Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 8 Dec 2022

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From YouTube: Board of County Commissioners Open Session December 8, 2022

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov

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Good morning, I'm commissioner ed rothstein from district five. It is thursday december 8th, wow.

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um Time just seems to fly by.

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As always, why don't we uh stand for the pledge of allegiance in a moment of silence.

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And to the republic for which it stands, one nation.

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Under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Okay, thank you, and uh this is an exciting day. It is the first open session of the 62nd.

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Board of county commissioners carroll county board of county commissioners- and I am very.

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um Excited anxious at times, looking forward to opportunities to serving and learning from.

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This board of county commissioners, um what we'll do is uh keep things.

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As they have been in a routine and then things may change after after time, but that that's okay.

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Change is not a bad thing; um what we do is, uh as you know, priority carol. I think when.

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I first started it was called positive carol and uh that had a different spin, so we change it to.

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Priority carol, what is on our minds individually, that is a priority to carroll county and to us.

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um You know and uh an example is uh just to kick it off. Yesterday I had the opportunity to.

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Attend and participate in the westminster senior center uh luncheon holiday, luncheon.

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The room was packed uh and there were folks wearing everything from elf suits to reindeer.

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Ears and everything else and uh going from table to table it was just a very enjoyable.

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um The senior centers are awesome and I think I'm going to one on friday as well down south carroll.

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uh Celine steckler her whole team running the centers just do a great job. It was very festive.

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Hopefully, everybody took a moment yesterday to recognize the importance of the day of infamy.

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That occurred years ago in pearl harbor that entered us into the war to end all wars and.

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It's a challenge because, as time moves on people seem to forget, unless we forget things of that.

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Nature because it was uh just a horrific day and we should never, and we should always take.

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The opportunity to ensure we recognize along with others, I don't want to get on pulpit.

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About it, but it's important for me, so that's kind of uh my priority carol for uh this week.

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um You know it'll be interesting again to learn the persona of my colleagues and what bring they.

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Bring forward so, let's start with now we're not starting with uh district one, because he'll have.

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He'll have some poetic prose and all that kind of weird stuff, and nobody will want to follow him.

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So, let's start with uh district 4 and mike aaron, commissioner sure I thought I would just mention.

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That that santa claus is coming to town on west, the winfield volunteer fire department, starting.

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This monday, through the uh through sunday, the 18th will be escorting santa claus throughout that.

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Region of the county, and if you want to check on roots and uh where they're going to be, you can go.

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To their website, it's they've got everything laid out to a t, and you might even see me out there and.

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uh Just wanted to plug my my town mount airy, a lot of things going on for the next couple weeks.

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Related to the holidays- um and we do have a brewery now, which is very important. So uh if.

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You haven't been to mount airy for a while, come and check it out. It's a liquidity. Ale works. It's.

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A mouthful, but it's it's beer, that's all for me. Thank you! Cool uh district, three, commissioner,.

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Gordon thank you. I had the opportunity yesterday myself and commissioner rothstein to attend the.

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Good scout breakfast in pleasant valley, it's a wonderful event held every year. It's a great.

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Opportunity we get to see various individuals recognized for their involvement. Our community.

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Which is one of the big things that is the backbone of carroll county yesterday, the.

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Recipients were ethan and debbie seidel too, very uh well-known, wonderful people in the district 3.

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Westminster area that have been involved here for quite some time, it's always a good opportunity to.

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See you know the recipients see who turns up a lot of organizations countywide in attendance.

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Also yesterday afternoon, commissioner kyler and I were at the board of ed swearing in so got to.

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See uh some new faces there and some returning and look forward to working uh well with our board and.

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Their board in the in the future moving forward. Thank you. Okay, commissioner. Kyler district, two.

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Yes, um I want to thank everybody for working with us as we transition and and orient.

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Ourselves to a new job, it's it's going to be fun, it's going to be interesting and uh I hope.

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My learning curve isn't too long and this time of the year without.

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Being sworn in as a commissioner is a busy time of the year, there's so many events going.

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On all over the place, and it's uh it's going to be interesting to pick and choose to try to.

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Make as many things it's hard to say no, but um sometimes you have to so again. I want to thank.

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Everybody- and I really appreciate the voters at carroll county, like commissioner rosting said, I.

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Think it's going to be exciting. I think it's going to be a good group to work with and.

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I think it's gonna be a lot of fun. Thank you, yeah. I'm going to do my my best not to have you follow.

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District one, but that's okay, we'll see so district one pages, mr vigliotti, I may have a few notes: good.

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Morning, everybody, uh first of all, congratulations to my fellow commissioners, I'm looking forward to.

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Working with all of you for the next four years uh to everybody who works here, thank you for.

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Your kindness and your patience with us so far um and uh you know so to be in uh you know the other.

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Day a number of us attended the swearing-in of the sheriff and the clerk of the court.

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um We uh you know, some of us are also presents uh the other day at or no last night, actually at.

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uh The chamber of commerce as a mixer over the course of the last week I had the experience of.

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Joining new windsor mayor neil rupp for his mayor on the square coat and food drive and uh tanitown.

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Union bridge and the county held their christmas tree lightings, and so those were always quite.

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Interesting and fun to attend. um It is a beautiful time of year and we focus on love and the worth of.

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The human individual, blessed by god at this time of year, and so there are a number of churches and.

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Goodwill organizations and groups throughout the county that are offering help if people.

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Need them, and if you do need the help please do not hesitate to reach out, for the help is.

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Any one of us who offers help today may need help tomorrow and vice versa and yeah. That's it for me.

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Thank you. I appreciate it. In fact, I think in the news um shepherd's staff there was an article, a.

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Couple days ago, about shepard's staff with some significant needs that are in the community, one.

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Thing I just want to share and then we're going to get started is there was a news release yesterday, governor hogan announced that 376 businesses across maryland uh to revitalize.

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The downtowns across maryland received funds. I don't have. Unfortunately, I didn't break down.

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The list, I think, there's either eight or nine businesses, small businesses in carroll, county.

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That receive funds of that 376.. um So that's great, uh you know and uh we'll break down that.

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List and we'll get that out, because I want to make sure we congratulate them for stepping forward.

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And um appreciate all the work, I let me see, 80 percent of the awards overall were minority-owned.

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Businesses with more than 2500 jobs that were created um across that 376, you know revitalization.

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Program so just want to uh announced that there were 44 breweries. Oh I like that. Okay.

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um Let's get started, I'm gonna have to check out the one in mount airy.

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With um fy 2022 fall amendment to the 2019 water and sewer master plan, miss eisenberg and mr wagner.

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Price is right, come on up good morning, commissioners, and welcome we're happy to have you.

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Here some new faces, so today we are here before you for the fall amendment to the water and sewer.

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Master plan we do amendments twice a year and they're by the request of who needs the amendment.

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The municipalities, typically or if we need an amendment for the county, as you all may be aware,.

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We have eight municipalities that all have, except for sykesville their own water and sewer service.

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And we process these plan and plan amendments on their behalf. That's part of our comar regulations.

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Which is the code of maryland um so with that I'm going to have chris wagner? Who is a senior.

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Staff, member in the department of planning and all things, water and sewer, um give you a brief.

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Presentation, and the reason we're here today is because, even though some of this plan has to do.

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With some of the municipalities, we, the county, have to adopt the amendments, and that is your role and.

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This is adopting the amendments. These amendments do not become finalized, though until they are.

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Approved by maryland, department of the environment, who is the approving body on this and that process.

