a second on the floor.

A

All in favor aye, aye, okay, we got 5-0, let's move on thanks jack commissioners. Thank you.

A

Do I have uh any callers, I believe we have one caller.

A

Okay, just a reminder for callers: uh you have uh approximately three minutes to share.

A

What you wanna share, what you wanna say. It is not a time for dialogue between the commissioners and.

A

The caller, it doesn't take away the fact that we retain the information we discuss afterwards and.

A

We follow up appropriately, so with that said, uh identify the caller now caller. If you could.

G

Please state your name. Yes, uh yes again, my name is michael weiner, 589 sunshine way in westminster,.

Q

Calling back once again uh to try and work on a resolution for our known uh speeding issue on our.

Q

Street um a couple things I'd like to say. um First of all, it seems like the timing of your meetings.

Q

During typical working hours make it very difficult for the rest for many of my neighbors.

Q

Who have full-time jobs to to attend and to to participate uh in their views?.

Q

So I am requesting that the the board of commissioners dedicate at least one day, one.

Q

Thursday or tuesday, out of the month that you have meetings in the evening as opposed to having just.

Q

Standard nine or ten o'clock meetings so that way, uh other people can participate on the topics that.

Q

May concern them, or they may want to you, know, be a part of. uh Secondly, I want to.

Q

Let it be known that, on the record that um I called out last thursday on the 25th to the.

Q

County administrator's office seeking information about being placed on the agenda, our issue, um I.

Q

Left a message to be called back: I had not been called back, uh so nobody ever got in touch with me.

Q

Which again then, on this past monday night, I sent an email to each one of you, commissioners,.

Q

As well as the county administrator seeking again information about being placed on the agenda.

Q

uh It was not known to me at the time, uh and you could tell by the you know in that email.

Q

That I had no idea that you had intentions of speaking about this on tuesday the following day.

Q

Nobody responded to, let me know that, and I feel that um it was very unprofessional and.

Q

uh You know many of my emails actually all of my emails in the past.

Q

On the recent past have not been responded to, and it's it's very frustrating, so um I feel that uh it.

Q

It seems like there's a coordinated effort to silence. You know the residents of sunshine way.

Q

uh Instead of trying to work with us to let the record uh state that uh the commissioners have not.

Q

Responded to any uh emails in the last at least four weeks um pertaining to this issue, to myself.

Q

And uh to the best of my knowledge, uh my neighbors, um that being said, I'd like to request an evening.

Q

I heard this earlier on a town hall meeting. I think it's a great idea, I'd like to have a request.

Q

A town hall meeting on this issue in uh during an evening where a community can respond to.

Q

Mr lanaon uh made some statements. uh I watched on the video of tuesday's meeting uh that.

Q

I think um confusing and contradicting to other conversations that um have you know.

Q

Had I've had I've had with them uh in the past, and uh you know I've never had the opportunity to.

Q

Be part of a discussion uh amongst the board and it seems everybody else that got a chance to speak.

Q

Today gets a chance to come on and speak and talk, and um you know if it's what you all want to hear.

Q

Then you're happy to have them on and and help push. But you know my children's safety is at risk.

Q

Here and- and I can't sit back and neither can my neighbors and just you know let this go away, so we.

Q

Produced a petition that was signed, no response, we have sent emails requesting documentation and data.

Q

From the county, no response, we request, you know to be part of um a conversation on the record. No.

Q

Response, you have put something on didn't respond, but let anybody know uh that has been asking for.

Q

This so I understand now that there's finish up your comments, I understand now that you put up an.

Q

Agenda, I don't know when that's posted, and this is all new to most of us- people we're not you.

Q

Know in this line of work- or this is a regular twist- so please listen to what I have to say.

Q

And uh you know also changing the rules as we go is something that's not appreciated. Also so.

Q

um That's all I have to say and I'll be back again next time to see what kind of.

Q

Responses that I'm hoping somebody may be able to provide to our situation. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

A

Okay, um open admin at this point, any uh any comments I I I will say nope admin, uh commissioner.

A

Frazier, I did uh read your letter to those on sunshine way. I think that was sent out the 15th.

A

Or 17th of january, and as I was reviewing some of the emails from mr weiner and what he shared.

