Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 29 Jun 2023

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session June 29, 2023

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov

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Okay good morning, it is thursday june 29th cannot believe it's the last week of june.

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Wishing everybody a very happy and healthy uh fourth of july, coming up on tuesday and.

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A reminder: there is no open session on july 6th, so uh a lot to do today. We do have an open.

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Session this afternoon and then a work session, um this excuse me we have an open session. This.

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Morning and a work session this afternoon at 1 pm, where we'll be talking about um our agricultural.

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Zoning and ordinances that apply to agricultural properties and zoning properties in carroll, county.

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As always before, we start when we stand for pledge of allegiance in a moment of silence,.

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Liberty and justice tomorrow.

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I'm always waiting for the hand gestures of commissioner vigliotti to allow me to sit down.

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No, I'm kidding okay, so with uh priority carol, um and we do have one proclamation uh to read: do we.

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Have wrecking parks in here, okay, hi lisa- you can come up for now. If you would like you're not going.

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To talk for a few minutes, but that's right, you're hiding in the back, I was it was the last open seat.

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Actually, it was the last open seats: oh wow, okay, so uh yeah give us a few minutes. Leeson. Let's get us.

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Through prayer to carol and then we'll go through the proclamation, so, uh commissioner, karen, what's.

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On your mind, oh sure, okay, thank you good morning. Carol can I've got a few items and I think I've.

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Got some visual aids that I sprung on the video staff at the last minute this morning, so I don't.

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Know if they'll be able to put those up but just a couple, uh a couple notes: the environmental.

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Environmental advisory committee meeting esac was last night on the commissioner representative on.

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That committee and it's people are not familiar with esac. It's just bringing together every every.

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Entity in the county to make the best policy we can moving forward with the fire departments and.

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Our volunteer organizations in this transition, our rick baker, was re-elected as a chairman of that.

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Committee- and I couldn't be happier about that- I I attended training over the weekend. Some vehicle.

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Extraction, training and it was actually sponsored by winfield, but it took place in sykesville.

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As everything as I learn more about our fire departments and what they do, it's always the same.

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Conclusion, for me, is that everything looks simple and it is certainly not simple and.

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That goes for vehicle extraction, so I just got a couple pictures here. It was very interesting.

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They have a number of wreck vehicles at the sykesville in the sykesville fairgrounds. There.

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And we practiced or I guess you could say, I'm more watched, how they're going to get.

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People out of these vehicles how they're going to respond in different situations, maybe the.

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Vehicle's overturned, maybe it's on fire, maybe the person in it is injured. Maybe they're not.

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Maybe they have the tools, they need to get somebody out, and maybe they not so they may.

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Not so you know, the the extraction exercise ran from everywhere to grabbing a ratchet set to see.

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If you can take a bolts off of a door to grabbing the uh the jaws of life which are now electrically.

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Powered by the way and extremely heavy uh to literally cut open a vehicle like a can opener.

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So uh again, my many thanks to all of our volunteers and all of our county fire and.

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Ems folks, for these types of exercises and the joint work that they're always doing between.

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Different fire companies. We also had the photo on the left there. Those are some of our county.

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Ems employees that were also there to extract somebody from these vehicles, so they really they.

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Really did a good job with this, and it was just it's always a pleasure to be a part of this and.

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In a real honor, but most of all, it's always a real learning experience and to that end I want.

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To encourage everybody again to be aware of your fire company carnivals and when they take place.

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These are the fire stations opportunity to raise money. They own the vehicles they own. The buildings.

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They get their money through donations, that is it that is not changing. I know we're transforming.

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To a county force, it's a hybrid force of hybrid fire and ems, but that does not mean that people.

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Shouldn't start shouldn't should stop showing up at carnivals. They need. Your donations, show up.

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At the carnivals donate you can donate and go to their websites and and and and donate that way.

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Winfield is coming up um from the 10th of the 15th of july. I spoke with the president of that fire.

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Company last night- and he is really excited about he his face- lit up. He is ready for this carnival.

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And then uh mount airy, my neighborhood is uh going to take place from the 31st of july to the 8th.

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Of august so get out there carroll county, get to these carnivals and support your your local fire.

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Stations um I'll follow up with a topic. I've been discussing a little bit lately sort of my one-man.

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Quest to take the fun out of priority carol, I realize that's kind of what I'm known for now, but.

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I've been talking the last last couple weeks about what's going to happen on july 1st in the state of.

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Maryland with the recreational sale of marijuana, a very dangerous drug, very dangerous drug, and it.

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Seems every day you read more and more about how bad it is, and it's a little amusing to read some.

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Of the news stories out of the state, because you can tell even the most sort of mainstream outlets.

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They're kind of doing back flips to tell you it's going to be okay, we think, but we're not really.

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Sure so we're going to find out on the first and over the next couple years, but a blockbuster study.

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Came out of canada earlier this week they did a five-year study on the serious mental health.

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Issues related to cannabis and came up with a very disturbing conclusion, which is that.

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The information found in the five years following the legalization of cannabis cases of psychosis.

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And paranora paranoia have more than doubled. The findings suggest that the mental health effects.

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Of cannabis, cannabis use may use may be more severe long-term than previously thought. So that's.

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Certainly the case and what I and this, what I also discovered this week, which I don't think a lot of.

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People were aware of, but we had that awful awful accident back in march on 695. It was tragic. Five.

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Construct six was six six highway workers were killed, two of them were carroll county residents.

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A father and a son from union bridge which you probably haven't heard yet is there were.

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Two people really responsible for that accident: it was just unforgivable the rates of speed and.

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What they were both doing, but the primary person responsible for that accident, which you probably.

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Don't know they found thc in their system and her response was well. I smoked it yesterday.

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So you know we're talking real impact here and and how you can make decisions and our.

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Our county is going to be struggling with this, uh and uh and I promise to provide people with.

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More information of it moving forward so, and that is all for me. Thank you, okay, commissioner, gordon.

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Thank you. uh First and foremost, um it's been a busy week, as it has for all of us would first.

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Like to congratulate a new downtown westminster business, knowing beauty which is a botox seropathy,.

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And zero balancing business owned by jennifer ballas is now located in downtown westminster.

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So we have some new businesses moving into the area which is always good to see in westminster.

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Secondly, would like to congratulate jalen, who is the maryland youth of the year, as well as.

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The carroll county boys and girls club youth of the year she recently was in new york city.

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Representing both the state of maryland and us here in carroll county at the northeast.

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Regional youth of the year event and wish her all the best and she's going to be spending.

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The next year, representing both maryland and carol at a variety of events and promoting.

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Positivity for youth in our state and our local community, so kudos to her for that.

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um Next, we have an image here. This image is very specifically relates to today, so in westminster,.

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160 years ago, for those of you that do know there was a civil war skirmish uh corbett's charge. This.

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Image you see here is the amber type, which is the only civil war street scene of westminster.

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Just prior to the skirmish, the skirmish was the first delaware cavalry on horseback, and there was.

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A member of the 50th new york engineers along main street. This image took a lot of time to figure out.

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What this image is actually on main street between center and court, so we actually have figured out.

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The location of this image, this image was taken by a local photographer just prior to the skirmish.

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In westminster and one other interesting little piece of history today relating to corbett's.

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Charge as well is a very fascinating, but not visually. I guess interesting item chris. If.

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You can switch to the next one. There is a check. This check was drawn on the bank of westminster.

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Today, 160 years ago, what's interesting about this check, is this check was written out for.

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uh Three thousand dollars, which was a huge sum of money, and it is written out by john b boyle, the.

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Treasurer of the western maryland railroad, uh the railroad was constructed in westminster in 1861.

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One can only surmise as to why mr boyle was pulling a large sum of money out on the day of.

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The skirmish he may have gotten advanced notice, we'll never know, but to put it into context.

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um A machinist in 1860 and during the 1863 would have earned 16 cents an hour or 500 a year.

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At that time or was or a labor would be about 10 cents or 300 a year. So I will never know why we.

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Have to really wonder what was behind this, so I just wanted to share that in reference to today's.

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Historical event, 160 years ago and as I mentioned last week today, is the corbett's charge, events and.

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Westminster running from 2 p.m, to 8 p.m, there'll be a variety of things: historic tour, memorial.

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Service as well as historical displays and that runs from 2 to 8 pm, both at westminster's historic.

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City hall and a variety of other locations around town. So if you have time definitely something to.

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Check out- and that's all I have thank you. Thank you, commissioner kyler. um I I want to start out by.

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Mentioning our delegates and state senators, we've we've had a very good rapport with them. This this.

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Year last year, with the maps 42c popped up in the middle of district five and to their credit.

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While some of us voted in 42c, some of us voted in district five they've worked very well together.

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And- and it's been great and uh senator chris west and delegate josh stanko were were instrumental.

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In making sure hampstead fire company got there uh grant money that that got pulled.

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Out of the budget, so they've worked very well together and I just wanted to mention.

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um Senator west has announced he is not running again now, that's still a few years out and last.

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Week, nino mangione who's. The current delegate, second term delegate from 42 area, announced that.

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He will run in his place and we just need to focus it's early yet, but we want to make sure we keep.

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Good delegates, good senators representing us down there, they have a quite a fight.

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In annapolis and- and I think ours do the best they can down there, so I just wanted to mention that.

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um Carroll county public schools, uh ryan melhorn, who was the supervisor of social studies,.

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Has carroll county public school history teachers going to 11 different sites this week to study.

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Local history and I think tomorrow they have to write a lesson plan or report on pieces.

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Of it they're it's about a dozen of them today, they're at the farm museum as we speak, they're.

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At strawbridge shrine at 12, 30 and new windsor heritage, museum at 2 p.m, and uh I I went out and.

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Traveled with them a little bit, I think some of the board of ed members have, I think, a.

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Couple of the delegates maybe have, but it's really interesting to see them focusing on local history.

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And hopefully helping our kids then to learn about.

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It- and I just wanted to mention that it's it's a good thing going on and.

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As as I try to mention, I love carroll county and I'm sure commissioner rothstein is going.

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To say more about it so I'll just say yet there was a meeting at the ag center and it's so nice.

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We have a great ag center and- and I mentioned this without your presence- we have a great wrecking.

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Parks, we have a great farm museum, we have a great community and great people and some of.

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Commissioner rostine's contacts through mako, we had some other counties interested in coming here.

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To see what our ag center does and uh nicely, they perceive that we don't have some of the problems.

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They have and they want to make sure they can do as well as we can and and as I mentioned, I.

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Also mentioned career and tech, I mean we, we have some jewels in this county and and a lot of it.

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And, and as you know, is due to volunteers, it's not all paid people, although staff's wonderful.

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um We couldn't do it without the volunteers that pitch in and do stuff, and we made that.

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Point to them yesterday that that you need, you need to plan for that, but again.

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um Hopefully, you'll talk more about that and uh and yeah I just I love carroll county and I love.

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The people we have here, um commissioner garen mentioned uh fireman's carnivals manchester's.

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Is next week, hampstead's, probably the last one I think reese is sometime in in, is that the.

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Last one, the 17th uh reese is july 17th to the 22nd. Okay, your reese is late july, so we still.

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Have we might be half done, but there's a lot of good carnivals left. I am blessed.

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With my lovely wife, who's mimi to six grandkids and we we're in the middle of mimi's summer.

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Camp and carnival nights are an important part of that and and uh I'm gonna get bashed for this, but.

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um There are great rides at the carnivals. There are great local stands.

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There are also some games and the two words that that we've uh taught grandchildren, since they.

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Were four or five is ripoff? That's an important thing for them to learn where how they spend their.

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Money and what whether the odds are with them, are against them, and uh it's been interesting but yeah.

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We we love the carnivals and we try to support them as much as we can. Thank you absolutely.

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But if you didn't go to sykesville, you missed the best fries that in carroll county has and.

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It's made by the lions and I am a proud lion, but I'm not allowed to be by the friar. I I'm the one.

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Who who pushes and and makes the fries and then gives it to the fryer? They don't trust me with.

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The oil and stuff- I guess commissioner vigliotti, what's on your mind, hopefully more than yesterday.

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So I uh I had the opportunity uh previously to uh meet with the celebrating america group.

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Which met at union mills and they're preparing for the 250th anniversary of the united states.

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And I want to say thank you to vivian daily for the invitation to attend that group and.

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It was a wonderful time to be with people who love history and who love our country.

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um I also want to associate myself with the comments made by commissioner garen on marijuana.

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You know I've spoken about this before and I will continue to to do so. Marijuana is a dangerous.

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Substance and it there are serious consequences to its use. uh Non-Medical use is problematic and.

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Presents a serious challenge for us and so it's important that we keep informed and keep on it.

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Last but not least, and I'll be quick today, because I know we have a lot ahead of us. I spent several.

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Days visiting my mom and stepdad at their horse farm, so it was a nice vacation. um You know I was.

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Able to see my grandma while I was up there, some aunts and some uncles, and while I was there, I rode.

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And trained horses on my mom's farm, I hunted for fossils. I tried some drone photography and more.

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And you know, working on the farm alongside my mom was the the best part of it. You know it's. It's.

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In my mind, the best kinds of vacations that you can have are those that you are when you're with.

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People that you love and uh so much of who I am as a human being as a man I owe to my mom and so.

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Mom, I know you're listening and I love you and I'm looking forward to the next visit and commissioner.

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Rossin has offered me this morning, fantastic and family. First always, and one thing with that, I'm.

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I'm hoping you can share and not today, but um the fossil and photos, or maybe the I don't know if you.

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Were able to steal them back to maryland, but it was interesting um and two of the commissioners on.

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Each side of me were debating how old how old were they? uh The estimate is 500 to 550 million years.

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Old and they were debating whether it was you know, five years off or not, but that's a whole other.

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Subject, I can definitely do pictures next week and I will bring some fossils in next week as well.

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um A couple things uh appreciate all of the comments uh that my colleagues have made. This.

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Morning- and we do have a relatively busy calendar schedule uh agenda for this morning, but highlight.

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What commissioner kyler shared was um we had the opportunity to showcase the ag center.

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um The ag center is a 501c3 and we showcased it to harford county executive bob castley and his.

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Entire staff- and they were just completely in awe and they were in awe of the the entirety of it. The.

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Complex they have pieces across. You know harford county, that support. You know a farmer's market or.

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A little bit of this a little bit that and we have it all, put together packaged and you know.

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Across the fence, as we know, is the farm museum which belongs to us carroll county. So having that.

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Conversation and having the ability to showcase it through uh you know our executive director that.

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Runs it and she's, just amazing heather, you know she works countless hours and that ag center is.

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um Used pretty much every day and it is uh the arena which um I don't know. I think it's about.

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500 000 square feet: no, it can't be fifty thousand square. Feet um is uh rented pretty much every week.

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Or not pretty much, it is rented every week. So just another, like you, said jewel of carroll county. That.

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We were able to showcase um to harford county, and uh earlier this week I attended um an event.

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Put on by our health department- and it was about 400 some odd folks. At this event, it was called.

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um Yeah from risk to resilience- and they asked me to speak for a few minutes as opening comments.

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It uh you know was mostly well this health department, it was school officials, police,.

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From carroll county, but also from the region- and uh some of you have heard me- share some.

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Of my thoughts about the importance of resiliency, the importance of being proactive and taking care.

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Of ourselves, when something happens, how do you pick yourself back up and then, lastly, how to be.

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Reactive or you know, when something afterwards happens, how do you create a situation where you.

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Don't just keep going around in circles um a lot of it has to do with mental health. I am.

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Absolutely 100 committed to silencing the stigma of mental health and behavioral uh challenges.

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That we have in our community, um I have them myself and there are demons that you know are.

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Being negotiated every day, it's a journey, not a destination, and uh fortunately I have support from.

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The medical community, but my family, my colleagues and everyone, because we've got to step up and I'm.

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Tired of people waiting 30 plus years, like I did, whereas somebody in the early 20s can get.

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Identified and start taking care of themselves, so this is kind of the in a nutshell. What I shared at.

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This event, but I also highlighted because, being you know, a veteran the veteran services that we.

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Do provide, and I will continue to highlight it and showcase our county's resources, our citizen.

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Services, our aging disabilities. Our veterans groups are just phenomenal in carroll county.

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We have veteran support officers on the ready for veterans to be identified and serviced as.

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They should be no other jurisdiction. No other county incur in maryland has what we have and.

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It's because it started from the bottom up and that's creating a veterans, advisory council and.

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Understanding the needs of our veterans from transportation to support officers.

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And then we put our money where our mouth is and our money is. Your money is the community's money.

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um To taking care of a population that, I believe deserves uh what they, what they receive thanks.

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Chris we'll put that up and um and it's not just men and women in green. But it's also in red and.

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Blue and that's why involvement from commissioner karen in the esac is so important to be boots on.

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The ground, understanding the uh you know the the challenges uh of those that they don't run.

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Into the fire they walk and they walk carefully and do what's right and take care of a community.

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As people are walking away, but just want to highlight that, for you so best thing you can do.

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um Especially for this july, 4th coming up is say, thank you to those that are in uniform those that.

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Have served to allow us to be who we are and what we're doing, and it's a it's kind of a good.

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Reminder: okay um last thing: we we have a couple of well. We have a joint meeting coming up in a.

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Few weeks in a couple weeks, joint meeting with the board of head 12th, the 12th and you know we're I'm.

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Bringing this up, because what commissioner kyler said: the importance of relationships with the.

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Delegation, but also with the board of education, um it's challenging uh and it's even more challenging.

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When you make decisions uh without your input and that's why a lot of you here want to provide your.

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Input that's allows us to make the best decisions we can uh for the community in the county.

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If there are challenge, if there are issues you want us to bring up during these joint.

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Meetings, let us know uh I have not heard that we're not responsive. So that's a good.

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Thing we try to be very responsive to all of you, so just want to throw that out. There.

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um Okay, let me stop there, I know we have a proclamation and our newly acting uh wrecking.