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Typically takes about three or so months to get through their process and we work with them along.

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The way so they're familiar with the amendment prior to it coming to them, so we don't have a lot.

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Of surprises, but there still takes a little bit of time on their end to get these approved once it's.

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Approved through them, then it is finalized and whatever implementation strategies need to happen.

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After that can happen once it's been approved by mde, so with that I'm going to have price I'll go.

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Over the presentation with you today on what we're requesting good morning, commissioners.

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Congratulations on winning the election and commissioner rothstein being reelected.

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So what I want to do is, since some of this may be new when it comes to what the actual water and.

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Sewer master plan is, I only give a brief of why we have to do the water and sewer master plan, so this.

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Is based on title ix of the health environmental article of the annotated code of maryland.

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Requires that caribou county review and adopt a water and sewer master plan every three years.

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The mail and department of environment regulation 26., hey price, can you speak up.

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Yes, sir, the maryland department environment establishes procedures for implementing the law.

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And the water and sewer master plan is developed in accordance with these.

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Regulations the plan is adopted by resolution by the carroll county.

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This is directional, so please it's just not amplifying your voice. Sorry.

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So the plan is adopted by the county commission and does not become effective as linda said, until.

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Mde is their final approval, since carroll county does not have a central authority.

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That provides water and sewer all eight municipalities and the bureau.

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Of utilities overseas, the freedom and the hampstead sewer service area, water and sewer.

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Master plan encompasses all of carroll county, including the county's eight municipalities,.

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So the main objective of the plan is to make sure that there is enough water for the municipalities.

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To be able to grow, as well as enough sewer for those municipalities to be able to grow and the.

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Treatment of that, depending on, if there's going to be going into the discharge areas or in some.

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Cases like manchester town of manchester, they have spray irrigation for their fluent, so those.

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Are the different aspects of how it's done? The state mandates of the carroll county.

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Oversea and create the water and sewer master plan for all eight municipalities and the.

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Areas that we oversee, which is the freedom area, we have a couple of small plants, pleasant valley,.

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As well as the barkhill area, so again we look at doing this every three years and then in.

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The meantime, during that three-year process, which at this point in time we are working on the 2022.

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Water and sewer master plan, but we have amendments that have come up and this is where we are today.

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So why I'm in this plan again it goes back to.

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Things may occur that weren't that we're not a part of the original.

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Process, a development may have come in and they are needing to connect to the sewer.

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Sooner or a and sometimes in emergency cases which you'll see in one of the slides, a parcel, maybe.

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On septic but unfortunately, their septic is failing and they need.

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To tie into sewer, if they in that ability and price just one second, just for all of.

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Us the slide deck is in our book. So if we do want to take notes on the slides.

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You know um and yeah just wanted to make sure you all knew that so. Okay, thank you, commissioner.

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So, starting off, we have uh the map amendments. We have the freedom, sykesville area.

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We have the hampstead water sewer service area and the manchester water service.

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Area- and we have one chapter amendment which is the city of westminster, water.

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So, starting with the map amendments in the freedom area, there's the first one there's.

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Four parcels right across liberty exchange on maryland, 26 that encompasses approximately.

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I think it's 12 acres, the estimated demand is 8, 400 gallons for those four parcels combined.

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Currently, they're looking to be looking to come into the water and sewer service area.

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The second area is at the corner of cleves mill, road and maryland 26.. This may be familiar there.

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Was a restaurant there that burned down about four years ago? I believe that's one of the parcels.

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There's four: these four parcels are looking to come in to.

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What has happened is over the years their septic has been failing. They have tried they've, actually.

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Purchased a different another parcel which is actually considered partial 485 was there.

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Hoping to be able to expand their their septic to their the perks that have come about have not.

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Given them, what they're, looking for so they're requesting to come into the service area for sewer.

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Finally, 5591 linton road: this is the one where I was talking about the emergency aspect. This.

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Person purchased a house, and their septic was failing that enough that they had to have it.

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Pumped out twice a month, so they requested to come in talked with the health department and they had.

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Actually, already connected, the health department was okay with them connecting in the emergency.

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Aspect as long as we came back after the fact for an amendment to bring them into the service area,.

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So, looking at this map right here, these four parcels are the ones across from liberty exchange.

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And they again looking to bring in roughly 8 400 gallons. That is the estimated demand based on.

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The calculations the state requires which is 700 gallons per usable acre so roughly with 12 acres.

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That are usable, 700, gallons per usual. Acre gives them 8, 400 gallons for all four parcels combined.

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We will utilize a portion of the unutilized demand, that is, from the sable property when those uh when.

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The excuse me, the density of those properties, was reduced, so this ability act to utilize that demand.

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Will not increase the demand estimates at all for the sewer system in the freedom area. Those.

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Numbers are already incorporated. We are utilizing some the underutilized portion of that property, so.

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Disabled property, just so you're aware, is in the freedom area. Okay for the microphone. Sorry, sorry.

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About that, um the zabel property is a property in the freedom area. That's in the master planning.

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Process had a higher land use capacity, then it's ending up being developed. So we are then have this.

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Ability to look at the overall future demand of the area I mean there are some other properties.

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Too, that came out of the system or don't need to utilize as much sewer as originally thought so.

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We were able to take some of that additional capacity and reallocate it to this property.

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These four properties again, the ones I've mentioned again right off- please mill road.

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The triangle, the very end, is where the restaurant, I believe, that's where the restaurant burned down.

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This property, the long extension, is the one they purchased to hopefully extend and have.

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More area for septic the perks that were done on this property do not allow for additional steps.

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To go to go there, so this property will utilize again the demand the unutilized demand for this.

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Able property- and this one is 5400 gallons. This is not based on an estimate, however, based on actual.

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Usage, that's on the property today and with what is on the property, which is uh one restaurant.

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They're hoping to bring another restaurant in the working with the the owners and the engineer.

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5400 gallons is what they would max out to be with what could potentially go there.

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With either being a restaurant and the small businesses that are there, so they're asking.

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For 5400 gallons on this particular property itself, are these four properties together.

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This is the the additional property on linton road, where it was the emergency connection for sewer.

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They also there's also a since they already have the property open and the lines were in place. They.

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Requested to go ahead and tie into for water water allocation is based on 250, 250, gallons per unit.

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And this property, 250 gallons, is is minimal for what they're looking to do as well as we.

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Have come to find the 250 typically is on a higher end. However, that does incorporate.

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Certain things as if there's drought situations or areas that may use less water or more water.

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It helps in the end, hopefully balance out the total demand that is being requested.

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At 250 the residential number, so this is a residential property, not a commercial property.

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Like the previous properties, I'm sorry please. I was going to say price just logistically. You well.

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Not you get closer to the mic, it is directional, but I need it to make sure that we're capturing.

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You know not just the essence of what you're saying but the details, because you know we're.

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Getting pretty specific here so please do that, but yeah! Commissioner! Oh thank you. So the the.

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Properties that we're looking at here is there going to be any kind of projected appreciable.

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Change to them about what exists there. I mean you're, talking about like restaurants or the res.

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It's going to say the same: what's there it's just that we're we would potentially be providing water.

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To them or sewer so the last piece of property that you just saw, that is a residential piece, had.

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Family and septic system they needed to come on in an emergency situation. Nothing else is envisioned.

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I mean that's just for that personal property, um the prior to properties. If you want to scroll up.

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A little bit more, this is uh not developed yet, okay, this would be bringing new development.

