Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 3 Dec 2020

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session December 3, 2020

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

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Okay, good morning, everyone, thursday december, the third: this conference will now be recorded.

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And uh to everyone that's online this morning, once again we come to you virtually and uh we're.

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Going to get through today's agenda as rapidly as we can, we have some very interesting items.

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uh Today, so with that, we always pause for a moment here and uh do the pledge to the flag.

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And then we'll also observe our moment of silence uh to remind ourselves that there are folks on.

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The front line of this pandemic continue to be on the front line and keep our folks.

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In law enforcement first responders and all those in uniform across the country and across the world.

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To allow us to do this today so with that I'm gonna have commissioner frazier lead us in today's.

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

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

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The furling flag- yes, thank you, chris swam, for the furling flag. The one here isn't furling.

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Probably a good thing: that is a good thing. Good thing would mess up my hair right, so.

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There's that that's what I was thinking- okay, uh I've got the hey. I see you laughing boucher.

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I don't know if you're laughing with me or at me so we'll address that later on, um so uh I've.

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Got the mask on, I will take it off uh here. In a moment, I've got it on just to remind folks that.

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We are going to start with covet this morning later on after we get through a couple priority.

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Carol items but just a reminder that we we need to remain vigilant and continue the best.

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Practices as we are nowhere out of the woods yet there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

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As we hear that vaccines could begin to arrive as early as next week uh so um but.

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But uh with that said, we need to continue to do this and we'll hear more about that uh shortly.

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The first thing I want to do this morning: we have a guest on the line and let's take care of that.

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Before we do our personal priority carols this morning, because I don't want to hold her up and.

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I'm going to turn this over to celine steckel, our director of uh department of citizen services.

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To pay tribute to a local business that has uh graciously supported uh the pro one of.

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Several programs over at the citizen services and that's coons, toyota of westminster.

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So let's take care of that one first and we'll turn it over to celine celine good morning.

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Good morning, commissioners, this morning we have angela berner on the phone with us.

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And she is with coons toyota of westminster and we wanted to recognize her this morning.

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Because of the ongoing support that coons toyota provides to the senior centers throughout carroll,.

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County, I'm going to turn it over to gina, to say a few more words and also welcome angela.

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And thank you for being with us this morning and thank you for your support.

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Good morning, um thank you, celine, and- and I will be brief as well, um but angela I want to thank you.

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And coons toyota for esthelians at your continued support of our senior and community centers.

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For 10 years, um kim's toyota has supported us and which has really benefited the people that attend.

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Our senior community centers in many ways, so I'm going to turn it over to rich otone, who has some.

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Additional information to share he's um the community services supervisor and oversees.

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All of our senior centers good morning and angela thank you uh for joining us today. um I just want.

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To once again uh express our gratitude to coons for their generous donation of uh ten thousand.

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Dollars to assist our senior centers um in providing uh virtual exercise class sessions.

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And meals to our membership, um just to give you some numbers between october of 2019 and march.

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13Th, which was the last day centers, were open prior to the shutdown uh coon's funding enabled.

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391 people to participate in 302 class sessions, free of charge, um the pandemic and subsequent.

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Closure of the senior centers provided significant challenges to the county's older population.

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Not the least of which was social isolation. You know the senior centers were closed and other.

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Venues like local restaurants and gyms and other places where folks would go to to meet people.

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Weren't there anymore for them so to combat that our staff worked with our exercise instructors and.

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Developed a schedule for virtual class sessions beginning in july um since beginning the beginning.

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Of july 175 senior center members have been able to participate in 354 virtual class sessions.

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uh That's through the end of october, I don't have november's numbers yet, but um all of those.

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Classes have been paid for by coombs uh the money that we received from coons um last year and.

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These classes have been well received by the folks who are taking them. We continue to get emails and.

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Calls thanking us for making them available. um The big thing is that they were able to participate.

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In classes with familiar instructors so that encouraged people to um come out, if you will.

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And and join the virtual classes, um eventually, the centers are going to reopen. I'm confident that.

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That's going to happen, thank you for the reminder about the vaccine um and once they do reopen.

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uh We we absolutely anticipate that fewer people will come in. uh Initially, people will be nervous.

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um And we'll have I'm sure limits placed on capacity, but nonetheless we do plan on offering.

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Both virtual and in-person um class sessions, which will also um the money that we have received from.

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Coons will help us pay for um and also I just want to point out that a portion of the coons donation.

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This year will also be used to provide meals for senior center members for various upcoming.

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Grab and go events uh like the one that's coming up on december 17th for christmas, uh valentine's.

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Day and other events in 2021., um this is the tenth year that coons has honored the senior.

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Centers with a donation- and we look forward to their continued support of our wonderful program.

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Thank you, coons and angela for supporting our programs during these unprecedented.

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Times and sharing your belief in good health with our seniors.

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Well, thank you very much carol county and gina and rich have been great when we were talking about.

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What our donations could do, what the true needs were for the seniors of the community.

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And really being able to, I mean I'm going to improve special accounting, their efforts.

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For the community of the senior centers, as well as everyone else in the business and.

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Individual communities here so we are so glad to continue to help out with everyone.

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Okay, uh angelotten. We can't thank coons toyota enough. Not only do you support uh the mission with.

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The citizen services and the senior centers, but you've also stepped up in a number of ways to many.

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Of the non-profits in carroll county, so you're you're you're a tremendous partner. uh We are.

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Glad to have you here in our county and we can't thank you and the coons family enough.

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uh For showing the support that you do for the various uh organizations that that you, uh your.

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You are involved with so on behalf of all of us here we want to thank you very, very much.

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uh We we appreciate your efforts and we wish you the best, as you continue to provide.

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A great resource for uh for automobiles here right in downtown westminster.

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Any of my colleagues want to chime in here we'll open it up.

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Thank you for the supporting the senior centers. uh They do a great service to hundreds and.

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If not thousands of our seniors in carroll county and uh your support is not uh doesn't go unnoticed.

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Well, thank you very much and I will make sure that I.

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Share this information with mr coons himself, as well as our general manager here.

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We're just fortunate that we are a business that is able to serve the community.

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So from the youngest to the oldest and I feeling from 4-h to carroll, county senior, centers origin.

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Girls, club carroll county youth service bureau, there's just so many good efforts in the county so.

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Paying attention to the seniors and helping them out they've taken a hit throughout this.

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Whole pandemic with the senior centers being closed, so we're all sincerely grateful also.

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Your business represents so many other businesses throughout this county that are very generous in.

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Helping we have a very great private sector and partnership with our public sector, so thank you.

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Very much for all you do. Okay, I appreciate it. Commissioner frazier coons toyota is in your.

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District, so we can't go without hearing from you. I thank you very much for the ten thousand.

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Dollar donation, especially for the senior centers, it really does go a long way and.

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What you heard of what the money has paid for in the past? It's really good and I'm really.

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Surprised you got off without commissioner boucher asking for a tour, but it might be coming up later.

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Our dreamers are broken with a mask one, obviously, usually, when you take.

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A tour of coons toyota there's cash involved a little bit of cash uh standing by because, like.

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Last time I was in there, I didn't leave without taking something off the parking lot. So there's.

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That you know all right, look, um we. We truly do appreciate it. Thank you and, and please.

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Give our best to uh crystal coons and the coons family, and uh thank you very much uh for all the.

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Support that you give to all of us here in carroll county. Thank you. You're welcome have a great day.

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Okay with that we're going to uh roll into our uh priority carol and I'm going to start.

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With commissioner frazier because he's like right here, that's why no rhyme or.

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Reason, except you're, like right here, makes sense, makes perfect sense to me all right.

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Thank you. I want to start with the senior opioid policy, a group that meeting it was yesterday.

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um Really, what I want to bring everyone up to uh speed on is that that group and the behavioral.

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Behavioral health advisory council want to join together to make one group most of the people in.

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One group are on the other one already, and so they basically talk about similar things anyway, and if.

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They join together and it's going to be brought before us pretty soon that to ask our opinion or.

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Our I guess uh condolences are not conscious that to make sure that we agree with it there you go.

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um There, you know, but most most of people are, are one or the other. All the people will be included.

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In this particular group it just would streamline. It makes a little bit easier uh for them to.

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To work through what they're doing so that's to be brought before us from these uh someone from.

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The senior opioid policy group will come up with that. um If you watched the board of ed.

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Meeting last night, the schools are going to stay in hybrid until at least january 7th they're.

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Going to reevaluate that week of january 7 to see what will happen from that point on.

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And they plan on starting sports a winter sports on december 14th. That's all I'll say about that.

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Thank you, okay, commissioner. Boucher good morning good morning, gentlemen,.

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I'm looking forward to this vaccine coming out, so I can come into the office and give sure away.

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It's a big hug and kiss on the teeth without a mess. Okay. Okay! So that's not going to happen.

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Without an accident, it sounds good all right, I'm going to start out by mentioning the.

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Artists take spotlight this weekend. Is the art tour with artists across the county, from 2010 to.

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Woodbine- and I had mentioned this before about getting unique gifts for people since this is.

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A very good, so please take the time to do the quality, artists and support them and also stop.

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In at different uh restaurants on main street and patronize, those small establishments there as well.

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I also want to mention that firearms deer season started this past saturday. I don't have the.

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Harvest numbers yet because it weren't going but last year was a total of over 5500 deer harvested.

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In carroll, county alone, what's critically important about this, is it helps our farmers.

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Prevent the crop damage and also a lot of hunters, and especially the farmers or crop damage permits.

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Donate a large portion of their deer harvested to feed the hungry, and this year more than ever,.

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This feed to hungary program is very critical, so please be supportive of this. If you're a hunter.

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And you're harvesting more deer than you can actually consume. Please talk to your local deer.

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Process, provider and they can hook you up and make the donation of feeding the hungry, and you might.

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Also want to check with your accountant, because or some of that cost of butchering might be tax.

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Deductible, so you can actually help the poor with feeding the hungry and get a tax deduction.

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With that I'll wrap it up, thank you very much. Thank you, commissioner. Weaver good morning.

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uh Good morning, good morning, uh commissioner boucher, thank you for that.

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Little uh segment about the deer- and I know one uh processing plant- has something like 550 deer.

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Already in there that feed uh the homeless that have been donated from hunter, so uh there is a.

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Lot going on out there and you know I appreciate the uh um you know the people that look at these.

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Things almost like rats, sometimes uh running through the fields, doing a lot of devastation.

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They cost millions of dollars billions of dollars nationally uh in crop damage, so uh hunting season.

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Is a controlled measure that came from under uh keep the fuel population down? I do want to remind.

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People, the farm museum, has all kind of uh events here for the season. I won't give you the times.

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Because I may mess them up, but you may want to get on the website. You look um nice family, outdoor.

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Family events that you can attend uh at the farm museum coming up uh by the way I've been out.

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Somewhat in the community here and the wearing of masks is uh stepped up, I've noticed everybody.

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Lately uh they get out of the vehicle put the mask on. uh It has been an increased.

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Resurgence in the wearing of masks and worrying about the uh covid uh outbreak, so I do want to.

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Say thank you to the people out here, my friends and neighbors, and what they're doing.

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I noticed thanksgiving, there was all kinds of changes in the events- families. uh It was different.

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But very successful in the way they handled it, and I want to just commend people out here for.

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Doing what they have to do until we get this under control, and with that uh you keep in mind.

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We have a lot of small businesses out here, but you don't actually necessarily have to shop here.

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Buy a gift card as a holiday gift go into. You know the shop get a gift card from these small.

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Businesses, that's a way to keep them afloat, a way to support them, and you don't have to actually go.

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Out and do the shopping and I'm a great believer in gift cards here, but especially if we support.

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Our local businesses with them people can go in later, as we get vaccines into here and.

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Really keep supporting those type of businesses. Thank you, commissioner. Rostein good morning, good.

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Morning, yeah, I guess segway in uh from some of the other comments. Definitely, uh let's continue to.

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Focus on shopping, local and eating local uh gift cards are a great opportunity. uh I also saw the.

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Articles about the arts and crafts across carroll county another great opportunity. um You know that.

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I would be remiss if I, if I don't go into talking about the masks and what we need to.

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Do there's 3 000, plus deaths that happened across the united states? We are not out of control, we are.

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In a very dangerous situation, and the expectation is that there will be a continued rise in deaths,.

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Before the vaccines become vaccinations for the general public, I look forward to the vaccines.

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Working and serving our communities, but we have a long, long ways to go, and um you know my feeling is.

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And you've heard me say this before: if it's a priority, then we need to resource the priority.

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Time, people and money- and that goes with that us as leaders- it goes with the businesses.

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And it also goes with the community working together, uh leading by example. It's one of those.

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Lead followers get the hell out of the way type of attitude, and I believe that we as uh the board.

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Of commissioners must continue to lead in doing what's right and others will follow um working.

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Together with the businesses and the community, we will get through this. uh It's we've got a long.

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Ways to go, um I I applaud all the work that's been done, but I believe we still have a long ways to go.

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I I apologize if this is preaching, but I I'm I'm getting too close to too many folks that.

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Are getting sick and uh I don't like it so I got to figure out. How can we do better? Because, what's.

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Working right now or what we're doing right now is not working. We got to continue to rat uh to.

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Ramp it up, so I ask those that can wear masks. Keep social distancing, continue to uh wash your hands.

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It does work and I'll tell you if this gets out to one person in our community, I'm happy if it gets.

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Out to two: I'm ecstatic, so let's just continue to push it and uh I'll leave it at that. Thanks.

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All right, thank you, commissioner rostein. uh Just a couple, quick things from me. uh You all have.

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Already mentioned uh about our restaurants and our small business community, I don't know if anyone's.

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Noticed lately, but the weather's changing. So it is very important to remember to uh to continue.

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To to support our restaurants, all of them are doing carry out if you're not comfortable inside.

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At least go get carryouts from these folks and utilize best practices uh that that's.

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As as commissioner rostein says, that's the most important thing right now on that theme.

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I had the opportunity to participate in the federal emergency management agency region, 3.

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Meeting yesterday and for those folks that are doubting, uh what's going on.

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uh Up and down the east coast- and this is a group of of representatives up and down the east coast,.

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uh Region: three: uh for those that doubt the the uh the efforts of our emergency management uh folks.

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uh And everyone else uh I wish you could have been on that call. uh It is unbelievable. The amount of.

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Work: that's going on. I had the opportunity to talk to the fire chief of pittsburgh.

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On the call yesterday, which was interesting because we each had a different prediction on.

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What would happen in the wednesday afternoon, football game which, by the way, is the first.

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Wednesday afternoon nfl football game since, like 19 to I, don't know some something anyway,.

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It that group of folks on there and and the work that's going on to ensure that everybody stays.

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Safe is is, quite frankly, amazing and I'm very proud to be the elected for region three in the.

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Federal emergency management agency, uh the elected representative- and it was just uh remarkable to.

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Hear the work that's being done so kudos to everybody as they continue the efforts here.

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To get us out of this pandemic, I also was involved in the good scout uh presentation that.

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Occurred yesterday and as a matter of fact, uh that presentation is about a 10 minute, video.

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uh That was done and if you want to see that uh you can get on to.

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uh Well I'll tell you what I'll touch base with uh with chris swam.

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Because I'm looking at him and we'll put it on our website today, because it's about a 10 minute.

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Video and instead of choosing a good scout representative, as they typically do, it's all.

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About the benefits of scouting and the things that are occurring uh when it comes to uh the scouts.

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And the efforts that they make here in carroll, so we'll we'll get that and I'll have chris get.

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That on our website and then you all can take advantage of seeing what was a very fine program.

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We all had the opportunity to have an updated meeting this earlier this week with carroll.

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Community college- and they like everyone else, are- are facing a lot of challenges, but I gotta.

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Say after that meeting I was very optimistic about their uh their efforts out there they're.

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Doing a great job um correct me: what were they ranked dennis? I can't was it fourth thing: that's.

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Number one in the state of maryland, one in the state I think 24th in the country. That's it yeah.

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So yeah ranked number one community college in the state and 24th in the country is remarkable. uh So.

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uh There listen, I guess it just goes to show that everybody's stepping up and doing an amazing job.

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Here as we get through uh all the challenges of the pandemic, and uh typically this is the week.

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Of the carroll community college foundation's biggest fundraiser and that's starry night, that.

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Would be this coming friday night, my wife and I participated in that and our sponsors of that.