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Parks chief right, lisa carroll is in front of us, but before you get to talk, let's hear what.

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Commissioner, vigliotti has to say proclamation for park and recreation month july 2023, whereas.

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Recreation and par programs are an integral part of communities throughout this country, including.

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Carroll, county maryland and recreation and parks are vitally important to the quality of life in.

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Our communities supporting the health of citizens and contributing to the economic and environmental.

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Well-Being of the community and recreation in parks provide a safe place for children and adults.

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To connect with nature and recreate outdoors and recreation in parks encourage physical.

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Activities by providing space for popular sports trails for walking and hiking and many other.

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Activities designed to promote active lifestyles and recreation in parks promote lifelong learning.

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Opportunities and provide rewarding activities for families and to the carroll county department.

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Of recreation in parks connects people parks and programs in support of a strong, healthy community.

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And natural environment now, therefore, we, the board of carroll county commissioners, do hereby proclaim.

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July's park and recreation month in carroll county and urge all of our communities to explore.

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And enjoy the beauty of carroll county's parks and participate in one of the many recreation.

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Programs and events adopted this 29th day of june 2023 signed the entire board of carroll.

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County commissioners, like commissioner kyler said, we can't do it without the volunteers and we can't.

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Do it without the leadership that's provided by our wrecking park? So thank you so much lisa.

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Thank you. So what are your thoughts? We do have a fabulous staff and we do have a large number of.

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Volunteers, some 400 4 000, plus side volunteers, so we are very fortunate with the amount of service.

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That's being provided to the county for the month of july, we have a list of activities.

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That are coming up. We are actually doing a scavenger hunt in our parks. We're highlighting.

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10 parks, where families or individuals can go out answer the clues. It's kind of.

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Backup it's kind of like amazing race, but there's no timeline they have the entire month to do it.

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But they do physically need to be in the parks to be able to answer those questions we have it set.

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Up so they can use the qr code qr code to do it on a smart device. However, those that don't have.

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That capability are able to call in or email the office to um get the answer, so they can get to the.

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Next location, we are giving away prizes for the month month of july for those that complete the.

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Scavenger hunt, we have a hershey park. Tickets are the big one and we're have various gift cards. Then.

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In addition to that, we have some free movies for the public, we're watching one at the farm museum.

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On july 19th, we have a event at pioneer run park, outdoor movie, which is an adult only 18.

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And older we were asked to to just do something for adults, so we have that at pioneer run park at.

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The end of the month, it's in the cara arts center showing free movies the entire month of july, on.

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Tuesday nights at the carroll community college, so those are some exciting things for the month.

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Cool 4, 000 plus volunteers- that's incredible it is, it really is. We are very fortunate.

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A few weeks ago I went to um howard county and the president of the board of mako.

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um Has the opportunity to host us and he highlights the first day different.

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Activities and facilities within the county second day we talk about. You, know different.

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Active legislative issues, but the first day he brought us to a couple parks and I talked to.

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The head of their wrecking parks and the amount of folks that they have in their wrecking parks.

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Is just amazing number compared to what we have um I mean they have like a few hundred. You know.

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And uh and I'm not shy to say it and we don't you know we have how many on our staff I want.

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To say 22, maybe 25 full-time, but we so staff wise compared to howard county. We we are tiny. We are.

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Dwarfed and the reason we are so good at what we do is those volunteers and the leadership and the.

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25, but you know we could not do it without those volunteers, at least that's what I've recognized so.

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um Any thoughts I would agree- and I think a lot of them are here yeah I mean I think, they're all.

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Sitting back here, so they just happen to be here today as well. So thank you. Thank.

D

You thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you anything else. Okay, do you want to get a picture perfect.

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Chris is already posturing right. I saw him in here taking pictures.

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Where's your big check.

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Right right here.

G

Very good, thank you.

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As I'm sitting down I'm just watching that's the thing.

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Thank you very much.

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I hope jeff was watching walking slowly [laughter].

I

A

Okay, so item one proposed amendments to changing uh amendment to chapter 94.036.

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Department of recreation parks lisa, I expect you're still there. Yes, you are.

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um Do you want to start yes, commissioner, again, this is a.

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This is a public hearing, and the purpose of the public hearing is to solicit comments from you on.

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A proposal that would allow uh e-bikes or like electric bikes on certain designated uh county.

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Park trails, if you want to speak, as commissioner ronstein said, please fill out one of the pink.

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Cards hand it to the county administrator, and we ask that you limit your comments to three.

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Minutes each uh I note that this was advertised in the carroll county times twice over the past.

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Several weeks and had has been posted prominently on the county's website with you is uh again lisa.

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Carroll who's our acting director of reckon park, she's going to give you a little background on.

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The proposal to tell you what's in it and why reckon parks is proposing it okay, so why don't.

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We start with you lisa and then we'll open up for comments all right, so very good. So.

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Guarding the allowing class one e-bikes and to some of our carroll county parks, there are.

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Four parks that allow horseback riding, which would be affected by this change,.

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To the park ordinance and that skills falls the undeveloped side of pioneering park union.

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Mills and spiegel hill- the information that I handed you guys just a moment ago outlines the.

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Trails there's maps attached to that which outlines the trails where our equestrian.

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Community right, could you speak up? Please I'm sorry. I will do so.

C

So the current ordinance only allows bicycles or motor or does not allow or does not address bikes.

C

Bicycles or motorized vehicles and currently does not allow those on our trails paved or not paved.

C

The goals for allowing e-bikes would be to ensure that e-bike use is done in a.

C

Socially and environmentally responsible way allow people to access trails that may.

C

Not be able to do so without the aid of an e-bike educate, the public on proper trail etiquette and.

C

Achieve consistency between the ordinance and the current conditions, because we are.

C

Volunteers, the community are seeing e-bikes already out on some of these trails, so possible.

C

Actions are no change to the ordinance, allow only certain class or classes of e-bikes in all areas.

C

Or allow certain classes or or class of e-bikes only in designated areas. So on february the 22nd.

C

We had our advisory board had a input public input hearing on the issue of e-bikes on our trails.

C

And after reviewing the code after a director day gets reviewed the code with advisory board.

C

The advisory board made a recommendation to change the ordinance. The change of the ordinance would.

C

Affect the section 94.033 to include a statement allowing for the usage of class e bikes only on.

C

Designated trails and county parks and that's why we're here today: okay, um this reminder.

A

These aren't directional, so if you've moved that towards you a little bit easier, um any questions.

A

For miss carol this time, so just as a quick clarification, can you talk a little bit about.

B

What class 1 e-bikes actually are because I've I've you know, tried to to determine.

B

Or to distinguish between them I mean I know like some of them. You have to pedal to get them.

B

Moving some of them have higher rates of speed. I mean what are we talking about specifically.

B

When we're talking about class one e-bikes so class, one e-bike is a bicycle that will.

C

Not move unless the user is pedaling, it can get up to the speed of 20 miles per hour, but.

C

Once the user stops pedaling that assistance of that motor is not engaged, it's not active.

H

Okay, quick, quick excuse me quick question. You had mentioned that there's four affected parks.

E

For this uh possible ordinance change, is that the total number of parks, or is that just those.

E

That this would be allowed upon. If changed, it's, not the total number of parks, but these are the.

C

Parks, I think that we were wanting e-bikes to to be allowed our other paved areas that we have.

C

Within our parks really are not conducive to to an e-bike they're, more of the the looping paved.

C

Trail that goes around some of the park sites. We, we don't have like a rails trails, where we.

C

Have like a park to park destination designation, so we are thinking that these are the four areas.

C

That would be affected the most by the addition of e-bikes. Thank you, the um the trail. That's.

A

Is it a state trail that's going to be connecting freedom park? What's that called.

A

um Which, I remember uh is that do you know, are they authorizing e-bikes on that or you.

A

Don't know currently, the state of maryland only has two sites that they allow e-bikes.

C

On and those are their greenways, and I can't I think I have it in here.

C

I do not have it in front of me, but there are two currently the state of maryland does not allow.

C

E-Bikes on their trails and they allow them on on two specific sites that are like a greenway. Okay,.

A

I apologize sir, not not not now. Let me this is directional with uh miss carol.

A

But you'll have the opportunity: um it's not to be rude. It's just it's easier. This way.

A

Okay: okay, um any other questions, so that the four parks that are in consideration.

B

Are all utilized by equestrians they're multi-use trails, um how many parks all.

B

Together across the county are utilized by horses, those four they're just just.

B

These four- and these are also just the four that are suit- would be suitable for e-bikes, correct.

C

K

Okay, any uh any other questions to be asked now. I know we've received emails.

A

um And they, you know, I'm sure you have as well.

A

um So they are all part of this public comments up and through today, unless we decide to continue.

A

It, but just to be aware, in other words, you didn't have to necessarily just be here.

A

Your public comments or your comments are, are listened to and captured as well.

A

um That that's our process! Okay, so if there's yeah go ahead and just one more comment.

F

um So for today the decision will be to close the public hearing and allow 10 more days for.

F

Public comments, yeah and, and uh so that's the only decision made today now moving forward.

F

If it helps for the people with public comment,.

F

um We could decide, there's no change whatsoever, we could decide this class of e-bikes could go.

F

Anyplace they want, or we could restrict where they go and all that's still an option to be had by by.

F

Us correct, yes, correct, yeah yep, it's here here or anything in between and uh you know so listening.

A

To the comments that are going to be coming in front of us, you know getting to understand here.

A

Here and everything in between definitely will help. So um if there's no other questions comments.

A

For the good, the order I mean I have, I have some comments, but I think I can wait. I can hold it. Okay,.

A

um Nothing else: okay, lisa you get to stay there. This is not a um just for the through the group.

A

A um a two-way conversation: this is a one-way conversation for us to allow uh be allowed to.

A

Listen to you and capture your thoughts on notes and then go from there. If there are specific.

A

Questions that we may have you know we're not I'm not going to stop that, but just the expectations.

A

Shouldn't be there from you uh so with that said uh chris, why don't we put up to three minutes.

A

And as shared, I will be the best time keeper I can being judicious on the three minutes.

A

uh Not to be rude, but it is a large group and if your comments have been heard before.

A

um You may want to amplify them, but it may not be necessary just to continue to.

A

Repeat them, but I will do my best in allowing you to finish your thoughts.

A

So, but also move on so with that roberta, I don't think they're pink cards. I think.

A

They're salmon aren't they, but I just yeah okay, mr burke, there's salmon not pink. You.

A

Know, just you know, that's pink your face! No you're! It's that's much more of a painting.

J

Go ahead, can I have three minutes to respond? Did you fill out a card.

L

Aina harrison.

L

Come to the microphone state, your name, your dress and say your.

I

My name is aina harrison. I live at 6839 simpson, road in glen rock pennsylvania, but I ride the.

I

Maryland trails, mainly union mills and my concern- is just safety on the trails. It's.

I

Very nice to go out to union mills and have a ride without having to worry about. You know.

I

Bikes and motorized vehicles- the horses are very skittish about these things. They come up behind.

I

Them especially when they come up behind them, they really scare them and it's dangerous for us now.

I

I know I'm not against e-bikes and people riding them, but [music] um I don't know as.

I

You say: there's only four parks, four places in carroll county that we can ride and of those.

I

Four, I you know, I don't know that all four would uh need to accommodate the e-bikes and if they do.

I

um That there should be some um regulations as to what happens when you meet up with each other.

I

What the bike is supposed to do or the you know the rider which you know, you're riding an animal.

I

That has a mind of its own, so you can't always control it, whereas on a bike you have control.

I

So I mean that's what I wanted to say. No, I appreciate it and.

A

The horse I was showing you is a warm blood. Some people will call it a dumb blood. So I understand.

A

About having a mind of its own that you do understand, um okay, thank you. Tracy mccommon,.

M

Hello, I'm tracy mccammon and I live very close to union mills and we have four horses and I.

M

Have two children, one's 18 and one is 14 and we all like to ride at union mills. It's only.

M

Very close to our house and I like to get my boys out to ride and spend time outside away from the.

M

Computers and give them good things to look at around us and again, I'm not against e-bikes, but.

M

My thought is that if there are only four parks in carroll county that allow horses, why are you.

M

Even considering allowing e-bikes there when there are so many other parks where they can go.

M

We like to ride at union mills because it's the quietest place, we can ride. It's.

M

The safest place we can ride, we don't have e-bikes there to worry about even.

M

Bikes that come whizzing up from behind or from in front pose a threat in a danger.

M

And I would suggest that you consider starting out with e-bikes, where there aren't horses and.

M

See how it goes there and you know, keep I mean: we've paid a lot of money for horses in the region.

M

I mean we buy horse trailers, we buy trucks, we buy tack, we buy horses, we have farms, we pay lots of.

M

Taxes, we spend a great deal of money, that's a lot more than e-bikes e-bikes. Are you buy an e-bike.

M

You maintain it, it's not expensive, but we spend a lot of money and we usually are people that have.

M

A lot of taxes to pay too, so I because we have quite uh you, know, engage I mean we are engaged.

M

When we have horses you, you really are spending a lot of money for these horses. You want a safe.

M

Place to ride them, and I just think it's just important to keep the safety, give us a safe.

M

Place to ride where we can enjoy the outdoors too, where our e-bikes can be on other parks, where they.

M

Allow bikes that horses aren't allowed. So it's a matter of safety. It's a matter of um you know.

M

Keeping horse people happy and we don't want e-bikes on horse trails. It's too dangerous and.

M

Horses are skittish and you know not. Everybody has a bomb proof force, maybe like 10 percent of people.

M

So it's just a matter of safety. Thank you absolutely thank you. Karen durilla.

N

Good morning my name is karen darella. I live at 3000, zach drive in mount airy maryland and I just.

N

Wanted to provide a few comments. um I have 10 years experience doing trail, maintenance.

N

As part of the carroll county equestrian council and also was a volunteer amount of patrol member.

N

At patapsco valley state park for about seven years, and you know I like everybody- to be able.

N

To go outside and enjoy what? What is there, but again as everyone who says, safety is an issue.

N

um Right now, the way things work with multi-use trails works pretty good. I think, for those that.

N

Haven't seen the trail courtesy um bikers yield to walkers, as well as equestrians and walkers, yield.

N

To horses again, what's been said, an animal is less predictable, so you have to give them a wide area.

N

Of birth, with our trails in these parks that we've mentioned they're, not huge trails, we're trying to.

N

Keep the imprint small to keep things natural, so there's not always a lot of area to for two.

N

Two horses to pass, let alone a horse and a moving vehicle, so the the as with bikes when they come.

N

They get off the trail and then allow the horses to pass, but with a motorized bicycle you'd have to.

N

Turn the motor off, because you don't know how the horse is going to react. Even if I saw when I see.

N

A bike coming, you can always call out horses, you know, because we both need to respect the trail, but.

N

If the motor was running, I don't know that they could hear me. I also worry about um blind curves.

N

And hills because I don't know what's coming around the corner, they don't know if there's.

N

A horse there and you never should travel any farther than what you can see. So I think safety is.

N

Definitely an issue also, there are environmental concerns when you're traveling at speed up to 20.

N

Miles an hour, if you were going to be making a a turn, you would have to have a wider area.

N

To do that, so that's going to impact the width of the trails. Also, the national environmental policy.

N

Act requires a review of the environmental impacts associated with expanded e-bike use, so there would.

N

Have to be environmental impact, statements done, or environmental assessments performed at these parks.

N

I also wanted to point out that in october of 2019 a lawsuit challenged the forest service decision.

N

To permit e-bikes on non-motorized trails in the tahoe national forest in california.

N

The suit was settled and the national forest clarified that e-bikes are no longer permitted.

N

On non-motorized trails, they're only allowed on national forest system, roads and trails.

N

Which are specifically designated for motor vehicles, so it doesn't make sense to me when.

N

There's lots of paved areas where a bike would go or a motorized thing would go. That's where.

N

They should be, if you have mountain bikes on dirt trails. We don't have horses on highways.

N

So we just need to keep everybody in their lanes. um There's also the concern of noise, the.

N

Additional noise: there are a lot of homes in the piney run area and those people that moved into.

N

Those areas it's attractive to live next to nature space, because you know it's going to be quieter.

N

And finally, I'm just concerned about um public perception. You know it's e-bikes.

N

And then do people know it's class one class, two class three. What's to prevent dirt bikes.

N

Or motorcycles and there's no enforcement, so that's really problematic because we.

N

Have regulations, speed limits on highways and things like that to let people know.

N

Don't don't test that there's there's rules, so thank you. Sorry. I went over linda rogers.

L

And after linda it'll be eric powers and then maria hillegas.

O

Good morning, good morning my name is linda rogers and I live at. Actually I live in gettysburg and.

O

But I use the maryland trails and have lived down here almost all of my life and my concern.

O

Is they're um throughout my life and especially I'm going to bring up rockford state, I mean.

O

O

Rock creek state park when I was young, I would go there and I would ride my parents would take me.

O

Red horses would ride. There was a great you know. The park presence. Was there the.

O

Park, police and everything, and it was the people from dc- would come out. They.

O

Were equestrians, it was a wonderful place. Now it's a great portion of it has been.

O

Paved over it's not horse friendly anymore, that's a huge loss. My concern is that.

O

Now this is the first step into our encroaching on our trail, so we only have four in this area.

O

And I come all the way down here to ride with the people, because the trails are quiet, they're, horse.

O

Friendly and my major concern is that this is the first step to us losing these dreams.

O

So that's that's my major concern, but the other one is absolutely.

O

A bad idea, a bad decision to put horses and motorized vehicles together on a trail.

O

Because you've got a 20 mile, an hour of bike capable of going 20 miles an hour.

O

And I'll I'll take the union bridge trails, they're up and they're down and they're windy.

O

Somebody on a bike going 20 miles an hour is going to jump off those hills and slide around.

O

Those turns and there's a horse, people are going to get hurt. Horses are going to get hurt, it's a.

