Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 9 Nov 2021

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From YouTube: Board of County Commissioners Open Session Tuesday~ November 9, 2021

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov

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Okay, good morning, it's commercial, ed, rothstein, tuesday november 9th.

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We have a relatively short open session this morning and then this afternoon we will have our.

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Third or fourth uh work session, dealing with residential texts and maps and.

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Before we start as we always do, let's please stand for the pledge of allegiance and a moment of.

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Of the silence states of america and to the republic for which it stands.

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One nation, under god, indivisible with justice for all.

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Okay and just a reminder, we will be closed on thursday november 11th for the observation of our.

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Veterans day, let's start with uh priority carol, commissioner boucher. Well, I really don't have.

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Much to do to say today I just wish everyone uh be prepared for the holiday season coming up, and I.

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Look forward to being a productive day today with my colleagues, commissioner. Lance is very happy.

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He said he didn't have much to say: I love it.

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Commissioner weaver, uh I really don't have much to say either other than uh keep in mind this.

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Beautiful weather is, uh I can filibuster, okay, but this beautiful weather is bringing on a lot.

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Of equipment moving on the roads, a lot of combines moving a lot of large trucks. Please be tolerant to.

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Their movement and help them navigate the roads, and I just want to say that this.

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Thursday is veterans day, and I guess the only high school in my district doesn't have a a.

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Program here at gerstel academy, the rest of the schools uh decided due to kobe they didn't want.

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To bring people in but it's you know, I think the only one of the few activities happening at.

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A high school level here this week. Thank you, okay, commissioner fraser. Thank you. I'm pointing.

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Out my tie, I'm wearing a tie because we have the recreation and parks volunteer awards this evening.

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At the arts uh center in uh downtown westminster- and I want to say without the volunteers.

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Ninety percent of programs that parks rex runs would not happen. You need people to.

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Coach softball and wrestling and baseball and football and they're all volunteers, and you.

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Also have volunteers that work on the fields and keep things going and roll mats out and and all.

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That stuff is done by volunteers. Without those volunteers, the rec programs would not run so. I'm.

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Going to the awards tonight, which is why this ties on everybody loves it. I know that's why we're in.

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His tie today, I also want to make a comment that uh that trans advisory council meant yesterday.

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And ridership is up ridership and on demand is up about 45 from this time. Last year, it's.

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Still lower than it was before the cobit started, but the trailblazer which are our fixed routes.

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Ridership is up in the westminster black route and I'm not going to go what goes where, but that.

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Actually, numbers are higher than pre-covet right now, which is amazing, that was, people were shocked.

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To hear that all the other routes, the fixed routes, are getting close to what they were before covet.

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So ridership is going up people because people are getting out again and that that's great.

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That I had to also mention that our transit system was closed down due to covert concerns.

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And it will uh they reopened a couple routes right now. It's not all opened right now, but it should.

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I think middle of next week everything that they can possibly open will be up and running because.

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Of drivers and so forth, so call call to find out if the routes you're looking for are open or not.

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And we have received three smaller buses, which is great because the smaller buses are going to.

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Be used for on demand, because if you use the bigger buses you run out, you pick one or two.

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People run back, it's not that efficient, so we've received three smaller buses once they're branded.

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Everything they'll be used for on demand so that it's just more gas efficient and they do a lot of.

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Miles so it's a good positive thing and that's all I have thank you, okay, commissioner wentz. He did.

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Have two pages so page two so good morning to tag on to commissioner weaver's comments. uh Not only.

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Are there equipment on the road, but because of all the crop, things that are going on, the deer are.

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Being pushed, I had two in front of my house uh one last week and one this morning, uh so I guess my my.

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Public safety thing today would be maybe slow down a little bit and be cautious, because.

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Yeah just be aware that they're running, and especially with the clocks being changed.

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Which I have yet to figure out what we do with the glocks, but anyway.

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um Did you read kevin daho, the councilman from westminster's thing in the paper about.

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How it actually cost us money now millions of dollars to change your clocks, don't.

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Anyway, that's another: I read that yeah, but you made a good point about the crops, because a lot.

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Of people don't realize that the deer will lay out in the fields where the crops aren't hiding.

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And once that cover is gone, then they're running around a lot more yep weaver's, pushing them.

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Yes, we are so whatever uh veterans day uh take time thursday to pause and uh say. Thank you.

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Please I know that there are the the usual, as you say, dick the usual.

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Ceremonies are a little bit at a minimum this year, uh francis scott key always has a great ceremony.

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But obviously they're not doing that this year, hopefully we'll be able to do that next year.