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Done that for quite some time, we're really going to miss it, but they're doing it virtually so.

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That'll be interesting on friday night as we see how they uh pull that off and it's everything else.

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We're getting really savvy with virtual, so I'm sure they'll, uh I'm sure it'll be a great event. So.

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Kudos to them, uh I think, that's all that I've got this morning. Anything else for priority carol.

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If not, we will roll right into hearing uh from ed singer of the health department and get the latest.

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Information on statistics, vaccines, etc, etc. So, ed good morning, good morning, commissioners and and.

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Thank you again for uh your continued support and I think this is a uh a good opportunity for, for us.

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As a health department to reach uh some of the general public, I often feel like I'm getting on.

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Here being the uh the grim reaper and never have anything but uh bad news to bring to you all, but.

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Today, there's a few things that you've already referenced, commissioner, and I have a couple of.

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Other things to throw in there before we get into our data that I think are are important and.

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And, and, and and good news in uh in some of this um one is, I want to start with uh you had mentioned.

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The vaccine- and um I think it's great, that you know we're going to be seeing the the roll out of.

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The vaccine start in the next week or two as you mentioned, however, people need to keep in mind. You.

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Know this is going to be very limited. Much like it was when we first started testing it was. It was.

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Really hard to get a test, because there were very limit number of tests and laboratories that were.

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Conducting the uh the testing and whatnot it's going to be very similar to this.

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When the vaccine first comes out there, there are prioritizations that are given for the.

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Primarily with the frontline healthcare workers and and the very vulnerable populations in the.

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uh In nursing facilities and what's what not that they're going to be the first.

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uh Priority to get it and as governor hogan referenced on his uh press conference last week,.

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I think the state's getting 150 000 doses and that's not even enough to cover the.

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The frontline healthcare workers, so while the vaccine's coming out and that's really good news.

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I you know, I want to temper that with people understanding that you know it's probably not.

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Going to be available to the general public for for several more months, but several more.

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Months is closer than there is a light at the end of the tunnel and uh getting this up and.

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And uh getting started and we'll see this kind of grow just like we did with the testing capacity.

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The ability to get people vaccinated will grow, as as as the vaccine rolls out and and as more.

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Companies uh get approval for the use of their vaccine, there'll be there'll, be more availability.

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So very much looking forward to this, and uh you know, hopefully, by by this time next year, we we.

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Won't even be having to have discussions about covet 19, and it can be an afterthought for us.

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So we've got a ways to go in this, but the uh the vaccine on the horizon is great news.

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um The other thing that I want to talk about is uh cdc. There's been a lot of.

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Talk in the media, about quarantine and and uh changes in in quarantine and and there's a.

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A possible shortened, quarantine guidance. That's coming up um the guidance, it's not that.

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We were wrong on on, what's being uh what was out there with quarantine before, but everything that.

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We've done in this pandemic, and I've talked to you before and talked to the school board about.

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Things being a relative risk and the uh as we learn more about the disease and- and we learn.

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About relative risk, we kind of adjust some of what we're doing so. um A couple of key things is.

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One is uh the local public health authorities are still the ones make the final decision on how long.

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Quarantine should last and we're going to be working with the state on a consistent.

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For something that's consistent, statewide as to how we're going to manage these quarantines going.

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Forward, so it's not changing the day. It's going to take a little while it may be. You know, maybe by.

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The end of the week we'll have this in place, but uh people need to be patient with us on that, but.

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We know we've known all along and we've advised people that, if they've been exposed, if they're.

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Going to get tested to get tested around day, four or five, because that's when people are most likely.

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To start shedding the disease and most likely to become sick, so so we still know that around day or.

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Four or five is, is where, where the biggest risk is, um the guidance gives us some flexibility.

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I think it's important and and the reason it's important for the uh for the public is this- gives.

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Some flexibility to let some people get back to work or get back to some other things in their.

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Lives, but the important piece is: is people still need to keep an eye out for symptoms.

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Because it's not that you can't get sick between day, 11 and day 14! It's just that the.

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Risk of becoming ill during that that end that those last few days of quarantine is low enough.

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That cdc is advising that it's worth the risk of allowing people to to come out of quarantine. So.

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What we're looking at is uh people may be able to come out of quarantine after 10 days without.

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Testing and possibly as early as the seventh day with with a negative test. But the negative.

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Test has to happen on day five or later of the quarantine. So really, I still think we're looking.

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At probably a 10-day quarantine, even if we're trying to do the testing thing, because by the time.

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You get a test schedule, then, the time that the test result comes back. If, if you do it after day,.

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Five you're, probably looking at it day, nine or so anyway, so um we're probably looking at in general.

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People being able to come out of quarantine after 10 days, which reduces the amount of time that.

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People can't work or or out of uh the community by by about four days, um I did mention that this is a.

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Matter of relative risk and the cdc is estimating that, uh if we, if we go with this new um with this.

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New recommendation that the uh what they call the residual post-quarantine transmission risk.

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Is estimated to be somewhere between five and twelve percent, so that is an increase in risk and.

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We really need people to be honest with us and, if you're, if you're, if you're starting to feel.

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Like you have a sore throat or you're starting to develop a cost cough when you're in day 10.

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You need to uh stay in quarantine and potentially get tested and and make sure that you're not going.

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Out in the public when you're sick, because you can develop those symptoms between the uh 11th.

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And 14th day, it's important that, if, if we, uh if we go forward with this new strategy, that people.

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In those last days that they would normally have been in quarantine continue to monitor.

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Their symptoms and to make sure that they're doing the right thing that we need to take care of each.

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Other so you know this: is uh it's going to be a lot more for us to manage as a health department.

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But it does help the community some from from the standpoint of getting people back to work.

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But again we're relying on the community to do the right thing and and make sure you.

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Don't go to work if you're sick, so um that's. I think what I've got to say about that.

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The changes in the quarantine and then the third thing that I wanted to mention is our testing site.

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Was a bit overwhelmed right before thanksgiving and I think a lot of people were getting tested.

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Just because they were planning to travel and they wanted to know.

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You know if they were if they had coveted or not at that point in time, we've uh we've ramped it up.

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We did 225 tests at the site on tuesday uh with not much problem and we're able to get people in.

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In a timely manner, again um as of this week, like I said last week, we were overwhelmed that.

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People were having to wait several days to get in. Generally speaking, people can get in on the.

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Next testing day, with the capacity that we have at our testing site right now, so so that that's.

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Kind of uh good news as well, that said, we'll go ahead and uh get into some of the statistical data.

K

So our cases last week we're down a bit uh down to 246, but I really think.

K

That that was a um I'm looking for my notes here. um I really think it was a matter of uh the fact.

K

That testing uh capability wasn't available for some of the days during the during the holidays.

K

Not only our testing site was closed on thursday, but a lot of the uh commercial testing sites and.

K

Doctor's offices weren't available, so I don't know- and I can't say that we're not at the peak of this.

K

This this most recent surge that we've had, but I don't know that we are- and I really.

K

Don't think that we are, we had 71 cases on tuesday, which was an all-time high this week.

K

But but yesterday was low, so we were around 30 cases yesterday, so I I don't know where we're.

K

Going to wind up this week we're about 150 right now um in the middle of the week. um I don't know.

K

That we've hit the peak, though, because uh there's some some other factors that came.

K

Into this because of the reduced availability of testing- and we have seen some very high days.

K

So um moving on just the uh the probable cases, they seem to uh be mirroring the trend that.

K

We're seeing in the in the confirmed, pcr cases this is our 14-day rolling average.

K

Fatalities, so we had uh seven deaths. Last week, uh two community and five in in the.

K

In the in the facilities and one of the things I didn't mention when I was on the case rate, we.

K

Haven't seen a lot of facility cases uh over the last several months and last week we we had one of.

K

The highest rates we've had since back in, I guess, may or june time frame where we had 17 facility.

K

Related cases, um so we did have seven deaths last week. Two of those were community related and.

K

And five of those were facility related um the week before we, we had four deaths that week as.

K

Well, so far this week, we've had two community related deaths and one facility related that so.

K

So those deaths are are definitely climbing as we're seeing the uh the case rates climb as well.

K

I see bet I I see you. Bed usage has been pretty uh pretty stable the last week. However, the the.

K

Hospital is still seeing a high number of uh pui's and covet patients that they're that.

K

They're having to treat in the hospital I want to, um I guess I'm going to step back to this.

K

uh Previous slide, because I want to talk a little bit about the fatality rate, because.

K

uh A lot of people were talking about this disease, not being so deadly, and things of that.

K

That nature and I saw one of our delegates put in the papers and editorial last.

K

Last weekend- and I just kind of wanted to talk about that a little bit because.

K

People talk about the fatality rate of this being relatively low at two percent. If two percent of.

K

Everybody who gets infected with any disease uh die from it. That's a pretty high fatality rate.

K

um You know the fatality rate seems to be waning a bit and I think that's a lot because.

K

uh We're seeing an improvement in treatment and probably also because we're seeing a lot of the.

K

A lot more younger and healthier people who are who are getting ill with covid.

K

That that may be driving that rate down some, but to put this in perspective,.

K

Since december of 2019, private 19's killed more people in the united states than influenza has.

K

In the last five years- and we always have a big flu campaign and we're trying to keep our.

K

Our uh older population protected from the flu, because we know the flu can be deadly.

K

But a lot of people like to compare this to the flu, and, and you know, if you look at the annual flu.

K

Numbers if, if we're, if we're killing five times as many people with this over the period of uh uh I.

K

Mean that's! That's, essentially what we're looking at that we've had five times as many people die.

K

From from this than we've had from uh flu over the last five years, that's that's.

K

Let's say that's saying something: well, not I don't I misstated that it's it's essentially a.

K

Five times the the fatality rate that we would see from flu because in the last five years.

K

uh If you, if you take the deaths from flu in the last five years, we've had more people.

K

Die from that in this one year from from covet, so it is serious and it's something that we we.

K

Need to be taking serious and we're learning we're also worried about those long-term health effects.

K

That people will be suffering with that have potentially contracted this virus. There's been a.

K

Record number of deaths in the u.s yesterday, around 3 000 deaths reported and a record number.

K

Of hospitalizations over 100 000 across the u.s, and uh you know that increase in hospitalizations.

K

Is usually followed by an increase in the deaths that are reported, so you know I had good news to.

K

Report in the on the front end this that we're in a bad part of this uh pandemic. Right now and.

K

I don't think any of the models that I saw had had predicted us seeing an increase in cases an.

K

Increase in deaths and all that that would rival the beginning of the pandemic, but we knew we.

K

Were going to see a second spike, we just, I don't think any of us expected it to be. Quite this big.

K

uh Moving on to our community uh cases by by week in age, the, as I said, the cases were down last week.

K

So the the cases dropped in all the age groups last week, except for the age under 18.. We're still.

K

Seeing a lot of younger people getting the virus and if you, if you look at this chart here, I think.

K

That it illustrates it very well, you can see all the age groups were on a downward trend. Last week.

K

And I think again that's because of our limited capacity to test during the holiday week. But.

K

The one age group where, where the number of cases went up, was that age group that was less than 18.

K

This is just our hospitalizations by uh and deaths by age group and the important thing is and- and I.

K

uh Appreciate the commissioners saying this over and over again wear your mask: keep your distance.

K

Avoid large crowds keep connected with family and whatnot, we need to use technology, especially.

K

With our older populations and what not to keep people connected and and even with our uh our.

K

Kids, that are, that are school age and whatnot that aren't seeing their classmates in school.

K

uh Trying to keep them connected by zoom or or or some type of, video chat or whatnot is a.

K

Good thing just to help people uh keep engaged, and you know I was on the state's alzheimer's.

K

Commission, at one point in time, one of the most important things we could do to. uh I think.

K

Help prevent alzheimer's is to keep the senior population engaged, so it's really important that.

K

We keep our senior population socially engaged, whether it's uh you know, I love the thing that.

K

Celine was talking about this morning, how they're doing the virtual exercise, classes and things.

K

Like that, but make sure you're checking in on your family members and let's do what.

K

We can to keep them healthy and if you can do outside activities still that's the thing to do.

K

um The last thing I want to want to kind of remind people about is uh we're trying to plan for.

K

Vaccinations in the community and, as I said, it'll probably be several months before we see those.

K

Roll out to the general public, but what we're trying to do is is figure out how comfortable.

K

People would be getting vaccinated and you know I I've heard it all over the place. I I I certainly.

K

Don't think there's going to be any type of mandate for people to get vaccinated at this point.

K

In time, um but what we want to know is is whether or not people are comfortable being vaccinated and.

K

How likely they are to get vaccinated so we can better plan. So if you go to the carroll county.

K

Health department's website or or this link, that's right here on the slide that I'm showing you.

K

You can take a survey just to let us know whether or not you'd be willing to be vaccinated.

K

And and your whole thoughts on that process and it'll help us plan for uh for vaccinations. As we.

K

Get into the uh the months when we're going to be trying to uh vaccinate vaccinate a large number.

K

Of people from the public, so that's uh that's it I'll be glad to entertain any questions that.

K

The commissioners would have at this point in time and I'm going to go ahead and stop sharing. So you.

K

Can see me again, hey ed, uh again, appreciate all the um information that you provided.

J

My knowledge is limited on what I'm gonna share and it's my sister's a pediatrician.

J

And what she's finding is that children that are testing positive, that it's a very almost.

J

Alarming rate of the whole family is ending up being positive and they're not getting tested and.

J

She's very adamant in getting the families tested and then they find the whole family uh could be.

J

Testing positive: are we seeing the same thing where we're finding families that are being.

J

Like in groups, uh testing positive in carroll county or there's not enough information on that.

J

So so I can tell you from what we're seeing with our contact tracing um we're finding it and I'm.

K

Saying it well and just anecdotally, looking at the test results that come in from the ag.

K

Center, I'm seeing I'm seeing whole groups of families where it's five, six, seven people that.

K

Got tested at the same time are all positive. Now I can say that I I have known some people who.

K

um If somebody in the family gets sick, it's not an easy thing to keep everybody from.

K

Everybody else from getting sick and and in most cases, we're seeing the entire family get sick.

K

There there is, I have seen people I've, known people personally who who wanted one of the.

K

Families gotten infected and, if you so so, the strategy is- and this is what we talk- people.

K

Through when we talk to them in contact tracing is, if you have one person in your family, sick.

K

And the rest of the people test negative. You try to keep that person isolated within the house or.

K

Or even if they can go somewhere else and stay until until their their isolation periods up.

K

That's that would be the best thing, but if, if you don't have any place else to go.

K

uh The best thing to do is to have them have a separate bedroom with a separate bathroom and keep.

K

Them separate from the rest of the family, and you know, I've had people who have had their kids be.

K

Sick, where the adults weren't sick and what they essentially do is they got they've got to keep the.

K

Young person in the room by themselves- and this is even harder, um but you know you make them a meal.

K

You drop it off in front of the door; they they essentially kind of clean and sanitize their own.

K

Dishes to a little bit, they leave it outside the door and then you bring them their next meal. So.

K

It's it's. You really can't have contact with the rest of the family if you're sick, because.

K

If you, if you have that close contact, it's there's a very high likelihood that everybody in the house.

K

Is going to get sick so it can be prevented from spreading through the whole house. It's not easy.

K

And in most cases, we're seeing if, if family members are continuing to live with, somebody.

K

Who's sick- most of them, are eventually getting covered. We've seen cases too, where.

K

You know family member, a gets it on week, one and then two weeks later, another family member, late.

K

Has it and then another week later, the rest of the family gets it. So it's it's not.

K

It's not an easy disease to prevent from spreading, so hopefully what you were looking for, it is and.

J

But but the fact is, this is not chickenpox either. This is not you know, mentality bring.

J

All the kids together and let them all get sick and then they'll be immune to it afterwards.

J

This is you know, because, because I've heard that as well, that people are saying well.

J

If they're young they're not going to get sick, you know they're going to get the virus and they'll be.

J

Healthy and everything's good, so let's get them all sick first and then they're not going to get.

J

It again um so that that's also just one of those concerns, I think that's a good point, commissioner.

K

And it's there's a lot lower risk to the younger population, but as as governor hogan talked about.

K

Last week they had a one-year-old that died from this last uh last week. The the risk, the younger.

K

Population, I don't want to overblow, it is not high, but but people can die from this and they.

K

Can't have long lasting uh effects on scarring on the lungs that could cause them long-term.