O

Disastrous decision, a bad decision and one that is going to leave the county open to litigation.

O

Because the people are going to be hurt, the animals are going to be hurt. The environment's.

O

Going to be disturbed- and it's a huge issue for you to think about, because you're opening.

O

Yourself to a huge liability, a liability that is based in provable fact and knowledge and.

O

That's mostly our concern loss of use, safety and accountability. Thank you. Thank you. Eric powers.

P

Super nervous don't be hi eric powers. I live out on 2906 littlestown pike.

P

um I don't tell many people about this, but uh in 2009 I uh was put on permanent disability.

P

From a work-related injury and in 2013, that's when I moved out to littlestown pike.

P

um Like a lot of people in my situation, went through depression and gained lots of weight.

P

You know about 2017 2018, I was 330 plus pounds and I wanted to change my life. Actually, you know.

P

And I, the first thing I did was to start volunteering, which thank you very much.

P

I started volunteering at union mills and uh I've been volunteering by you, know: cleaning up trash.

P

And doing things as I walk through the different cwmas around carroll county and things like that.

P

um Now I ended up not only volunteering but hiking the trails doing the different things.

P

And I was able to get myself down to about 290 pounds, but I plateaued I couldn't go no further.

P

So fast forward to the beginning of uh 2022 got my first e-bike right away within the first six.

P

Months I was able to drop 60 pounds and, um if I'm being honest, I didn't know about this ordinance.

P

You know, I I didn't know it wasn't allowed in the trails. I've been passing the horse people and you.

P

Know I usually yell out hey I'm behind you or they yelled, hey, we're in front of you and you.

P

Know I pull over and they say thank you and they walk by and thank you have a great day or a week.

P

You know shoot the [ __ ] for a minute and say hi nice weather. What's going on around carroll county.

P

um That's just the way it is so uh I guess the point to my story is: is yeah, you know it.

P

I want to be able to write on these trails. You know, I don't see a problem with it and it's helped.

P

Me a lot you can see this. This body you see here is thanks to this e-bike. I was actually able to.

P

Get off high blood pressure medicine. You know I've been able to turn my life around with this e-bike.

P

And uh it'd be a real damn! Shame if you know kind of ride and enjoy the same space as everybody else.

P

Join especially since I volunteer to help out in these places, uh I think it's a lot of what.

P

I'm hearing is it's just about education and what people want to know, and you know if we.

P

Could work together to you know, get past that it's the main thing, so uh thank you.

K

Absolutely thank you so maria hillegas. Oh, can I see one last thing sure um now a lot of e-bikes.

P

Are sold class too? I'm not sure. If this went through would we have to modify our bikes to.

P

Class one because you know on the from what I can tell the class 2 have a throttle, and I use that.

P

Throttle like when I can't pedal like to get off the hill, I have to kick it like a scooter to try.

P

To help get myself up or use that throttle to help push the bicycle up a hill, because those bikes are.

P

Like 80 90 pounds, you know, and I you can't you know, it'd be impossible for me with my injuries.

P

To push a 90 pound bike up a hill, especially in these trails, yeah. So, okay, I don't know thank you.

L

So after maria she's coming to the mic, it'll be darlene, welsh and welsh, yeah and then gene so well.

Q

This is a follow-up to the email I already sent all of you guys um good morning. Thank you for.

Q

Allowing me the opportunity to voice my opinion regarding the use of class 1, electric bikes in.

Q

Our park, my name, is maria hillegass, I'm a carroll county resident. I'm an active and avid horseback.

Q

Rider- and I trail ride- often mainly union mills- sometimes gillis falls. um I frequent the local.

Q

State and county parks surrounding areas, many of the trails I ride were originally forged by.

Q

Horseback riders- um I am against allowing any motorized or self-propelled, bikes or other type.

Q

Of vehicles to use or have access to our shared use, trails within new mills and pioneeron and.

Q

The other parks that were mentioned, I believe we should follow the leading regulations of.

Q

Other maryland state and county parks such as mckelden and little bennett at the moment.

Q

um Safety is the biggest issue here, the speed they can gain and how quickly they can approach is a.

Q

Very quiet manner: um these are a few the reasons I believe they should not be allowed at this time.

Q

I also believe that if the use of e class 1 electric bikes are allowed that there will.

Q

This one need to be regulated somehow and how are we going to regulate just keeping them at.

Q

Class one they all kind of look alike. To me I know some don't have a throttle. Some have.

Q

A throttle sometimes that throttle has it's it's a very high kind of pitch sound, that's quiet to.

Q

A lot of people's ears, but horses can hear that um most of the cyclists that I run into on these.

Q

um Trails are, are great, they're very courteous, but I have had some come up behind me very quickly.

Q

On the wide areas, I've also had a few discussions where they're like your horse can go just as fast.

Q

But we can only go fast on a straightaway, that's wide where you can see, um and you know that you.

Q

Can see down the trail, we can't go quick around these turns we don't go fast downhill and that's.

Q

Where I see safety concerns as well, so while this is still being hashed out and trying to figure out.

Q

What will be the safest for the future? I think we should table this, um and uh that's just my.

Q

Biggest question is how to regulate, so thank you guys once again. Okay, thank you. Darlene, welsh and.

L

Then the last name jeans, last name it looks like it's spelled: s-o-w-a, it's joanne, so joanne. Sorry.

L

Jordan, that's okay! Hi! My name is darlene welsh. I live at 2132 brown road in finksburg.

R

And I'm the president of the carroll county, equestrian council and we have established.

R

To provide incline recreation and education in carroll county, the carroll county, equestrian.

R

Council is wasting concerns regarding the safety of of equestrians and other trail users.

R

Of motorized vehicles also referred to as class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the natural surface trails.

R

At union mills and piney run undeveloped area for many years and even more recently, the presence of.

R

Motorized vehicles, including e-bikes, has increased on the natural surface trails. There is no.

R

Enforcement of the current ordinance prohibiting motorized vehicles and no plan to provide.

R

Enforcement, another component of the current ordinance that is not enforced, includes dogs must.

R

Be on a leash when, in full foliage the trails at union mills and pioneer run undeveloped area have.

R

Limited sight lines and blind curves. This creates a hazardous situation when a cyclist is suddenly.

R

Behind a horse or suddenly approaching a horse with the potential serious injury, the natural.

R

Surf surface trails created by equestrians at union mills and piney run undeveloped area are the.

R

Only trails accessible to equestrians, cyclists and hikers are permitted on joshua trails, equestrians.

R

Are not we, the carroll county equestrian council, oppose e-bikes on the trails at union mills and.

R

Piney run undeveloped area. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns. Thank you. Ma'am.

L

Joanne and then ellen styers and stairs okay. Well, I'm both in it. Excuse me my name is joanne.

S

Sowa I've been a. I live at 1199 frizzell road in southern part of the county. I'm an equestrian and.

S

I've also been a bike rider and I hope I don't get excommunicated for what I'm about to say by.

S

My equestrian friends, but I want to say that there are plenty of reasonable arguments for.

S

Pro and con for e-bikes being allowed out on the trails, user, safety and user fitness.

S

Should not be in opposition of each other, and yet that is the elephant in the room and is what we're.

S

Dealing with when considering e-bikes on trails at union mills, we can, how can the different user.

S

Groups coexist safely on the trails. Well problem number one, as I said, is the trails are not created.

S

For biking purposes, most of the trails at union mills are not constructed to be safe for bikes and.

S

Especially not e-bikes, in fact, most of the trails at union mills are constructed a single track.

S

Trail only wide enough for one person and the trails in many spots have no space for moving over.

S

Or to move off of the trail to allow for a bike to pass or a horse to turn around and go another way.

S

I have ridden horses on multi-user trails in many places across the country. I've competed.

S

Riding 50 miles in a day 100 miles in a day over over the most horrific terrain, you'd.

S

Ever want to know about, but um when it comes to mindfully constructed trail that are multi-uses.

S

Like in tennessee and big south fork that are for general purposes that are allowed for both.

S

Wheeled and equine and foot traffic, the travel was, the trail was gravel and very wide wide enough to.

S

Drive a horse-drawn carriage with plenty of room for moving aside and turning around etc. We do not.

S

Have that on the trails that you're talking about opening up problem number two another.

S

Problem is e-bikers present on the union mill trails that they can travel uphill and downhill.

S

Faster without having developed the necessary bike, control skills that a person riding a non-electric.

S

Bike would have acquired okay, so my point is, I can say from my recent personal horseback.

S

Riding experience is that there is nothing quite as thrilling as having a bike rider come up on me.

S

From behind a blind turn and then have to hit the brakes hard, turning into a sideways skidding bike.

S

Headed for me and my horse, there is so only so much as a writer I can do to control the first few.

S

Milliseconds of a reactive, self-preserving panic, my horse is going to experience. If I can manage.

S

To stay on top of my horse after the bike ride or induced radioactics subside, it will be a good.

S

Learning experience for the bike rider about trail etiquette, but not for my horse. My horse will never.

S

Forget that moment- and I will have to untrain that moment for many many rides yet to come.

S

As for me, if I fall off there's a good chance, I will hurt myself: I'm a senior citizen.

S

And may require medical care. Will the bike rider be held accountable for my injuries as I would be.

S

Held accountable, if my horse caused damages, the commissioners should expect and consider future.

S

Planning, because, under the current conditions, there will be crashes and accidents that will.

S

Require medical treatment and even emergency access into the union mills trails by local.

S

Emts is that available? Is that possible? How hurt can we be and how how easily will we be.

S

Able to get help, I ask that the commissioners postpone their decision on this issue until a.

S

Cross-Function team of people from the both user groups can review the trails for suitability and.

S

Safety and the other factors that would be required to allow e-bikes on such a.

S

Trail for right-of-way and dangerous and unsuitable trails for e-bikes put. Are we.

S

Going to be able to put signage out there to to make sure that bikes only go this way and.

S

Horseback riders go that way. I mean: how do we do it? How do we actually coexist by.

S

Seeing my time's up so I'm just going to yield to the floor, I thank you so much ellen's, tired.

T

Good morning my name is ellen stars and I live in carroll county. Since 1978 I've had horses for 46.

T

Years I spent a good portion of my life with my horses and educating myself on all. I could learn.

T

About them, I do not think that having motorized vehicles on trails with horses at union mills are.

T

The safest thing for the following reasons: when horses are startled or spooked, their reaction can.

T

Be anything from a 360 spin to bolting, bucking or jumping off trail to avoid wood, scaring them.

T

Once again, we ride a thousand pound animal with the mind of its own. um Mr diggers have made the.

T

Comment that allowing ebikes on trail can be managed with no impact on hikers or equestrians.

T

I ride these trails over there all the time and it is common for some bikers to ride up behind.

T

You on an unannounced and usually it's your horse that lets you know someone is behind you.

T

um I also say that additional signage will not help educate the public.

T

It won't help, in my opinion, at all, because people don't read signs now.

T

They don't follow their directions, there's dogs off leash and there are currently e-bikes already.

T

On trail, as this young man stated, and so no one reads the signs and obeys the the rules as they.

T

Are there's also a very limited amount of wide trails over there to accommodate two user groups.

T

At any one time, majority of these sale trails are windy, narrow and twisty, with very limited sight.

T

Ahead, it's a lot of right now, a lot of foliage, that's high, so you know now you're to the point.

T

Where you really can't go trotting and let your horse out, because you don't know what's coming.

T

Around that blind curve ahead of you, because you can't see, there's also no one to monitor what.

T

Class of blanket any anybody's going to bring onto the trail the park has no one to do this.

T

um Mr david said the idea that this will be an honor system. Well, hardly it's not going to work.

T

Because nobody obeys the current signs there now and county workers are already strapped with what.

T

They have to do. I believe that this ordinance has changed to allow e-bikes. There will be many.

T

Out-Of-County people coming to utilize the trails making them very dangerous due to the amount of.

T

Riders and other user groups, if we do if, if they are allowed there, carroll county, will be known as.

T

The go-to place it will be very crowded. There's trails over at union mills are not conducive to.

T

That much wear and tear they're, not sustainable so um and most important. There is no master trail.

T

Map for union mills showing the emergency access points to rescue, so they could get into the park.

T

If necessary, the access points have been marked, but with no master trail map. How would rescue be.

T

Able to find the injured party there again, if you have a biker comment from a blind curve, you have a.

T

Horse coming this way, you have a ridge trail here and a severe drop off here. You can have a rider.

T

And horse just go tumbling down: who's, gonna who's, gonna rescue, the horse, who's going to be liable.

T

um So I would um one request I would like to make: is the one or two of the commissioners come out on.

T

These trails at union mills and I have a horse that I can put somebody on and it's very quiet.

T

That you look at these trails, so you understand what we're talking about some of these trails.

T

Like we said, are only 12 defense 15 inches wide, even two horses cannotch one one they're coming.

T

From different directions, somebody's got to get off a lot of the trails and they're all stickers.

T

So you have to go to a place where it's safe to get off, so these trails are not really can.

T

Do so there's only boulevard some other trails that are wide enough to accommodate two user.

T

Groups, at the same time, thank you man, most of the rest of them over. There are not. I ride there. All.

T

The time I know these trails- and I hope you consider it no, I I appreciate I actually may.

A

Consider taking you up on that offer, as I find it therapeutic myself um we'll see. What's that.

L

Jean shorts and then diona yeah, I'm sorry. I wasn't sure whether it was andrew.

U

Hi, I'm gene swartz, I'm a carroll county native and regrettably I probably am the oldest one here as.

U

Far as association with the union mills trails about 40 years ago, I went in front of the parks.

U

And rec board- and I asked them this vacant land- that the county bought up was taxpayer.

U

Dollars can't we use it for some trails, it was to be flooded one day for a reservoir, which we.

U

All know now won't happen. I was told to select some people, I set up a committee and we went.

U

Out- and we personally built the trails we had a mine erosion horseshoes, we were horse people.

U

We had one county um parks and rec person and mike whitson facilities. I guess.

U

But all the work was done at no cost to the county volunteers. Did it all.

U

Volunteers that were horse people built the trails, thus you're hearing the narrow.

U

Later they decided they needed a fire road, so they brought in a dozer and made the boulevard.

U

Horrible erosion problem there's been accidents with bikes on that hill.

U

The narrow trails are covered with canopy, less erosion. Well, horses aren't allowed in asheville.

U

But hashwell discovered the horse trails and then the hikers came and then they would get.

U

Lost in the hikers would be guided back by horse people to get back to safety. Then the bikers came.

U

I love more. I love the carroll county question and council they're into educating users.

U

But we have to remember that there are yahoos, we'll call them out.

U

There that don't abide by rules aren't educated.

U

And they're the ones that we have to think about when we put use into being. To give you an example.

U

I was on my horse. A bike with earbuds and head down came flying around a curve into me. My horse.

U

Had to sit rear and turn as the biker jumped off his bike and the bike just kept sliding right.

U

Towards us I have a good trail horse, he did not panic. This is, I was I'm lucky. Guy was with me and.

U

The biker- but these are the things that are unable that we have to think about when we make plans.

U

um Parking with covid everybody discovered our loving park.

U

So you need to put other things in line adequate parking, adequate education and.

U

Adequate trails for the type of use they paved our dirt road, which was part of the trail system,.

U

I guess if it's set up for e-bikes already, because now the cars are flying down, that.

U

Road, you have to be real careful when you're on that part of the trail. So I want you to think.

U

About the history, I want you to think about enforcement. I want to thank you about uh speed.

U

And trail appropriateness when you make a decision on this, thank you very much.

L

V

W

Good morning my name is fioni andrew and I live in east nicodemus road and I've been in question.

W

Forever but everybody who really has hit the points that they're steep trails, lots of corners.

W

And my concern is: the park is going to turn into a motocross area, because nobody knows.

W

Type 1 type, 2 type 3 bikes. So if you're going to have the site type one, maybe you might.

W

Think about making it a medical issue, because everybody else has touched these other points.

W

But if somebody does have a medical issue that needs to use these, maybe a form needs to be filled.

W

Out and then the bike gets inspected and maybe a handicapped sticker, possibly with a number that we.

W

Can track who's out there that it's not just some kid out there? That is too lazy to put over break.

W

um That's kind of my point I I appreciate okay, thank you.

A

X

Paula martin, I live in the taylorsville area of carroll county and have for many years have a.

X

Small format and I'm a lifelong horse woman just turned 70. raised my daughter to be a horse woman.

X

She's very active in the horse community and in my way I still am too loved trail ride. I want.

X

You to know that at least a few years ago, when the department of agric maryland department of.

X

Agriculture did an equine study. They determined that the equine industry was the fifth leading.

X

Industry, this is dollars fifth leading industry in maryland, and that is very well represented in.

X

Carroll county from breeders to trail riders, little kids, the youngest writers. I have known.

X

Well, she wasn't writing independently, but was two and I have known independent writers to be five.

X

I started my daughter fox hunting on lead line at five now she's very accomplished.

X

But horses are prey animals and their instinct is to flee something that they fear.

X

And they can be very well trained and pretty much unflappable, but they don't start out that.

X

Way, they start out very inexperienced tentative and it takes a while a long time to build up the.

X

Kind of trail horse that somebody offered to take you guys out. That's that's years.

X

Of dedication and training and experience and it's a lot of trust between a horse and rider.

X

When these horses do panic, they're dangerous, they're, dangerous to themselves, other horses.

X

And I have an example for you that I personally witnessed there's a large group of people, I'm.

X

18 or 20 writing single file the horse at the very back panicked.

X

He ran into a couple horses in front of him was raring. His writer was dislodged.

X

He went off in another direction, then he realized he was alone and came back and ran into this.

X

Stream of horses, and of course they were upset by the noise, had a cascade effect. Ultimately,.

X

Nine riders were unhorsed, one horse stayed around because she's not convinced she's, not a person.

X

And the other eight horses formed a herd and ran rampant through the agricultural.