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But I do know that the tawny town american legion is having a ceremony.

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I think at noon um look at that. I think at noon on saturday or thursday or some somewhere around.

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There, so if you get a chance, uh you know just just take, take a pause and and remember that we're able.

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To do these things that we're doing because of uh of who we're honoring on thursday and finally,.

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uh Just for me, I'm gonna announce this several times and there'll be other stuff coming out, but.

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November, the 30th tuesday november, the 30th uh I'm going to be having town hall is an overused term.

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I like to call it evening with the commish: uh that's a nice ringtone yeah, so.

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Tentatively scheduled right now for the thousands of viewers in my district that are watching this.

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Morning, there's a lot going on up there, uh and not only that particularly civil run uni mills, uh but.

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I'm inviting everyone from uh my entire district to join me on tuesday november, the 30th at 7 00 pm.

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At the pleasant valley park, look at that the pleasant valley fire company building, if for.

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No other reason you should come and see the new social hall is gorgeous unbelievable. So uh that's.

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At 7 p.m: we're going to cover a myriad of topics, there's always roads in my district. Certainly the.

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Newest thing is the community center there's a proposed um dollar general up there, which has.

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A lot of feathers ruffled, so we're going to discuss that so there'll be associated staff. There.

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At 7 pm and more to come on that, there's the tentative save the date. If you will, and even.

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With the commissioner sounds romantic, should they bring flowers candy? No, they should be happy, though,.

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And I think that's it other than the fact that again, carroll county has the lowest unemployment.

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Rate in the state of maryland and 4.1 is pretty good, we're always competing with howard. We beat.

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Them and we always beat them 0.1 stocks yeah enjoy the weather. That's all I got okay.

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Yes, commercial fraser shared the transportation is not up to 100.

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Due to covet covet is still there and it's not just people that are uh asymptomatic. These.

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Folks are sick and they are not getting back behind the wheel until they're, better so again,.

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As I share consider getting the vaccination it'll minimize any impact that cupid may have on you.

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uh It's not, it is for you, it's for your family, your neighbors and your community, but um I.

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First and foremost, in wishing that those that are sick get better soon and are healthy.

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And get behind the wheel or administrative uh um support and leadership roles that they have.

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That they're back to then serve our county, um but we have limited the transportation right now.

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And it is due to covet- uh you know at this time so more to follow on that, we'll keep you oppressed.

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I appreciate commissioner fisher uh bringing that up um as shared uh veterans day. I would be remiss.

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If I didn't highlight the importance of it to look at a um uh opportunity for not just thanks.

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But looking at it pragmatically, you know, veterans aren't looking just for ven uh thanks and you're.

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Not looking for uh flagpoles and monuments, they're looking for um the support that they need uh even.

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When not asked, and on this past week is going to air on veterans day, I was interviewed by wbal tv.

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And it has to do with uh resiliency program uh on the fort meade community.

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Which includes carroll county to take care of our service members and our veterans and.

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I was told it was coming out uh the five o'clock news on wbal, so we'll see what it's gonna be.

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Because I have no clue, but uh it was me and uh the uh current commander of fort meade.

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So more to follow on that, and maybe we can share that once that's out. um That is all I.

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Have I look forward to actually looking at this agenda being relatively brief and we'll.

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Kick start it right now with rebranding the birth under the new workforce, development board.

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How you doing good morning morning still catching my breath. I just.

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Ran up the steps the elevator was not cooperative with me this morning, slow.

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um I'm here today to talk about the rebranding of the business employment resource center. um We have.

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Been known as burke under the past 20 additional years under the mid maryland consortium agreement.

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As the workforce provider in carroll county, but we believe it's an opportune time to.

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Revisit this, and most people know us as burke it's an acronym, but they don't realize that.

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It's burke, it's spelled birk. um They just they're missing the important part of the name, which is.

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The business employment resource center has it ever been spelled b-u-r-k-e, not quite yet. Tim.

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But maybe I could go back and check, I'm calling you asking for a friend we'll bring you on board.

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Since we have that low unemployment rate that we're working to get people back to.

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And build jobs in the county, um so a couple things that have come up in the past.

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People think that we are a temporary employment agency. We are the office of unemployment.

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We also there's been confusion because there are grants throughout the federal government.

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Where people get pockets of money for workforce development, so you've heard provider agencies.

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In the county even talk about that, they do workforce development, and this.

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Is an opportunity for us really to establish ourselves as the workforce development center.

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And under this new board, I think the timing is right. We have the ability to do outreach with.

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Our grants through the recovery act the um relief act and the rescue plan, and so before we start.