K

Issues I you know, I don't know how how well they're gonna recover from that scarring over.

K

A period of time- and nobody knows because we're not going to see that right now, but it's not you.

K

Know with chickenpox, we knew that, generally, you were going to you're going to be itchy and it was.

K

Going to be uncomfortable and you'd get over it, and, and that was going to kind of be the end of.

K

It that this disease can have long-lasting effects and could potentially be deadly so.

K

We don't want to be unnecessarily exposing people to it. We want to get to the point where we have.

K

The vaccine and we can get people vaccinated and and keep the community at large, healthy.

K

Healthy because of that and that that'll be our herd immunity once we get everybody vaccinated.

H

Mr singer, thanks for your weekly reporter citizens, very much look forward to this. I've always been.

H

Concerned about our senior citizens, I think the most recent stat shows that 87 percent of.

H

Our fatalities are above 65 and now we're seeing fatalities hitting their senior population again.

H

What is causing, can you state that, through contract contact tracing has.

H

It been determined what is reinfecting our senior facilities has that been determined.

K

Well, if you want to talk about how seniors are getting this, so so the ones in the facilities you.

K

Know, there's nothing you can do about it because um well other than to try to monitor symptoms and.

K

Make sure that your staff aren't sick and we're doing we're we're testing staff twice a week in.

K

The uh in the facilities right now so we're doing everything that we can, but the problem is, is.

K

You know the staff don't live there, it's it's! Not that the um that the the people who are living.

K

In our nursing homes are are getting sick from from each other. So much is some staff member who.

K

Who happens to be out in the community gets the disease somewhere, and it's not that necessarily.

K

Anybody's done every anything wrong. I've talked to so many people that have been doing all the right.

K

Things and- and they just have have an encounter with somebody and you know we do things to reduce.

K

Risk but there's no way that you can have zero risk. There's always as long as staff are going.

K

In and out of the facility, there's always a risk that somebody's gonna bring the disease with them.

K

When they, when they come to work and there's, you know, there's nothing. We can do to make anything.

K

100, safe we're doing a lot of things to try to mitigate the disease, but uh that's that's uh you.

K

Know, that's primarily where people in the facility are catching it from are from from staff. Now.

K

You know the older population out in the community that are getting sick and dying from this they're.

K

Getting it from family gatherings and that's why I've said I highly encourage people to try to.

K

You know unless you, you know that you've you've been really safe. uh You know the the interaction.

K

With our with our older loved ones needs to be somewhat limited and, and you know, we've got to.

K

Do things differently than we've done them before I've been encouraged, encouraging people to engage.

K

With uh with their older relatives in a virtual manner as much as we can, uh we do need to keep.

K

Them engaged because you know the the whole having them disconnected is is probably almost as bad as.

K

This whole covet thing that we're dealing with, but uh we also need to be safe about. If, if we know, we.

K

We've been doing relatively higher risk activities to have physical contact and whatnot is not the.

K

Thing to be doing right now, so we we need to do what we can to keep our distance and.

K

Keep safe, especially when we're around that vulnerable population. Thank you, mr singer.

I

Hey, I have a question for you, because I've seen this on social media and I would like.

I

The truth to get out there and you're the man who's going to tell us the truth when you're.

I

Looking for a place to get tested, let's say you don't get tested in carroll county, but you live.

I

In carroll, county go to baltimore and around or somewhere else, and you get tested and it's.

I

A positive test, where does that that positive test go to as it says if you got tested in anne.

I

Arundel county comes up on their stats or because you live in carroll. County comes up on our stats.

I

So it's all based on the statistics, is all based on your your uh your your residents. So if you live.

K

In carroll county, it doesn't matter where you're tested uh those will be reported to the carol.

K

It's a reportable disease, it all gets reported to the carroll county health department. Now.

K

You know if you have a medical provider order, your test they're going to get the report as well, but.

K

The uh statistically speaking the the uh the data is reported based on where you live right I mean I.

I

Appreciate you saying that, because there's a lot of back and forth and social media about know if.

I

You go to anne arundel county, it goes to them and I'm saying no, that's not true. That goes by.

I

Where you live, but I'm glad that you, you know, you backed me up on that and you said that so.

I

Everyone can hear it it's where you live, no matter where you get tested, that's where the stats go.

K

You know we're testing some people from out of county at our at our facility as.

K

Well, over at the uh at the ag center and those those cases get, they don't get reported out as.

K

As carroll county cases, they get reported out in the county where the person lives.

A

Anything else for ed uh I have to I hate to get on a rant, but you brought it up dennis.

A

You know the social media thing and ed you mentioned that there was an editorial on the.

A

Paper last week uh and and uh ed, you brought it up ross. Commissioner rostein about leaders leading.

A

uh I I don't get the divisiveness that continues to occur and then that just fuels.

A

That dumpster of our society, social media and then you know how great would it be if.

A

We actually utilize social media to stay connected to families instead of trying to bash one another.

A

Based on what somebody puts that's absurd in an editorial somewhere uh that that doesn't make.

A

Any sense to me, I don't understand when we get stronger as we keep moving together to get to the.

A

End of this, why there are still that faction of people that want to divide us all.

A

It's it, it boggles my mind and I'll just stop there. Any other questions for for um for ed.

A

That really wasn't a question that was a.

A

That was a a mini sermon. Sorry it just that that that just it really, I agree with you.

A

I I just it really bothers me. We all need to be moving together to get to the bottom.

A

And to end of this, and this consistent divisiveness that we see is just ridiculous.

A

um So, anyway, um ed we appreciate again the the uh the efforts that that all of you are.

A

Are doing over there- and I know uh you touched on it a little bit but as the vaccines begin to ramp.

A

Up there is a plan here in the county uh to to make sure that that those that need it first and.

A

Get it and so forth, so I want to make sure the public I know you touched on it, but just.

A

Reiterate that you don't have to go through the plan ad, but just reiterate the fact that.

A

You've been meeting with all the partners and there is a plan in place for that.

K

And it's you know your county staff, your emergency management, folks, law enforcement, um the school.

K

System, you know, we've gotten great support out of everybody. You know I can't plug the ag center.

K

Enough for for what they've been doing for us and our testing efforts- and you know maybe, as we.

K

We vaccinate people that might be a place that we look at doing that. um It gets complicated because.

K

uh Unlike most uh most times when we do mass vaccinations, we kind of do some mass clinics and.

K

It's done, this is going to be an ongoing effort and so we're gonna have to be creative, but there's.

K

A lot of uh cooperative um discussion going on and- and uh you know, there's still a lot of.

K

Unknowns but everybody everybody's uh involved- and I know when when when the vaccine actually shows.

K

Up it's going to be all hands on deck amongst all of our agencies and all of our community partners.

K

To get it out there and make sure that we can get people in the community vaccinated and and.

K

Get ourselves back to as close to normal as we can as soon as we can all right anything else for ed.

A

Thank you, sir.

A

All right that takes us into the next step and that's our uh coveted relief fund plan.

A

And for that report, and actually we're getting ever so closer to the end there on that as much of.

A

These uh funds that we're getting have to be spent by the end of of this calendar year. So but let's.

A

Get the update and for that I'll turn it over to our county administrator, roberta windham, good.

L

Morning, thank you. Yes, uh you're right, absolutely correct we're getting there at the end, the.

L

14.7 million that we received back in the late spring early summer all has to be.

L

Spent and distributed by december 30th um the restaurant relief.

L

Which is the 1.2 uh million, or more than 1.2 million, that we received from the state just a.

L

Few weeks ago, a month ago has to be out of our hands by december 31st, but does not have to be.

L

Spent by the recipients, until um uh first few months in in the new year, so nothing.

L

Particular to update uh the board with, at this time other than we're continuing to work. The plan.

L

And as I mentioned last week, and I think the week before, we will be uh coming to you still our goal.

L

On the 10th of december to go over the the plan where we stand and um what the final pieces are.

L

And how they'll all work in so unless there are any questions about that I'll turn it over to.

L

Jack to talk about the two economic development programs going on at the moment, the retail one.

L

Which is um part of the crf part of part of the federal money um for 500 000, um most recently and.

L

Also, the state restaurant relief of 1.2 million and where we stand on distributing those funds.

L

Jack good morning, the last tuesday, if you remember, we opened up the the retail.

M

To services it was tuesday and we closed it down at uh wednesday at uh around four o'clock.

M

uh We we spent the whole five hundred thousand dollars and uh we awarded to 142 applicants.

M

We're getting the app the applications in and the funds will be they're going out. You know weekly.

M

Here so that program was a big success. 142 uh applicants, however, on the on the restaurant side,.

M

We're having a real real uh t-point on this one. To date, we awarded 117 to a total of 809 000.. We.

M

Have a balance of uh 392 000? We uh the there was 11, we call them uh service kitchens. So far, we've.

M

Had four that are applied, uh we're holding their hands and and getting the ones the vfws and the.

M

People like dap to apply right now we have uh 28 applicants that could be funded. We're.

M

Calling them we're going out and visiting them, you know, um but if they're, if we fund all 28, it's 000.

M

We're going to have left over uh 100 another 196 000, it's roughly half, so we're we're close.

M

To you know almost 400 000 and my recommendation is that there's two recommendations uh that we we.

M

Take this as of next week, sometime, you know, say next wednesday we keep working with all these.

M

These uh other restaurants is 28 and then cut it off either go back and take the whatever money.

M

We have left, you know, part of the four hundred thousand dollars and go back and give it to the.

M

You know the 125 or so restaurants split it up and give it to them, or we open up to the franchises.

M

Here but it would be, it couldn't be corporate franchise. Excuse me it would have to be low.

M

Excuse me local uh franchise, so I guess that's my two scenarios where.

M

Our like, I said our best case scenario, would would um we would distribute another almost 200.

M

000, but we're going to have a good 200 000. You know left over out of that. um You know: 1.2 million.

M

So we could do, but it would be individually locally owned franchise and the owners would.

M

Have to um you know, be living here in carroll, county and operating in carroll county. But we.

M

Wouldn't do the corporate franchise? If we go that route or like I said we just take the.

M

Whatever money's left over right now, it's four hundred thousand, but we.

M

And we just distributed to the other, you know 125 or so restaurants, that we've.

M

We've already given it to so, I guess I need some direction, um we're getting close to the.

M

End, you know I'd realize, there's two more weeks left in the, but we like to cut this.

M

Off and you know, change directions a little bit. You know next week, early next week, hey jack.

J

I guess I'm not the biggest fan of uh giving it out to the franchises, uh because I do believe.

J

That corporate helps the franchises themselves um and probably has programs in place so that.

J

May be a little difficult. um The question, though, is the amount of money that we're giving to the.

J

Restaurants, now um how how much is it uh to the restaurants like per restaurant? uh If there's at.

M

First right now we're averaging um a little over seven hundred. I mean seven thousand if they have.

M

Nine or fewer employees to get five thousand do they have more and ten employees to get ten.

M

Thousand okay um just curious, and you may not know uh surrounding jurisdictions, are they doing the.

J

Same five and ten thousand uh or is it up to us? It sounds like it's up to us on what we want to.

J

Give as far as grants, so if if we increased it, you know to 6 and 11 or you know, 7 and 12, then it's.

J

Going to spend all the money um up front, I mean: do you know what the other jurisdictions are doing.

M

uh I do not okay and that that's fair, but I mean that that may suffice. That.

J

Okay, I'm just curious because uh I know we're we're very quick out of the gate in doing.

J

Things and you're incredibly aggressive, which I appreciate um and responsive to the businesses.

J

I just don't know what the what the numbers are compared to the other jurisdictions.

J

um I think that's where I'm leaning towards is because they're they're hurting I mean they're.

J

The feedback I'm getting is that these restaurants are just in a really bad situation.

J

So a couple more thousand dollars may be the way to to go, but just opening up thoughts.

A

Yeah, I think it. I think it varies across each jurisdiction, ed, because what um I had.

A

Had a conversation with the county executive in baltimore county, and I also talked to the county.

A

Executive in howard, county and they've got they put different sums of money towards it too, based.

A

Because some of the bigger counties got uh more money than than we got from a different source, so.

A

I don't think there's any rhyme or reason is it. It varies based on jurisdiction and my only concern.

A

If you would up it now would be that the ones that put in for it before were kept at five and ten.

A

So would you would you go back and give them addition? I see that I I get a little.

A

Bit challenged there with that, I don't know I'd like to do that, but.

A

We'd almost have to go back and give the extra then to those that put in for it before and were.

A

Were limited at five and ten right yeah, that's what I was thinking is that there's no way we.

J

Do it, unless we did that you know, I mean that's only the only bare way of doing it.

A

How hard would that be jack? Well, the way we would do it is we we would cut it off. Let's say of these.

M

23, we would cut it off, let's say next tuesday um and whatever we have left.

M

We would go back, you know we could have. Oh roughly, we could probably about 125.. So we'd go back to.

M

125, restaurants and take you know whatever is left, you know, you know 350 000, to distribute.

M

It to them, because we we've gotten, you know- we've got 90 of the applicants already in you know we're.

M

Issuing checks there right now, so we'd have to go back and just take those whatever we have awarded.

M

And take that and kind of split it and send it back at all, and we could do that pretty easy.

A

That would be an easy way of doing it. um We could, we can make it.

M

We can make it all the same. You know if we have 300 000.

M

You know, or whatever you know divided by you know 125, you know, do it that way or yeah.

A

I think you're on to something ed with that and jack. I think that's the fairest way to do it. I.

A

Think, and, and and ed you're right, I've heard from a couple of restaurant owners myself and as this.

A

Weather changes, they're they're uh they're they're they're into some challenging times ahead. So it.

A

Isn't doing us any good, let's get it back out to them a couple grand means a lot for some of these.

G

I I agree with you uh and as we get into uh this season, I know a lot of them are really.

G

Starting to hurt- and we have the money- the short period of time, to get it out. I think.

G

Jack's idea is great: let him divide it out and get extra money to him as fast as he can.

H

I agree it's a good idea, but I want to real quickly go back and review this. This local.

H

Franchise idea, just the understanding how big of a pool of local franchises is it.

H

And give us a couple examples before we skip over. I just want to give some do review.

H

What is a local franchise, so to speak, uh subways subways would be a local owned franchise.

M

Rita's ice would be a local owned franchise. um You get you got to be. You know you got to be.

M

Careful, you know, you have the mcdonald's and the chick-fil-as um they're they're locally.

M

Owned franchise um companies like that there's uh there's over there's almost 200 franchise.

M

But they're, not uh a lot of them are corporate too. You've got to be getting careful some, but.

M

Some of them are corporate owned and we do know whose corporate we didn't know who's local.

M

On this, um but if you open it up, you got you got to be careful with the franchise, because.

M

They got to be locally owned and have to be operating here in carroll, county.

H

Thanks have we heard any distress from these local franchises before we skim over them? I just want to.

H

Make sure that we haven't heard from them and they're not under any stress and need some help.

M

We've heard a couple of them, we haven't heard you know from the mcdonald's or the chick-fil-a's or.

M

Some of the you know or to I guess the drive-throughs are doing fairly well.

M

You know when they're set up for drive-throughs, but we have. We have got a couple. Local.

M

You know we had a subway, we had one subway and we had a read as ice. I know.

M

Come in and we denied him, of course you know, but uh no, we have not had a lot of applications.

M

But you got to remember too, we put in our all. Our criteria is that we weren't going to fund.

M

We weren't going to fund franchise we've had it out there, probably jesus what a half a dozen times.

M

In the paper and everybody else, so we weren't gonna fund franchise so to be fair with them.

M

I'm sure, if you open up the franchise, the money would go. You know.

M

Because we got quite a few, can we possibly offer something to the local franchises.

H

That don't have drive-through just just a thought, because they're hurting as well.

A

I don't I I think eric. I appreciate the uh intent one. I think it may be too complex um because also.

N

Franchises um have corporate backing and support in many cases, they'll either have loan programs or.

J

Other programs that I'm not familiar with um designed in you know challenging times and I'm.

J

You know I, I know that some corporations have uh provided monies to franchise.

J

Owners, because you know they don't want them to fail, because it's their name.

J

I think if we stick to the intent of how we wanted this grant to go towards our county restaurants,.

J

And local businesses and eateries is, I think, the way to go and the biggest thing for me in doing.

J

That also is ensuring we do not have one dollar left on the table. You know uh out of that 1.2.