A

I was thinking what else could I add and what you wrote in your letter covered the information.

A

So effective communications, let's make sure that this continues to get out there, but uh you covered.

A

All of the questions that are being asked um and I'm not it's not a sense of applauding you.

A

But it's a sense of how do we get the information to those where it's going to resonate, and I.

A

Couldn't think of another way, um but- and this is it happens- to be such a way, but this is across the.

A

County and that's why traffic calming procedures are very important to discuss and uh the efforts.

A

um On how to reach out to the community so um yeah yeah, please, I want to add to that.

B

The agenda item was not about sunshine way right last week, the agenda item was put on our schedule.

B

uh Because- and I think I'm maybe I'm the one that asked for it, I wanted to know what procedures and.

B

Processes are in place when these types of requests are made to us right. So uh there.

B

Might be a misunderstanding there that was not the sunshine way agenda item. It was the traffic.

B

Calming process and procedure that we use in carroll county- and uh I you know I get sometimes.

B

That people are frustrated. What I don't get is some of the rudeness that comes out with some of.

B

The comments that are made uh but that I guess that goes with the territory. But I want to make.

B

That clear and I because I think, I'm the one that asked for that- I wanted to know what the process.

B

Was when anybody in the county anywhere asks for um something like that to occur so right, yeah.

A

I get a lot of folks concerned about speeding. I've had a ton of them in my district, so yeah so.

B

I wanted to refresh her because I don't right and- and I apologize because during that discussion I.

D

Mentioned sunshine way, because it's the one that's in my district that I'm talking about, but it was.

D

Put on to see what the procedure was and how we do things and refresh what you know, what we do and.

D

I did mention sunshine way because it's the one that kind of I'm concerned with right right now.

A

And uh okay, like I said middle of january, the the letter that you shared highlighted those processes.

A

um And specifically saying that, and we were told by state not by us, stop signs are not to be used.

A

As a viable option for traffic mitigation, or actually they had calming, starts at the.

B

Federal level right, if it is right, so that's not an option, but anyway, that's that's. For.

A

Me sharing open admin. Is there anything else for open admin? uh Commissioner boucher? I just want to.

E

Very quickly state that for the public that, since we are commissioners elected by district, we do try.

E

Our best to exercise you know, district courtesy, if a constituent calls in someone else's district.

E

It's proper for us to refer to that, commissioner, and not overstep our bounds.

E

And only get involved when we're brought in so I just want to make sure that people understand that.

A

Anything else open admin, okay, seeing none. We have closed minutes from uh february 25th.

A

That need review and uh approval. I move. We approve the minutes closed minutes from uh february 25th.

C

2021. second, okay: I got a motion in a second any comments. Seeing hearing none all in favor.

A

Aye aye, okay, five zero. uh I apologize for bernie did you have anything for open admin.

A

Okay: let's go into uh agendas; it's incredible! We're going into the middle of march.

A

March 8th on monday, we have a transit advisory council meeting with commissioner fraser attending.

A

On tuesday, we're going to have open sessions, starting at nine o'clock with mr.

A

Fowler, our legislative liaison kicking it off then we'll be talking about hot.

A

Mix asphalt, paving always exciting, I'm looking forward to it. um That is exciting.

A

And then we will be talking about the safer grant application. Looking forward to that with mr mccoy.

A

We will have a budget overview at 9 55 scheduled 9 55 on tuesday. This is really starting to kick off.

A

The budget season for us, so mr zlalewski, will have us. I think that'll, take about 5-10 minutes at 1pm.

A

At 1pm that afternoon is the bullfrog road bridge replacement site visit.

A

In tawny, town and commissioner boucher will be attending that.

B

I may be joining him because I always get very antsy when he comes into my district.

B

Well, he has to get a green card to get up there. Well, there's permissions that are required. Yes,.

B

I don't think they've been signed yet working on that yeah. So um you know it's a camera crew.

A

It's a six-hour visa, but we'll work on that: uh okay, carroll, county covid, nintendo. We got the.

A

Town hall meeting at 5 pm, where uh mr singer will join me, uh it should be five to about seven p.m.

A

And then at the at seven p.m. I have the egg center board meeting and that is tentative for me. I may.