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Doing our outreach, we really wanted to have this discussion about. Should we look at this and be.

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Called the carroll county workforce development center and that's what I bring to you today.

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I guess why would we not do this that's kind of the way I feel I mean you know just establishing.

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Ourselves, it's very clear and concise what we do and it's moving forward. It's very self-explanatory.

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Yeah I mean I serve on our governor's workforce development board and everything is workforce.

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Development, I mean it's. Yes, we are carroll county, workforce development area right. Our board did.

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Meet at their inaugural meeting in september, and they were in agreement with moving forward.

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On this, they passed a unanimous motion to bring this to the floor. Okay, I'll move the board of.

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Commissioners approved the rebranding of burke to establish the agency is the workforce development.

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Provider in carroll county- second, I got a motion in a second. Is there any discussion on this seen.

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Here, none all in favor, aye aye. Thank you workforce development person. Thank you have a good day.

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Okay, let's issue: uh I had at least have the discussion up front.

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Tuition and rfp to invite isps to participate to the maryland state neighborhood connect program.

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Good morning mr ripper welcome commissioners good morning um the department of technology services.

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Is requesting permission to issue an rfp to invite interested internet service providers to submit an.

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Application to the maryland state neighborhood connect program grant applications are due by.

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Thursday december 23rd awards will be made in april of 2022 and projects need to be completed.

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By december 31st 2023, this rfp is necessary for us to use the coronavirus, state and local.

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Fiscal recovery funds, the frf money to match the maryland state, neighborhood, connect program, funds.

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And, of course, if any um we receive any requests to the rfp, we would of course be back before you.

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Before accepting those rfps, um there may may or may not be a match that we need to.

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um Supply at that time, but we would keep you completely up to date on what's going on.

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Director ripper, can you explain to the public in layman's terms, basically, with this program.

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The state of maryland is um minimum, grant is fifty thousand dollars. Maximum is five hundred thousand.

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Dollars and what they are doing is they're helping internet service providers build fiber.

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um Which would be in carroll county to help connect more residents and businesses to.

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um The internet and um they have a good bit of money from the federal government to awards.

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And this will this help impact not only my constituents, but I believe a lot of commissioner.

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Lance's constituents in the rural areas yeah while we're not particular at this point, we're.

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Not picking any particular areas of the county, they are required under the grant requirements to.

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Build in unserved and underserved areas for internet service. Thank you.

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Any other discussion on this is this: going to tie into uh potentially the infrastructure bill.

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No, this is this is strictly under the frf at this point. Okay,.

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Got us out we'll be back before you talk a little bit about the new infrastructure.

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Which hasn't been signed yet by the way correct? Okay,.

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I'll move to the board of commissioners authorized department of technology service and.

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Services to move forward with issuing an rfp to invite interested isps.

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To submit an application to the modern state, neighborhood connect program.

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I got a motion guys. Second, is there any discussion on this all in favor, aye, aye, okay,.

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Thank you very much, commissioner. Thank you, mr now, let's go from isps to bulk road salt.

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Got an all-star kiss good morning good morning, the office of procurement, in cooperation with.

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The bureau of roads request your approval to award supplementary term contracts for the.

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Purpose of purchasing bulk road salt, the county currently uses morton salt inc for their primary.

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Vendor for road salt under the maryland state contract at a price of 62.74 per ton. But due to.

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Issues in recent years with delivering high demand, the bureau of roads and office of procurement feel.

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It is in the best interest of the county to issue supplementary contracts, the county advertised for.

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Bids and received five responses listed below. We are here requesting your approval to issue.

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Term contracts to compass, minerals, america, inc, the amount of 75.97 per ton and de-icing depot.

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In the amount of 79.39 per ton, cargo inc did not accept the role as a supplementary vendor.

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And morton's salt was not considered due to the fact we already hold a contract with them.

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These amounts are within the adopted budget and no additional funds will be needed.

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Okay, any comments, discussion on this is pretty straightforward. Is this 75.97 a ton delivered.

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Yes, the 62 is delivered as well. That's our current contract price with the state of maryland and if.

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We have to go to a a different vendor other than morton. It would be the 75-97 delivered. Okay, we.

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Can't get enough of the 62 uh delivered, we hope we can. Last year we had a lot of delivery issues with.

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Morton, hence we wanted to go to another vendor, just in case we would run into the same issues.

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We couldn't get solved. Last year we ended up going to d mason depot to order. I believe they brought.

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Us 1200 times because we could not get morton to deliver to us due to shortages. The the port.