J

But uh yeah I'm I I I try to keep it as simple as we can at this point in getting that money out so.

H

Well, I appreciate the destruction. I think it was important at least cover it before we move.

H

On so thank you well, if we close it down, let's say we're calling these 28 or we're going to visit him.

M

Either one we're out there saying, please, you know, come after the money, whatever is.

M

Left we could, we could say well tuesday, at 12 o'clock. That's it we're not taking any more.

M

Applications on this and then at that point we could turn around whatever money we have left.

M

You know to do an analysis. Take you know a couple hours to do. We would turn around and.

M

We'd, go back to the 125 and um you know, sent an email and said: hey we're going to.

M

Give you this amount of money, you know split it up and get distribute the money next week.

M

We could do that relatively easy. You know relative relatively fast whatever's left over.

J

To be done, because you have a great team doing it if it was, you would probably take a few days.

J

But that's a different story. That's true! The t. The team is uh probably take me a couple months right.

M

The team is, uh we have an incredible team down here. Doing it.

M

We're ready for the next one if we can help businesses we're ready.

M

Yeah under a tremendous time, restraint here too, so keep it simple.

M

That would be simple. Okay, I don't. I don't know what we've done in the past. Have we we taken a.

A

Formal vote on this or just given direction. I think we've taken a formal vote. Haven't we.

A

So you want to you, want to roll with that ed.

J

Okay, so I'll make the motion that we continue to.

J

Go after the grant monies for local businesses, local restaurants and and uh close the business.

J

On tuesday, uh we'll just do it tuesday, like 12 o'clock, you know midnight.

J

The grant process will close for applications. The leftover funds will be then divvied up.

J

To those that have uh received the grants until all money is exhausted, equally.

A

You meant you meant noon, 12 o'clock right jack, not me or midnight. Oh, yes, dude, 12 o'clock wait.

J

Are you saying noon? P.M? Tuesday? P.M. I'm sorry! Okay, yeah noon! Yesterday, 12 o'clock noon. Okay got it.

A

I mean I actually ed I'd like to see the whole economic development department come in next.

A

Tuesday, at 1201 a.m to start this process, but but I think noon's probably good. I can tell you we've.

M

Been some of us have been working at 12 a.m to get these uh out, but it's well worth it. The businesses.

M

Are up to twelve one o'clock worrying about where the money's going to come from we're there with.

M

Them we're supporting them. Okay, all right, any other questions on this, if not all those in favor.

A

And that's unanimous, except for weaver, what did we there? He is, you were. You were delayed weaver. I.

A

Don't it's your camera, not it might be you. I don't know all right. That's unanimous anything else, jack.

A

Okay, I don't believe so. I think that's it for us today, okay and then we'll look forward next.

A

Week to the more extensive talk on where we are, as we always said, we were gonna hit that tenth.

A

And then we got some we'll have a better idea where we are with numbers: okay, thanks.

A

All right anything else covered.

A

All right, then, we're going to move through our agenda items this morning.

A

And the first one is the proposed agreement of the sale of the north carol.

A

High school and for that I think we're going to hear from jack lighburn again.

A

And you're muted jack make sure you're unmuted, because.

A

This one's kind of important- so we want to hear you on this one too.

M

Okay, that's good um and in 2016 with the declining enrollment, uh the board of education closed north.

M

Carolina high school since then, you've given us the task, this department of marketing.

M

uh The high school for sale we over there over the years over the four years.

M

You know, we've spent, you know hundreds of thousands of dollars maintaining the building.

M

With the maintenance of the building the gym in the fields- and they continue to be used.

M

By local recreation councils, uh you know I attended a couple meetings uh with the.

M

Citizens and attended meetings, many meetings with the mayor and an overall, I guess vision- was that.

M

It would stay as a school and we threw out- I guess early on, that we use it as a sports complex.

M

And we, finally, we got up. We've been negotiating, I guess about nine months now, with a company.

M

Called chesapeake real estate group llc and they submitted a contract to purchase the building.

M

In the grounds- and you know, we've we've met with the uh you know, we met with you know with.

M

Our our permeated apartment and what I'd like to do now before we go into the um is matt laraway.

M

Matt is uh one of the senior partners in the chesapeake real estate group.

M

He's also a resident of hampstead and and kind of what goes around comes around matt, and I.

M

Worked about 20 years ago as the brokers, um the broker and the economic development here on the.

M

Sweetheart cup deal so matt's very familiar with with uh hampstead and with this school.

M

So I think matt you're on here, if you could uh just come up with your vision of chesapeake.

M

um Real estate group's vision, matt yeah thanks jack, can, can you hear me, I think I got unmuted.

O

Yeah we're good we're good man go ahead, okay, great! Well! Thank you guys for the time and jack. Thank.

O

You for working with us over the last. You know six nine months on on this project, so quick overview.

O

Chesapeake real estate group is a privately held real estate development company in the.

O

Greater baltimore area- I'm a hampstead resident just moved in there about four years ago into.

O

The oakmont neighborhood not too far from north carol, um one thing that our company has really.

O

Been trying to do outside of our traditional real estate development activities is, is some.

O

Community give back- and we also have in internally here a passion for, in particular, youth sports.

O

And we're actively under development of a youth sports complex down in anne arundel, county and.

O

An affiliate venture partner of ours uh capital sports group had been talking.

O

To jack and and the economic development group about the north carol high school.

O

Our company has uh great development experience and we're very well capitalized and.

O

And this is a a a venture we're super excited about. um You know our our immediate plans are to.

O

uh Once we get our contract scientists to start on the design and engineering of the fields.

O

And um and really we want to maintain the integrity of the existing building.

O

uh We've already been in some preliminary conversations to the extent we we've been.

O

Allowed to with some of the local stakeholders- and um you know our our plan is to to utilize.

O

The auditorium the gymnasium to to maintain the relationship with the sheriff's department.

O

And to construct four first-class multi-purpose fields right away, um and then you know that.

O

That the field construction and the the site uh could grow uh depending on demand, but um you know.

O

That's, that's, that's our goal and we're really excited to partner with the community on that.

O

um You know, and both and reusing the existing building and and uh repurposing the rest of.

O

The site and creating you know, usable fields for both the local community and the greater region.

M

That uh you would talk uh talk about the turf fields, I mean the amount of money, you're gonna.

M

Be put into turf fields, and you know kind of the schedule in the turf fields. That's important.

M

Well, yeah we're still we're still working through our budget. Our phase, one budget um you know- is.

O

Is plus or minus four million dollars and- and um you know right away we, you know, I don't have the.

O

Ability to share a plan here online, but um right away, we were going to move forward with our first.

O

Turf field we likely could do a second one in conjunction with that, and then there, the other.

O

Fields that we would do would be, um you know the first class natural grass fields, not necessarily.

O

Like what's there but like you'd, see at a college or a university, but yes, the plan is to write away.

O

As soon as we have the appropriate approvals and we close to move forward on the field, construction.

A

Okay, real quick: I want to answer this. This building has a lot of uh memorabilia and.

H

History to the community, once it's developed, part of the building be dedicated to highlight.

H

And preserve some of the history and memories of that community, because I think that's very.

H

Important for our community a lot of people graduate high school there. If there's something.

H

That can be done to maintain some of that history. I think the community would appreciate it. Yeah.

O

Absolutely and thank you for bringing that up, I mean we're very sensitive. To that I mean I only.

O

Moved up there four years, so I wasn't a graduate of north carol high school, but I I have quickly.

O

I have quickly started to understand the history and the sentiment that the community has with the.

O

High school we've already had some conversations with some people that have had other monuments and.

O

Signs and and scoreboards and stuff dedicated to families we're very sensitive to that. We want to.

O

Be part of the community, as I am a person who lives there, we don't want to be somebody that.

O

Comes in and tries to change history, so um we actually in our in our presentations that.

O

We've been putting together, our intention is to, while we have you know a a facility in anne.

O

Arundel county: our intention is to actually name this: the port, the panther sports complex, so.

O

Yeah, we're definitely going to be sensitive to that and appreciate you bringing that up.

O

Because that's absolutely 100 our intention. Well, that was a wonderful reply. Thank you very much.

G

um Matt, I know uh you, you are sensitive to a lot of things in the community and really community.

G

uh Based is where we're heading here: what about the uh town of hampstead you? um I know you've.

G

Met with them quite a bit, but you have their support um yeah. My understanding is. We do yes,.

J

Hey matt, you mentioned um phase one regarding the uh plus or minus four million dollars, turf.

J

Fields, um I guess what is phase two and how many phases are you looking at this project? Well, I mean.

O

It's still pretty early and we haven't started spending all of our engineering and.

O

And research dollars, um but you know phase one is definitely the delivery of those first.

O

Four multi-purpose fields and making sure that we've got the building facilities. You know being.

O

The gymnasium, the auditorium and other things up and running so they can be utilized in conjunction.

O

With the fields phase, two would be the addition of you know, potentially up to.

O

Up to two more additional fields and then also creating other amenities spaces in and around.

O

The property for for people that are utilizing the field, so you know, in the event we're able to bring.

O

You know some bigger tournaments outside of just the recreation uses.

O

You know with the wreck council: we want to have the ability for people to.

O

You know have have amenities that serve um that that sir, and we would really want to work.

O

With the local community to bring some of the other, you know restaurant owners and amenities.

O

To help them have us provide that for people that are coming in from outside the area.

J

The uh the current services that the school and the fields provide for the wreck, programs and.

J

The sheriff's department is the intent for that to continue, as uh as you move forward,.

O

Absolutely um absolutely and we've already as part of this negotiation with the county.

O

Have have come to general terms of the sheriff's department and you know we.

O

Would obviously need to memorialize that, and we absolutely want to want to have the the.

O

Rec council's use to be the cornerstone of what we're going to do moving forward.

A

All right any other questions for matt.

A

A

Or whatever, because I know jack, you want to go down through some of the details. I think here.

A

A couple I'll highlight chess, commissioner weaver you were going to speak, I mean I don't want to.

M

Interrupt you, you were going to see something go ahead. Okay, all right, go ahead, jack! uh You know we.

M

You know matt myself and the whole group, and you know our group here have been meeting.

M

With the mayor- and I can tell you that um you know um the the mayor is on board with this- you know.

M

All the meetings that we have he is on board with this. To answer your your question, commissioner,.

M

um That some of the key, the key factors on this is that um there's a 180 day study period. That's.

M

The max you know that they would do um and they would settle within 30 days, uh but you know you.

M

Know I think matt I'll tell you they would like to you know, get get started a little bit before 180.

M

Days but the contract says 180 days, study period with um 30 days settle settlement the uh I can.

M

Tell you that that the county sheriff's is leasing about a little less than five thousand square feet.

M

But the uh the contract states that you know and then um chesapeake real estate group.

M

uh Is not charging the on the sheriff's department, any uh basic rent at all and the contractor just.

M

Going to pay the utility bill, you know a pro rata share on if it's on the fertility bill.

M

In five years, I'm sorry five years.

O

Actually not for ten. Is it ten years yeah, it's actually yeah, it's actually ten, I believe, is it.

O

Yeah, it was, it was, it was 10 and, and uh there was- and there was no rent on the end of that initial.

O

5 000 square feet for 10 years: oh okay, I'm sorry the uh yeah mad crime. People were wrong here.

M

The the deal would be a fee simple deal for the whole 50 acres um plus the school.

M

That's kind of the highlights you know of of the uh the contract unless you've gone. I know.

M

You've had a copy of contractors. Anything you know you want to talk about in the contract.

A

Any any questions that we all have been provided a copy of that we've had it for.

A

Quite some time now, so if there's any questions on that, we can go with that jack. Do you have.

A

Anything else before we hear from we need to hear from commissioner weaver on this.

M

uh No, you know after after negotiating with this, you know, I think it's the best. You know the deal.

M

Let's say that we have out there, but it satisfies what the community wanted, what the town wanted and.

M

You know the citizens of carroll county, you know, I. I think this is a great asset and it's gonna bring.

M

A lot of people into the county um that it will increase the tax base, but it also um you know, will.

M

Highlight the county and and put us on the map, for you, know athletic, especially with the turf fields.

M

You know I I personally in this department. You know we recommend that you, uh you know.

M

You accept this contract, you know, you know I'll, stop talking turn it over to the commissioners.

I

uh Commissioner frazier, you have a question. I do have a question on page seven about real estate taxes. We've talked about this before.

I

It it maybe just like just explain that part to me.

I

Jack real estate taxes, because what it says- and I don't want to it just it looks to me like.

I

We're going to look we're basically going to lease the fields and the.

I

And the gymnasium out in lieu of the sixty thousand dollars up to sixty thousand dollars real.

I

Estate taxes, however, there's a spot in there which says in the event the county contracts for the.

I

And utilizes for the fields buildings resulting in the amount, greater, the sixty thousand dollar cap.

I

Reference here and all feeds will be due. Does that mean the cat doesn't actually mean anything that.

I

That one sentence kind of throws the rest of it off for me. Matt you want to you, want.

M

To explain that one yeah sure I guess the the real estate tax piece. You know that we're we're.

O

Obviously, working on trying to get this building assessed or something that's that's um palatable.

O

For somebody that's running, you know fields to other people for market rates. Right I mean.

O

There's a reason that um that buildings uh like auditoriums and gymnasiums, are built.

O

On a speculative basis, because they're they're they're too expensive to operate.

O

So yeah and the goal there was is we we had a. We had structured, a deal where.

O

The the county would would be able to help reimburse us for our tax bill, while we're working.

O

Through the first phase of this, and in doing that, um we would do that in in a fashion where.

O

um We would have some guaranteed use and rental income from the county on fields and on gymnasium.

O

And on whatever else they need, um and it was at the uh the county's request that we put a a cap on.

O

That um so we did that, so there will be that sort of bucket, which is a reimbursement of a tax bill.

O

And then you know in the event, if the county decides that hey, they want to use these.

O

Fields: seven days a week, 24 hours a day, okay, well, there's going to be a component of that that we'll.

O

Obviously need to be compensated for, and so once we get, you know we kind of use that 60.

O

000 piece as the the tax reimbursement piece in the event, it's that high. Hopefully, the assessment.

O

Will come in and it's not it's going to be. You know, especially if this, if you know when the.

O

Trade goes, hopefully it'll be considered less than that. um But that's that was the tax piece that we.

O

Wanted outline of the contract and then you know, then, once we get above that there there will be.

O

Compensation for fields you know um as needed, the the county is appealing that commissioner.

M

uh uh Where will we appealing not to persevere, matt, and I have talked to the state tax assessor.

M

To try to get that number more realistically, because you know there there's about.

M

20 million dollars that needs to be spent inside the building, with the new roof and with the hvac.

M

The electrical and everything else so we've been talking to texas areas that go ahead and.

M

Appeal the process, but we thought you know if that doesn't happen. You know on the on the appeal that.

M

You know right now the it's uh where it's at 12 we put the not to exceed 60 000 for the five years.

M

Right for the for the my understanding was that was going to be not to exceed the 60.

I

000, but that was capped at that and that we we could use the fields in the gymnasium. But now.

I

It's we can use the fields in asia once the rent hits the 60 000 and we're paying additional to.

I

That and that's that's what this says correct. That is correct. Okay, that I met. I have to say it wasn't.

I

The understanding I had before I read the contract, but if everybody else is fine with that, then okay.

A

Okay yeah, I read that part too. I saw that that was different than what we had discussed.

A

Before but I'm I'm actually good with that, so I don't know I mean it is, as I'm sitting back.

I

Listening to it, does it make sense? Yes, it does right, because these people are here to try to.

I

Make money- let's that's face-to-face right, but I'm just pointing out that that's not that's!.

I

Different to what we originally thought that that's all I'm saying right: okay, hey jack.

J

The uh days study period, you said that and matt you can answer this as well. You said that the.

J

Intent is to go uh much earlier than that, so why are we putting 180 days? Why not 120 days.

J

And you know start from there I mean you didn't get this thing moving, because that's.

J

That's the whole idea is the way you know matt, you sounded you you're, there's a lot.

J

Of energy in getting this going so why the 180 is the standard, or can we do it at 90 or 120.

O

Jack, do you want me to take that or yeah? You need to take that back, because.

M

You know yeah yeah, no and yeah. No thanks for the question. There definitely was some thought behind.

O

That we actually sat in our initial meeting with with jack and a couple of the the department heads.