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Onto that site, it's vague has houses on it currently, but they have since sold to commercial.

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Development and that property is currently zoned commercial to commercial medium. So.

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um That is a vacant or raw land. Now that will be redeveloped into a commercial entity and.

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Then the other piece has some development on it, which is commercial there's additional capacity.

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If they are able to get into the water and sewer service area for additional commercial development,.

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But again the issue here is: they have failing septic systems with no additional reserve area.

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To replace that septic, the properties to the east, if you can just go there yeah, they know.

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Here yeah, where price's cursor is, that is vacant, but they have a planned commercial.

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Center, that is approved for that site, they'll be moving through the development process and the.

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Thought is when they develop on their water and sewer service. That then these five edition, I'm.

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Sorry, four additional parcels to the northwest then will connect through that site into the.

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Main line of the sewer system, thank you very much so you're talking diamante pizza, stafford.

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Farm, that's what these boxes are. I think it's tevis property. Isn't it? Yes right? Okay, yes,.

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So this is actually the overall large map for the sewer service area for freedom.

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And just so, as you look at it, the red outline towards the bottom southwest corner. That is the.

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Town of sykesville, so, as you can see, we do have a lot that are currently in the service area. There.

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Are some that are considered long range, which is 10 plus years out? The majority of this isn't.

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Existing or prior or priority, which is zero years to six years, which means, if you're, in the priority.

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Service, you are able to connect, we have the capacity already there and ready for you to.

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Connect within those years, the lighter green, which is not that many properties is considered future.

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That is seven to ten years out. So, even though we have the calculation, the demand calculated.

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And ready the infrastructure may not be quite ready for these properties to connect.

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And a lot of the times, our connections, whether it's in the freedom area or if it's.

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In the municipalities is developer, driven and the developers typically they're, the ones who extend.

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The lines and connect to the system, so we have the three. We have the two properties, two commercial.

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Properties on here I did not circle the one for the residential, because it's kind of blends in.

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With the long range right off of linton road, so these are the two areas right now for the freedom.

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Area that we're looking to that are being that are requesting to come into the sewer service area.

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I want to move on now to table 15. and the chapter for the city of westminster.

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This is the city came forward and requested an update for the water and sewer chapter.

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They are in the process of doing a recommended water wastewater reclamation.

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Project, where they're taking wastewater reclaiming it and then utilizing that for for drinkable water.

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In in order for them to do that, they were looking to get permits through mde.

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They needed to update their chapter utilize join the process, what they have done in the past and.

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What they are currently doing to reclaim that water, so they've, rewritten their whole.

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Chapter there's more in-depth information in the presentation that I sent out tuesday.

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But for what they're looking to do and what I'll show you table 15 in a minute, that'll break down.

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How they're looking to increase their their demand by 500 gallons and priority in five sorry 500.

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000 gallons in priority and 500 000 gallons in the future for the water table.

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This is the town of manchester. They requested that a couple properties be removed, and this is more of.

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A cleanup aspect looking at when they looked at the map over, they realized they had properties.

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That were showing being connected that actually are not connected and properties that were not.

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Connected that are connected, the ones that are showing connected, but actually are not are outside.

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The town limits and most municipalities, with the exception of westminster and then hampstead.

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Because since hampstead, the town owns the water system and the county owns a sewer system,.

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They do provide water and or sewer outside talent, corporate limits, but manchester does not.

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So here's the map, the pro this backwards p right here, is outside the corporate limits and.

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Currently is shown to be on be within the water, the water service area that is not accurate, so.

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We're looking to update that aspect and make it so it's shown long range that should they need.

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To tie in one day, they can to sort of get your your bearings this big area across from across.

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The street that is manchester valley high to get a better idea of of where those these are located.

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This property right here is also looking to be brought taken out of the water service area.

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They are on well, the well all the properties that are coming out. All the wells are doing well,.

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All the wells are very active and are not having any issues so with these properties being outside.

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The corporate limits the town requested for them to be removed. However, this property in the middle.

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Is currently utilizing water by the town and they are connected, so they were previously.

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Shown as long range, the towns did verify. Yes, they need to be brought into and shown.

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On the map as on existing, so these are just map updates for the town of manchester to.

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Pretty much verify and coordinate what's actually on the ground, what is actually happening.

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The town of hampstead there's two properties looking to come in they're, asking to request to.

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Come in one is the old at one point time was the dark building. Then it was solo cup. Now it's the.

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Penguin penguin random house. They are currently on sewer. However, they utilize wells for that large.

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Warehouse, they are in the process of trying to annex into the town of hampstead and with.

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That being said, that they are also requesting to hook up to the water system for the town.

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What we currently did, since this property is.

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Zone, it was 52 acres, but it's zoned. Industrial and mde requires or mandates the multiplier for.

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Industrial land is 800 gallons per day per usable acre. So with this property being roughly 52 acres.

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That would be forty one thousand six hundred gallons per day that this property could.

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Potentially have a demand for we looked at the old at the past, probably four, five.

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Or more quarters of sewer usage and came up with an average of 500 gallons per day? That's what it.

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Came out to be so at this point in time, what we did is in the town was okay with this. Is we.

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Brought it in at 500 gallons per day, however, we did put a note in table 32, which is the.

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Sewer demands table, I'm sorry, this is the water the table 15, which is the water demands table.

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That should a different use come in that may utilize more. As commissioner guerin said, you.

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Know if a brewery comes in that's going to use a lot more anything that may come in that utilizes.

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More water than the 500, then staff, as well as the staff with the town of hampstead, will look at.

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Their water, their water system, to see, if they're able to provide the water needed for that that new.

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Use so that is a safeguard that we put in there to make sure we don't. Hopefully it doesn't go over.

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What they're comfortable using and what they're able to to provide.

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Lastly, is 1734 hanover pike. This is known as I believe it's lizzy's lockers.

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They're currently looking to put in a a small office, they already have one but does not have.

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A I don't believe it's connected to to sewer um you're, looking to connect that to the sewer.

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System to actually utilize and have us a true bathroom for the management of that office, the.

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The property is already in future, so this demand will just go from the future portion to priority.

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Which is very minimal, so the table did not adjust much because, depending on how many decimal points.

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You have so that's why the table we don't show the table because the adjustment was minimal and it's.

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Going to be a lot less than 250 gallons per day, uh and, of course, even though this is being even.

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Though this is commercial, it would be even less than the 700 gallons per day, because it's just one.

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Unit and one one toilet so here is the the random house, property.

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And then here is the lizzy's lockers.

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And this is the table 15, that working with the town of what town the city of westminster.

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And the note 11 on the bottom is where we show that the 500 gallons per day are included in.

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As part of phase, one is included in priority in the 500 000 gallons.

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A day as phase two is included in the future planning portion.

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So that is the update to that actual table for them and then their actual chapter is totally.

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Rewritten and that has already been sent to mde for them for for review. All of these.

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Amendments had these drafts have been sent to mde for their initial review and comments in a.

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Draft phase [music] as linda said, so when they look at it in the beginning, they don't get it.

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Cold, they have, they know what is going on what's coming down and what they're looking for.

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So, as you can see, we have completed all of the maps. The town of manchester certified.

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That is one of the requirements that is there is the towns need to certify that the amendment.

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That is being requested is consistent with their comprehensive plan sort of the town of manchester.

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Certified on october, the 18th, the city of westminster, certified on october, the 20th.

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The town of hampstead certified on october 26th and as this is a overall county plan presented to.