X

Area north of westminster, they were gone for three hours. We had multiple people out, searching.

X

um I was heavily involved in that because one of the horse, the horse that didn't run away, was mine.

X

I wasn't unhorsed, my husband was unhorsed, he was only on horse, he is a good horseman, but.

X

Because his saddle slipped sideways but having multi-use trails is dangerous unless you have.

X

Very controlled conditions, unless they're somehow separated unless it's closely monitored and every.

X

Horse person here, whatever they said so far, has been open, honest and needs to be taken into your.

X

Strong consideration, I think the study suggested are one of your best avenues. Thank you very much.

L

Rodney bush.

Y

Good morning my name is suzanne garofalo. I live in downtown historic sykesville. I've only lived.

Y

In maryland, for a few years specifically moved to carroll county because, through the.

Y

Agricultural opportunities and the equestrian opportunities- I love this area, so thank you.

Y

Very much also to those of you who built the trails and volunteer very much appreciated.

Y

I've been riding horses for 40 something years.

Y

Pedal vehicles or motorized vehicles, but I love that people want to get outdoors. I would just like.

Y

Us to be able to find a way to share them a lot of my other concerns of invoiced by other people. So.

Y

I'm just wondering: is there a group of bike riders who have a similar setup to like the carroll.

Y

County equestrian group, where you guys, can maybe go out and improve trails on one of the other.

Y

Than these four parks, no okay, I've heard some comments that we are considered selfish and that.

Y

This is a personal choice. It's not selfish for self-preservation and parking was mentioned. My rig.

Y

Is 30 feet long? It's going to be really hard for me to get in and out of a parking lot. That is now.

Y

Filled with personal cars and for me to load up the rig with the horses and all the gear, blah blah.

Y

It's kind of an undertaking, so if I do that and I go to a park and I want to ride- and I get there.

Y

And it's full of cars and there's nowhere for me to park. That's really a hassle just something to.

Y

Consider all my other concerns have already been voiced. Thank you very much. I appreciate thank you.

Z

Hi, my name is rodney bush. I live in union bridge 3865 watson, lane I've moved in carroll.

Z

County about 2001. I've seen a tremendous population growth since I've been here.

Z

I'm an avid e-bike rider. I've got 3 700 miles on my e-bikes that I've had in.

Z

The last three years I ride several on the road I ride, one on the trail.

Z

um About 20 years ago, when I moved here, I started getting degenerative back problems. I couldn't ride.

Z

My pedal bike when I first moved here, I used to ride a full suspension, pedal mountain bike on.

Z

Joshua trails- quite often I hardly ever saw any horse people there ever since then, you know I've.

Z

Kind of been strapped to the sofa so to speak, and then kind of domesticated picked up a few.

Z

Pounds I learned about e-bikes, it's a great thing. If I ride 20 miles a day for five days,.

Z

A week I can actually lose a lot of weight, feel stress, relief, all kinds of good stuff like that.

Z

I keep hearing the term motorized vehicles, I believe the feds they're not classified as.

Z

Motorized anymore also, the maryland class one is 750 watts max pedal assist. It stops at 20 miles.

Z

An hour, if I see anyone, that's riding 20 miles an hour on single track, turning trails through joshua.

Z

I'm surprised, they're not smashed up against a tree if they're a 15.

Z

Mile ride, my indication show my average speed around five or six miles an hour.

Z

What we need is self-accountability respect.

Z

I hear said: there's four parks for horses in carroll county. Are there any for mountain bikes.

A

No keep going so um that's all I got to say I mean I have a lot more on here. I.

Z

Believe mr vigliotti's statement at the very beginning is the parks are here for everyone.

K

L

AA

I kind of wish jason and I had swapped spots because he's going to talk about the organization.

AA

That we're in the process of putting together I'm going to talk about e-bikes and first I'd.

AA

Like to thank everybody for what you said, one of the things that I'm going to say is there's.

AA

A lot of misinformation about what e-bikes are rodney just made the statement about the federal.

AA

Reclassification and he's right and I've got I've got a paper I'd like to leave with you.

AA

Guys that that has all the links to where this information is at, but first off class, one and.

AA

Class two have been declassified, they are no longer called motorized vehicles because.

AA

They don't meet the standards of what the laws were originally intended to do with combustion.

AA

Vehicles so they've been declassified: they're, not motorized the class one. If I'll let go what.

AA

Rodney said the only difference between a class 1 and a normal bike is your ability to go uphill at.

AA

A regular speed, the 750 watt limit is basically put you in the seat of what you would have done.

AA

If you were a professional writer in your 30s and 40s, it does not, it does not allow us to go up the.

AA

Hills at 20 miles an hour that 20 mile an hour is, is the top speed of the bike on flat level ground.

AA

The, secondly, is we're not talking about bikes that are meant to be like speed, racers on paved program.

AA

Single track is our world and I appreciate the trails that are over union mills and I.

AA

Put plenty of sweat in and blood in those trails from the rose bushes, to help maintain them along.

AA

With the equestrians I am a member of more which is uh mid-atlantic, off-road enthusiast notice. It.

AA

Doesn't say, mountain biking? I am also one of the co-founders of mtb md, which is the organization.

AA

That jason will speak about in a few minutes. I'm not going to go into that, but it's more than just.

AA

Mountain biking, even though that's in our name, I'm also a coach for the maryland interscholastic.

AA

Cycling league, but I'm also 70 years old and I ride with 45, 35 and 50 year olds. And I can no.

AA

Longer go up the hills as fast as they go unless I'm on an e-bike, and I go up to new england and.

AA

E-Bikes are just part of the community. I go up to pennsylvania. E-Bikes are part of the community. The.

AA

Change that was talked about for the suit against the bureau of land management was partially.

AA

Correct they were sued and they did change their position, but what they did was declassified class.

AA

1 and class 2 as motorized vehicles and left the final decision up to each land manager. So.

AA

Yes, it changed the other. The other thing is um about the um the the writers is, I have met. I.

AA

Don't know how many of you, and maybe not anyone in this group, but I've met many of you on trail and.

AA

I have always come around at a reasonable speed, announced myself and asked you what you want me.

AA

To do which has included getting off and I've got scars on my legs to show you into the rose bushes.

AA

So your horses could walk by most of the mountain. Bikers I know will do that for you, I don't care.

AA

How skinny that trail? Is we like to ride it too, but we like to share it and that sharing is part.

AA

Of what we do so, thank you. No thank you. I do have a question pointing clarification.

A

You said going up hills, it doesn't go 20 miles per hour. No, no! It's incapable! It's.

AA

A set it's a 750 watt, which is essentially a one horsepower, but it's not a combustion engine.

AA

And the gearing doesn't allow 20 miles an hour uphill 20 miles an hour is top speed. Okay, thanks.

L

And david, I know that after david marlene.

AB

Good morning, commissioners, oh yeah, we'll grab them just give them to tim right here, and hull.

A

Thank you good morning, commissioners, and thank you, uh and I want to thank the rest of the trail.

AB

User community, whether you walk ride a horse or ride a bicycle. However, you access them. We.

AB

Are a community at large- and I just want to thank everybody here for speaking to their.

AB

Experience because it's very educational for me and I've learned a lot about you know everyone's.

AB

Shared concerns regarding this issue, so my name is jason erla and I'm the president of.

AB

Mtbmd mtbmd is a mountain bike and trail advocacy organization located here in westminster. I live on.

AB

Hirsch avenue right over by mcdaniel college, we are affiliated with and members of more.

AB

Which is the largest natural surface trail advocacy group in the mid-atlantic region? We are.

AB

A volunteer organization focus on the community benefits of outdoor recreation, shared trail use.

AB

And education, our goal is to nurture a shared commitment to our trails in our outdoor spaces.

AB

With mutual respect across all user groups, our organization's motto is etiquette, not equipment.

AB

Last year, our organization completed 495 hours of volunteer service at hashua and.

AB

Union mills with a financial value of more than sixteen thousand dollars, which is reported to.

AB

The county, recs and parks department, as well as the state additionally, in 2022 we raised nearly.

AB

Five thousand dollars through grants for to fund trail maintenance that we do at the park as well.

AB

As purchasing a public bike service station, which has recently been installed at hashua,.

AB

uh We also funded and purchased trail etiquette, educational signs.

AB

That were put up at all of the trail kiosks to trailhead kiosks throughout hashwan union mills.

AB

We had more than 100 volunteer participants last year alone, spanning every user group from cyclists.

AB

To hikers, to trail runners to equestrians and more, we work cooperatively with all user groups and we.

AB

Advocate for safe trail access for every user group, we're working with the county, the county.

AB

Wrecks and parks department on all projects. We only do work. That is expressly. We have been.

AB

Expressly given permission for or that, we have been more often recently asked to complete on.

AB

The county's behalf, additionally, we grow a growing list. We have, we boast a growing list of community.

AB

Business support among them genie, bird bakery, trek, bicycles, who's here today run more ting of.

AB

Westminster [ __, ] and [ __, ] and gallagher, dental group and pipe the side brewery, among others,.

AB

So again, to reiterate: we work with all trail user groups for all trail user groups. That's.

AB

Our our primary goal- mem tbmd, is in support of allowing class 1 and class 2 e-bikes to legally.

AB

And safely use the trail system within union mills. We are not in favor of higher powered.

AB

Class 3 e-bikes on the trails, nor are we in favor of motorcycles, atv or any other combustion engine.

AB

For myself and for more and for mtbmd e-bike e-bikes are really an issue of access. Most.

AB

E-Bike users are in their midlife years or well into retirement age. I think we all know.

AB

We can see it represented in proportion uh most of carroll county's demographic is on the mature end,.

AB

Of the spectrum, as is the case with most rural and semi-rural counties throughout the country, so this.

AB

Is really about just keeping people on trails in a safe manner in the outdoor spaces that we.

AB

All love and enjoy, I think we can all find a way to work together and promote safe trail use and.

AB

Access, regardless of how we access those trails, comes into my comments and thank you so much. Thank.

A

You and I, like the word mature, so okay, I've heard experience. I feel old, but matures it's a good word.

AC

uh Hello, my name's uh david bins. I live here on new windsor road in westminster. I've been.

AC

A carroll county resident for 17 years, and I also work in the cycling industry as well for.

AC

Those same 17 so both at race pace, bicycles, which now, uh as alex retired in march of last.

AC

Year, it's now track bicycles of westminster, uh so my role there is I'm a store manager.

AC

um So I just wanted to speak on um that. We are in favor uh of this ordinance allowing e-bikes.

AC

um On the trails um so uh e-bikes, um you know these are multi-use trails. I've used union.

AC

Mills for years and years, it's fantastic seeing so many you know advocates both on both sides.

AC

um You know people getting out on the county getting out on the trails and.

AC

Using the trails more people using the trails is a is a positive thing.

AC

um So e-bikes they are non-motorized vehicles, um it is uh bicycle and these class ones are just.

AC

Pedal assists so you know, as we've stated, it only works while you're pedaling and the rider.

AC

Gets to choose like how much assistance that he or she wants to use at a given time. These.

AC

E-Bikes remove the barriers that keep people from riding and using the trails. You know whether it's.

AC

um You know a knee replacement, a hip replacement. You know back issues, you know injuries, whether.

AC

They're veterans or whatever right like things that they used to enjoy, they couldn't necessarily.

AC

Do anymore on a regular bicycle, the e-bike will allow them to you know it feels like you're.

AC

Riding with somebody and they have their hand on your back, you know just kind of like helping you.

AC

Up the trail right, so it's allowing them to get back out there. um They let people ride longer and.

AC

Farther and uphills that they could never ride before. As you guys all know, carroll county is.

AC

Very hilly and the union mills trails are no no different there right. So um these, uh like I said.

AC

Pedal assist, they have to be pedaling as soon as you stop. That assistant goes away, um and you know.

AC

With that, without these throttles right, like a class 2, would have these class ones. There's no.

AC

Risk of you know the tires spinning out. It's not like a motorcycle uh where you know you're getting.

AC

Like excessive erosion on the trails, so these are just like the multi-use trails that they are now.

AC

Where mountain bikers are out there, there's no excessive risk of erosion or anything like that.

AC

um You know being new right like as far as e-bikes go is uh in the in the greater conversation there.

AC

Are a lot of misconceptions about it? My store: has we have 50 e-bikes in stock at all, at all,.

AC

Times it's a growing uh segment of the cycling market and I encourage any of you guys who are.

AC

Encouraged or curious about it come in and ride one you'll see that it is literally just like.

AC

Riding a regular bicycle: you choose that level assistance. You know it will help kind of dispel.

AC

That notion that these are like dangerous, noisy things. These are silent, silent, e-bikes and you'll.

AC

Be able to use it just like we do. You know regular mountain bikes, so thank you very much. Thank you.

L

As I said, marlene conaway and ivy smink, the last one will be judy gray.

AD

First off, I want to thank the board for having this hearing and moving forward.

AD

With the questions about e-bikes, I am in favor of changing the regulations to permit e-bikes.

AD

Not only class one but also class two, because if people have mentioned both are able to.

AD

Give an assist when you're peddling class 2 is sort of an insurance policy.

AD

If you're out there on the road- and you go too far, and you need to come back to turn that assist on.

AD

It'll help you do it if you're someplace, where you need to push.

AD

That bike, you can do a walking assist on that bike and be able to move forward.

AD

I was born and raised on a farm in carroll county maryland, southern carroll county.

AD

Buckhorn road I've lived on there just about all my life. I still have a home on aaa to the farm.

AD

Biking has been part of our lives. We were not horse people. In fact, my father, after harming.

AD

Farming with them for many years did not want a horse on the property, but my sister- and I always.

AD

Had bikes and we rode them continuously through having children grandchildren, always together.

AD

As we got older, my sister started having physical problems and she could no longer.

AD

Get on bikes, like my trek, which I love and still love and got a electric bike.

AD

And shortly I ended up getting one also because I found it difficult to ride with her, where I'm.

AD

Peddling real hard to go up a hill, especially at carroll, county hill, where we live. It's almost.

AD

Straight up from the stream, where my house is near to there without having an electric bike, also.

AD

I have or wheat have, I believe, class two. I have never used the throttle. I've never needed to, but.

AD

It's there as an insurance, if I need to if there's some reason going up, that hill is necessary,.

AD

Where I live was across the field where a park is now and I've ridden my trek on that park, I haven't.

AD

Taken my eek bike over there, of course, crimgold park across the field over the hill through the.

AD

Stream whatever, but it's important to be able to be out there again and always stay out there. We're.

AD

Not children anymore, I mean, I hate to admit it, but I just celebrated my 80th birthday, unbelievable.

AD

And I'm still on a bike and I'm still enjoying it. I have biked all over the.

AD

Eastern shore or I've biked in tennessee on my we're using my e-bike, and I want to continue.

AD

And my mother, my husband, I mean not- my mother gave me a quote. He wanted me to make.

AD

And it's the person, that's important, not the bike and that's something we have to realize.

AD

It's also the person that's important as well as the horse. Thank you and I'll tell you if you're.

A

Not using her as a poster child, you got. You got to work on that. Okay, because she mentioned shrek at.

A

Least three times so, okay, just saying I mean just trying to make things happen: okay, okay, so it was.

L

Ivy smink judy gray and then uh late arrival, kelly rick hi. I obviously am the sister with the cane I.

AD

Have two artificial knees: two artificial hips and I ride an e-bike. I also rode horses for 35 years.

AD

My back is inoperable, but I want to get out there and I still do I'm 78 and I ride that.

AD

E-Bike everywhere, thank you. Absolutely. You got poster children, okay, just saying.

AC

Every day at this job, okay, I'm ivy smink and I live off of john owings road in westminster.

AE

So being the next to last, there's pretty much. Everything has been covered, but I just want to.

AE

Emphasize a few things um again care due to the maryland ag survey that was done in 2010 and the.

AE

Next, one is out in 2024, carroll county has more horses per capita than any other county in the.

AE

Mirror in maryland, so I think we need to remember that and that it adds 1.3 billion to the maryland.

AE

Economy horse the horses do, but in the same breath e-bikes are here to stay generation x and part.

AE

Of us baby boomers, we've got to keep active, so anybody in this room, if you think that it's not.

AE

Going to pass don't fool yourselves, because it's a sign of the times e-bikes will need to be put on.

AE

The trails so my recommendation, or my suggestion, is that we look at where the e-bikes are going.

AE

um I'm going to speak to union mills because that's in my backyard, I have written there since.

AE

um For over 30 years, and thanks to the shriver family, they made it so that the south part of.

AE

The park communicates to the north part of the park so also for the many years that the.

AE

Dnr in cooperation with the horse community, the trails were made. Initially, those trails were old.

AE

Logging, roads, farm access roads and over the years those roads have grown shut also over the years.

AE

uh Their questions have shared these trails with bicyclists.

AE

That's not a problem, however, for those that don't know the trails way well, there's probably half a.

AE

Dozen trails that are illegally there carved into the side of the amount of the hills with chicken.

AE

Wire and two by fours, thrown across streams streams that feed little pipe or big pipe creek.

AE

So adding at this point in time, e-bikes to the multi-use is only encouraging those illegal trails.

AE

So I encourage um for a postponement on this decision until the carroll, county and parks and.

AE

Recs get a good hand on management of, especially and I'm speaking, for union mills as well as piney.

AE

Run a good handle on the maintenance of these trails. Currently, the trails are maintained by.

AE

Volunteers, the county maintenance people cannot they're, not chainsaw certified to go in and cut.

AE

All the fallen trees, the county has to rely on citizens volunteering to do this dangerous job.

AE

We also have to go in and rope off areas of the trail that have caved in.

AE

The illegal bike trails and I'm not pointing my finger at bicyclists- please I'm one myself.

AE

I used to be the illegal trails or a foot foot and a half wide they're caving away. They are.

AE

Eroding parts of the hillsides there's, if you do an environmental study, I'm sure dnr would not want.