O

In the county um you know over in the over over in the pavilion outdoor pavilion sort of talking.

O

Backwards through um what it would take for us to get all of our appropriate approvals.

O

And entitlements to do the field, construction and, and we would love for it- to move faster as well.

O

And and if you look into the sort of the finer points of the contracts and conditions president.

O

To closing, are us getting the approvals, and so we, while we're excited to move forward and and.

O

We can't close until we know that we're going to be able to execute on our development plan.

O

And the development plan is the construction of the fields. So if we get the approvals ahead.

O

Of the six months, um we're fine closing ahead of the six months that that was the method to.

O

To why we, the the dates were set there, um because we've got to get and it's going to be a lot of.

O

Engineering cost and time and so to get the drawings done submitted reviewed commented on.

O

Resubmitted dealing with storm water management, everything else that we've got to do um it's it's.

O

Not going to be a it's not like buying just buying a building and saying hey, you know we'll own it in.

O

60 days it's we need to have our entitlements um so that we can go ahead and construct the fields.

M

Yeah, commissioner, we did meet with uh with tom double bliss and with the town there was about.

M

I guess about 14 of us at this meeting uh in the pavilion uh about three months ago, we went through.

M

That they're going to follow a modified site plan in the town and we went through it and our.

M

Schedule said uh that would take at least it would take five months for them to get the permits. You.

M

Know that's the best case scenario, so we we said you know we didn't want to go in the next year and.

M

You know we kind of we kind of said five months to get all your permits, and so we just added the.

M

Extra month, you know how that goes, and we did we said 180 days, but it's going to take at least.

M

We've all committed when I say we, the county tom and the the you know the town to at least 150. It's.

M

Gonna at least be 150 days, so why can't we put as an incentive to get it done? uh You know the.

J

Study period upon permitting completion or upon uh you know, uh yeah permits, uh awarded or 180 days.

J

You know, whichever comes first, I mean because if, if we can get this thing done sooner, you.

J

Know through permits and more management that gives us an incentive to get this thing moving.

J

You know I would like that, as opposed to putting just a fixed date on it.

M

Well, I know the intent from chesapeake is to get this done as soon as possible. Yeah.

A

Right yeah, the way the way I read it is is due diligence uh the way I.

A

Read it is it's up to 180 days so any time before that would be acceptable.

A

So that's the way, I'm getting it. I don't. I don't know and matt correct me if I'm wrong.

A

With your group, but I don't think we want to put it, it is your intent to do it 180 or less.

O

Correct the faster we can start construction, the faster we can have the fields open for.

O

Use and for programming, that's correct, so and- and so that's absolutely the intention- and I I.

O

Thought that that was the way that was the way it read, but I mean you know, the concept is if.

O

You know if we want to say something like hey: well, the settlement will be 30 days.

O

You know within 30 days, following uh receipt of permits not to be later than june. 30Th of.

O

20, which keeps you within your fiscal year not to be later than june, 30th of 2021, that's fine too,.

O

For us, it's all about the permitting right right: okay, yeah! I just think. Okay, I don't.

A

Want to add a whole lot of extra language here. I think the intent is there and it.

A

I think that you're gonna you're gonna get it done as soon as you can. So that's correct.

G

A lot of this is in our hands, stormwater management and things we can.

G

Get through the faster we settle right. That's a good point too dick. We can we've kind of got the.

A

uh Accelerator here well, well, much of it much of it it's in the town's hands. It's the town planning.

L

Commission the town has to change the zoning, so those things also happen. Yeah understood.

I

I have another question on the fields and the use of gymnasium, because this is important.

I

um Since we're more or less guaranteeing sixty thousand dollars a year to the company, which is.

I

Fine, do we have the schools, our public schools and our record recreation departments have first use.

I

Of the fields and the gymnasium when they need them, I'm I'm not saying it. Let's say six months.

I

From now, there's a tournament schedule we're not going to bump them out. That's not what I'm saying.

I

But if we're trying to schedule, if the schedule's being made and where we need this for our high.

I

Schools or we need it for recreation department before the schedule is set with something else.

I

We should have first first, I guess um right to use that stuff, because we're guaranteeing this money.

O

Yeah I mean we uh look yeah, it's our it's our intention to try to take care of the.

O

Community first we've not gotten into the the actual programming and scheduling as.

O

We don't know when we're going to be delivering stuff right, um but.

O

For practices and weekday activities, you know that's absolutely our intention. I think if you.

O

Yeah I mean that would be our intention, but right now you know we, I don't have the ability.

O

To sit there and look at a schedule and guarantee who's going to get what, but it would make sense.

N

Our rest council is right that our rec council's right there and and people that are coming from.

O

Outside the community are not going to come up here for practices and games on a regular basis.

I

Right, I just want to make sure that that that's the understanding I know, there's no schedule the.

I

Fields aren't even haven't started them, yet I understand all that just want to make sure that.

I

That's the understanding that the rec councils and the high schools and and you know the our.

I

Systems are basically our priority and use of the fields in the gymnasium correctly. Thank you, yeah.

A

All right any other questions on this.

A

Commissioner, weaver.

G

Well, you know this has been a four-year process and steve. You uh had the same type of situation.

G

Charles carroll, uh dealing with and eric, I know, you've inherited one but jack seemed to.

G

Solve that one before you got in office with uh the windsor middle, but I've met with all kinds of.

G

Groups: we've looked at schools, we've had community meetings, we've dealt with a whole kind of issues.

G

Dealing with the north carol group uh and the previous board of education and superintendents.

G

That they didn't want it as a school. The new board of education and the new superintendent.

G

Said no, we do not need this site as a school uh and that through that went out totally uh now.

G

We're looking at- uh and this is not the first group- I've met with either as far as a sports.

G

Center but this group and I will say, chesapeake real estate: the group has it together. They have.

G

Met with the town, I've been in meetings with both uh jack and put it together. They have developed a.

G

Plan uh that is uh unique, I think, compared to anything else. I am firmly convinced this.

G

Is the best uh uh agreement we've come up with at this to this point and uh they have.

G

The fact that they're so community oriented and willing to work with the town we'll work.

G

With the county, uh this will be a boost for carroll county and I think economic development.

G

Deserves a lot of credit uh for putting this together and if this all comes out, the way.

G

It's envisioned uh it'll, put carroll county on the map and I know they've had a lot of people looking.

G

At this site, looking at where their work can go, and this will be a whole boost to the county.

G

Now it's not centralized in the county. uh Perhaps, but maybe that's a good thing too, because it is.

G

Out away from some congestion and will make a difference for all the youth sports, uh regionally.

G

So uh I am um I I and steve I do want to make the motion on this that we accept this.

G

uh Agreement to sail uh to with the uh chesapeake real estate group.

A

One second yeah hold on hold on a second hold on a second.

A

Before that, that's kind of that's not a formal motion yet but yeah dick you're gonna get that.

A

Tim did you have something? Yes, if we're gonna make a motion, uh can I suggest some language sure.

P

I think we approved the sale of north carol high school uh to chesapeake real estate group llc.

P

uh For one million dollars and other terms, as discussed today to be finalized in a contract.

P

Of sale just to make sure we're all working from the same contract of sale, I'm sure we are.

P

Just there have been various durations of the contract about last months.

A

Okay, all right did you get that, uh commissioner? That's just what I said.

A

Okay, uh we've got the we've got the correct language now and uh commissioner weaver you.

A

Have uh advised that that is the language in your motion and commissioner rostein, you have seconded.

A

Are there any other questions for jack or matt or anything on this uh item? Not another question.

J

Just a comment, and that is to applaud again jack and the community up in hampstead uh and everyone.

J

Coming together and coming up with, I believe, a very good solution in taking care of a community.

J

uh In our county and the county at whole and in whole, so really good good work, jack and.

J

Look forward to the partnership matt and your team and making a true success up there in hampstead.

I

Thank you. I would like to add that I'm very happy this has finally happened. We've been working on s3.

I

From from the previous board, since this happened, we looked at suspicious weaver said numerous.

I

People wanting to do things with this and back and forth, and so I'm.

I

I'm so happy this is finally moving forward. I'm just I can't express how happy I'm about this.

A

Yeah and I'll talk I'll tag along on those comments dennis this has been.

A

uh Well, quite quite frankly, I the only way that I can title it is it's been a nightmare ever.

A

Since its inception- uh and I think we've made some incredibly good and positive choices with.

A

All three properties that were thrown in our lap as a result of this, and uh uh you know.

A

We we took care of the new windsor situation, uh dick you mentioned, we took care of the.

A

Of the uh silver run situation and now we've taken care of what.

A

uh The man, the hampstead situation and I think, we're in a I think, we're in a good place so.

A

Any other comments on this- I just want to thank you. You know for your leadership on this um and.

M

Thank you for hanging in there with uh matt, and I over the nine months. You know I know you've been.

M

Involved all year, but but thank you very much, commissioner weaver. You know, we've made lemons.

G

Lemonade out of lemons and we've had some issues and you're right. We've uh experienced a lot of.

G

Negativity in this, but uh hopefully we can turn it around and I have a great deal of.

G

Confidence in the chesapeake group to make this happen more so than I have with anything so.

G

I'm just thrilled at this point.

A

All right, mr burke, before we take this vote, I saw you were you, you had your microphone on green, go.

A

Ahead, I just wanted to remind the the public that this was a public sale. This property has been for.

P

Sale for years, anyone was able to put bids on it or proposals. Okay, all right anything else,.

A

It's another big mo. This is another big vote. Another.

A

Part of history here in carroll, all those in favor of the motion.

A

And that is unanimous uh matt. We want to thank you for being on today and answering the questions.

A

We wish you uh the best of luck in the venture over there.

A

Jack we want to thank you and your department as well. Thank you yeah. Thank you. Thank you very.

O

Much from chesapeake and thank you to jack and look forward to working with everybody.

A

A

All right we're gonna move forward uh next on our agenda.

A

You know before we move forward. uh You know dick one thing that you said in this. You know.

A

We we've all we've all been surrounded by negativity with all three of these.

A

These properties, we've gotten we've gotten personal attacks. uh There's been a lot of a lot of.

A

uh Negativity in a lot of these communities and and you're right with the lemons out of.

A

Lemonade out of lemons uh comment your spot on there dick, and I want to thank you for.

A

Your leadership too, throughout this thing you know, dennis you dick and I we we've been through a lot.

A

With this thing, uh with these three properties- and it's been- uh it's been a long road, so.

A

I just wanted to say that before we move on because this this was a huge decision today,.

A

So, thank you all right. We've got a public hearing up next for the financial assurance plan required.

A

By the maryland environment article and for that, we're going to first turn it over to tom devilbiss.

A

Our director of land and resource management, chris hein, is on here our bureau chief, to give.

A

Us a presentation and then we'll have the hearing conducted by our county attorney.

A

Tim burke, but first mr devil, this thank you commissioners, good morning. Yes, we are here today.

Q

For a public hearing regarding the financial assurance plan, which we refer to as fap.

Q

Which is required by the maryland environment, article 4-202.

Q

If you'll recall, we gave a full presentation to the board of county commissioners on november 19.

Q

At which time the board approved moving to this public hearing process. After that, we.

Q

Then put a notice of the public hearing onto the county's website. It was posted on november 19th.

Q

Along with that, posting went the presentation that we presented on the 19th as long as all.

Q

As well as all the financial assurance documents that go along with the submittal as a reminder, we.

Q

Have to submit this document by december 29th of 2020 per the requirements in the state law.

Q

This information that we are generating and thus providing to state, provides proof to the state.

Q

That the watershed protection restoration fund and the stormwater mitigation projects that we do.

Q

Through our national pollutant discharge, elimination system, municipal, separate storm, sewer.

Q

Permit are complied with both in the immediate future and extended out to a five-year period.

Q

What we have to do is we have to provide that sufficient funding.

Q

That is required to meet the program and the permit requirements there.

Q

After the uh submittal of this document, the maryland department of parliament will post.

Q

It on their website for 14 days, at which time they'll take comments from the public.

Q

They will then take those comments along with our document, and they will evaluate our document and.

Q

Within 90 days, they will make sure that we are in compliance with the permitting requirements.

Q

With the mpds ms4 permit, that document then will be compiled with others from the other.

Q

Jurisdictions who have similar permits to us- and there are 10 of us in the state of maryland,.

Q

They will be compiled in a report that is, we submit. Excuse me sent to the governor.

Q

And to the environmental committees of the maryland legislature by september 1st and.

Q

An overall report, then, is released for public uh information after that is done.

Q

It it then compares all the jurisdictions, uh both individually and together, as in.

Q

uh Regarding compliance with the mpds permit and again, this process is repeated every two years.

Q

So this is and began in 2016. So this is the third financial assurance plan presentation to the board.

Q

Public hearing that we have had, since the legislation was passed.

Q

And again, this public hearing is a requirement and your hopefully approval.

Q

Ultimate approval of this plan is necessary to comply with the terms of the legislation.

Q

So with that um I will say is there well, let me go. Excuse me one more slide. We have here.

Q

Which is basically a compilation of the what was required in the financial insurance plan and what.

Q

It basically does is compares the revenues that we are estimated to have, and these are birth. Both.

Q

Operating and capital costs for our program compared to the actual cost that we project.

Q

And, as you can see, we have to go out to the fy 2025 as a requirement.

Q

The main item that we have to show them is compliance within the first two years of.

Q

This submittal and as you can see that we have balanced both our revenue and our costs for this.

Q

Financial insurance plan- the main thing I really want to stress to you and the viewing public is.

Q

We have not. This is not altering our proposed budget that you approved for fy, 21 and beyond.

Q

This is not altered at all. We are following and in compliance with that plan that was provided to the.

Q

Board of county commissioners and approved by them through fy25 for the capital costs.

Q

And we have also projected our operating costs based on our what we project will.

Q

Be those operating costs uh into the future, so nothing here is is suggesting.

Q

Or increasing anything that we have not previously brought before you or you have approved for us for.

Q

Our program and implementation through fy 2025., so with that we will entertain questions by the.

Q

County commissioners, both myself and mr chris henn, who is the bureau chief of resource management,.

Q

uh Will are at your disposal for any questions you may have regarding the financial assurance plan.

A

Any questions for tom or chris all right here, hearing none. Then I guess we'll get into the.

A

Public hearing uh tim burke do you want to you want to run this show for us.

P

Yes, it's likely to be pretty short, I think. Are there any members of the public.

P

With any comments on the proposed uh fap plan,.

A

Okay, I believe we've got one caller on the line. Is that right, chris correct uh and wait a minute.

A

They just left, I heard you say that and apparent and apparently mr birth. They agree with you.

A

Because they quickly left well, let's give him five seconds to call back.

A

Hey you want to talk amongst yourselves, while we wait for them to call back, or I don't know.

H

Scare them off, if there's tours involved with these programs, I'm all about it. Okay,.

P

Well, mr president, appears we have no public comments uh at this public hearing all right.

A

Thank you, mr burke, all right uh well with with that I'll say with that I'll make.

I

The motion that we close public hearing and leave the record open for seven days.

I

Second, all right got a motion in second all those in favor.

A

And that's unanimous uh tom chris. Thank you for your work on this very good commissioners. Thank.

Q

You very much um I can't credit stamp enough with with what they do to both comply with.

Q

With what we are required to do, and also to plan for it, it's it's almost of equal.

Q

Efforts, as you can tell from this plan, um not only just implementing it but planning for it.

A

Very good, okay, all right! Thank you all very much. We'll move on uh next item on our agenda.

L

Could I take a moment really quickly, while chris and tom are here sure roberta? Oh here, you are.

L

Sorry, I I have been remiss and um relaying a a very, very nice phone call. I received uh late last.

L

Week complimenting tom and um chris and the entire staff in development review and um water resources.

L

Myron frock and martin covington and clay black and now laura matthias and others for their.

L

Excellent work: um the developer, who developed a recent 7-eleven down the eldersburg area.

L

Could not sing their praises any higher for the professionalism and um their? You know. Customer.

L

Service and working with them, so I thought this is a nice time to give them those kudos. So thank you.

A

Very good, thank you roberta, and you know we can't. We can't say it enough. The the work that goes on.

A

Behind the scenes for for a lot of these projects in the county start with, with uh with the efforts.

A

Of of you guys when it comes to storm water management. And what have you so.

A

You all do a tremendous job, and not only with that, but with all the projects.