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Their backup the delivery issue, so we went to the icing depot and they they bailed us out and.

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Got us the salt that we needed? What's the present uh stockpile at the state level to get this out.

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Is it there or not? Sorry, is the state how or is the stockpile of morton? Do they have it there or.

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Are they waiting to bring salt in or I think, most vendors have it there? It's just an.

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Issue of getting it to the various agencies that might need it trucking and supply, and.

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That means the supply is there, but the the higher demand for other counties. Other agencies. Might you.

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Know take precedent over carroll county. We don't have any of our own trucking. For that do we yeah.

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This is an in case uh contract, basically correct, yes, yeah morton would be the primary right so.

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In case they can't deliver, they will go to uh the other two correct all right. It's just a very steep.

A

Going from 62 to 75, isn't it I mean wow, but in your last year we didn't have anything official in.

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Place so we thought it'd be best to get these in place. I mean most counties only have one and we're.

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Gonna have three, which is- I have a feeling this time next year. Those numbers will look even worse.

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Mr cook, I want to thank you for accepting my request to do a tour.

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For the public, I'm going to do a comprehensive review and tour of all of our snow removal assets.

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And hopefully bring back some sort of report to my colleagues and.

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Show the public what we're faced with so thank you very much.

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Well I'll make the motion hoping that we don't have to use any salt.

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I'm going to add that to my motion, we use pepper hope is your course of action right now, yeah. I was.

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Just using the course I got it, I've been told that is this: the same salt as used in the brine. Yes, yes,.

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All right I'll make the motion that we award term contracts for bulk road salt supply and.

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Delivery to compass, minerals in the amount of 79, 97 and de-icing in the amount of 79.39.

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In the hope that we don't use, any salt is what I did there. I apologize. Did you see 79, 97 or 75.

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75; okay, thanks, okay I'll second, that motion any uh discussion on this hey.

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What are we using on the gravels now, just out of curiosity chips still using juice.

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We're still using the chips. Okay, we still have a stockpile of chips. Okay, so we have like 20 miles.

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Less of gravel to work on right. Yes, we do. Yes, it's coming. Yes, yes, okay, great work, okay and discussion.

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Questions seen here, none all in favor, all right, okay, thank you very much. Thank you. By the way, I'm.

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Getting some reviews from constituents about the treatment of the gravel road, so you guys are doing.

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A good job good! Thank you now, let's talk about sandy mountain park, parking lot mill and overlay.

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Eli you get to stay up here. Okay, excuse me, president rossi, I want to uh recuse myself.

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From this vote, I personally know the owner of this company. Okay, I'm going to step back on this.

B

Morning, commissioners morning.

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The officer procurement, in cooperation with the bureau facilities, request your approval to use.

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Contractor gems contracting inc for the mill and overlay of the upper parking lot at sandy mountain.

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Park the cost of 61 900 includes all material, labor and equipment to complete this project.

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And the amount is within the adopted budget, no additional funds will be needed.

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Morning, commissioners, um just in case you're not familiar with sandymount park, there's two parking.

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Lots up there. This deals with the bigger section parking lot. um That parking lot is in very poor.

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Condition, to say the least, that's about at least 20 years old. As far as I can tell it's.

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A very heavy used parking lot, whether it's for park park and ride. It's very heavily used. uh The.

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Secondary parking lot we're going to try to keep that open during the milling and paving process.

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That is our plan, so we won't be able to, hopefully not have to close that park completely to traffic.

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The park has recreational fields, baseball courts, I'm sorry, basketball, courts, playgrounds, tennis,.

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Tennis, courts and walking paths for the community. Like I say it is a high used park. um It's gonna be.

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A one day operation in and out and there may be some growing pains, but again our plan is one day.

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In and out get that thing done and give it back to the community and uh commissioners, we also did.

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Some legwork on the contractor gems contracting. This is the first time that we facilities will.

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Be using this uh this contractor, they are a local contractor here in westminster, maryland.

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um After doing some research we found out, they have been in business for 30 plus years on the.

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Excavating side of things and they just branched out and brought in the paving side of things.

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Within the last three years, um they've performed work for the town of sykesville, so obviously I.

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Gave them a ring and they had nothing but good things to say about this contractor.

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uh They've done work for multiple restaurants and apartments. uh Complex parking lots here in.

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Carroll county, so they are a well-known company here in the area and with doing this, research.

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Commissioners, we feel they are more incapable of handling this project with your approval today,.

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I'll move the commissioner's award to a contract for repaving the upper lot.

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In sandy mountain park to gems contracting in the amount of sixty one thousand nine hundred dollars.