AE

Some of the trails where they are near the big pipe creek, so the other thing I want to emphasize.

AE

And I'm running out of time I realize um there has been no updated map for like 35 years, the la.

AE

Real map of this area is from dnr when they first put it out, and it's so what's happening now. All of.

AE

These illegal trails are part of the public media they put put it on. Cyclists will put it on like.

AE

All trails as an official map, and then you get hordes of other people using those illegal trails.

AE

um Just last year, between more and the equine community, we were finally able to put handmade.

AE

Signs on the access gates to allow ems to go back there and help anybody, but the problem is ems. Can.

AE

Come they'll go to gate two, but they don't know where, where gate 2 has access to what trails so.

AE

I ask that you just postponed for the time being. I know it's a good thing, but we really need this.

AE

County and parks and recs to get a good handle on the management and the maintenance of all-purpose.

AE

Trails, we also need to get proper signage and ems accessibility into the trails, and we rely on.

AE

Self-Policing and as we know that doesn't always work. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

L

All right, then, kelly.

K

Maybe good morning my name is kelly ray. I live in hanover pennsylvania.

AF

Which is still very close to hashua, and I ride there frequently for lily has 40.

AF

Years I thought it was important to share, because I am a statistic of bikes and horses.

AF

H

But hey chris, can we can we hold the clock for a second chris okay.

A

That's your choice. No I'm good! Okay, 15 years ago I was horseback riding with a friend.

AG

Very good horse, um but a cyclist came towards us and we asked them to stop.

AG

He did not and my horse did a severe spook and I came off. Thank god. I had a helmet on.

AG

I laid on the ground. The cyclists can't just continue past us didn't stop. So he sat on the.

AG

Ground I did not miss out or anything. uh My friend helped me back up on my horse.

AG

At which point every 10 seconds I repeated the questions in my horseback riding tonight, come off.

AG

My horseback riding did that come off. uh We walked back to the trailers. An ambulance was called.

AG

And I was uh taken to sinai hospital for a week. I was had a severe concussion.

AG

Because it was cyclists- and I have an incredible trail horse.

AG

I'm sure that cyclist has written there many times, but you cannot control horse.

AG

um I suffer from memory loss memory, many memories from my life. um I do not. I no longer remember.

AG

um And it's my choice to ride a horse. It is my choice. I still ride.

AG

um I had to stop competing show jumping because I could not remember.

AG

A simple course um so now a trail ride, and I would ask you to take into consideration.

AG

Just keeping hashwa out of all the parks, just just keeping hashwa for the horseback riding.

AG

And uh I I thank you for hearing me. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause].

A

Anybody else anybody on the uh phone chris.

X

Okay, first and foremost, I appreciate everyone's uh input um that was provided this morning. I.

A

Also appreciate your keeping your remarks to three-ish minutes for the most part.

A

And I think we have a lot of information. I saw a lot of note-taking from my colleagues up here.

A

um And also uh saw you taking a whole lot of notes, which I really appreciate. We take.

A

This very seriously, um but before we move to a a motion, unless one wants to be made.

A

Now are there any comments that want to be made or questions to lisa or.

A

You know to anyone at this point you you want to share some thoughts right well,.

D

So I'm a I'm a hard, no on any change whatsoever, because we we can't we we it's not decision.

D

Well, no we're making we're, but we are going to make a motion whether we want to make a.

D

Change or anything, no, no, just close, okay, we're just closing. Okay! Well I'll continue talking.

D

I am a hard no on any change to this ordinance because we can't we've already established quite.

D

Forcefully that we have a small staff in this county, we don't have the people.

D

The resources or the means to enforce any of these restrictions there are safety concerns.

D

uh Equestrian riders have very few options as it is, I'm not talking about banning e-bikes, but.

D

We are not in a position to to regulate what goes on out there and it's a tough thing to say, because.

D

I think we have the good guys here in the room that are on the e-bikes. I mean it's just tough.

D

To have to say this, but we can't regulate what's going on out there, particularly when word gets.

D

Out that these particular trails are going to be open, what I also wanted to mention for everybody.

D

Here is I mean so there's five of us sitting up here and we're not full-time commissioners. It's.

D

A full-time job, but we're not full-time. We are a lot. Some of us have all of us, have other lives.

D

And things like that, so we rely on the staff of the county to look out there at what issues are.

D

Coming our way, and- and that is to my knowledge- how this particular item got on the agenda.

D

So it wasn't anything that originated here on the board, at least I'm not aware of.

D

And there wasn't an outcry from the public to open the trails up to e-bikes either um I'm a bit.

D

Frustrated by that, I think it's a conversation for another time, but when we're going to make changes.

D

To ordinances, and do things like that, I think it's important from this point forward that we.

D

Have a commissioner who's who's sponsoring these types of changes, so we can least you know, have.

D

An anchor as to why we're discussing what we're discussing, because what I'm I'm frustrated about!.

D

Is we have created a lot of angst and stress amongst a lot of good people in this county.

D

When I don't think it was necessary- because I know in my heart, we can't accommodate this right now.

D

And I like, I will say it again: I'm a hard no on any change, I'm not talking about banning e-bikes.

D

But there's in my mind, there's no way we should be doing this or- and this is certainly not the.

D

Time to be talking about it, but so anyway, I'm done. Okay. Are there any other comments, questions.

A

I have one real quick. I could um would like to thank everybody that came out.

E

Today, on both sides of this issue, um we obviously take your input very seriously.

E

And I greatly appreciate you all coming out discussing this topic in full, so thank you. Okay,.

A

That's okay. I I understand we we met.

A

Hold on one second, um let me I'm trying to keep things moving and.

A

I do go off script, sometimes so you'll have your opportunity, but let me just see.

A

If there's any other comments and questions so echo what commissioner garen asked about.

B

How this ultimately did end up on our agenda, because I was not quite clear about that: either.

B

um With respect uh to questions I have um to lisa and if you don't have the answers today,.

B

That's quite okay, I'd like to know which of the parks that are being suggested for e-bike use have.

B

The widest and straightest trails, which park sees the most equestrian use, which park sees the least.

B

Equestrian use are there certain days of the week that see heavier equestrian use than other days.

B

And finally, you know what would the cost be or if we have any semblance of an idea whatsoever about.

B

Creating all-purpose trails that are distinct from the existing trails that are used by equestrians.

B

And pedestrians, and I would certainly like that information before uh you know, proceeding to.

B

Engage in a discussion about the uh the change in the uh the code about the e-bike, so thank you.

C

The information for you, okay, thank you.

A

You had a question or you want to make a comment ma'am. He was just curious use as.

Q

Far as with e-bikes like on a straightaway, like you said, you couldn't go 20 miles an hour uphill.

Q

But going downhill and on a straightaway and the trails, can you still? Can you go that fast? Okay, so.

K

Okay, so how about a financial yeah guys, instead of going this way? Because we have a community.

A

That's you know, I want to make sure they have the opportunity to listen and learn everything.

A

That we are in this room and I appreciate a room being crowded, but you also have to understand.

A

Let's say: there's 10 times more for the goodness of the community. That gets us because, because I.

A

Kind of opened that can help about understanding the specifics of an e-bike, which I don't know.

A

So that was, you know news to me, um so I guess for point of clarification. If we can just keep.

A

It to what, in a class one e-bike, can and cannot do if you can come up to the mic, though, and whoever.

A

Wants to with the information and try to make it simple straight, we'll just go from there sure so.

AC

uh Class, one e-bike um generally will be pedal assisted right, so the rider can choose to ride.

AC

With it completely off at any time, and then it's got different levels of boost which essentially.

AC

Multiplies the rider's effort or what they're putting into the pedals by a certain percentage.

AC

So there's usually either three or four different settings to that. Boosting and you know you're.

AC

Constrained by like the train that you're on the grade that you're on you know that kind of thing.

AC

So when we say you're not going to motor up the hill at 20 miles an hour, that's true a because you.

AC

Know the trail is tighter, twisty or b there's rocks in the way. You know that it's just not.

AC

Physically able to or you're not able to control it at that speed and b like it would take a lot.

AC

Of effort in as far as the rider goes to get it to propel at 20., so you know on a rail trail or.

AC

On the flat ground, like pavement, you know at max assist, you could certainly get up to 20.

AC

Miles an hour, but most riders, like rodney, said over there right are still riding at the regular.

AC

Mountain bike, speed that maybe a 20-something would be on. You know four or five six miles an.

AC

Hour average speed up the hill, so yeah class one, that's it okay. Thank you so much and you.

A

Know, and and again the intent here is to close the record and allow us to do our homework from all.

A

The information that you provided and then from the information that we will continue to gather.

A

Amongst each other and and staff to then render decision 10 days from now in open session or.

A

Somewhere, it's usually two weeks because we typically have open sessions on thursdays, so.

A

um So with that said, or if there's no other comments from the dyas, is there a motion.

B

Obviously, a real, quick question: we were given some information roberto. We have copies made of this.

B

For everybody, there's only three there's three individual yeah: that's okay! Could we? Okay? Okay,.

A

Is there a motion motion to conclude the.

B

Public hearing and keep the record open for 10 calendar days. Second,.

A

No okay, there's a motion in his second. Is there any discussion or question.

A

Seen here, none all in favor, aye, aye, okay, 5-0! Thank you lisa. Thank you to all and uh wishing.

A

Everybody, a very happy fourth of july. God bless everybody! Okay, why don't we get uh um mr hein.

A

Won you come on up and we will hey where'd. You start your fossils of upstate new york. We will.

A

Start in just a minute, I'm not quite sure yet I'm still going if everyone can leave um appropriately.

A

Thank you for coming.

B

Ed, maybe if you start singing no.

A

Okay, what we want to do now is have uh the triangle update of the carroll county, water and.

A

Sewer master plan good morning, commissioners, good morning good morning, I'm here with price wagner.

AH

To uh keep going to discuss the triennial update to the county, water and sewer master plan.

AH

So over the past month or so, you've received some information from all of us in the form of a copy.

AH

Of the report and as well as presentations and so on on june 15th, we had a hearing related to.

AH

The update to the master plan- and so here we're here to basically answer any final.

AH

Questions that you may have and then request your approval of the update, as well as to.

AH

Send it to mde for their review and approval, so any questions we're happy to answer those.

A

um So the intent here is not to go back through the slide deck that you provided correct and I.

AI

Have a very short presentation, but, however, if you, if y'all, are suffice with what you've seen before.

AI

um We are found with answering questions and moving forward and.

AI

Hoping that, hopefully, you have an adoption and chris you're confident in what pierce.

A

Says correct? Yes: okay, but you knew delta, chi names that was good, get used to it.

A

um Okay, are there any questions or comments that want to be made at this time? What was provided.

A

If not, is there a motion motion to adopt a triennial update to the water and sewer.

B

Master plan and forward to mde for final approval. Second, I have a motion. I have a.

A

Second, any further discussion, all in favor aye, aye. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you.

A

So and I felt like an easy button: okay, let's talk about economic development, carroll county.

A

Workforce development, fy24 playing your 23 grants hey good morning, haven't seen you in a while yeah.

A

You're keeping things straight over there pardon me you're, keeping things uh straight over trying.

AJ

To we've got a lot of construction going on over there. Okay go ahead wow! I want to apologize for my.

F

Priority carol, I did not mention that I got a very good tour of your facility and- and I appreciate.

F

Our courage, the other guys to get over there and see what's going on and, yes, we did take about a.

F

Minute and looked out the windows at east meadow on the construction, so you're saying I wasn't an.

A

Afterthought about it workforce development. You actually thought it was. That was an added plus.

A

Okay: okay: let's talk about what uh the wioa, which is the workforce innovation opportunity.

A

Act uh and cc wd is doing great I'd quickly like to take the time to introduce two of my.

AJ

Staff that are key to running our agency. I have tammy haynes who's, the employment.

AJ

Services supervisor and I have stan whiteman, whose operations and resource manager my.

AJ

Team- and I just thought it was important that you would get to know them picture.

AK

I was watching the e-bike and horse discussion and it was quite lengthy, okay, so.

AK

Okay good morning, yes, well I'll start we're here today to talk to you about uh the workforce, grants.

AK

But first of all I wanted to talk to you and thank you for your recent appointments for the.

AK

Workforce development board, so, as you know, we have a board that completes the local plan. They.

AK

Oversee the services at the workforce center and um coordinate all the partners as well as.

AK

Oversee the contracts and are responsible for a large part of the blueprint legislation, so I.

AK

Serve on the board recently, you appointed many members of the local business community. We have.

AK

Representatives from a lot of different businesses in carroll, so we try to oversee um and have a good.

AK

Representation of the types of industries, so we have penguin random house, the favor construction.

AK

Strauss corporation tomlin technology, heidelberg materials, tevis, energy and shelter systems.

AK

So, in addition that these appointments um represent some of the businesses in carroll, that.

AK

um Are part of our workforce board, and so we have probably about 22 different partners um and um the.

AK

Other thing is: there are many workforce partners like the department of labor division of rehab.

AK

Services, we have doors and then we also have some local partners here in carroll county. So that's.

AK

The board- and we want to thank you for appointing them- the main thing that the board does is develop.

AK

The local carroll county workforce plan, so it's very important- we've been hearing a lot of and.

AK

Having a lot of discussion lately about a lot of other community organizations that are doing.

AK

Workforce development, they say- and it's very important that you understand that this board.

AK

Is responsible for developing the plan for carroll county, and so if you have other organizations that.

AK

Are doing workforce development, they should be communicating and coordinating with the.

AK

Workforce development board, so we would ask that that you do that for us. So that's very important.

AK

um Also, I wanted to let you know that we have been very active with a lot of um activities for.

AK

Job recruitments, I think you're aware that we do ongoing job recruitments every month.

AK

um I think we had one yesterday right so um so we had one at the center and then on wednesdays.

AK

We're doing in-person job recruitments, so [music] um we have penguin random house there and flow.

AK

Surf corporation just a couple of the different um organizations that are there doing on-site.

AK

Job recruitments and then we have the premier virtual, which are the online job matching and.

AK

Job recruitment, so that's been very um good, probably for I think we've been doing that.

AK

Six to nine months, maybe even a year well with premier virtual because of covid. Obviously we.

AK

Had to transition to the um online online job recruitments. So since the beginning of january.

AK

We've had 19 events for job recruitment and we've had 156 business, employers represented and almost.

AK

500 job seekers, so we are out there trying to do the match. I know a lot of businesses are needing.

AK

Employees and it's very difficult to find that match, but we're out there very actively doing that.

AK

And scott singleton is our business consultant. So I would say that if you have anybody that contacts.

AK

You and says that they need employees. Please refer them to scott. Did you get a chance to introduce.

AK

Everybody, yet you did, you did okay, so wonderful, so I'm going to turn it over to heather and she's.

AK

Going to talk about the grants that we're getting from the workforce, innovation and opportunity act.

AJ

So um right now the workforce innovation opportunity act is our main funding source and we.

AJ

Are given those grants annually and they're in two installments? They come in a program year in july.

AJ

And then we get a remaining balance in a fiscal federal fiscal year october one. So um we have that.

AJ

Divided up into three areas: we do have summer youth money coming from the governor's office.

AJ

To create summer youth connections program, we receive 26 850 for that we're anticipating serving.

AJ

11 youth for a six-week program where we become the employer of record they're placed with local.

AJ

Employers and the employers they're working for the employers they're helping out but they're also.

AJ

Being mentored by the employers, and it sets up a good relationship for future work for these young.

AJ

People we have a relationship with the division of rehab services, we are a vendor and we do paths.

AJ

Through summer, youth funding for them, where we become the employer of record they're working with.

AJ

um Young people ages, 16 to 18 that have significant disabilities and required job.

AJ

Coaching as part of their placement during the summer and that's a little different than what.

AJ

We do in our wioa grants, so we anticipate serving up to 30 youth in that program.

AJ

And that's based on they. They find the employers in that program. So we are not.

AJ

Responsible for those numbers, but we we administer that program and then.

AJ

um Our ongoing programs that work with adults, low-income adults dislocated workers and youth.

AJ

um Through wioa, that money is we're giving you the total amount that you see in front of you on.

AJ

The briefing which is 975 166 dollars that amount fluctuates some each year. It's based on a formula.

AJ

And it looks at our unemployment rate in carroll county, which we have the lowest unemployment.

AJ

Rate in the state we're hovering around, not 1.9 percent. It looks like we have about 1 750 people.

AJ

That are unemployed at this point, which is very low. So just to give you a little background and.

AJ

Understanding so we're looking for acceptance of these grants today for a motion to accept them.

AJ

Are this was prevented presented to our workforce board at our may meeting and they approved that so.

AJ

If you have any questions- or I got a few one- you said fiscal years, the federal. So it's one october.

A

Program year is, is it one january or um it's july 1st, yes, so program here is state fiscal and the.

A

Other is exactly it's. It's! Okay, straightforward right! That's right! It's taken me a couple years.

A

To figure that out, unfortunately, I'm used to that, but um the uh doors grant do you work at all with.

A

Ccysb or the arc um you know in collaborating uh opportunities for those that are being seen.

A

At ccysb or those that are in the ark I mean how I can speak to that so um with our youth.

AJ

Grant it serves youth 16 to 24 and who are considered disconnected youth and that could.

AJ

Be several barriers to employment. It's having been in foster care experiencing homelessness,.

AJ

Low income having a disability parenting at a young age, so there's there's a variety of.

AJ

Ways that somebody can qualify for that program, and so with our partners in the human services.

AJ

Industry, yes, they can be working with somebody and we can braid our funds. It's not a duplication.

AJ

Of service, but we want to build on those funds, so an example would be we can provide paid work.

AJ

Experience for a young person, but if they need job coaching on the job, that's not something that.

AJ

The federal grant covers, but that's something that they doors funds. So you can see how we can.

AJ

Build on the funds to serve different populations, you participate in the circle of care. Do yes, okay,.