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The cairo account our our planning commission. They certified the of the freedom portion, but they also.

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Certified that the overall amendment is consistent with the plans that have come down the pike.

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So what we're here before you today, besides a a briefing which I'm sure.

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Is a lot to get on the first day is a request for a public hearing.

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For january 12th, since obviously we have the holidays coming up and there's a lot.

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So january 12th is the earliest. I believe we will that a public hearing would be best.

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Okay, so a lot of information um I lived through some of this already, but what questions you know.

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Father price or linda, oh, my questions were previously answered. I guess I have a point.

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Of order, maybe making a motion do we have to include the specified or the.

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Requested date in the motion for the public hearing yeah. Thank you.

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Anything all comprehended, okay, is there a motion.

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Briefing papers have recommended motions, so I'll make a motion to proceed with a public.

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Hearing for the 2022 fall amendment to the 2019 water and sewer master plan. Second, okay: I got.

A

A motion I got a second: is there any further discussion on this seen here? None all in favor.

A

Aye aye, okay, all right! Thank you very much. Thank you good job price. Thank you, commissioner.

A

Okay, let's move on to, let's see if we can purchase a few vehicles uh purchase of four ambulances.

A

Who we got? We got my oh, we got all three so these uh prior to you talking also.

A

Introduce yourselves and your role for all of us as well, so, okay, thanks.

J

Office procurement good morning, commissioners, my name is reed oliver. My position title is.

K

Bureau, chief of fleet management and warehouse operations, michael robinson director, in chief.

L

Of the department of fire and ems, okay and maureen has a very loud voice, so we have to.

A

Listen very intently, so if you can marine speak up- and I know the mike's there, but thank you.

J

Good morning we are here to ask your concurrence: the office of procurement and the bureau of fleet.

J

Management warehouse operations to request your approval to award the purchase of four horton.

J

Model 623f ambulances from fesco emergency sales in the total amount of 1 million 270 468 dollars.

J

Purchase is being made through hgac contract, which was competitively bid. This money has been approved.

J

In the fy 23 budget, so no more additional fund should be necessary and if you have any.

J

Questions about the ambulances or why they are needed. I will turn it over to reed and michael.

H

Okay, commissioner, says miss don had stated we are seeking the board's approval today to purchase.

K

Four ambulances for the department of fire and ems, a few notable aspects of this purchase are.

K

The vehicle specifically, they will be f a ford, f-550, cabin chassis equipped with four wheel.

K

Drive the ambulance portion or the box will be manufactured by horton and, as I've been sitting to.

K

The board for the past year and a half there are some lengthy delays with actually receiving these.

K

Vehicles these ambulances are not unique in that with the board's approval today and ordering them.

K

We would not expect to receive these ambulances for about a year and a half, maybe even two years.

A

It's amazing so um purchasing four is giving us a savings of 104 000 or, what's that savings correct.

L

They had the manufacturer of the box, which is horton and the chassis goes to their factory.

L

Which is in columbus, ohio, they had about a six or seven percent increase. As of december, the.

L

1St, so this allows us to avoid that increase and we were able to um basically provide a letter of.

L

Intent which is non-binding, which allowed us to do that by december, the first, so the cost savings.

L

Will be significant, obviously their supply chain uh issues everywhere, but certainly in.

L

The emergency services vehicle area and going forward in concert with our transition of the.

L

Volunteer companies: this is going to provide us a the beginning of a fleet where we'll be replacing.

L

The volunteer company ambulances with county ambulances, and essentially what that will do, is.

L

Allow consistency with all the units in the county with and it's advantageous for, maintenance and all.

L

The other dynamics that come with that, okay, any questions. I have a few brief questions. If I might.

B

um So with the 100, with the amount of money that will be saved through purchasing the four units.

B

um Imagining that that money will be crucial when the price goes up for these vehicles in the future.

B

To roll that over to to have that on hand with respect to the price increases in the future.

K

We will have to budget accurately to include that additional price and years out when we.

K

Are budgeting for ambulances? um I believe the budget department could probably provide.

K

A little more detail or information, okay, as far as where the funds will come from.

B

And so the second question, maybe this is, is uh you know too simple and maybe for my own edification.

B

um Is there any benefit to proceeding with the purchase of more than four ambulances at this time.

B

Or is for sufficient for the time being that that uh well, we have a progressive.

L

um Program that will be going on and uh we currently have 22 ambulances in the fleet.

L

um Which means the volunteer analysts we're going to be reducing that to 19. After doing.

L

An analysis of what our needs will be that will include reserve ambulances as well, so.

L

We'll have reserves available when those go out for maintenance in the fy 24 budget. It's.

L

Proposed that we will be receiving two more, but I mean, as far as the cost effectiveness.

L

That would have to be deferred to the budget people to answer that. Sorry about that. Thank you.

A

Now great question um I ask: it often is multi-years and purchasing more than one or two.

A

um Two were only anticipated in this budget year, just for your information and we've been.

I

Able to purchase the four because of um the time which it's been able that we've that it's been.

I

Necessary to hire the people so we're already purchasing more than we had anticipated and.

A

Staying within our budget awesome and that that's the key is that would have been my third question.

B

And honestly, when I, when I look at this, often it's that it's that one line demand is within.

A

The adopted fy 23 budget and no additional funds net should be necessary. That's critical.

A

Saying that we're executing the budget that we established the year before so, thank you very much.

A

Questions yeah, so so, given the lag time for delivery, it sounds like you've got sort of.

C

An attrition schedule where you probably have a variety of different ambulances. You.

C

Would bring offline, or do you even know ahead of time where these, where these two might go.

L

uh Well, what we're doing right now we're doing an analysis we're getting ready to staff so by.

L

June, the first we're the staffing uh westminster, sykesville and taneytown and then we'll be doing.

L

Manchester uh reese and mount airy after july, the first so we're looking right now at all of those.

L

Companies and looking at their mileage and the age, but at the same time we have three reserve.

L

Ambulances currently one of them we just purchased, but we have two additional reserve ambulances. So.

L

Probably one of the reserves will have to be replaced with one of these three and uh our.

L

Indicators right now say that westminster will probably get one and then, when we get an analysis.

L

Of all the mileage we're going to make a decision based on that all right. Thank you, chief. Any other.

A

Questions what's a typical life cycle of these ambulances? uh Well, it's variable in carol because.

L

We have both urban and suburban rural areas, but typically uh between five and seven years. Okay,.

A

Any other questions. Okay, is there a motion.

B

I make a motion that we award the purchase of four horton model number 623f ambulances from.

B

Fesco emergency sales and the total amount of one million two hundred.

B

Seventy thousand four hundred sixty eight dollars on second. Is there any discussion.

A

Seen here, none all in favor, aye, aye. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

A

Thank you, mr bokey. You did a good job, you're saying.

A

Okay, now, let's have a very informative presentation.

A

Regarding ag preservation program, thank you very much and.

A

Again, you all know, mr hein, director of land resource management for jpg. Please uh introduce.

A

Yourselves and allow us to sit back and be taught sure, yeah please go ahead and introduce yourselves.

M

My name is jp smith jr, I'm the program manager for carroll, county ag, preservation program and my name.

L

Is jackie bradley and I'm the preservation specialist for the ag preservation program.

M

Yes good morning, commissioners and welcome, as has been indicated before by others, so.

M

um We are um often before you for the ag preservation program for various approvals that.

M

uh As part of the overall process, and because we're before you um periodically, we thought.