A

You know obtaining the grant monies and, and what have you it's just uh it's remarkable and.

A

That's why I get a little bit upset, as do my colleagues when mde comes after us, because.

A

How can you, how can you improve on perfection- I I guess you can. Maybe that's like that hope.

A

Thing that commissioner rosting talks about- I don't know, but um but you know.

A

It's tough, it's tough to it's tough, to uh to improve on when you're doing what we feel is.

A

Is the best in the state of maryland? So uh thank you all and there's that's a good example.

A

Of folks in our community realizing that as well well done I'd just like to very quickly add that.

H

That leadership starts with our administrator and works its way down. So thank you very much.

H

Administered well, thank you. I didn't expect that yeah. The gentleman hopes to make develop many.

L

More projects in carroll county, since we were so easy, so thank you, mr hine, before we let you go.

H

When we do that tour, that stream nashville of commissioner make sure he does not bring a shovel.

G

A

I I have access to several shovels. Just all right. Thank you guys very much all right well. Moving on.

A

We're moving on to uh exercising the opposite option to purchase uh a property through the.

A

County uh ag preservation program- and I know that deb is on here and tom as well.

A

So whoever wants to take this here we go.

Q

Let me begin commissioners, what we have is this is an add-on to an existing ag preservation, easement.

Q

And we were before you, I believe, was september 3rd for this property, and so what I just like to do is.

Q

Just remind you that that you have an existing easement, of which the property has purchased an.

Q

Additional piece of land that they would like to add on to this is located 2501 cross, section road.

Q

In westminster, but I'll turn it over to deb, to give you all the details, thank you good.

R

Morning, commissioners, um as tom says, this is an existing uh original county easement, as you can.

R

See there on your screen, it's only been a couple of years and the owners have recently purchased.

R

A parcel right in front of their property, as you can see, on the screen to be added. That's 3.4, acres.

R

They're very happy to have been able to purchase it and evolve woodland, but they are preventing.

R

um That becoming a residential lot, a non-farm neighbor, that's their interest in purchasing that.

R

So what we do in a case like this is we allow the deed of easement to be amended in terms of how.

R

Many acres it covers and we offer to pay them the same amount per acre that they uh received for the.

R

Original feed of easement, so in this case for the 3.4 acres, the cost is 13 500 and six dollars and.

R

They are retiring, one additional lot right. So what we do is we produce an amended beat.

R

Of easement and that gets recorded in the land records. So um that's what we're looking at here.

R

Here is um just another view of what that add-on.

R

Amended easement total acreage would be 89.9 acres, and um so with that, we.

R

Are requesting final approval for this uh amended deed of easement, with add-on acreage.

A

Okay, any questions on this property, uh I'm very familiar with this. With this, uh with this land and.

A

It sits in a really good spot and it's perfect for our preservation program, obviously because it was.

A

Majority of it was before, but now adding this is is a great advantage over here.

A

So with that I'll make the motion that we approve the add-on of 3.245 acres.

A

To the windish property, through amendment to the existing county-held easement.

A

Second, second, that weaver all right got a motion in a second any other questions. All those in favor.

A

Unanimous, thank you deb and jp. Thank you tom. Thank you very much very much. Thank you.

A

All right next on our agenda is approval to proceed.

A

To public hearing uh on commercial permit fees for utility group structures.

A

I'll just leave the.

A

I'll just leave the uh you gotta love virtual I'll, just.

A

I'll just leave the uh uh the description of what we're doing here with that, because we'll hear.

A

More from uh jason, green, our deputy director of public works and our bureau chief mike step down.

A

And permits inspections just to set the stage here. uh This is something that that we, that I.

A

Actually started working on a little bit with jason when we were uh trying to get a little bit.

A

Better uh fee structure for a large facility in the northern part of my district and and try to.

A

Get a little bit more common sense when it comes to the the fees that are charged uh and with that.

A

I'll leave it if that sets the stage I'll turn it over to jason jason good morning good morning,.

S

Commissioner, sorry about that, having some a little technical difficulties again rather frustrating.

S

The bureau of permits and inspections is responsible for billing of permit fees.

S

These fees are set with the goal of providing operational funds for the services provided.

S

The board did request the bureau to review the current permit fee structure related to.

S

Commercial agricultural type buildings, this change would apply to structures such as greenhouses.

S

Stables, livestock shelters and other agricultural buildings located in a commercial setting.

S

Due to the nature of construction typically found in these type.

S

Structures, the calculated staff time is less than a traditional commercial building.

S

Much of the cost falls into two categories: a permit fee which covers costs associated with the.

S

Permits office and a fire protection plan review fee for the office of public safety. The chart.

S

That was provided to you in your packet outlines what the fee is currently.

S

And the levels at which it could be reduced, so in your packet you should have a chart that shows.

S

Three different levels: the first particular portion, is what is charged for the permit office.

S

uh Staffing requirements um and there's a couple different levels there, showing you the.

S

Amount of square footage for examples, there's five different, there's a ten thousand twenty.

S

Thirty, forty and fifty thousand examples of that what that fee would be for those size structures.

S

The second portion of that particular chart shows you what the fire plan review fee would be.

S

For those same size structures and then the third portion of the chart, that's been.

S

Provided to you shows you the overall fee for those type structures, so what we can do it is.

S

On the back, end of our acela system is reduce the actual commercial fee by these percentages.

S

When a particular um agricultural commercial building is is built so with that I'll open it.

S

Up to any questions you may have, mr green, is there a link between the fee and the time we use? I mean.

H

Is there a cost basis to determine the speed? What's the rationale to develop these numbers.

S

There is a cost basis and and with any permit, it's not specifically going to cover or be in.

S

Excess of a specific permit application, so there are times where we may get a little.

S

Bit more than the work we actually perform, but there are also instances where we get.

S

Less than the actual work we perform so there's not it's not an exact science.

H

Because I remember, we just went through all these other fees, analyzing.

H

Their actual labor cost and linking it to the fee. So there's no process like that in place for this.

S

No there's not each each job's, pretty pretty specific in you know how much time it may take.

S

To process a particular permit, depending on the complexes how complex the project.

S

Is- um and there are also instances where there are more inspections built into particular.

S

Jobs that uh that aren't, that may or may not be accounted for.

H

Is there any way to potentially set a system up where there's a.

H

Cost relation because I still feel like these numbers are quite arbitrary.

S

uh Again, I think it would be we we probably I don't know how many years.

S

Ago we had a very complex system of permit fee calculations. I think there were 180 different.

S

Ways to calculate a permit fee and it was very difficult to to provide citizens and.

S

Contractors and businesses with information with regards to what their permit fee would be.

S

With that type of system, so we simplified it, so both staff and the public could easily ascertain.

S

What a given cost for a given project would be. Sometimes these costs are.

S

Built into their planning phases of the project before they even you know, start the project and.

S

Just basically gathering information to get started, so this has, you know.

S

Led to a much more simpler process um and to date, I have not heard of any complaints with.

S

Regards to the uh with the permit fees, most most folks that we have are in contact with.

S

Are pleased with the uh with the costs associated with our fees in comparison to other counties.

G

Presently, jason, what does it cost to put an agricultural building up.

G

If they come in and present the plans.

S

As far as far as it costs for an agricultural building, I mean a standard pole. Building can run.

S

Just a small unit can run you know, 30 to 30 to 40 to 50 thousand dollars. Some of these larger.

S

Units that are 100 150, you know foot long, um there's there's some substantial costs associated.

S

With those particular with those particular buildings, no no for the uh fee permit fee.

S

uh Yeah, yeah and and this this um for an ag building, that's located on a.

S

uh Family farm, those particular permits are still will remain um 100. These are.

S

Strictly for commercial buildings, so in in the chart, as identified a ten thousand square foot.

S

Commercial agricultural building would cost twenty eight hundred dollars in permit fees.

S

And that includes both the permit uh staffing support and then also.

S

The commercial fire protection plan review that's now done by the office of public safety.

H

I feel more comfortable if I knew what the cost was lincoln at 2 800, what what's their expense.

S

Yeah we do not. We do not have those particular numbers, but the particular process is processing.

S

The permit, and also facilitating that process from as soon as it's applied to the issuance of the use.

S

And occupancy you have the plan review portion of it, which generally a commercial plan, can take.

S

Anywhere from two to three hours, some of that is back and forth with the given client to gain.

S

Get other information um and you know potentially revise plans, things like that and then the other.

S

Portion of that is the inspection so from you know, from the footer all the way up to the completion.

S

Of the project, our inspectors are going out to the site to perform the inspections, so all that.

S

Entire operation associated with that permit, is captured in these particular cost. To my knowledge,.

S

There's never been a specific study done to say: okay, if we did a 10, 000 square foot, building.

S

um You know how much actual staff time are we taking in that particular building how many.

S

Particular trips: do we make to that site? There are just. There are just many variables that will.

S

We could obviously get a range of that, but there are variables associated with that.

S

Particular process yeah jason but you're you're you're, asking us to make a decision.

I

On reducing these fees for this type of building because tip- um and here said it takes a lot.

I

Less staff time to do these particular um permits. So in order for us to make a a informed decision.

I

We need to know how much less staff time it actually takes, because if the typical fee is.

I

Two thousand dollars, I'm just looking at the first one for the ten thousand square foot.

I

Okay, and but for this particular type of building, takes less staffs time. Is it like.

I

75 or 25 percent, less less staff. Time is half the time in order to to come up with something that.

I

I feel comfortable with talking about, or are you know putting forward? I'd have to know how much.

I

Less staff's time it takes, and I think that's what commissioner boucher is getting at as well.

S

Yeah again, just speaking with one general terms, the processing of a permit um there's.

S

Really, no time saved on that with regards to an agricultural permit, there's still, you know the.

S

The permit is still taken into the system. The paperwork is still processed, the uno is still.

S

Issued so there's really no time saved there. The plan review portion of that there could be some.

S

Time saying there, when you, when you're, comparing an office building to a particular agricultural.

S

Building where it's just typically exterior walls and things like that, there's much less detail.

S

In regard to that particular plant review job, so an agriculture building may take two to three.

S

Hours, a big commercial site that could take um that could take a full day or even several days.

S

To uh to review the uh the inspection portion again, when you're dealing with uh internal.

S

Construction on a office building, there are a lot of framing inspections, electrical inspections.

S

And things like that associated uh with the particular interior of a structure.

S

Whereas the agricultural building you're, basically just dealing with a.

S

A footer inspection and a framing and a final inspection, and sometimes there are.

S

Some supplementary inspections uh in there so from a processing standpoint, there's no difference from.

S

A plan review processing part there's probably about a one-third difference and then from an.

S

Inspection standpoint, I would say, there's probably about maybe a a half um to one-third difference.

J

You know going back where commissioner boucher was talking, and I agree with him that you know.

J

We don't want to throw out arbitrary numbers, um it is difficult. You know if we make this too complex.

J

Because then, the developer, the builder, the owner, you know, doesn't know how much to put aside or how.

J

Much you know to put into the uh into the project: um there's got to be a way to keeping this thing.

J

Simple uh without being so again throwing these arbitrary numbers out there, I feel um you know.

J

When we looked at fees last time and we raised the fees, I was not in favor of doing that. I own.

J

It we agreed to it, as you know, as a board, but the arguments that were made uh in doing it was the.

J

Cost associated with the man, hours and activities uh surrounding you know the permits and fees.

J

I just I didn't agree that it had to be so dramatic, but we're not doing that here.

J

And if you can give us more details on what the cost should be, I mean I think, you're starting.

J

To get there, but still you know, I don't know. Whole numbers always scare me like this. So just.

J

Just thoughts, so a lot of counties only have a set fee on this. Don't they jason if anything,.

S

Yeah each county really sets the ring fee schedules. A lot of them do the.

S

Square footage, some of them, depending on what they're classified at whether it's a.

S

Full-Blown agricultural building or a commercial site in some cases, if they.

S

Classified as agricultural, then there's no fee applied to it. Yes, that is correct.

H

I'd like to possibly see if we could go back and audit what we did the previous year, how many.

H

Buildings were done how many million hours, I'm not comfortable with these figures going up for square.

H

Footage at the same cost and volume as someone who bids a lot of work once I start going up in.

H

Volume, I start discounting the cost, so the higher someone goes up in square footage. The.

H

Map that should be painted square footage should actually drop down some because it's already a.

H

Mass in the lower level, if we can have some sort of audit and give you a better, feel and understand.

H

The cost that we're associating with this to link it to the expense, I'd love to see that type of.

H

Report, it don't have to be too in-depth, but just give us a better feel. I I just don't feel very.

H

Comfortable arbitrarily, just as commercial roster going into this after we went back and reviewed.

H

All these other, if we can get a little bit more knowledge, I'd, feel more comfortable about this.

G

I agree with you.

A

Yeah well, I'm I don't know that I do uh I'm not sure where.

A

Arbitrary's, coming from I mean clearly, we've set they've set the chart here to show that.

A

uh There's three options here: 75 50 or 25- of the current costs of what we would charge so.

A

The original intent here and why I brought it up in the first place.

A

Is because this particular business and I'm not going to get into the names? Because.

A

That's not necessary here, but this particular business uh pays an enormous amount of fees.

A

uh To to construct uh their commercial building and then on top of that, the taxes that are.

A

Associated with that building, as a result of it being there uh are, are huge, so I looked.

A

Upon this as helping our business community, because these would be commercial structures.

A

Helping our business community save some costs out of the gate uh in order to not sort of double.

A

Dip them, if you will that's that's where I was going with this, so I didn't want to make this.

A

Complicated and have charts and and and you know, comparisons and and all of that.

A

I was just merely looking for a nice flat fee to help our commercial and business community.

A

That was the intent of bringing this up, so I'm not sure where the arbitrary word's coming from I mean.

A

You've, given us three options here, what I don't I don't understand, why that's arbitrary, uh maybe.

A

Help me to help me to help me to identify that, because I'm not seeing it according to this, if we.

A

Go with 25 percent based on your square footage here here what here's, what the fee would be.

J

Let's just take a prairie out of it and let's, let's look at what the fees increased that we.

J

As a board of commissioners uh voted on um and the effects that it's had.

J

uh In the in the county and a lot of it had to do with a lot of development, especially.

J

In the southern part of the county, you know where fees were increased.

A

I'm not I'm not trying to go there again. I'm trying to make this specific on agricultural.

A

Commercial buildings- I'm not talking about going all the way back and doing all these fees again.

J

No, I I know you're, not I'm, not, I'm not interested in it, because I'm but.

J

Why don't we? No, I get it, but we made these adjustments during the budget season when.

J

We had opened up a budget, didn't we when we when we talked about fees, so why aren't we doing this.

J

During that time I mean I, we don't necessarily want. I don't know, we don't know yeah, we don't.

A

Necessarily do fee structure as part of budget it. Just it comes up when it comes up. The only.

I

Thing I'm saying about this is that it descends in here in the briefing paper due to the nature.

I

Of construction typically found in these type of structures to calculate staff time is much less.

I

What does much less mean? Because if you want to have charge less, is it 25 less and then that.

I

If it is that's fine, then we should be charging 75 75 of what the uh actual fee is. Is it 50 less.

I

Then I could go with that, but I need to know- and I think that's what that we're all kind.

I

Of fumbling around for much less, how much less is it half the amount of time, then we'll charge half.

I

Because I'd still would like to uh get back the money that are as close to getting back.

I

The money that we can for the staff time that's put in there, so if it's much less staff time.

I

How much less staff time it is and then we can make a decision on what this chart says.

I

That's what I think was what we need to know: okay well, without without delving in and getting five.

A

More charts in front of us can't that question be answered by either yourself, jason or mike.

S

Well again, in general terms, we could talk about ranges, because again, each building is particularly.

S

Different from the prop from the processing perspective, there is no, there is no staff savings.

S

Time there from a um plan review portion, um you know we've done no specific calculation on this. So.

S

This is just purely based on the experience that I have in the department, like you, can chime into.

S

This as well, but a typical building like that, would take anywhere from you know two to three.

S

Hours to do the plane review, whereas a commercial structure could take up to a day or more to do a.

S

Plant review so and again the inspections along the same lines. We with the commercial building.

S

We we we're out there every day every other day for office building, and things like that to doing.

S

Those inspections, whereas this type of building we might be out there once a week, so we can certainly.

S

Calculate that and put that in a chart for you, so you have a better understanding. As you know,.