AJ

Yeah, it's so good, it's a good network. We we do so many good things in carroll county and I think.

AJ

When we're talking about a lot of people, workforce development is a new buzzword and and there's.

AJ

Several pieces of it, and certainly we are not saying we're the only people that can do it.

AJ

But as the convener of the board of workforce development, it's our oversight to understand.

AJ

A very comprehensive workforce development plan for the county and that's what we're.

AJ

Really asking for your assistance to um as far as ysb um the connect disconnected youth program.

AJ

It should be a continuum of service where they identify people and they're working with them.

AJ

To at the point, where they're ready to think about employment, because there are so many barriers, they.

AJ

Might have going on or things life experiences that they're not really ready for employment.

AJ

We have to consider that so somewhere along the continuum they're referring to us and let last.

A

Comment I just want to make um you know: I serve on the governor's workforce development board, one.

A

Thing we don't get often while we're around the table is initiatives from the uh local. We always.

A

We don't get, this is what this area is looking at. This is what the challenges over here are.

A

Looking and um I'm not sure how we can do better at that and I'll talk to labor about that, maybe.

A

um Having uh at the next board meeting the established we owe is to come in and say, here's.

A

My top three, but we don't seem to we, we don't seem to do that very well and I think we can do.

A

You know to meet your needs or to meet our needs in carroll county. So what are your thoughts on.

AJ

That understood, if I may, I have a couple comments on that. um I think wioa funding for the 13 local.

AJ

Areas is a part of what they do, so each local area really expands to their opportunities, their grants.

AJ

Different things that they need to make workforce work in either their county or their designated.

AJ

Area- and I think that I believe that's something we need to do as being part of mid maryland, both.

AJ

Howard and carroll counties at one point, just kind of relied on our wioa grants right workforce.

AJ

Development is much more than that and we've seen that demonstrated through our arpa grants, where we.

AJ

Could serve a broader segment of the population through arpa, we had less restrictions on what.

AJ

Training, vendors, we had to use and it really had good outcomes, and so I would love to see the.

AJ

Workforce, the governor's workforce board be made aware of that. I do have to say kudos to the gov.

AJ

Governor's workforce board, because this heavy work that we're doing under blueprint where we've been.

AJ

Put into the school systems has been difficult for the school systems because they have a much.

AJ

Larger lift but even for workforce development coming off of covid and mike de giacomo who's.

AJ

The chairperson has appropriated some funding to help build curriculum across the state between.

AJ

The locals boards of education and the workforce boards he and I talk often and I'll, be seeing him.

A

In august, so maybe if we can get time you and I to prepare me a little bit so certainly I'd be glad.

AJ

To do that hit him up on some requirements. I think that'd be valuable and mike has been to our local.

AK

Carroll, county workforce board meetings and he's done some presentations on blueprint and so he's.

AK

Very familiar with what we do, and you know just to assure you, and I think you came to one of our.

AK

First meetings, commissioner rosting and we have a very engaged local workforce board and there's.

AK

Always a lot of good talk and communication there so um yeah. I think that that's good to.

AK

Then connect that to the statewide board and just for the good of the group mike digiacomo works.

A

For the department of labor here in maryland- and he uh is the executive director of the workforce.

A

Development board the governor's workforce development board. So, um okay, I apologize taking so.

A

Long from your the governor's side and I'm curious because you mentioned a lot of this based on.

F

Formula and carol kenny typically doesn't do well when it's based on formulas. We don't have enough.

F

Farms, kids we're too wealthy. We work too hard and do too well on our own, but can can you guys.

F

Supplement that somehow, how can we do better than the formula? Well, I think you know again voicing.

A

And you know I'm not shy around the table. I will voice the opinions of what's needed in carroll.

A

County, but that's why I want them to feed me hey. You know we're at 1.9 percent unemployment, but.

A

That does not give a full picture of carroll county's. You know employment and unemployment.

A

Rate hurts us, it hurts us, you know at the end of the day. So getting you know hey here are the the.

A

Pockets and the gaps you know to share. I think that would really help us so absolutely yeah.

A

There's always more to a story than a formula, so I think, can do a workforce 101 cheat sheet for.

AJ

Everybody just to kind of bring you up to speed. I think all of us would tell you that it is deep.

AJ

Learning how the federal u.s department of labor works and interacts through the state and down.

AJ

To the locals, there are some non-discretionary grants that we will take advantage of as they.

AJ

Come up that would help individuals in our area to gain sustainable career pathways. I think that.

A

Would help I I do I appreciate that offer so any other questions comments. I just heard briefly.

B

Of what is dors stand for and all the other of rehabilitation services. Thank you very much, and we.

AJ

Affectionately refer to it as doors they're under the maryland state department of education.

B

Thank you very much. Okay. Is there a motion motion to accept the py 23 governor summer.

B

Youth program grants award the py23 doris summer, youth funding and the py23 and fy24.

B

Workforce innovation and opportunity act wioa formula grant awards. Second, I got a.

A

Motion, I got a second in discussion seen here, not all in favor aye. Okay, thank you very much.

K

Thank you. Thank you, nice meeting, you guys. Thank you. Okay. Let's talk about contractor.

A

Contract award freedom, district water treatment, plant man.

B

Good morning morning, good morning,.

AL

The office of procurement cooperation with the bureau of utilities, requester approval to award.

AL

A contract for the purchase and installation of a harmonic filter and transformer at the.

AL

Freedom district water treatment plant to imacs, incorporated in the amount of sixty two thousand.

AL

Six hundred twenty dollars and forty eight cents, this award will be made via competitively bid term.

AL

Contract the bid amount is within the adoptive budget, and no additional funds will be necessary.

AM

Gentlemen, the new freedom district water treatment plan came online in may of 2009 and has been a.

AM

Continuous operation since that time, uh the 24 7 around the clock since that time as the plant.

AM

Equipment has aged and is in need of replacement. Our staff works with our consulting firms to.

AM

Determine the most efficient and practical means of replacing the plant equipment, current focus of.

AM

The plant is regards to the variable frequency drives or vfds located on the on the plants.

AM

Raw water and finished water pumps vfds allowed the pumps to ramp up or down to meet these. The.

AM

Water needs of the service area at any, given time based on guidance from our consultants. It has been.

AM

Recommended that we, that the original equipment 18 pulse vfds, be replaced with six pulse vfds.

AM

Along with a harmonic filter, this replacement would meet the operating characteristics of.

AM

The original equipment, but at a lower cost shorter, lead time and a better availability of spare parts.

AM

During the evaluation of the 18 pulse versus six pulse vfds and the sizing requirements for.

AM

The harmonic filter it was determined that the baseline harmonic harmonic distortion of the bge.

AM

Power supply to the water treatment plant exceeds the maximum threshold limits established by ieee.

AM

Standard 519 for industrial plants, what that means. Basically, it is the power supply 2 to the plant.

AM

Should be a a nice clean, sinusoidal type curve? What happens it's coming in a little bit, jagged.

AM

The the the the distortion level is approximately 17 percent out of par with normal. The the the.

AM

Reference that I made to the ieee standard 519 allows for an eight percent uh threshold.

AM

Difference so so we are exceeding that with the bg supply and conversations would be the the.

AM

Bureau was advertised that increases in harmonics have been observed throughout the country and it.

AM

Has become the focus at their conferences and research areas. Some of this may may be related.

AM

To the increases in the number of solar fields and charging stations that that are being built.

AM

Throughout the region, bge is evaluating some potential solutions to this issue, but there's.

AM

Little chance of of any major improvements in the short term, so the the recommended size of the of.

AM

The harmonic filter for the water plant was based upon both the six pulse. Vfd needs, as well as as.

AM

The bge power supply issues that we're trying to deal with uh these requested upgrades will result.

AM

In both cost effective and efficient improvements to the to the water treatment plant and without.

AM

Any questions for me I'll tell you it's so much easier to buy a truck. I would agree yeah.

A

I don't want to say you lost mad hello, but I'm taking it that this is the right thing to do to.

A

Move forward, it is it's so much easier just to buy a truck. I found it exciting. I bet you did, but I.

A

Will therefore move at the board of commissioners award a contract for the purchase installation of.

A

A harmonic filter and transformer at the freedom district, water treatment plant to imax incorporate.

A

An amount of 62 000 to 620.48 cents. Second yeah motion got a second any discussion on this one.

A

Seen here, none all in favor, aye, aye. Okay, let's talk about the construction inspection services at.

A

Oh for the sexual uh 851., the office of procurement and cooperation with.

AL

Bureau of utilities requests the board of commissioners approval of a change order.

AL

To whitman reichert and associates in the amount of sixty eight thousand forty dollars.

AL

For a 90-day extension of the construction inspection services for the sykesville.

AL

Maryland 851 springfield avenue water and sewer main improvements project, the cost of.

AL

These improvements is within the adopted budget and capital project. No additional funding will.

AL

Be necessary so, uh very briefly, we have two capital projects that are currently under.

AM

Construction in the sykesville area, we've broken them down into the main street project as well.

AM

As the springfield avenue project, the the previous board approved both of those construction projects.

AM

The so so this this item here focuses on the springfield avenue project the progress rate.

AM

Of our contractor has been impeded due to large volumes of underground rock that have been found.

AM

During during the uh during during the sewer main construction activity on springfield avenue,.

AM

The anticipated duration of the work will extend way beyond well beyond the original 180 days for.

AM

The for the original contract, the construction aspects of this extension are being resolved.

AM

With the contractor itself, this item, however, is for the extension of construction inspection.

AM

Services for 90 days, which will take us into late september, uh the presence of a full-time inspector.

AM

Is required to to ensure quality installation and to resolve any day-to-day construction.

AM

Matters and issues that that are presented any questions for me with regards to that. How many.

A

Change orders have been made to either a 51 or to springfield. We have none. As of this is the.

A

First change order, and this is for the inspection services. This is only for the inspection services.

K

Okay was the rock extra I'm sorry. The rock encounter was that an extra to the contractor.

F

Was that included some some of it is included as as part of the contract itself. uh We are.

AM

Probably beyond the extent of those quantities and then we'll work towards that as at a later date,.

AM

um There's we we have learned that there's large volumes of water or water of rock in.

AM

In the ground, in the spring, in the sykesville area yeah the uh july 1st they're doing a parade.

A

Down springfield on main, and it's going to be a a bumpy ride and I'll be on one of those cars. But.

A

You know it's they're doing the best they can and they're working. I mean they really are working.

A

Their tails off on springfield and on maine, it's just and then they had the water main break, which.

A

Didn't help on on main street on uh 851, so yeah, my staff is working very closely with the.

AM

Town of sacksville uh personnel to to constantino, primarily, um we are doing the best that we can and.

AM

The contractors are doing a pretty decent job as well. No, I I agree. It's just it's a lot of moving.

A

Pieces happening, so I appreciate that coordination that you are doing, I'm with the board of.

A

Commissioners approve a change order to wra amount of 68 000 forty dollars for a 90 day. Extension of.

A

Construction inspection services for sykesville, maryland, 851, springfield avenue, water and sewer.

A

Main improvement project- second, I got a motion got a second any discussion on this seen here, not all.

A

In favor aye aye, okay, thank you absolutely thank you. Andy um maryland codes, administration updates.

K

Gentlemen, good morning morning,.

AN

So, commissioners, we're here uh for the pros that'll get a public hearing for the updates of.

AN

The chapter 170 construction codes, maryland codes, administration updates, the maryland building codes.

AN

Every three years, this insurance, um you know the most recent techniques and approaches are into.

AN

The introducing the construction industry um look just jurisdictions are required to adopt within.

AN

With amendments within 12 months of the state's adoption, um your bureau of permits inspections is.

AN

Responsible for the adoption and compliance of the chapter 170 codes, uh the beer has reviewed.

AN

The appropriate codes with our local plumbing boards, our local electrical boards and with the.

AN

Code steering committee members of those boards uh include builders, electricians, plumbers, architects,.

AN

Business owners, attorneys citizens and fire service representatives well-rounded this.

AN

Provides for thorough process ensures all views are considered. All these codes were reviewed.

AN

And changes uh dressed or incorporated by each of those groups and chapter 170 has been prepared for.

AN

Public hearing we are requesting, if before we are requesting uh a january 1st uh date of adoption,.

F

And uh well they're thinking of questions. I think I attended one of your committee.

F

Meetings, yes and you described it well, well-rounded, but also.

F

None of them were very bashful about making comments or asking questions either. It was a.

F

Sometimes they sit there and don't say much and you got to pull it out of them. Yeah now, maybe.

F

Previous meetings, you did pull it out of them, but you didn't have to that day. No, no. We did not no.

B

Motion to approve the request by the bureau of permits and inspections to proceed to.

B

Public hearing second, I got a motion. I got a second. Is there any discussion? I.

A

Don't see any from commissioner kyle or anyone else all in favor.

AN

Aye all right, thank you all right. Thank you very much for time. Thank you very much. I did.

F

Want to say that they had a very good committee. I'm sorry, absolutely let's talk about blacktop.

A

Now, you're in a hurry ever never never.

F

I probably can come up with questions on blacktown. That's what you can. Oh my gosh.

B

Good morning, everybody good morning, good morning, the office of procurement, in cooperation with.

AO

The bureau of roads operations request your approval to purchase blacktop from.

AO

An existing term contract with cj miller in the amount of 114 500 for use on roadways.

AO

And aprons, this amount is within the fiscal 2023 budget and no additional funds will be necessary.

AO

uh Good morning, commissioners, again doug brown, deputy director public works jim cook, your chief.

AP

Of roads and we're before you this morning uh to request your approval to purchase the blacktop for.

AP

Those of you that may not know we have our own blacktop crew that works for county roads. This.

AP

Crew goes through all the districts and they will handle jobs that we do not contract out.

AP

As well as tying in aprons on some other roads, so we've listed those before you in district 1.

AP

News bomb road, roller road in district 2 and then we'll be doing aprons on both of the old.

AP

Freightinger mill roads both in district two and three with this material, should you approve it.

B

Motion to approve the office of procurement to purchase blacktop from cj miller in the.

B

Amount of 114 500. Second, I got a motion. I got a second any discussion on this.

A

You want to talk about blacktops nope same here, none all in favor, aye aye. Thank you.

AP

Commissioners, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You used to have you know, commissioner.

L

Who you know worked for lehigh cement and he always wanted to talk about concrete instead of.

L

Blacktops, commissioner roush I'm sorry, mr rao show he's playing mr roush used to talk about.

A

Concrete definitely and and he was familiar with moving a large quantity as a dirt. Also, oh really.

F

Oh my gosh: yes, okay, yes, until rudely interrupted by our county administrator. Let's talk about the.

A

Court, smart support services right the office of procurement in cooperation with the department of.

AO

Technology services requesting your approval for the purchase of support services for the.

AO

Existing court smart system in the amount of forty six thousand one hundred and ninety six.

AO

Dollars and forty cents, this amount is approved in the fiscal year 24 budget and no additional.

AO

Funds should be required hi, good morning good morning. um I forgot to bring my glasses, so I.

V

Apologize I'm going to have to work at this. Courtsmart is carroll county circuit court's.

V

Digital recording system courtsmart, is in use in every district court as well.

V

As in the majority of the circuit courts in the state of maryland, the existing support services.

V

Agreement ends june 2023. The support service is funded under the adopted fy24 budget. Okay,.

B

Motion to approve the network and physical security work purchased to court, smart digital systems in the amount of forty six thousand one hundred, ninety six dollars and forty cents. Second, I got a motion. I got a second.

A

Any discussion on this seen here, none all in favor, aye, aye. Okay, thank you very.

A

Much and there's nothing rude about our county administrator, just want to say that for the record.

B

I also like now how everybody, when you get to the, if is there any comment on this everybody.

B

Looks at commissioner kyler now to make sure he's not well. I gotta be an owl going both ways because.

A

I got a motion a second over here: okay, the only the only thing that disappoints me you've yet to.

F

Emphasize that no funds were needed in oh, that's, true projects, you've missed that.

F

On three or four in a row, oh I'm missing a lot. Now, I'm you know we we got it going so.

A

But if you want, I can slow things down it's up to you you're doing fine good morning. Thank you.

A

Very much fy24 annual maintenance support and life cycle management contract for our motorola radios.

A

Good morning, director good morning, commissioner, all right uh the office of procurement in.

AO

Cooperation with the department of public safety, we request your approval to continue.

AO

The multi-year agreement with motorola solutions incorporated for the annual maintenance support.

AO

And life cycle management for the public safety, astro 25 radio system per maintenance agreement.

AO

Zero: zero, zero, zero, zero, seven, eight four, two and sua 2 agreement in the amount of.

AO

One million five hundred twelve thousand two hundred fourteen dollars and twenty six cents.

AO

This amount is approved in the fiscal year 24 budget and no additional fund should be required.

AQ

So, uh once again, good morning, commissioners, this is session of a multi-year agreement. That was.

AQ

uh Originally entered into by the county last year, so this is the second year of a six-year.

AQ

Agreement, the multiple components of the county's emergency communications system are covered by.

AQ

This agreement, it was executed in july of 2022, so it covers 24, 7, 365, support of the infrastructure.

AQ

The microwave network, the vhf paging system, it provides us with continuous upgrades of.

AQ

The operating software- and we just had one of those updates completed at the beginning of june.

AQ

That's available to us every other year, basically throughout the the contract and just basically.

AQ

Provides us with some security and monitoring measures, so it's kind of a soup to nuts type of.

AQ

Situation, uh this uh contract also incorporates the same features for the radio capabilities of.

AQ

The westminster police department, they have an enhanced utilization capacity on our capability.

AQ

On our radio system, so they have uh their own dispatch location. So this agreement, including.

AQ

Them on under this agreement under the same agreement, allows them to be their capability.

AQ

To be updated at the same time that ours is so we don't run into any interoperability issues.

AQ

Into the future have confirmed, with chief ledwell of the westminster police department that that.