M

It would be a good opportunity to start off by walking you through the process. The application.

M

Process and and how the ag preservation program works. So um I'm going to take you through the kind.

M

Of the beginning steps as far as why we have the program and and the benefits of it and then I'll.

M

Be turning it over to jp to walk you through the overall process, so so really just to start.

M

With the basics, what is the agricultural land preservation program and what is ag preservation.

M

So a conservation easement is essentially what we establish on private property and that easement is.

M

uh It's an agreement between a landowner and a land preservation organization and that kind of.

M

Organization could be the county, it could be the state, it could be, a private trust and so on so.

M

It's an agreement between an organization and a private property owner and that easement is.

M

Basically, a permanent recorded deed restriction that preserves the character of the property, so.

M

Whether the property is um is all agricultural or if it has some environmental features, and so.

M

On is preserving that character of that property in perpetuity and the land records so is that is.

M

That clear for everybody please interrupt if you have any any questions as we go through this, so.

M

So why do we have this program and other than that it was established uh as um back in the early 80s.

M

And so on as a program, there are some qualitative reasons that that we have this program so.

M

Agriculture and farming, the farming community, is kind of core to what carroll county is it's an.

M

Important part of our heritage, it's a reason why people move here for the scenic vistas: it's why we.

M

Have a tourism industry and so on so qualitatively there are very important reasons for for.

M

Maintaining the agricultural land production right, but there are some economic reasons why we do this.

M

The first is, there was a study done in 2020 by a professor from the university of pennsylvania.

M

That analyzed the ag preservation program here in carroll county, and we can certainly get you a copy.

M

Of that, in that study, the boil it down to to one fact out of that study is that every dollar that.

M

The county puts into preserving land results in between a dollar eighty and two dollars worth of.

M

Economic activity within our community so there's an immediate benefit from the investment that the.

M

County makes into the ag preservation program. The other economic benefit is that we are moderating.

M

That or um that urban sprawl and we're reducing the future costs of services. So I was not able.

M

To find any study for carroll county specifically, but a university of illinois study indicated that.

M

The tax benefit when you look at the how much the taxes that are obtained from agricultural land.

M

Versus residential land and the costs of services that they then consume so services being roads.

M

Fire ems, police, schools, all those services that we as in the county government, provide that if.

M

You collect a dollar in taxes, from an agricultural property that property consumes between 30 and 50.

M

Cents worth of services, when you compare that to a residential property, you collect a dollar of taxes.

M

From a residential property they consume between a dollar fifteen and a dollar fifty in services.

M

So while it's arguable that converting from agricultural land to residential increases, the.

M

Amount of taxes collected the cost to the county exceeds the amount of money that we are collecting.

M

And the increased taxes increased it. That's really good information. I mean that says a lot, especially.

A

The second one regarding the the taxes can you um expand on the first, the economic stimulus.

A

What local that dollar, eighty in local economy? What is that local? I mean what is that dollar.

A

Eighty sure so uh when we give a dollar to a a property owner to purchase that easement on their.

M

Property they then turn around and use that money for improving their farm, so whether it's buying.

M

Equipment, it's it's increased production. It's all those activities, those farming activities that.

M

They then use that money, plus their additional their own money and the stimulus to the economy.

M

Almost doubles related to the dollar, that's invested by the county, because this is important.

A

Especially for me, with district five, there's no act preservation and in the designated growth area.

A

Down in eldersburg and sykesville and there's concern from the community about, why are we.

A

Funding in their essence, ag preservation across the county. When we don't see the benefits in.

A

District five: um you know we should have programs where that tax money goes right.

A

Back into us almost like fees as opposed to taxes and um uh it's difficult because they don't see.

A

It directly they saying hey alls, we're doing is subsidizing ag preservation across the county.

A

Well, this is telling us that's not what we're just doing you know it's it's a subsidized program, but.

A

The benefits outweigh the subsidizing of tax revenue. um That's great. I was not able to uh to.

A

To share that as clearly as what you have here, so uh no that that that's good stuff, um it's a.

A

Strong argument on why we should not just for the top qualitative reasons, but why we should, for the.

A

Economic and you know uh other reasons, um maintain or continue our targets in ag preservation, so so.

M

I guess a a specific example and jpkin can step in because he has more knowledge of the of the.

M

Day-To-Day workings but an example would be, I know, of at least one feed store. That's located in.

M

Sykesville right, so that's that's a new district when this money goes to farms to help them grow.

M

Their farms, those those property owners, then have a need for additional feed and so on. So then they.

M

Are going to sykesville and purchasing purchasing that additional materials that they need to grow.

M

Their farm and there's that multiplicative, I think, that's the right term uh multiplicative there we.

M

Go thank you um a factor that that stimulus grows then by double what our investment was right. Okay,.

A

That that's great, that's a that's a strong message um to understand. Why we're doing what we're doing.

A

For our county and our community at large, and because there you get the what was me attitude.

A

You know, there's always one area that says they're less fortunate than another area and then you go.

A

To that other and they're less fortunate than somebody else so and I'm sure we all hear and.

A

See that and if not we'll hear and see it that much more, but I appreciate it thanks sure and sort.

M

Of in line with that is that the ag preservation program is really one of the that comes out of.

M

One of the tenets of our master plan, which is that we want to concentrate growth in those designated.

M

Growth areas and um where we can then provide those services again, services cost and we can.

M

Provide them more economically and efficiently in those designated growth areas. So it's again.

M

A a decrease in long-term future costs to the county by supporting the program, so hopefully.

M

That gives you all a good background of the what and and whys of of why we do the egg press program.

M

So then, we'll talk we'll step through the process for how a property owner who is interested in in.

M

Entering the program and again this is a voluntary program, so people come to us to apply for it and.

M

The first step of the program is basically the property owner would come to our ag pres office.

M

And as jp and jackie introduce themselves, we have one other person don black who's, our office.

M

Technician so that's the extent of our office that manages the program, so they would a property owner.

M

Would approach them and say: hey, I'm interested, please tell me more and with that I'll turn it.

M

Over to jp to walk you through the rest of the process sure good morning again, commissioners.

K

Morning, the first thing after a property owner or property buyer happens after they approach us is.

N

That we determine eligibility of the property and there's four four different areas: that we do, that.

N

With development potential, soil classification, the size of the farm and the location of the farm.

N

Once we determine those those four things we're going to determine, what's the best.

N

Program option for that applicant and we have four options for each applicant. The maryland.

N

Ag land preservation, foundation, carroll, county easement, purchase program, the royal legacy program.

N

And our carroll county critical farms program.

N

The maryland ag land preservation foundation is a state-sponsored program. There's a 40-60 split.

N

Between the county and state funding of that program, the easement value with the state is.

N

Based on actual appraisals of the farms, the state will actually do two appraisals and then their.

N

Board of trustees and department, general services will prove one of those appraisals, as as a number.

N

For the foundation of the offer, the process with the state is usually one and a half to two years.

N

After the application is submitted in july for the carroll county, easement purchase program.

N

This is a carroll county funded program and we use a points-based appraisal to value the programs. The.

N

Points are based on attributes of each individual farm and we have an agricultural focus on these.

N

Farms which focuses on the soil types, the percent that's farmed and the other uses around each farm.

N

And normally we can finish our process in less than one year.

N

Next program is a rural legacy program. This is state grant funds from the department of natural.

N

Resources and is limited geographically to the rural legacy areas. You can see that on the map.

N

We have the little pike creek rural legacy area around tony town union bridge, new windsor and.