S

A typical, typical commercial building: this is how many um hours and how many visits we make.

S

Compared to what this type of building um compares to, we, we can certainly put that together, for you.

H

Well, I'm all for commissioner lance's motive here. I think it's fantastic.

H

I just want to make sure that whatever cut we have is good and deep, because what mr green.

H

Is telling us we could potentially slash these figures or permit be even lower, but we just.

H

Don't know where that point is, if we had a little bit more data, I'd love to slash these things even.

H

More than 75 percent, if you can justify the numbers we can deliver this to these farmers.

G

I I just question a couple things here: greenhouse structures are not considered permanent structures.

G

By insurance companies, they are not a permanent structure, so at a livestock shelter. What is.

G

Definition of livestock shelter- usually they don't have a whole lot of.

G

Extra things in them I mean: why are we even full with this.

S

Well again, these are specifically commercial sites, so livestock shelter could be something such as.

S

um A slaughterhouse, or something like that which we have a few of those within the county, that's.

S

Operating as a commercial entity where they have workers in there, they have uh they're moving.

S

Cattle or something like that in and out so that's where the livestock shelter would be the stable.

S

Portion of that would be uh specifically like a riding arena that has spectator.

S

Type areas there for the public to come to those type things is what we would look at.

A

Yeah the other thing to remember here too, is, I don't think, there's I don't think there's.

A

A lot of these that we would have this is a very. This is a very uh small uh group of of buildings.

A

That we would be talking about here too, which I think is important to keep in mind, because.

A

Again to I hate to bring it up again, but this came up as a result of of a business that is typically.

A

Greenhouse structures- and you know the gentleman was quite frank and telling me look, I pay an.

A

Enormous amount of fees to build these things, and then you charge me a ton of of a property tax, so.

A

It it's sort of disincentivizing his business, which is not what I wanted to do so we're not.

A

Looking at a huge category here, it's very specific and a limited amount of structures. So mike you.

A

Want to chime in here you might be muted, I'm not sure yeah, you're, muted, you need to go up. You need.

A

To get up to your little gear thing in the right hand, corner make sure your microphone setting is.

A

Right, chris, that's correct check that gear wheel.

S

Make sure your microphone is chosen.

S

I'll just say quickly, commissioner, to your point I mean roughly we're probably talking about.

S

um One to five sites per year at the most that this particular.

S

Structure would be uh would apply to right and again it's it's commercial fees.

A

So we're not talking, we got a flat fee for for agricultural buildings for for our farm community.

A

Farming community right, it's 100, correct, yeah, dick you were instrumental in getting that put forth so.

A

This is what's wrong with the five feet on this one. Well,.

A

If it's only one to five, maybe that's the way to go.

A

Well, if you look at a chart, once you figure out the percentage, there will be a flat fee, it'll be.

I

Whatever that number is, there's no calculations required yeah. Can we hear you yet mike.

A

Nope can't hear you all right I'll, tell you what jake jason! Why don't you? Why don't you.

A

Go back to the drawing board here, maybe that would be my suggestion, even though I.

A

Don't really like the suggestion, but based on my colleagues, comments.

A

Might be what I would I'll reach a compromise here and get us that amount of work? That's.

A

Associated with this, so maybe we can get to that flat fee before we go to a hearing.

S

Sure, okay, we can provide similar information as we did with.

L

The development review fees that you worked on in the spring, so right and- and I I do understand.

A

You're you're concerned too, commissioner rostein about it being a little bit out.

A

Of sync, with budget, uh I will tell you that in this particular incident.

A

This this, this company is either they've, either started or very close to starting their structure.

A

Up there and it's sort of time sensitive for him um in order to get this done, because if we keep.

A

It the way it is we'd have to. We would have to charge him the fee and then, if we make a decision.

A

Reimburse the fee- and I don't think we want to get into reimbursement with these things. That's.

A

Why I was trying to get this done now in order to help this? This and I'll be clear. This is a huge.

A

uh Commercial growing business in my district and they they provide a ton of tax dollars to our.

A

Our county, um as a result of it, so I hate to get specific. I don't I don't want to put out names, but.

H

I get fishing up there.

S

All right, we will pull that together and we'll be back before you, okay, good and then maybe get.

A

Your bureau chief straightened out on how to operate his computer. Will you jason? It seems.

S

We're both having problems so, but I appreciate it. Thank you. Okay, all right, thank you, guys. Okay,.

A

ah Let's see next on, our agenda is engineering services for the panorama drive water main.

A

Replacement project another uh as andy as andy watcher, our our bureau chief says another exciting.

A

Agenda item mr myers, good morning morning, you know we always save the most exciting for last.

T

So uh we'd like to request your approval this morning to award a contract to whitman reichhart.

T

And associates in the amount of and twenty 57 dollars for engineering services associated.

T

With the panorama drive, what are main replacement project good morning, gentlemen, and thanks for the.

U

Plug there on the exciting level of products that we have, this is the second in a series of upcoming.

U

Water main replacement projects planned for age pipe systems throughout the freedom service area.

U

Please recall that the board did approve the hickory lane project late last month.

U

As I previously explained, projects are selected by a combination of pipe material system, age and.

U

History of service problems, the bureau's capital budget program was revised as part of the fy.

U

21 budget cycle to include a funding source for these types of water main projects. This.

U

Project reiterates the proactive approach that the bureau has adopted to address aging service.

U

System when we do transition back to in-person open sessions, I will share samples of water.

U

Main pipes, more breaks and plan projects that will better show the issues that are being addressed.

U

This project is for is for design services for the 920 foot in arana, drive, replacement, water main.

U

That runs south from maryland 26.. The existing water main is an 8-inch diameter cast iron pipe.

U

System that dates to the early 1970s, the scope of work, includes the preparation of bid ready.

U

Construction drawings all necessary permitting, as well as bidding and construction service tasks.

U

And again, as as per the hickory lane project as a further cost, effective and cost savings,.

U

Multiple tasks approach to this project, the overall scope of work will also include the.

U

Replacement of the water service laterals to the 12 homes on panoramic drive any questions.

A

Questions for andy randy, I'm with the board of commissioners award contract.

J

For engineering services for the panoramic drive water, main replacement project to whitman record.

J

And associates llp in the amount of fifty seven thousand two hundred twenty nine dollars. A second.

A

All right got a motion in a second.

A

Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor.

A

And unanimously approved good luck with that andy. Thank you. Gentlemen. Thanks mike.

A

All right that brings us to the end of our agenda items um before we get into agendas upcoming.

A

Agendas uh anything for open admin or is there any public comment chris? Do we have any callers on the.

A

Line no commenters, I do have some for open admin. I mentioned last week to with mr diggets about.

I

uh The rec sports and he was going to come back. I don't know if that's on the schedule coming.

I

Up next week or something of that sort- oh sorry, commissioner, he was here during the state update.

L

That's when I thought we'd talk about it and when you didn't mention it, um we can get him back on.

L

If you want he's ready to talk to you, I would like to hear what what he's come up with yeah.

I

I'm sorry yeah, that's fine. I should have mentioned it earlier. I guess I don't know I didn't. I didn't.

I

Even yeah, I didn't even I wrote it down in my notes at the end. Okay, all right um all.

A

Right anything else for open admin, while roberta's getting jeff on mr weaver. Yes, I have one. I want to.

G

Bring up here, I was contacted uh by mr paul kasak and sam chamberlain uh neighbors nurturing.

G

Neighbors about a program they put together this past year, in which they, um I think sam, does the.

G

Hsp gardeners program there and, uh and they grow produced for the people, the homeless and needy out.

G

Here to provide uh services last year last year, this past year growing season they uh produced.

G

I think you said about 1500 to 3 000, pounds of food or whatever from those gardens, and he was.

G

Looking at the one in first fruits and they produced about a million pounds in uh harford.

G

County last year of produce it's volunteers uh volunteer base. He was looking at a way to.

G

Try to expand this program a little bit into a program that would uh help people in the county.

G

You know volunteer program westminster high school, I know, has their food pantry there to distribute.

G

Food and those type things so at presently we're looking at maybe a way to come up with some.

G

Sustainability in a program that they could get started.

G

uh And then they're looking, maybe parks and rec land or whatever.

G

Talking to commissioner rostine and uh interesting concept, I'd like to explore.

G

Was you know in some of the ag remainders out here uh we're looking at maybe some people who.

G

Have an agreement and I'm looking at five to 10 15 acres, uh maybe have I want to designate part.

G

Of that ground for this type of food production and help with the sustainability of it, and maybe.

G

For some type of task, rather some type of a program- and I just wanted to throw it out to.

G

Get the view of the commissioners on doing something like that? I think the concept is.

A

Good dick, I think we'd have to do a lot of deep diving here as it as it pertains to uh how our ag.

A

Preservation, easement program works um that that that's, where that that's, where the the um all the.

A

Work would would have to occur there because, as you know, we've had well. We recently had.

A

uh A question on one of our easements with a with a with a cell tower, so there's always questions.

A

Surrounding the ag pres and what the easements, what you can and can't do so.

A

I think the work would begin there, but I tell you what I think the intent here.

A

With the solar thing we were talking about, there's still work that has to be done to.

A

To make sure that that that's, you know, that's copies a lot of work, yeah.

G

Well, I wanted to throw it out, so we could get some background from staff.

G

Maybe on this, how to pursue it or what to do on it to come back and work on it. This is something.

G

We need sustainability in it, and uh this has to be something that happens long term, not just.

G

We have some people interested, it happens for two years and fizzles. It's got to be something that.

G

You know a lot of these landowners. Small partial landowners want to do something with some of that.

G

Ground and they don't know what to do with exactly, but the education from it uh hsp does a lot with.

G

uh Trying to tell people how to grow the stuff, they really don't know uh how to sustain a garden.

G

How to get it, keep it going, and a lot of these uh small landowners are looking for something like.

G

That they don't want to make a profit, they want um to focus on some of this and I'm looking at.

G

I told um paul we get back next week or so just come up with some ideas where we can go with this.

G

um You know in the future. This is one I wanted to throw out that the county may uh have some input.

G

Into that they would handle as a volunteer group, but um we just would have um a source that could.

G

Be ongoing that would provide some ground for that by private landowners volunteering to do this.

J

You know the way the way I see this is if we identify a problem, that's in our community.

J

What are the solutions to addressing that problem, and one of it is feeding folks that.

J

Need food another, is, you know, like you, you said the use of ag remainders uh appropriately, that.

J

Folks are, you know, still sometimes frustrating on how they're gonna use.

J

That piece of property, so it's it's available um to be used. That may be a good opportunity. Another.

J

Problem uh with this could be, a solution is volunteer hours and opportunities for schools.

J

And students in getting volunteer hours, working programs like this um education.

J

I mean there's a whole list of of problem sets that this can be a nice package solution for so.

J

I think it warrants us at least taking a look, a harder look at it, um but it comes down to also.

J

Keeping it simple and, like you said, how do we sustain it? Because we need both of those to get.

J

This thing moving in the right direction: if we decide to go there, commissioner weaver, I think.

H

It's a great idea. I think the dnr has something similar with the cooperative wildlife management.

H

Hunt program farmers where they allow some people to hunt and harvest on their land. That's a good.

H

Type of template that could utilize on this, I think it's a great idea and more people coming up.

H

Understand farming and its importance the better off it is so I really love us to explore this idea.

A

Yeah, I think I think you've got the direction dick. I think you can take it and run with it.

A

You know the other thing is too, even with the solar that we we've been talking about on these.

A

Ag remainders folks had no idea what ag remainders were before and now we've got a little bit more.

A

Understanding of what they are and actually how many we have so you know that's important too.

A

So I think it's the general consensus that it appears that um you take that you take that.

A

Ball and run with it there's my there's. My sports reference since degas is on.

A

How do you like the way I tied that together, great segue? I hope I do better than ravens.

A

Isn't that truth, all right um since jeff degets is on let's go to him now.

A

And uh dennis you want to just refresh here, I I well. We talked last week about uh youth sports.

I

Recreation sports in carroll county following guidelines: what are the guidelines? What are other.

I

Counties doing jeff said he would look and see what other counties are doing right now. As far.

I

As esports, then, maybe we could look at what we're doing in esports and, if necessary, make changes. If.

I

Not then it's all good but I'd like to know what's going on around the state and what guidelines that.

I

We're that we're given so jeff turn it over to you all right. Thank you, commissioners and good morning.

V

Many of the counties around us and I'll fight, anne arundel, harford baltimore county. They have.

V

Cancelled or greatly restricted youth sports to the degree at which they are not occurring.

V

Howard county has put restrictions in place, however, those programs are still occurring.

V

They have eliminated out-of-state teams coming into tournaments, they've canceled, the larger.

V

Events, they have imposed size limitations on the number of people being able to get.

V

Together at one time in a program, all of those restrictions are certainly within.

V

Their capability to put in place, however, all of those restrictions also exceed the orders.

V

That have been issued by the governor, so what we have done to date is to remain consistent with.

V

The governor's orders there are recommendations that have been put out there, either directly.

V

Through those orders, through the maryland state department of health or the cdc.

V

But those are recommendations and not orders. So we've tried to.

V

Share that information with our rec councils uh provide that guidance, but we have not.

V

We are not currently issuing any uh anything more restrictive than what the state.

V

Orders are all right. So what are the state orders for recreational sports indoor.

V

Right now, it's there are none. It's basically based on a building capacity, indoor capacity of 50.

V

And when you look at that, you take a large facility, say a high school gym. You look at 50.

V

Capacity, that's a huge number uh trying to reconcile that with what the recommendations are.

V

uh You know, and some of these limits, 25 or less you could be talking several hundred people at a.

V

50 capacity, we don't have anybody doing anything like that right. But if you're looking at 50.

I

Capacity, what are you looking at 50 capacity? What the fire marshal says can be allowed in that room.

I

Because that's actually taking the spectators and everything else, it's not really taking in.

I

People that are practicing sports, so I I think, that's kind of unrealistic to look at it. That way.

A

I'm just aren't there limits on on on the amount of folks that can gather indoor that.

A

Would that would supersede? I thought it was 25 yeah. I think it was 25 25.

V

For private gatherings, so that has nothing to do with the indoor sports in I.

I

I mean with the what the covet numbers are going and every I'm just very worried about what you.

I

Know what the spread could be because, let's face it, if we're inside doing sports and the two of.

I

The big ones that are going on right now would be wrestling and basketball if I'm doing either one.

I

Of those sports running up and down the court or wrestle on the mat, I'm not wearing a mask.

I

And where I'm in contact with other people and that's fine, if that's the way it's going to be.

I

Done but I think there has to be parameters how many people can be in that in that.

I

Space at one time, because so I mean having done a lot of sports in my time. I I just know that.

I

The breathing and all, and just I just can't see how the stuff's not going to be spread.

I

So at least, I think we should limit it to what the indoor numbers are, which would be 25.. That's just.

I

I just think it would be prudent to do that jeff. What's your take on that.

I

I do think a number of programs are doing that already and if I could I'd like to share just.

V

To use one of the wrestling programs that is operating share, what it is that they are doing.

V

They have parents dropping off the kids for the programs they do not. Parents do not come in the.

V

Building at all, so only the children are going in the building. They have masks on face coverings on.

V

The entire time, except when they're wrestled, they have health and temperature checks prior to every.

V

Session that they go through when they have their drills, then they're in different stations. Those.

V

Stations are spread out, six feet or more apart when they have beginners who are wrestling with.

V

Each other- and this has been one of the greater points of concern- you know the person on person.

V

Contact there, the novice groups they wrestle with the same partner. At the same time, they only have.

V

The one partner so they're really trying to limit the contact or the interaction between people.

V

When you have the more advanced groups now you're looking at a group of four, but it's not expanded.

V

Beyond that, and this program is limiting attendance or capacity to 20 people or less.

V

So they are, as ed talked about earlier today. You talk about weighing the risks and there are some.

V

Things you can do to mitigate those risks. It's very challenged.

V

Challenging to eliminate all of those risks without completely shutting down the program.

V

And right what we are trying to navigate through, along with those state orders and.

V

Those recommendations and then have our programs operate accordingly, right, I'm not interested in.

I

Shutting down the programs, let me be clear on that, but I am interested make them as safe as possible.

I

And what you just described right, there seems extremely, you know well thought out. If, if we could.

I

Make that the parameters for let's say the wrestling programs, because that seems I mean.