AQ

The agreement that is, input has been in place with the county, continues westminster police.

AQ

Department pays us up front for their portion, which is 29 672.74 at the beginning of the annual.

AQ

Covered period, and that makes the county share one of the total contract, one 482 451.52 cents.

A

And why don't we have the same arrangement with the other municipalities with police forces, the.

AQ

Other the other police uh departments do not have that same capability. They do not have.

AQ

Their own dispatch locations westminster has its own, uh basically a consulate. There.

AQ

So that's why? Because they have that enhanced capability, that's why we have the agreement with.

AQ

Westminster police department and not the others, the other jurisdictions that are municipalities.

AQ

That we dispatch for all of that runs through our communications on our dispatch right right.

A

Okay, yep motion to approve the annual maintenance support and life cycle management services for.

B

The astro 25 radio system to motorola solutions incorporated in the amount of one million five.

B

Hundred twelve thousand two hundred fourteen dollars, twenty six cents and authorize the.

B

Director of public safety to approve the resulting monthly payments. Second, okay: I got a motion. I got.

A

Second, any discussion on this one seen here: none all in favor, aye, aye. Okay, thank you very much.

A

Okay, let's talk about c mark all right: the office of procurement and cooperation with the department.

AO

Of public safety request your approval to renew the annual maintenance agreement with motorola.

AO

Solutions incorporated for carroll county sheriff the cost for maintenance, support and upkeep of of.

AO

The c mark regional radio system for part of the service agreement in the amount of sixty.

AO

Five thousand dollars: this amount is approved in the fiscal year 24 budget and no additional funds.

AO

Should be required, so this one commissioners is a is a similar type of situation uh on july. Sorry,.

AQ

June 15 2006 the county, entered into an agreement to contribute annually towards the cost of the.

AQ

Support maintenance and upkeep of the c mark regional radio system. There's no increase in.

AQ

Cost from last year, the cost for this contribution is the same for each jurisdictional member of c.

AQ

Mark which are basically the counties in central maryland, so the same counties as the uic region.

AQ

It provides the system, provides interoperability and wide area communication among those central.

AQ

Maryland counties, so the equipment systems are able to be utilized by any of the the.

AQ

Member county agencies, um we do have a legal obligation to contribute the 65 000 each year.

A

And we can't roll it up into multiple years. It's an annual. This is one that it's.

AQ

Yes, it's an annual one, it's not one that we can easily uh go to a multi-year agreement. Okay,.

K

Cool commissioner, do you want to comment on the amount being approved in the fy 24 budget? No, I was.

A

Gonna comment on ryan stuttering on 65.. I forgot how to read it, but not on 1.5 million. I mean you.

A

Know I was like okay, 1.5 million is that's right. I did catch that so I am listening yeah. It was all.

AO

The other words that I was struggling with yeah you've done you're doing really really well so.

A

Okay motion to approve carroll, county's payment share of c mark and maintenance supported upkeeps.

B

And motorola solutions incorporated the amounts of sixty five thousand dollars, as well as authorize.

B

The director of public safety to execute the fy 2024 maintenance, support and upkeep agreement with.

B

Motorola solutions for the c market regional radio system. Second, I have a motion. I have a second any.

A

Discussion seen here not all in favor aye aye. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

A

Okay, fy24 medical director for the department of fire and ems.

A

Maureen juan you come up and we'll give.

A

Chief, a hard time when he shows up or whoever's going to be showing up good morning good morning,.

A

So feel free to start with the uh want me to go ahead. Please the office of procurement with.

AR

The department of fire ems came before the board last july and received approval to contract with.

AR

John hopkins school of medicine, the department of emergency medicine as an independent contractor.

AR

Who will serve as the medical director for carroll county's ems operations, the fy 23 annual cost for.

AR

This service was fifty two thousand dollars the department of fire. Ems is requesting an increase.

AR

In working hours for the medical director, bringing this year's fy 24's cost to 96 000.

AR

Dollars these funds have been improved in the fy 24 budget, and no additional fund should be needed.

A

So it's 10 hours per week is being requested. What was it before the 10 hours per week? Do you know, or.

A

Was it always the numbers? I don't know something: equaling yeah 52 000, I guess yeah. I don't know.

H

Yeah, I can, I can speak to this a little bit. um This is what this is really about. Is our ability.

D

To uh tap into uh dr oh here he is, I was I was. I started to discuss this issue chief, but.

D

I think you can probably do it a little better than me, so I was just trying to explain to the.

D

Other commissioners, what this is really about, I was going to get into dr kemp. I was about to.

D

Get into dr kenneth, yes, and I apologize for being late all right. Good, no worries got a lot going on.

G

um Dr camp is our operational medical director and what that means is.

G

Is under comar title 30 as an ems program were required.

G

To have a medical director, so she does a number of things.

G

Quality assurance, which right now, we've gone from 10 review of reports to about a hundred percent.

G

um She provides training, she does evaluations. Every new paramedic gets cleared by dr kemp.

G

um She evaluates all of our field procedures and essentially, we operate off of her license.

G

So with that, dr kemp, we can't function at ems. That's basically it in a nutshell. I mean how.

A

Many hours was she: was she providing prior to now, what we're asking under her contract.

G

She was providing us about five hours a week. The reality of that is, it was probably.

G

10 or greater, so what this will do is bring her up to where she should be and we'll probably end.

G

Up getting more hours, so this equates to roughly 500 hours annually. So physicians.

G

Aren't cheap but dr kemp is eminently qualified, she's very active in the system. She sits on esac.

G

So considering what we're getting for that amount of money, the other thing that we get is she's part.

G

Of the hopkins emergency medicine group, so we get the resources of that world-renowned group. Our.

G

Regional medical director is also a hopkins doctor, so in her absence he's also the medical director.

G

Of howard county, he steps in and provides us with, whatever we need, if she's out of the country or.

G

Gone on a vacation for any length of time, so this um this is not a lot of money. 192.

A

Hour dollars per hour uh for a physician, I right we should have been doctors, but that's.

G

Still a pretty reasonable rate for a physician, I'm pretty impressed that we're even having a.

A

Rate like that, because that's to me I won't say half of what I would expect but close to it. So.

G

um And she would have been here today, but she worked after east action and worked a night.

G

Shift at hopkins, I noticed that last night, when she left she said she was going to work.

D

Yeah very impressed extremely dedicated and she's also been doing something that.

D

I don't know what extent she's been involved, but the weight, the wait time issue at carroll hospital.

H

Is crit is a huge issue in the county and somehow, I'm sure, there's a lot of partnerships involved.

D

But that wait time has gone down drastically. Yeah we've reduced the wait time about 90 percent and.

G

Working in partnership with the state and um commissioner garen being on esac, we get.

G

A weekly report, and basically we meaning uh mike stoner myself and dr kemp, meet monthly with the ed.

G

Management and uh garrett comes to some of those meetings from carroll hospital center, so we've.

G

Seen a dramatic shift and that's due to a lot of dynamics, primarily with covid changes. But.

G

Again the amount of work that she does for us and when I first came here, the medical director we had.

G

We didn't get many hours. We saw that person, maybe once or twice a month. So it's just tremendous for.

G

A system and we're not really a small system, we're operating 15, medic units and now the chase cars.

G

And generating close to 22 000 calls. So it's a lot of work and the physician has to be an.

G

Integral part of that this, this is I'm telling you. I just believe, and I've seen things like.

A

This just very very impressive um relationships is what it's all about, and peer-to-peer relationship.

A

With her to the ed is huge, and she also has the capability to come out to the incident scene and.

G

She's been out on a number of significant events, cool any uh any comments or questions on this one.

B

Commissioner, did you want to take the uh I'm sure I'm happy to do the honors? I knew that.

D

The board of commissioners approved the renewal of contracting with johns hopson school of medicine.

D

Department of emergency medicine for a medical director in the estimated annual amount of ninety.

D

Six thousand dollars. Second, I got a motion. I got a second I'm still turning like an owl any.

A

Discussion seen here, none all in favor, aye. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thanks, chief okay.

A

Is there any uh first off uh chris anybody on the phone? I have no one on the line. Sir. Thank.

A

You anything for us open admin. I do want to discuss something if we can I'll make it quick.

D

The issue with e-bikes, which we just discussed, we had a similar issue recently regarding making changes to an ordinance to allow for the sale of.

D

Recreational marijuana we just went through a very lengthy discussion regarding solar.

D

I think it is incumbent that, if we're going to be discussing making changes to our county ordinance.

D

That those need to come from elected officials. So if we're going to be sitting here discussing.

D

A change in ordinance there should at least be one sponsor that sits on this board, who.

D

Has sponsored that discussion whatever you want to call it item agenda before we start taking it up.

D

This has happened several times and again. I can appreciate the foresight of the staff.

D

I made that clear earlier, but when you've got elected officials discussing discussing.

D

Controversial topics that they did not broach that they haven't put on the agenda themselves.

D

And getting you know again, it's stressful for people, whether you're pro or against it. You know.

D

You're, getting the community spun up you're getting people worried, you're, getting people.

D

Stressed out they're having to take time out to be here unless there's somebody on this board at.

D

Least one commissioner who's willing to sponsor these things and sort of serve as an anchor.

D

I mean I I got to be honest, I mean unwittingly it just kind of looks like bad government that we're.

D

Sitting up here discussing an issue that none of us can really understand why we're talking about.

D

It, but we know it might be important. The issue with solar is a great example, because I know.

D

It happened over a year ago, but when you went back to sort of look at the genesis of it, you.

D

Know where did this really come from, which who was the commissioner pushing it? It was hard to discern.

D

That and I think that's important to know- and I think it's important for the rest of us to be.

D

Able to at least look at a fellow commissioner and go hey it's important enough to commission or x, so.

D

That's why we're discussing this, and maybe we all none of us agree to we all agree. We disagree, but.

D

I so I'm I. What I'm really asking here is that we decide to right now consciously make a change that.

D

If we're going to be sitting up here discussing a change to our county ordinances, whatever that.

D

Form it takes that somebody here on this board is advocating that discussion at the very least.

D

Does that does that make sense? Well, regarding solar, I mean.

A

It's not a good example, as we were in a work session focused on the definitions of.

A

The zoning and agriculture and solar was a part of that. So that's you know that was brought up by.

A

All of us um and for all the right reasons, the decisions were made, the way they were.

A

um We changed the decision as a board uh to where that's going, but you know that that was.

A

Done through a work session in deaf, defining or defining um the zoning, um I I think I know.

A

What you're saying, but I mean some things like recreational marijuana, I mean there's no decision.

A

To be made, it has, this has nothing to do with recreational marijuana. This has to do with the.

A

Ordinance, that was the law that's being put in place, whether we agree or disagree.

A

With recreational marijuana, it has to do with the the sale of it, and you know.

A

um So why marijuana is even being brought up, you know um is confusing me because it has nothing.

A

To do with, I mean I we all agree. Marijuana is not good for children, okay and it's a sale for.

A

21 and over so that you know, is something that you know if somebody wants to bring up, I I don't.

A

Understand the the audience about the trails, I think it's a good topic because it there's.

A

A lot of concern out there and obviously people are concerned that it can be dangerous, whether.

A

It's with um the horses and the the bicycles, so it was brought to our attention. I mean I.

A

I don't know I I think, maybe doing a little bit more homework prior to coming up here.

A

In the conversations can help, but um having the conversations up here I mean we're pretty.

A

Open about it, I'm all for the conversations, but doesn't it seem proper that if we are discussing.

D

A consequential issue: it's on the agenda, it deals with the ordinance and how it affects.

D

People's lives that there should at least be one commissioner on this board. Who is sponsoring that.

D

Discussion that decided yes, let's go ahead and put this on the agenda. It's important enough.

D

So because, once that process starts like it did today, well now we're into public hearings.

D

And now we're into possibly forwarding the language to the planning and zoning commit.

D

We've started an entire process without actually being involved in the early stages of the process.

A

When I go through the agendas, it's two weeks out, I mean you can say hey. Why are we having.

A

This conversation two weeks, I mean that's a method to curtail it um in other counties,.

D

Around the state and I'll I've been working on this issue, but the other kind of counties around.

D

The state, if there's an issue that the, whether it's a county, council or or county commissioners.

D

Issues of consequence like this, there are sponsors, and I just I just think, that's important to.

D

I think we need to be doing that. I so I I think, maybe what you're getting at if it's.

B

Not something that's mandated by the state if it's a self-impelled change to the county ordinances.

B

To our county code, then it should come from one of us, for example, one of the things that I want.

B

To talk about in the coming weeks, and I'm not ready to discuss it just yet is coming up with.

B

The policy to ban carroll county government use of ai- um I do want to talk about it in the coming.

B

Weeks but but you know, I would not expect that just to to appear on the agenda if I'm gonna, if.

B

I want to talk about it, it's going to be on the agenda because I wanted to talk about it and I'm.

B

The genesis for that discussion, um I think that if the staff has recommendations about things that.

B

They want to see on the agenda right, maybe maybe there's a way that we can work that into the the.

B

Two-Week outlook that maybe parks and rec says hey, we want to, I don't know, install a bridge or I'm.

B

Not I don't know what uh wait. I'm sorry yeah one of us did make a motion to have this hearing. Yeah.

F

And we we passed it right or it wouldn't have happened right now. We, the process, is uh as.

L

It stands at the moment is for staff to make a presentation to the board on a concept whatever.

L

It may be you just literally just heard one two minutes ago about changing the building code.

L

um And um generally, these recommendations come from a community group, so there's a community.

L

Group about flower, alcohol producers- it was a community group about solar community, solar.

L

There was a community group about the the code changes that was community group about the e-bikes.

L

So, generally speaking, these these you know, come through. You have a briefing from the the director.

L

Or staff on the issue, the board can certainly stop it at that point and get more information, but.

L

um Or and and sometimes it does go through two or three different iterations before it.

L

Goes to public hearing and and then you give direction to go to public hearing. So that's.

A

Yeah, that's the process so because, honestly, I'm I'm agreeing with you.

A

um May not sound at all the time, but but I am and because the I think the focus you want to put in.

A

Place is that we are effective and efficient. You know for our community for the county and we're.

A

Not almost blindsided but we're there's meat on the bones when it comes in front of us and.

A

um It's you know, because sometimes honestly, I felt like I've been caught off guard. Not you.

A

Were or here but in prior forge that I'm like okay, I really don't understand why.

A

Am I saying yes or no, I want to be more brave and that's what you're saying is you know we.

A

um It's not about wearing ties on the board, it's about being efficient and effective for the county.

A

And talking about the conversation, so you you mentioned the example of e-bikes that's put on.

D

The agenda so you'll need five commissioners to reach out and say no that doesn't go on the agenda.

D

To take it off, it stays on the agenda and then we're all sitting here and we have to decide if.

D

We want to go to a public hearing or not which one of us is going to say no to a public hearing, see.

D

So the process has already started at that point. I just want to make sure that, when we're having.

D

Discussions regarding our county ordinance, our county ordinance as elected officials,.

D

If somebody feels strongly enough about looking at this issue, let's have a sponsor: that's how.

D

It would initially even become an issue that would possibly go on the agenda. That's all.

D

I'm saying because I I I'm concerned that in issues like as of today, I mean it looks like.

D

Again it to me, it looks like unwittingly or inadvertently. You know we're getting people.

D

Spun up it doesn't look good, it does to me. It looks like a not a good form of government.

D

Yeah, I and I agree with what you're saying and, and we kind of do, the inverse of it now.

F

But my humble opinion we gloss through it um week. One ain't gonna be a whole lot. I don't.

F

Even know what's on week two, but we can sit here and pull anything from the agenda. We want to yeah.

F

When, when we go through this now, we tend to uh you, read it through quickly and uh and she she.

F

Only changes if we tell her to but we can, the the other part I want to. I want to say strongly.

F

I would have sponsored e-bikes, we need e-bikes, they need to happen and and I'll.

F

Go a step further, no disrespect to anybody in this room or anybody that got injured. I grew up.

F

With horses, I grew up with thoroughbreds and I guarantee there aren't too many of their horses.

F

That act like thoroughbreds, if I couldn't control the horse, I'll stay the hell home.

F

We need e-bikes, that's my humble opinion, but but um I would have. I would have gladly sponsored it.

F

If, if and but without the department hearing from people and bringing it up, I wouldn't have known it.

F

Was an issue but but so I I agree with what you're saying, but but I think our chance is right now.

F

As we go through this cylinders, I don't even know, what's you know because what's on here, but but say.

F

I don't think we're ready to talk about this. Let's not put this on the agenda. That is a push, but what.

A

You're, saying is, you know what they do in congress, what they do in our legislators down in annapolis,.

A

Is a delegate or senator sponsors yeah? It goes through a subcommittee to then vote on to be able.

A

To then go to the open, we don't have subcommittees, so we just go right to the open. So I understand.

A

That that's where you want to go with this, um to have some level of sponsorship. Now I don't know.

A

If, if you know, sponsorship means agreeing to the ordinance or not um or change, I just.

D

Think it means that you would be prepared, as a commissioner, to discuss the merits of this.

D

Argument, I think, that's the other part. I know what you're saying you would be there to say. Okay, you.

D

Know I wanted this on here for a reason, and let me tell you guys why let me tell the county why? But I.

D

Think once it's on he and again, I appreciate your comments, commissioner austin, because I I really do.

D

But my concern there is that again, this is only the issues. The consequential issues of dealing.

D

With the ordinance ordinance is once they're on here when somebody arbitrarily decides to.

D

Put them on here and we're sitting here and we decide to take them off. I don't. I don't think.

D

That's a good look either. I just would like to know ahead of time when we're going to be.

D

Taking a look at issues of ordinances- and I just I would like to put in place a first process where.

D

A commissioner would sponsor that particular discussion and be prepared to.

D

Probably defend it, but maybe not or at least discuss the merits of it.

F

So so the one week in a two-week out agenda right now, the first time we see it.