N

West of westminster and the upper patapsco rural legacy area near manchester and hampstead um the.

N

Rural legacy program also uses a point-spaced appraisal. They are more environmentally focused.

N

There are no soil qualifications for royal legacy, so a lot of times we're protecting steep slopes.

N

And also wetland areas with that program, and it also takes less than one year to settle those.

N

Easements on our last program and one that we're most proud of is our carroll county, critical.

N

Farms program: this is a program where we assist purchasers of farms. We help them buy the new farm.

N

And in exchange they're required to preserve the farm through the maryland ag, land preservation.

N

Foundation this process with the county when we're first helping them purchase the program.

N

We set a time period within 120 days to help the purchase, and then it goes to mouth. Where.

N

Again, it will take one and a half to two years to finish out the settlement of the easement.

M

Before we move on, do you have any questions about the four programs that we manage.

C

I got a I've got a question. Obviously I'm looking at the the map- and I notice you know.

C

The southwestern part of the county there's not a lot of overlay for the programs, I mean.

C

You mentioned it's volunteer, but is there another reason? Maybe that's the case where.

C

There's just not a lot of, I think for the most part, because you're close to route 70 and other.

N

um You know big highways and and big areas where people are working in rockville and different.

N

Places like that, I think the land values for lots for houses, housing opportunities.

N

Are just more lucrative and people decide to do that, rather than the ag preservation.

N

um In the county, we're also based on average, fair market values, so sometimes people just.

N

Feel like it's worth more to them to do to do the development rather than ag preservation.

N

Thanks sure not really a question, but just want to mention this. I know and I have a fair.

D

Knowledge on this, as jp and jp knows pursley um the public hears you know ag pres and they.

D

Understand the process on some basis, but I I've run into this a few times and just wondered if.

D

You got you all could maybe just explain to us and everyone watching online when we say.

D

It's permanently extinguished development rights in carroll county. It is permanently extinguished.

D

And I do know that I'm just asking you all to follow up on that because I'll hear sometimes oh.

D

Well, you know the third owner from now is going to have that opportunity to buy it back, and you.

D

Know pay out a you know, an interest rate and we all know that's not accurate, but just wanted to.

D

Have you all echo that for for sure, that might be watching sure all the easements are in perpetuity.

N

There is no opportunity to buy something back out of ag preservation. There are some reserved.

N

Lot rights at the time of application, which would be for the original, um the original owners or the.

N

Orig, the per the original grantor of the of the easement, and that could be a family lot.

N

Or or an owner's lot, sometimes people reserve unrestricted lots but they're very, very limited.

N

So if someone were to see and we do get those calls, I thought this farm was preserved and.

N

Somebody is building on that property that that is something a lot of times only available to the.

N

Original easement holder or someone that reserves something in the past but for the you know most.

N

Part, it cannot be bought out of ag preservation appreciate that no problem, I thought I I thought.

A

There was only one critical farm in district five. I see two what's in the bottom right corner.

N

I think that's a land trust easement, so that is, uh could be a maryland environmental trust.

N

Or carroll county land trust eastman, so most of those are donated. Easements there's a few.

N

That were federally funded, um so those uh you know even sometimes with maryland environmental trust.

N

You know it's it's a choice that someone makes for themselves: okay,.

N

Presently, we have 77 556 acres preserved and we have several hundred acres in process to be.

N

Preserved as well so that number is increasing and with your continued support and the citizens.

N

Of carroll county and the state you know, hopefully we can keep improving on that.

N

Number, how many eligible acreage is there roughly available, I would say, is any with farms that have.

N

Development potential- and I would say that, would include residential and commercial development.

N

Potential, we probably have well over 50 000 acres available and with new criteria and working with.

N

um Remainder parcels that mostly have commercial development. We we have much more than that, and I.

N

Don't really know a number okay, no, but that that's fair. I think we have plenty of land.

N

To reach our goal and beyond, okay and the goal was 100 000 acres. If I'm correct yes,.

N

Sir, and and there is no there's nothing that would stop us from going beyond that hundred.

B

Thousand, oh sure, that's awesome. Actually, 100 000 is a minimum awesome. Thank you. Well, you.

A

Want to do it by june 23, right yeah, that's nice, better step up the funding. [Laughter].

I

Budget discussions there.

N

Okay, so once we identify the best uh program for the applicant they're going to submit.

N

Their application to us once they submit the application, we take the application to the.

N

Ag land preservation advisory board: that's a five-member board that supports chapter 159 of.

N

The county code of act preservation, those five members, are appointed by yourself. The board of.

N

County commissioners, their primary purpose is to review and approve applications to.

N

Each easement acquisition program and to review requests related to farmland under already under.

N

Easement, and that would be the um the landowner or the uh child's lots and different things like.

N

The locations and things like that which we try to keep by roads or other other houses.

N

Well, after it's approved by the advisory board, an application will be brought to yourselves.

N

In closed session to be approved by the board of county commissioners,.

N

And in that, at that time we would be requesting preliminary approval from yourselves.

N

And what does the board do in closed session for critical farms program? You guys would be providing.

N

Preliminary approval of acceptance of a farm into the critical farms program for our county purchase.

N

Program you'll be providing preliminary approval of acceptance of the farm into the program and.

N

With mouth, you would be approving submission of the application to the state for the mouth program.

N

So once you've approved, preliminarily approved a an application for the program.

N

We would determine the easement value and we would submit an offer letter to the.

N

Applicant and we would begin title work and legal documents once that offer is accepted.

N

Lastly, we would come back to you in open session for final approval of the purchase of the easement.

N

Where are we at okay? Sorry, that's right what they do, they all look so much alike. So was the board.

N

Expected to do in open session um for critical farms you're going to approve the final cost for.

N

The easement purchase um in the carroll county program again you're, going to approve the final.

N

Cost of the easement purchase with royal legacy you're going to approve the final amount of the.

N

Utilization of the grant fronts from the department of natural resources.

N

And for mouth it is not brought back to the county commissioners because it is.

N

um For final approval by the state and their board of trustees.

N

And we already have a fixed budget established that we use in that 40 60 split and we would.

N

Only come back to you if we needed more funds, and we would do that in open session as well.

N

Any questions on those final approvals.

N

So after final approval by the board, we would finish processing the legal.

N

Documents and schedule settlement for the applicant to settle the easement.

M

So that, in a nutshell, is the overall process, it's relatively simple and they're just a lot.

M

Of individual steps and there on most of the programs, they're two touch points for you all.

M

A closed session preliminary approval and then an open session final approval and again just.

M

To clarify for melf, we have the guard rails of what our budget and what the state's budget is.

M

For that program, and so we basically come to you in preliminar in in closed session- for approval.

M

Of a a slate of applicants to send those down to the state and then the state figures out the.

M

Value figures out the offers, and and so on, it's really a state program that we participate in.

M

And and both the state and the county we function within the budget that you all have established.

M

um If the state comes back to us and says hey, we can only partially fund this one remaining farm.

M

um But we're we, the state, are willing to kick in some additional money. Then we would come back to.

M

You all to see if the county is willing to match that provide our match. So um there's there's not.

M

A need for us to come back for a final approval, because really it's a state program and we're just.

M

Providing the matching funds, if you all, approve the submission of those farms to the program.

M

So that's that's all we have for the presentation, you'll notice in your.

M

Slide deck. There are a couple of additional slides that have accomplishments and so on.

M

The intent wasn't really to to get into how great the program is, um but um it's there.