D

Second, okay down motion. Second, any discussion can hear none all in favor aye, for with one attention.

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Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You see how it comes out. Yes, exactly have a good day.

B

Chris, do we have anybody for general public comment? No phone calls, sir thanks.

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Okay, I need a review and approval of the land acquisition close minutes from november 4th 2021.

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There's no period. Second, I got a motion in a second to approve the miss from.

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11 4 20 21 any discussion. It's in here, none all in favor all right all right.

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Okay, do we have any comments for open admin.

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Many of us, okay, you seen her none wanda wanna, come on up.

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Let's go through agendas.

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Good morning, good morning so monday november 15th we have nothing on the tuesday, the 16th.

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We have local management board meeting with commissioner fraser attending in the morning.

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And then planning commission uh with commissioner lance attending in the morning that afternoon.

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The carroll community college annual meeting with all of us in attendance at 2pm and that.

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Will be an away game over at carroll community college on wednesday, the 17th.

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We have excuse me ag conservation zoning text workshop work group meeting.

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With commissioner weaver attending and then I will be attending the.

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Economic alliance of greater baltimore board of directors meeting, and it will be a virtual meeting.

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um That late afternoon, carroll community college board of trustees meeting with commissioner lance.

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Attending and then he will be attending at 7 p.m. The emergency services advisory council.

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On thursday, commissioner wentz will be attending the uh mako's fall retreat up in baltimore.

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And we will open our session at 9 00 a.m. Solid waste funding looking to approve.

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Portable radios and accessories to our volunteer fire companies.

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uh Looking at cisco, smart net support services, renewal lighting upgrades over deer park.

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uh Get a quarterly update from mr zaleski and consideration of bond sale.

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Award resolution and our comptroller mr burke will be presenting. We will then go into close. Let's see.

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At 1 pm we will have public hearing uh for our. You know the rate residential um definitions.

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And maps at 1 pm and then also at 7 pm 1 pm will be uh in room. 003 and 7pm will be virtual.

L

um Just as an oddity, so the bond sale, as I mentioned last week, I think.

L

Has to be awarded within a certain period of time after bond is the sale is concluded.

L

And after they've had time to do their their math, um so what we're going to do.

L

um Is and you'll see when you see the final agenda is we're going to have one if they have.

L

If they do the refunding of existing bonds, it takes longer for them to process. If they then.

L

If they just do a straight sale of new bonds, so um the bond sales at 10 a.m, um they should be done by.

L

11, if they don't do the refunding more or less, if they do the refunding, then they'll need extra.

L

Time and probably not be done until 12 45.. So what we're going to do just to keep everybody.

L

Aware and the public aware is we're going to put it on the agenda twice, so we're going to put it.

L

On the agenda for like 10 11 and then um then just before the public hearing at 12, 45., okay.

A

And then, on friday, commissioner wentz will be continuing at the mako forward.

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Street up in baltimore nothing on saturday, commissioner, lance has the podcast on the 21st.

A

Okay, the following week, the 22nd.

A

On monday, 22nd at 1 pm maryland's sustainable growth awards virtual debt, I think, has changed.

A

I think I've received an email on that correct chris yeah. I think it's now in mid-december.

A

So we'll get the details: yeah yeah! I we just received that yesterday, um tuesday, on the 23rd.

A

Bristol academy founders day celebration, commissioner weaver will be attending at 8 45 at.

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1 pm there'll be a joint meeting with mount airy officials of the harrison leicester discussion.

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And it will be all of us attending at 1pm in mount airy's town hall, wednesday.

A

The 24th commission on aging disabilities dave virtual, are alive. Do you know.

A

um Is he attending? Are you it's? I thought you attend those yeah. I don't know.

C

I usually did yeah. I think there was one where you switched. Okay, I believe I think it is commission.

L

Commission, it's been virtual, it's been in person, it's been virtual. I have no idea. um Thursday is.

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Turkey day friday, the offices will continue to be closed. An observance of thanksgiving saturday.

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We have nothing scheduling, commissioner weaver. If he wakes up from his turkey will be given.

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A podcast on sunday morning now, what I need is a couple of motions to move forward, make a motion to.

E

Go into close for land acquisition. Second, I got a motion and second, a discussion seen here. None all.

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In favor motion going to close for administrative duties. Second, okay, I got a motion. Second, any.

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Discussion seen here, none all in favor motion to recess until one o'clock after closed. Second.

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Okay, I got a motion in a second and in the scene. You had no notes doing that either. I was good.

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And the discussion seen here, none all in favor all right, okay,.

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We are now enclosed.

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