F

Is setting here it was it's not part of the agenda. We get ahead of time. That's only the current week.

D

Yeah, I guess technically we get it on wednesday nights probably well when I know carolina.

D

Miss hill- this probably shows up in our in our offices before this morning. It shows up probably.

D

You get it on friday, okay, soft copy on friday, uh computers, friday, all the way, through the two weeks.

L

That's what I'm saying the one in two week look ahead. This is the first time we see.

F

It but it's our end published and we could friday and we could pull stuff or add stuff.

F

Or as um so yeah- and I understand I I you know, I understand what you're saying I don't. I don't want.

F

To make it harder yeah, I I don't know, but but I agree and we certainly oh so what you're finished.

L

I mean some of the. We could certainly talk about. I'm trying to you know as listening to how.

L

Would work you know you don't want to encourage forum shopping, for so I mean the the board.

L

Certainly anytime, you know, like you know, when jeff was in front of you talking about the e-bike issue,.

L

um You know could certainly have had asked for more information more time.

L

You know don't want the board to feel like it's an automatic. I want to have.

L

A public hearing and you automatically get it- I mean you're in control with regard to that.

L

um Now you know you need three to move forward or not, but but um you know so so, there's.

L

You know neither I nor any of the staff want the board to be put in situations where they're.

L

Uncomfortable and don't feel like they have enough information to make a decision so so.

L

um You know again, we can, we can talk about. You know more process how it would actually.

L

Function and whether it makes sense and think about it a little bit, but it's it's not again,.

D

It's not an issue of being caught off guard. I don't think any of us really feel that way.

D

Or not have enough information, it's just about being in control of the agenda that.

D

Deals with our county ordinances, you know um because we're the elected officials.

D

I agree with you um in a minute we're going to look at item five setting.

F

Of the school impact fees um from department management and budget yep.

F

um Is that something that happens every year and that's why it's on here be just because of that.

F

Or is it something new and beyond that, and and typically what I do is I'll look at that and say.

F

You know: okay, it's a good topic I'll, find out more detail in two weeks, but it's actually going to be.

A

A very interesting topic, I know I know and that's why I picked it, but so I don't know if we should.

F

Spend a little more time discussing now or or you're saying you know some of this.

F

But I'm I'm I'd be curious. When we go through thursday july 13th.

F

Which specific items should have been sponsored by somebody? Probably none of.

D

Them unless they involve an ordinance, I'm only strictly talking about okay gotcha, so.

F

When yeah, when you're saying it, it's creating an ordinance or modifying an ordinance, so yeah.

A

Because again, I'm I'm agreeing with you, because I I'm, I believe, I'm understanding the intent and.

A

um In the last six months, I feel like we've done a lot of ordinances more than I remember doing,.

A

The four years prior we've done a lot of judicial and a lot of ordinances.

A

I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's just going to be the way things go.

A

um I mean, but I do feel, like we've been very active, um so yeah going through this typically.

A

It would be the second week we could say: okay, we're looking at a very specific topic. You know.

A

You know, is there a sponsorship, or is there a concern with this? We may get a let's keep.

A

Moving from all five of us or one may take a leader, I had the conversation with um chris.

A

Hein when he was up here with um uh jp about um the freedom district in ag- and I want that.

A

Further discussed, you know, um so I'm expecting him preparing something and he'll get on the.

A

Agenda and you know, because that's an ordinance that would be a change. um What sorry it's not.

O

That's: okay! Okay! So it's not a change of order, but it's a change that we're looking to make.

A

Okay, well so what? If and the solar on ag the current one? I did the opposite. It wasn't on the.

F

Agenda and I made a motion at an open meeting right and- and so I very much sponsored it, but.

F

um And again being serious, should I have asked this group before that meeting? Should I get it.

F

On the agenda, you know- and I I think a couple of us have brought up stuff in the admin part.

F

And and made it into a motion probably, but I yeah, I understand what you're saying but, like I say I.

F

That does the the solar on ag. I I didn't, I kind of didn't, ask anybody and I just brought it up and.

F

I sponsored it and you guys could have said you know. I remember that meeting before we don't care.

F

Perhaps we can do it this way when, when the when the staff feels as though an ordinance needs to be.

D

Discussed it's important that they that one of us at least one of us, be prepared to discuss it and.

D

And in the affirmative say: yeah: okay, let's make sure that's on the agenda or something to that.

D

Effect- that's all I'm trying to accomplish here. I'm not trying to hide anything yeah.

D

Because I you know once something's out here in open session, it's out in the open.

D

It's out in the public, I'm not trying to squash anything either, I'm just trying to find a way.

D

That one of the five of us, as the elected officials in the county, have some form of.

D

Of management, if you will lack of a better term of some of these, sometimes controversial.

D

Issues that are taking place with ordinances and they're always going to be controversial.

D

So we can speak to it and we can relate to it a little better and not feel as though we're just.

D

You know we're being carried along in a process that may have already started, and so I have a I'm.

B

Sorry so very briefly, commissioner kyle, when you brought up the the solar moratorium, and I have.

B

No problem with that whatsoever, if any of us want to bring something up at will, I have no.

B

Issue with that whatsoever, maybe the easiest way to approach this is to indicate if there's going.

B

To be a potential ordinance change in the future on the list of items that we have somewhere within.

B

That that section item five item, four, whatever specifically, will say ordinance change and then.

B

At that point, if it specifically says ordinance change, then we can determine during this part of.

B

The meeting whether or not that's something we want to proceed with, and what I would request is that if there is something that falls under the agenda, that is a potential ordinance change.

B

We have a briefing sheet, that's included with that with our our package. Again, we're going to.

B

Be changing our policy about, I don't know bridges or something for reasons x and y and then now like.

L

Not not the not the briefing paper by the agenda is is produced but shane now earlier earlier, so.

B

We have some sense of what it is we're going to be looking at, and then we can determine among.

B

Ourselves yeah: this is a great idea to change. The policy about bridges are now at a level, not.

B

Prepared to do that at this time I mean it's a good use of open admin to look at schedules.

A

It again it provides more cohesiveness amongst us and, like you said that we're prepared.

A

You know on the agendas.

A

Yeah, I I don't disagree. um You know it's. It's comfort, just confidence. It's what.

A

Matters, and sometimes you know things I may disagree with I'll- still bring out.

A

There right, because I'd rather put them on the table to take them off than not.

A

Even have them addressed and then say well, why didn't we think about x and uh you know.

A

um And you've heard me talk about things like that, especially during the budget. You got to get.

A

Out there you got to be willing to put out and then okay, we talked take it off. Let's you know.

A

um But sometimes that's going to be the case, so I think that's a process that actually could work.

L

um Yeah have some reservations about. You know individuals going to individuals anyway, the.

L

um So yeah we, the staff, would have to change and have a some semblance of a briefing paper.

L

That doesn't have to necessarily be the formal briefing paper with the motion and everything.

L

But right some semblance of a briefing paper that gives the board enough information about.

L

The proposed change to make you feel comfortable that you, the majority, wants it on the agenda or.

L

Not including specifically, why it's being yeah that would have yeah yeah I'd like to ask ask.

F

About an example just to see how something happens and I'm being facetious with my first comment.

F

For the lawyers in the room, clark schaefer gets more [ __ ] on the agenda than I do now.

F

How does that happen when the car wash at liberty road, he presents that for a client.

F

To get a change done, it goes through staff and it ends up on their agenda and and that's an.

F

Ordinance change possibly or not, but how do you can't tell him? No, no right go ahead. He applies.

J

To the to the county for a what's called the piecemeal rezoning and that triggers a process.

J

Where uh it's reviewed by staff and ultimately he's he is entitled, anyone is entitled to a.

J

Planning, commission, and and eventually to come to the uh to the commissioners for and that go ahead.

J

That is a a state uh determined process laid out in state law yeah. So that's that process.

J

So much as we'd like to say he couldn't come in front of you right. I hope he's watching, but.

F

um You know that kind of stuff, you can't go through this process or it can, but it.

F

Would be uh kind of superficial to even go through it but but stuff from departments.

F

Could correct things sort of in you within your control? I mean that's in your control to allow or.

L

Not allow it the ultimate decision, but the process is already set up. I am outside you know by the.

L

State in some cases, maybe you do a briefing and but you say you don't really have a choice on this.

F

But we want to let you know what's going on, you know, but but I think because some things we don't.

D

That's right, you know I'll I'll wrap up this conversation because I know.

D

We've it's been a long day. My bottom line is, I do not. I would do not want to see.

D

Ordinance discussions on the agenda unless at least one commissioner.

D

Has okayed it ak spot whatever you say, sponsored it and is prepared to discuss it in in some form.

D

Or fashion, that's my only ask and it's strictly with issues of changing the county, ordinance yeah.

L

Well, let's see if it works the way commissioner, regularity suggested that if we just have the.

L

Staff will have to change how they you know they have to prepare a little in advance. So if.

L

um You know they're proposing an ordinance change um and, and then there'll be have to be two weeks.

L

Out it'll, be in your a why briefing uh will be in your agenda books. You can read it and decide.

D

Because you made a good point, commissioner austin anybody up here can bring up anything.

D

So I just want that role to apply to something in here that it's at least one person and we're.

F

Different enough odds are it's still going to come up, but probably yeah yeah, but it's going.

D

To be so, of course, we haven't all agreed on. You know we don't agree as much as proper people.

D

Probably think around this uh that's a good thing. You know one. It's a journey, two we've.

A

Got a long ways to go and three we get to make up the rules. So you know these are rules. These are.

A

Not the laws- and these are not the ordinances on how we're performing so these are rules, and, let's.

A

Start with a change in process that until you shared and we'll move forward in meeting your.

A

Intent and see how it works and we'll go from there. Thank you. Why do you want to come on up.

A

We got an exhausting week next week. She said I just I just got more work wishing everybody a very.

A

um Happy fourth of july, on tuesday there are activities happening throughout the week. I know.

A

Around the county in sykesville, I do know that uh july 1st. uh I think that's saturday, thursday.

A

Parade, let freedom ring, I think, called parade, but I know there's activities over the weekend.

A

And fourth of july, and the farm museum will be having their fireworks uh that evening on 4th of.

A

July, so that should be a lot of fun. What's that the fifth, if it rains and the fifth, if it rains.

F

Commissioner, the fifth is manchester's parade and I'm I'm 99 sure I'm gonna probably be in. If.

F

Anybody wants to join me you're most welcome and um I think a couple of delegates may.

A

I only want to go there, uh commissioner of vigliotti has the podcast second question.

F

Today, come on okay, just for that on monday january july 10th, commissioner kyler will be.

A

Attending the transit advisory council down to room 105. tuesday july 11th, I will be.

A

Participating or attending the shock trauma board of visitors meeting at 8 a.m and then that evening.

A

That was a sigh of happiness, I'll be purchasing in the ag center board meeting.

A

Over at the ag center wednesday july 12th opioid prevention coalition meeting commissioner kyler's.

A

Attending in the morning at 9 30., commissioner figliotti will be attending the forum, ford uh farm.

A

Museum board meeting 11 a.m. There is scheduled for a virtual legislative committee for makeout.

A

Commissioner color and I will be participating in and then we have the joint board of education.

A

Buddha county commissioners joint meeting, which will be held downstairs in the reagan room.

A

At 1pm thursday july 13th, we have an update on the local management board and partnership.

A

With the community support impact grants, celine, steckel department of citizen services,.

A

Then removal of community solar from agricultural zone.

L

No didn't we finish it, we finished it. No, there was a hero. This is the public hearing.

A

Yeah this is the yeah. Is this? Where we closed, so we will not vote on now. You will close the.

J

Close the public hearing- and I would suggest you close the record at that point: okay, okay,.

J

But it this is the public hearing. This is the public hearing. Okay, my fault: can we close the.

F

Record and vote that day or we have to wait, can but the ordinance will not be effective for 10.

J

Days anyway, I think in planning things like I don't. I thought, planning ordinances had to.

L

Be left over all right. Well, we'll look into that! But, okay! Well, we probably have to wait.

A

Okay, so one more time it is a public hearing for the removal of community solar from agricultural.

A

Zones and will be led by our department of land, resource management and then we'll have options.

A

To purchase properties through the accounting programs to james cook and diane cook property.

A

The badly humber property and the jeffrey white and janus white properties, we will then.

A

Get a request from it on the intellitime system, annual support.

A

And then from office management budget setting of the school impact fees will be discussed.

A

uh And it'll be approval for fiscal year, 24 town county agreements this year, it'll.

A

Be manchester new windsor, sykesville, 20 town union bridge westminster well, all of.

L

Them will come in. Oh, this is just the ones that are are signed already. I need the county design.

A

I thought it's only three: no, you do all eight. Every year, okay um bridge program manager.

A

What's that about, we have a contractual. uh Oh, is this the request to fund okay, so request.

A

To fund the bridge program manager, I take it. It's the same with the traffic engineer.

A

It's a request to fund traffic engineer, contract contracts, so they're outsourced.

A

Fiscal year 2024 pavement testing and rehabilitation recommendations.

A

What's that, oh, let it go that way, um then we will go into closed for land acquisition.

A

Friday july 14th I will be a keynote speaker at 8 30 in the morning. First responder again.

A

That was a a of joy first responder ptsd, symposium that'll, be put on uh over at the community college.

A

um Then there will be the buck. Wild tractor pull.

A

On saturday afternoon, 4 p.m, and commissioner kyler has the podcast that afternoon, on sunday.

A

That idea, okay, wanda any questions or come today, chris, is there somebody on the on the line.

A

Is it for public comment? Can you ask why not.

X

Yeah are you calling for public comment today? Yes, I was told to wait on the line and I uh yeah.

A

Okay, go ahead. Chris.

G

G

Yes, my name is catherine adelaide, I'm calling from the in between westminster and taneytown area.

AS

I'm interrupting something to make this call. um I am a second member, a second term member of the.

AS

Carroll county republican, central committee- I think hopefully all of you know me uh thank you.

AS

All for all that you have done. um I especially appreciate commissioner garen's comments. This.

AS

Morning about that horrible accident uh regarding the thc um didn't know, but was not surprised.

AS

You all should have received an email from me. I contacted reached out to all the elected officials.

AS

um In carroll county, I'm very very concerned about this effective date july 1st, which is saturday.

AS

Before a major holiday, I don't know why this date wasn't pushed into october, which is none of your.

AS

It didn't have anything to do with you, but it set the alarm bill off for me, and so I am planning a.

AS

um A peaceful first amendment protest not against my commissioners but against recreational pot.

AS

In carroll county- um and I hope some of you could join me just for a few minutes- I have again heard.

AS

From commissioner garen commissioner um bigliotti is is tied up, but um I appreciate that you all are.

AS

Republicans and specifically, I'm going to be working on this issue a little bit more.

AS

um But in uh I have drafted up a resolution for my central committee, which will be passed shortly.

AS

And for the mdgop about recreational pot, it is all illegal under federal law, but my particular.

AS

Concern for today and the reason I'm going to be out there with as many people as I can get.

AS

um Tomorrow, for between three and six at route, 140 and um center street, if I'm requesting that.

AS

You would make a motion in the second and pass a public service announcement for this holiday.

AS

Weekend simply to don't drink and drive and don't get high and drive, and I know you say.

AS

There's signs out there, but I think it would be really important. You all did a public service.

AS

Announcement and during the bitter bitter cold that we had to get people into the shelters.

AS

This is a huge public safety issue on our roads and though all of you may be very familiar with.

AS

This I go to church at the open door. The average conservative christian family in carroll county is.

AS

Not following this, the people that are following this or the people we're going to smoke dope on.

AS

Saturday and we're going to grow and profit from this, so don't be fooled that everybody knows about.

AS

This I only found out about it. Pumping gas ran into a sheriff on my way to the mdgop convention.

AS

Asked me if how I was I said, I was upset about it and he told me it was effective july 1st. So.

AS

Not everybody knows I just want to put the warning out there. I would really appreciate.

AS

Before you adjourn today to just make a quick public service announcement that it is becoming.

AS

Effective, it's going to be the wild wild west out there this week, and I am in touch with the.

AS

Maryland state police, the carroll county sheriff the westminster. They all want to keep everything.

AS

Safe and so do I so remember it's um again: it's a protest against recreational pot in carroll, county.

AS

But particularly warning people this weekend to be ever more cautious on the roads for this holiday.

AS

Weekend, if anybody has any questions, no ma'am, I appreciate it. Thank you very much and um it is a.

A

You know thoughts and you know activities uh in mind. A lot of you will be taking a long weekend.

A

Because tuesday is a federal holiday, so a lot of folks will be taking monday and tuesday off.

A

Making it a four day weekend, um you know whether it's down the beach or wherever it may be just.

A

uh Hoping you're with family, friends and neighbors and staying safe while doing it.

A

um We have to go into recess. We are scheduled to go at one o'clock, but if it's okay with you, if.

A

You would like we can start at 1 30. and go to work session, 1 30., and where are we doing this.

A

Downstairs in reagan room, yes, okay, so I need a recess to 1 30.. I have a question about.

F

um Her comments just now, do we, even if we want to do a public service announcement, cautioning.

F

People for the holiday weekend- that's something we can do without emotion, absolutely right, so we.

H

Can move forward with that and not make a motion here? That's correct because it's that makes common.

F

Sense absolutely put out something and we can ask of questions. Certainly if we can write something.

L

And and send it out, if any one of you wanted to do that, we could work with you to make it happen.

A

I mean, I think it's a good idea and maybe you know not, maybe we can uh have chris craft something and.

A

uh Put a message out: you know uh by later today walking into a long weekend. I mean it is.

A

You know I, I appreciate her comments about that and it's a good catalyst for us to do that. So.

A

um Agreed agreed. Okay, um so I need a motion to recess to 1 30 to then go into a work.

A

Session downstairs on ag motion to recess until 1 30 pm. Second, all in favor, aye, okay,.