M

For your reference, but we would be happy to answer any other questions that you may have.

E

How do you evaluate around the towns and the and the cities of carroll county? I know.

E

um The lower corner is, doesn't have much of this and and probably never will, but it almost looks.

E

Like there's some places where you're almost landlocking, some of the small jurisdictions.

E

May be limiting future growth. Is that a goal of the thing, or? Is that something you try to avoid.

E

Well, it's certainly not a goal and we only take in applicants that volunteer their farms and the way.

N

That we evaluate those all the towns have growth areas established and priority funding areas.

N

Established and we that is their area, that they are predicting future growth. So so we stay out of.

N

Those areas all together, but what, if somebody in the disney growth area wants to uh have their land.

A

Preserved in perpetuity originally, we would tell them that we cannot preserve their land. Okay, they.

N

Would have to work that out with the town that they live in and they would have to go through.

N

The process of getting that taken out of the growth area, so it's between them and the town.

A

Okay or the freedom district, which is the largest growth area, is not the town. It's the county.

A

However, there's the um process right now or approach that they are not eligible because.

A

They're within disney growth area, there's no law that says they're not allowed to do it. It's.

A

A process it's it's us, that's right. If we say yes, they can become eligible to. You know, look.

A

At my property in perpetuity, then we can do that. We've done it prior. We have not done it and I'll.

A

Tell you there's, there's folks in uh in eldersburg that are like hey. Why can't my property be because.

A

It's in the disney world area: well, let's consider taking that off the table and making them eligible.

A

For having property, you know, preserved and there's some farms out there they're gorgeous. You know.

E

um Do they have a pathway like, for instance, you just said, let let's say neighbors manchester.

E

They'd have to go back to manchester and get taken out of the growth area. Is there anybody? You can go.

E

To in your growth area, it would be yourselves, it would be yourselves, it is, it is absolutely it's.

A

Us and all we have to do is say: yep, let's make this eligible in the freedom district, growth area.

A

It's eldersburg, it's the county for that for the county's purposes, not the towns, it's it's. The.

I

County's policy not to allow it in the growth areas, so you could definitely change that and.

A

It's going to be, you know my recommendation that we take a hard look at doing that, because.

A

Why not become eligible? You know um in doing it, so I mean to some extent I mean there is.

B

An awareness this is possible right or to or to those interested in it typically do not know in.

B

That area- oh they know they, they know oh yeah, all right, yeah and there's frustration. There's.

A

Frustration on those that are in the designated growth area in you know, freedom district, some.

A

That are frustrated because nothing's available in that area and they're funding what they consider.

A

um Subsidizing agriculture across the county and, what's in it for us well, chris you've shared that.

A

Which is a really good message to share. It just has to be a little louder to get out there and.

A

Then the second is that the largest designated growth area in carroll county is county property.

A

It's eldersburg and it's up to us to take away that policy and the towns can do what.

A

They want those eight towns, they can say yep, that's our policy and they can change it all.

A

They want that's, not our jurisdiction, but our jurisdiction. My recommendation is: do away with.

A

That policy open up the aperture you know and allow folks to you know I mean, would you agree.

N

I think if there's future land use designations for agriculture.

N

Then it's a conflict. If you don't allow the program in that area, I know for a fact that.

N

There are farmers in that area that have wanted to use the program in the past or.

N

I guess the other conflicts down there are are the zoning you know um if it's if it's zoned.

N

Agriculture, I guess white rock road is a good example where it was only allowed to have seven.

N

Lots and the rest of the farm is not developed and it's not going to be developed until there.

N

Are other changes made, so um the last board was willing to accept applications and for review and.

N

Depending on what you guys decide, you know we we can bring applications if we get them in that area.

A

Chris, what are your thoughts? I think it bears a a discussion with the planning department, because.

M

Obviously, there's a balance here: there's a balance between growth in the county and there's a and.

M

With the preservation and agriculture and the the freedom district is designated as the designated.

M

Growth area for a reason- and so I I think it's it's a great discussion to have, but I'd like to.

M

Pull planning definitely into the discussion, yep and I think that's fair. I think they just came in.

A

But uh not for that purpose, though, not for this topic, but that's okay. Can I mention one more, but.

N

But you were just dropped, so came in yes, just uh just a few questions. Sure. Is there a minimum.

C

Acreage required there is, there is for a farm to stand alone on its own for the state program.

N

Has to be a minimum of 50 acres for the county program has to be a minimum of 60 acres now for.

N

The county program, you can go as low as 30 acres if you're adjacent to another preserved farm and.

N

We also have the option of an add-on, so if there's a 10 acre property next to someone's 100 acre farm.

N

And they want to consolidate that in and there's something to retire. We will consider that as well.

N

This the state will go, will go very small as long as you're adjacent to another preserved property.

N

As long as there's a minimum of one lot right to retire good, so there's a lot of flexibility. There.

N

There is, and- and I wanted to mention to answer your question about you know another reason why.

N

There might not be as many farms in the south or south west part of the county in the the northwest.

N

Part of the county is a priority preservation area and all of the properties that apply are ranked.

N

And if you're, in the priority preservation area and you're in a rural legacy area, which is also.

N

A large chunk of the north, the northwest and uh western part of the county, you're you're, going to.

N

um To rank higher and when they go to the state the highest highest, ranked farms will.

N

Be preserved first now, normally we have enough money to preserve all the farms, but.

N

Those those people are always at the top of the list. Aside from our critical farms,.

N

So that's that's another reason. The people in the that aren't in the rural legacy areas and.

N

Aren't in a priority preservation area are going to rank much lower.

C

In just one follow-up question, I shouldn't have answered this and by the way I think early on.

C

In the election process you sent out a package to, I think, all the candidates, which was really.

C

Helpful, so I appreciate that yes, sir, so somebody sold put their land in one of these programs is.

C

There a tax advantage down the road for any of these individuals, not at this time. Okay,.

N

Some counties do have reduced taxes, property taxes for preserved farms, carroll county does not know.

O

Not a not a question but more of a comment. um Two things I think number one.

D

uh To your point, I think we do need you know if we're going to have discussions about with looking.

D

In you know, designated growth areas obviously has to be balanced. That's what we have to do.

D

With this entire county, but I I think the other thing is- and um you know you hear it once in a.

D

While and I think it's kind of incorrectly mentioned about subsidizing, yes, there are.

D

Funds that are, uh you know given not really given, but you know, worked out through the deal to the.

D

Property owners but they're also investing in our county because they're allowing that land to stay.

D

As farmland, greenland open land, whereas you know they could easily not do that and they could then.

D

Turn around and you know, sell that property and have it developed for other purposes, not saying.

D

Either one is better or worse than the other just that they are investing in green, open space, which.

D

You know in some places uh in this country it's very difficult to find at this time. So that's true.

N

It's amazing the amount of calls we get from real estate, people that are selling a half.

N

Acre lot with a rancher because they call- and they say I'm trying to sell this- this house.

N

On you know, baldwin valley road. I just want to check and see if the farm behind it is preserved.

N

Because of it is, I think I can get this deal to go through. You know, because they don't want to.

N

Move in and then have a big development built in behind them, so so it is definitely a plus.

N

Thank you yeah. I I agree with what was just said um and misconception. Misunderstanding.

A

um Again, chris, you, you shared it well in jp with the presentation on the value of doing.

A

This economic value of doing this um and linda just for your, um you, know, awareness I brought up.