A

Talk with one of the others to attend that. If I feel like it's going to be going over with the.

A

Town hall on wednesday, uh really looking forward to a a new business coming into uh carroll county.

A

Into westminster, 310, it's called 310, tempering, tempering and so ribbon cutting where commissioner.

A

Frazier and I will be attending what what is that they're, a business they're coming out of kentucky.

A

And it's a, uh I believe, a manufacturing, uh it's like manufacturing. I know it is it's um where's. It.

A

At the significant airport area, yeah yeah, and uh they are bringing a lot of jobs and uh we may be.

A

Also getting uh attendance from the administration coming up for that as well. I think it's 80 80 jobs.

C

If I have it right, yes, either 75 or 80 jobs coming in and uh yeah. So really looking forward to that.

A

That ribbon cutting uh governor's workforce development board. I will be attending at 3.

A

30 on wednesday, the carroll county board of education, commissioner weaver, is so fortunate to.

A

Be attending that at 5 p.m and then the winfield volunteer fire company board meeting. Commissioner.

A

Boucher will be attending at 7 pm. On thursday. We have open sessions, starting at 9 00 a.m. We will go.

A

Through our typical discussion on standing state directives, mr singer will be talking we'll also be.

A

Talking about extending the state of emergency at that time, firing ems updates from mr mccoy.

A

I'm really looking forward to uh having discussion on a community needs assessment.

A

Survey by miss dorothy fox, who is the partnership for healthier carroll county.

A

We will be talking about the fy 22 submission from the office of the problem, solving courts and we.

A

Will be joined by judge hecker for that um carroll county libraries can be requesting some funds for.

A

Repairs on our roof and then we're going to get a highlight this or a discussion highlighting the.

A

Exploration commons, taking a little bit further than where uh commissioner franklin talked about.

D

I have to say that if I'm sorry, I don't interrupt you, but this roof uh repair is fat was found out.

D

Because of doing exploration commons and they had to put to looking to put hvac on top, and so anyway,.

D

They discovered a few things that they need to fix, so that this project can move along. Okay,.

A

And then uh 11 third well excuse me next will be a proposed amendments to chapter 34, our ethics code.

A

Will be discussed and then I one industrial one text, amendment for eldersburg business park.

A

Will be also discussed and looking for approval, miss eisenberg and jack, and tom will be there to.

A

Talk about that and nothing on friday saturday. I apologize this uh past sunday or the this upcoming.

A

Sunday, commissioner boucher has the podcast and I have the podcast for march 14th and let's see.

A

Okay, the following week march 15th, nothing 16th on tuesday crim gold park site visit by commissioner.

A

Boucher planning and zoning uh commission meeting commissioner lance will be attending.

A

Finally, run nature center site visit by commissioner boucher.

A

And then, commissioner weaver and I will be attending the veterans advisory council at 2pm on.

A

Wednesday, uh commissioner, wants will be attending the community college board of trustees meeting.

A

And then, on thursday, we have open sessions, starting at 9. 00 am.

A

Typical discussions and updates we'll be having from legislative.

A

Fire health department there'll be a request for approval uh for fy22 submission mediation.

A

Conflict resolution office grant again uh being joined by judge hecker for looking at that grant.

A

uh We'll get a request for approval for the submission of the fy 22 local management.

A

Local management, community partnership agreement and acceptance of their award.

A

Okay by uh citizen services, we'll look at uh exercise and option to purchase some property.

A

The john william rode back property uh exercise: option to purchase the property of tim brennan.

A

uh Brendaman and mrs brennaman, I take it or brenda brennaman.

A

Go on assume, there request approval for the fy 22 annual transportation plan uh yep and, let's see.

A

That's about it and commissioner, wants I'm really looking forward to the 21st where he will have the.

A

Podcast that's around st patrick's day, so hang on. It could be very, very entertaining no comment. Okay,.

A

um And I'm not going to pinch you either. So anything else for the group.

A

We do have admin, I believe, after this uh just regular admin, so stay fast after we close.

A

Do I have a motion to close motion to adjourn or that's right? I apologize. Do I have a second.

A

Okay got a motion, a second any discussion on that absolutely none.

A

All in favor aye aye come on now come on. Okay, 4-1.

A