A

Taking a look at the freedom designated growth area as a potential uh making it available for.

A

Ag preservation and opening up the aperture not talking about the towns, that's their own concerns.

A

But making the freedom district available for ag preservation so, um and I think, like chris, shared.

A

um It warrants a further discussion amongst all those that are, you know, a part of it, but.

A

um But I do. I would like to uh to direct you guys to take a look at the value in doing this.

A

um And also it sends, I think, a a message that you know and we need to be balanced. You know, but.

A

It's there for a reason: the freedom district, but uh there's also other potential.

A

Value in preserving and sending a message that way, we are carroll county as a county.

A

And not this portion or this portion, so okay, any other questions or comments or statements.

A

Won't be made again, this was uh for information only. I really appreciate it. I think you all going.

A

To take a back seat now for a few minutes as we go through open admin, thank you so.

A

Wanda wanya come on up as we start our open admin. um First off chris anybody on the phone.

K

No one on the line, sir okay, so there's no public comment. Unless linda you want to.

A

Make a public comment- and I think you are so so now uh before we go into uh agendas.

A

It's an opportunity for open admin. Just for uh you know, I want to say edification just that.

A

What we've been doing is if there are topics of interest um that we want to discuss further and.

A

Get on to uh schedule or agendas at a later date uh or uh topics for staff. To be aware of that, we.

A

You know collectively are looking at just and it's it is open to us. You know whatever's on.

A

Our mind so I have one thing: yep please. um So we were. We received an email about a week ago from.

I

The state's attorney's office asking to come into open session to ask for bonuses for their staff.

I

um And since this is not in the normal course of business, I didn't know if the board wanted.

I

To do that and we have to check with the state's attorney other things. May I don't know if they're.

I

Still interested, but if they're still interested in that, we said something that ford would like to.

I

Entertain or hear in the open session, not not that you're going to agree or disagree, but I think it.

A

Has to do with bonuses and positions, it was two emails, don't specifically with bonuses, but but we.

I

Have to check with them and they've reached out talking about positions and bonuses. Two.

A

Separate so it may be two separate topics, but it's interested in hearing from them. Yeah absolutely.

B

And yeah, I think we're interested and and back to the the second phase, which wasn't an email.

E

In theory, if positions are already within their budget, we don't need to do anything probably.

E

Correct in theory, yeah correct, so um yeah, so so doing that if.

A

I will reach out to them. Thank you. We have session on the 22nd. Yes, yes, so then we don't.

A

Have session to follow right? Okay, I said I'll be yeah, so that'll be the last session of this year.

A

Got it it's calendar year is that okay to wait a week and a half this way get our budget guys.

A

Sure lined up okay, cool, we'll be okay without it, but the exception of, if we're looking to have all.

O

Parties on the 22nd that might there might be a conflict on that that date. For me, okay,.

A

Okay, um well, then, might be the 12th, then okay, yeah, okay, um and maybe they still won't. They won't need.

I

What's that, maybe they won't need it? What else uh good questions anything else for open admin.

A

I thought uh everything went well. We're gonna go into uh close in a few minutes, but before, let's.

A

Go through agendas, so the back of your briefing books or your agendas, and I rifle through these.

A

um December 12th.

A

Monday december, do you have them? You all should have them.

A

Okay, monday december 12th, we have nothing scheduled blue indicates that we are outside.

A

Activity uh serving our county tuesday december 13th, there's a planning board meeting it'll, be.

A

In the county office and who's attending that do we know, mr gordon, who you are all right. I'm.

A

Commissioner, gordon will be attending at nine uh it's down in uh zero, zero. Three, the reagan room.

A

um 7 p.m. I will be uh participating in the ag board meeting over at the ag center wednesday.

A

December 14th uh there's a mount airy senior center holiday lunch at 12 p.m. I don't know.

A

If anybody's gonna available to attend or wants to attend, if you don't know at the moment just.

I

Let your assistant know and they'll make sure that wanda knows and so she'll put it on the agenda and.

A

Then, on wednesday december 14th at 5 pm, there's a carroll county public schools board meeting.

A

um If somebody to determine who will yeah it's tbd who, if somebody will be attending.

A

On thursday december 15th we go into open session.

A

We'll have uh briefing from our I.t mr ripper, on cisco's smart net support renewal uh than steel.

A

Pavilion at piney run park from mr daggetts or wrecking parks. We'll talk about purchasing some.

A

F215 f-350 vehicles from uh dpw purchase of kohler generators for the community college again from.

A

Ebw um then we're going to talk about an option to purchase the john john parker smith, property.

A

Through the critical farms program, now that we're fully educated on that at 11 30, there's a senior.

A

Inclusion program lunch at westminster senior center. If somebody is available to attend that.

A

Put me down as tentative to attend that um put me down as tentative as well and then uh 5 p.m.

A

There's I 5 p.m. I'm not attending the president's reception for fort meade. I will be attending.

A

The welcome reception for elected officials and exploration commons, I believe all of us will be.

A

Attending that yep, okay on friday december 16th, is uh north carroll senior center holiday lunch.

A

If somebody's available to attend, um let your scheduler know on saturday december 17th, there's.

A

Wreaths across america it looks like all of us will be attending. I know where I'm going. I was.

A

Told if you know where you're going please let your scheduler know so they're, just aware, if you.

A

Don't know they can also help find where you're going to be going. Commissioner kyler has the.

E

Hodges yeah- and I don't know if they're the only one that does that emmanuel lutheran church is.

E

Actually doing a rehearsal for reason of america this saturday, I don't know whether any of the rest.

E

Are or not, I've never done a rehearsal, so that's interesting and the church ladies tell me to be.

E

There you listen, don't yeah yeah um interesting, but I I'm going up someplace in hampstead. Actually.

A

um Laying a wreath uh army wreath, then from there: um okay, following week on the 19th, we have nothing.

A

Scheduled on monday veterans advisory meeting, I will not be attending, but, commissioner,.

A

Kyler and gordon will be attending on the 20th wednesday december 21st.

A

There's a holiday luncheon you'll be at the shipley arena over at the ag center. I will be.

A

Attending if others will be attending just let again your schedulers know for carroll county.

I

Government employees yeah, I apologize yeah. This is employee launching for carroll county government.

A

um Tony town senior center has a holiday lunch if somebody will be uh attending or participating.

A

Again, let them know the carroll community college board of trustees meeting. I will not be.

A

Going who's going to that, that was, commissioner, I forgot who who tyler kyler will be attending that.

A

um And then esack that evening, at 7 pm, commissioner, will be attending that enjoy.

A

Following week, we have nothing scheduled, there will be items the 22nd, okay,.

A

23Rd 24 uh 23rd, I apologize. uh We will have a half a day um scheduled. We've not announced that, but.

I

You may certainly do something just announced it. I think you just did so. We will have half a day.

A

um And saturday is christmas, eve and sunday is a very merry christmas to all the celebrating.

A

December 18th I did not mention, is the beginning of hanukkah, so how to make those celebrating.

A

Commissioner, gordon has the yuletide podcast on december 25th. Did I miss anything.

A

Okay, did I miss anything, miss wanda? Okay, what I need now is emotion to.

I

Produce the land requisition to close for land acquisition, a motion to close for land acquisition.

E

So moved, okay, I got a motion to close. I need a second second.

A

Yeah a second and then do I need a motion or do this one. First, oh yeah. I forgot that one.

I

All right, okay, a motion to adjourn after closed; oh so moved; okay, second, okay, all in favor all right.