I

That was what you were just talking about. That makes sense to me and we could have some other.

I

Parameters for for basketball, but I just don't think we should just let it go. Whoever wants to.

I

Come in and do the sports or whatever I I just, I don't think it can be that way. Right now we have.

I

To have parameters, I think those are great for wrestling what you just described. I don't I'm not.

I

I don't know I'm not saying we're going to go around and enforce them, but these are what we.

I

We say should be done if you're wrestling indoors and if you're part of our recreation program.

I

That's all I'm saying we should also have other parameters for basketball. How many people can.

I

Be there just just just the athletes, you know practicing the groups, the mask all that kind.

I

Of stuff, just so it's out there, people know what we're recommending and actually, I guess, what we're.

I

Requiring but we're not going to go out there and police it, but I just think it has to be out there.

I

I don't know I I agree with you and it sometimes hurts me to say that. But I do.

J

uh No, I say it all the time I agree and um jeff the way you described that.

J

um It sounds like it was just very well thought out, like folks, got together and said: okay, let's.

J

Weigh the risks associated with the impact of of the sport um doing that with basketball would be.

J

Very important because what it will end up doing is providing expectations for both the athletes.

J

And the parents and the community of how these sports are happening, because without that you.

J

Know it just ends up being a free-for-all and you're right. Commissioner frazier we're.

J

Not going to be policing this we're not going to be, you know the mass police going in there.

J

um Nor do we want that, but if we provide something, that's that's doable and we provide expectations.

J

Then we're gonna, you know, kids are gonna, get what they need. Parents are gonna feel good. That they're.

J

Getting their athletes student athletes uh onto the mats or onto the court, and that's that's all.

J

Good right now, there's no real expectations um so that that's that's going to be key. So.

A

Yeah, I'm I'm good with it too. Why don't? Why don't would I.

A

Well, I was going to suggest we use that as a template yeah for the wrestling yeah. I thought I.

I

Think that's great yeah. I think that was it would have. To probably be, I don't know, a basketball team.

A

I'm trying to think when my grandson played last year, which seems like 87 years ago.

A

But I was trying to think without all the fans in the stands, because obviously that can't happen.

A

But I think, there's typically about eight.

A

Nine ten kids on a basketball team can't be more than that, because then you wouldn't be able to.

A

Right, probably, but that would still probably meet the 25 or or less don't you think, jeff.

V

A lot of times you'll see a roster of maybe 10 kids on a team. If you factor.

V

Two teams in a gym coaches, assistant, coaches, you're at that 25 figure, with no spectators.

A

Yeah, I think that's a good tempo yeah, and I do think 25 for in the gym is- is a good number just.

I

My feeling, I know the gyms are large and all but you're running around in that gym. You're doing.

I

A lot of things you're being very active and when you don't have the mascot, not just the projection.

I

Of what's what you're breathing so forth, that's why I think the 25 is a good. You know good number.

I

To put on here I know, people I said some of those gyms have six baskets. We could have.

I

People playing all those passes, but then I think you're going to be getting too close, and I just.

I

Don't like that idea, but the 25, let them run it, but you know I think the 25 cap in the gymnasium.

I

I think is what we need to do for practices and again no spectators mask when you're not.

I

Participating in all the things you just brought up jeff, but I think we should put it out there to.

I

Direct programs- this is what we expect. I think the parents would feel more comfortable. That way too.

I

Having their their children go through these, these practices well, first off, I'm not sure, there's a.

J

Another sport, besides wrestling that's out there, but that's you know my two cents on that. um The.

J

High schools practices, you said dennis they're, going to start the 14th of december they're.

J

Scheduled to begin um as the high schools have ccps put out guidelines on what the parameters.

J

Are around the the sports and how they're going to be conducted? um I'm sorry, my understanding is that.

I

Next week is one with the board of ed meets again and mr duffy's going to come back with.

I

The expectations after talking to the flag director, so where the? How they're going to.

I

Do the sports programs, but I I they're going to be from what was discussed last night. I believe.

I

Like real practices, now what their parameters are under that I don't know yet.

I

They're going to come up with that they're, not the discussion was it's not going to.

I

Be uh return to play kind of thing where you have half group here: half route there.

I

Just skills and drills kind of things they'll be more like real practices.

I

But what the parameters aren't that we won't know to the next board of ed meeting, when mr duffy has.

I

Talked to the athletic directors: okay, thanks, mr daggetts, have we had any wreck council outbreaks.

V

I want to be cautious with the word outbreak, so I I will say there have been some individuals who.

V

Have tested positive, both uh coaches, volunteers and players, and they have been dealt with. They.

V

Have worked through the appropriate protocol with the health department and contact tracing.

V

So yes, I am aware of cases. I could not give you a number and I will.

V

Revise it as an operator to address a problem that we don't have.

V

Well, the question or the comment about having a template to share.

V

With the rec councils and basically the one program, the wrestling program that I referenced.

V

They are using that template, which is the existing state order and the recommendations from the.

V

Maryland state department of health and cdc using that information they they have tailored fit that.

V

To their program, a basketball program would do it a little bit differently just by the nature.

V

Of the sport, but that's the template that is out there. That is what we have communicated to our.

V

Programs, we can get more specific. We can put a a number, a maximum number of people in a building.

V

uh Again, that would exceed the state order, but it's within our ability and authority to do that.

H

I'm just a little bit puzzled that if we're we don't have a problem. Why are we trying to.

H

Put measures in place to solve it because you want to be proactive and it's not reactive,.

I

I like to head it off before a problem comes, that's why I'm bringing this up now. I want to.

I

Wait to the do, we have the outbreaks and I just feel it's just a way to handle the situation.

H

So other rec councils, besides the wrestling, don't have the same measures but they're not.

H

Experiencing any infections or outbreaks, I don't think you mean other rec councils around the state.

I

They're not doing anything, as mr daggers just said, almost everybody, except, I think you said.

I

Howard county they've closed everything down. We want to try to keep it open. Therefore, I want to be.

I

Proactive, so we can keep it open. I mean, as far as like other athletic programs within their borders.

H

They don't have the same policies in place that wrestling has in place.

V

Each of our councils are different and our communities are different.

N

Excuse me, we have a very limited number of gymnasiums available.

V

So while one community may have basketball and wrestling going on because they have a.

V

Facility available other communities may have neither because they have no gym available.

V

So this is a greatly reduced number of children who are participating right now. Normally we have.

V

Over 45 public gyms available right now we have two. So it's a very limited number of participants.

J

I will say some may say that child safety is not our priority. I absolutely disagree with that.

J

Child safety and looking out for our community is our priority and it would be incompetent.

J

Of us, if we did not address it, while trying to continue to maintain the programs and keep them.

J

You know active because we know that it is healthy for student athletes to continue to participate.

J

But we want to make it as risk-free or as least risk you know, associated with their activities.

J

um So putting processes in place will allow for.

J

Good expectations of the student athletes, the parents in the community and, like it's been said,.

J

I think we're one of the only jurisdictions, that's keeping rec programs. You know afloat right now,.

J

So that's you know so we're moving in the right direction. We, like uh commissioner fraser, said.

J

Just be proactive in keeping our student athletes, you know healthy, but the point I was getting at is.

H

We're in process, we have all these students out there and athletes practice in their sport and.

H

We're not suffering from any outbreaks or spreads because of it, and we have a tremendous survival.

H

Rate of juveniles, I just think we're taking measures to address a problem which does not exist.

A

Or do we want it to that's the problem here? That's the challenge, because there.

A

Let's be clear again jeff, you said we had 45 gyms available, there's only two that are operating so.

A

There there there isn't a lot going on anyway so uh and I don't think, there's gonna be. I.

A

The the even when the when the high school sports get back in those gym times are going to be very.

A

Limited so we're not going to be able to increase any of that, so uh I just I feel as if there, if.

A

There is a program out there that template that that wrestling program is using will allow.

A

Our youth to continue to do whatever they can do, which is very limited anyway, because.

A

There's not there's hardly anything going on. You know I, my grandson plays basketball and.

A

They're not playing because they don't have any gym, there's no gym space. So if they're.

A

Practicing they're doing it outside and that's a whole different uh set of parameters there. So.

A

I think it's a good move and I don't think it's a big deal, because even if we do set.

A

Those parameters again there there's nothing going on, but if there is it's safe they should be safe.

A

So if we could use that template jeff, even for basketball, even if a program finds a gym.

A

And good luck! I think that's a good, a good template to to use- and I think.

A

I don't know the 20. Are we concerned about the amount of folks or not, because I think it's 25.

A

um And we're not gonna, I mean I'm not gonna, run in and start counting people no, but I think anybody.

A

Else is either right, but I think if we put that number out there, people will most likely follow it.

I

And have a good idea of how many should be allowed in there. I think 25 is a reasonable number, so.

V

And we can communicate that to the rec councils now for the two facilities that we schedule.

V

That will be very easy to do. That can be a condition of the permit to use the building.

V

And that would be north carol high school and the robert moten center. That becomes a little.

V

Bit more challenging when groups rent space at a private facility, because we do not control.

V

That facility yeah right, I mean at that point. These are recommendations. You run it to space.

I

It's up to you yeah agree. I think we we need to put the recommendations.

I

Out there I think it's it's part of our responsibility. Okay, all right.

A

Do we need to, I always get jammed up on this, whether we're voting or not? On these things,.

A

um I guess we should formally, I mean we're still going by the state guidelines which.

A

Is what we already said? We were going to do we're just re-emphasizing what they are.

A

Right we're not doing anything different and if it's presented as a recommendation.

V

That this would be the maximum number, then that's correct. That would be consistent with.

V

The guidelines, but not exceeding them: okay, just a repair, county clarification and state guidelines.

G

Okay, I recommend that we put this on a an agenda, maybe next week that public discussion, because I.

H

Think we don't get a lot of blow back on this, that citizens involved in the rec councils aren't given.

H

A chance to publicly comment or chime in on this, so I'd recommend that we hold off until next week.

H

And have this on the agenda, because this is really important for our citizens to weigh in on this.

I

I think we need to make a decision before it becomes a problem. I don't see what the problem is.

I

I make a decision on this again. We've got two gems or three. If you count to two.

I

Both gyms in north carol that we're working on uh it looks like groups are.

I

Already, putting these measures into place we're just going to formalize the measures.

I

That are already being used around council. I don't see why there'd be any blow back at all.

J

Actually, we're applauding the effort that they're doing I mean we're, not we're not limiting we're.

J

We're saying hey: this is good. Let's continue to keep these programs, you know vibrant as best.

J

We can, um you know again eric it's not about survivability, it's about anybody getting sick.

J

And we don't want these kids or anybody. That's going to be going into these facilities.

J

At risk of getting sick, so this would at least minimize that, um so you know I I think.

J

We should just continue and move forward with this yeah yeah. I I agree. Re-Emphasizing the guidelines.

A

I think is important here. I think where the blowback would be is if we would shut these.

A

Things down then you're gonna, then you're gonna see a lot of low back. But if there's already a.

A

Program operating and they're doing it efficiently, then I say kudos and we are applauding them.

A

And we're just merely re-emphasizing what the guidelines are to those programs that would.

A

Find a place to start up if they could and good luck with that because, as we said before, I don't.

A

Think there's going to be any gym space anyway, but so we could give directions to mr diggetts.

I

Who get these guidelines uh some type of printed form and handed out direct departments that are.

I

Interested in using our facilities would that be okay with everybody I'll make that as a motion.

A

Okay, yeah, I don't know that we need the motion, but.

A

Because we we already decided we were going to go by the state guidelines.

A

This isn't doing anything different all right, yeah, we don't need the motion. I just have.

I

Mr david, let's just let's just re-emphasize the guidelines, as commissioner weaver said,.

V

And we will get that communication out to all of our rec councils today, uh just emphasizing.

V

uh Adherence to the state guidelines and then recommendations as far as the maximum number of.

V

People there and you know if we get any negative pushback on that- certainly keep the board aware.

V

Of that, but I would expect that that will allow the groups to continue to do what they're doing.

V

But to do it the right way and to do it safely, yeah yeah. I think that's important to note here.

A

We're allowing what we're not allowing we're letting these programs continue to operate.

A

Which is very important, so just just do it the right way, you said it right, jeff,.

A

Well done um we'll make sure that you're, if you're popping on the cobot part of next week's.

A

uh Agenda that we get you on here for any updates that you might have on that.

A

Okay, very good. Okay, thanks! Thank you jeff! Thank you. We're still an open admin.

A

um Is there any do we have any? I see I've got a caller on the line. You want to unmute that.

A

For me, chris, we have a call. Thank you, commissioner, we're still in public thanks for watching yep.

W

This is uh jim. I I sent you guys an email actually on this subject this week um I was.

W

Hoping to come up in a formal, I guess session, but I'm glad you guys gave me a chance to speak.

W

um In terms of rec sports, um you, I hope everybody realizes they're, only really hindering.

W

One group here, um basketball being played private in a private setting in a private gym.

W

It is not being played through rec council and all you're going to do. Right now is take.

W

That one group and force them to pay to rent a facility if they want to have a competition now.

W

um There's been no outbreak, there's no issue, you guys, we did it in the fall. We've done it for.

W

A month and a half now indoors, um why don't christopher boucher's point you made a great.

W

Point, why are we doing anything right now? If it's not an issue, I know you want to be proactive.

W

All you're going to do is cost the community money. It's another equity divide. Basketball is.

W

Being played privately because of this kids are still playing, but the ones that can afford it. The.

W

Ones who can't can't play now and you're going to do the same thing now with the one program.

W

Who had an opportunity to participate now you're going to limit it if they can't do a competition.

W

Now, they're going to have to go pay to run a private space. That's going to go up to the.

W

State guidelines, which is 250 people, um so all you're doing is, is creating an equity divide.

W

um And there's no issue- and I wish somebody on this group would address the most recent cdc.

W

Data that came out that showed 24 and 37 percent of kids between 0 and 11 and 11 17 increase in.

W

Emergency room visits due to anxiety, depression and suicidal fall and now you're going to try.

W

To limit them even more, thank you for taking my comment, but you you guys assured me, commissioner,.

W

Wants especially that you would follow the state guidelines, the state guidelines for.

W

Youth sports is 50 capacity, 250 people. It is not 25 that the maryland health department guideline.

W

Has nothing to do with the order? um I'm just saying: you're gonna create an equity divide again.

W

And you're you're basically doing something to try to solve problems that doesn't exist. Thank you.

A

Okay, thanks thanks jim we'll, we'll crunch those numbers too, and we appreciate your comments.

A

uh We advise that that uh jeff daggetts would be back on next week during our covet session.

A

So we'll we'll address that at the time too, to make sure we've got the numbers right here.

A

All right anything else: do we have any other public comment. Chris.

V

Nothing signed up all right uh anything else for open admin.

A

All right, let's quickly, go down through agendas.

A

uh The week of december, the 7th we have our holiday tree lighting here at 5 p.m,.

A

We put a press release out on that and what? What? What's the intent of this board.

A

uh When it comes to that, I'm not I'm not sure what we're attempting to do here.

A

We're asking folks to congregate at this event. Is everybody good with that, or what are we doing here?.

J

Hey steve, my recommendation is that we, the five of us, have an opportunity to.

J

Provide seasons greetings to the community, it's televised. We light the tree, the festive lights.

J

And we put it on social media and we, you know, give it to I'll get in groups, even if they're outside.

I

As long as there's cookies, I agree with that. So just just make sure.

L

Everyone's on the same page as to what they anticipated there in normal years, we have.

L

Either a choral group, or last year we had our own special group um perform. There are no performers.

L

um The only music will be pre-recorded music, as as just as people you know, arrive or leave, um and the.

L

Idea was just to have each of the five of you give a seasons created. What what's, commissioner mans.

L

Doing um now you could change that any way. You'd like generally speaking, the only people who attend.

L

Actually in person are some staff members and usually family members of the performers.

L

um Some senior performers wouldn't expect those people, um and you could just tell staff yeah.

L

They shouldn't they shouldn't attend if you'd like or you could nominate.

L

One of your number to make the season of greeting, rather than have all five of you.

L

But that was the intent. It was just really for the five of you to get the scene.

A

Okay, the only reason I brought it up is because the press release does not reflect that.

A

That's why I'm bringing it up, because the press release.

A

Invited everyone to come tree lighting, that's why I brought it up.

L

As with most things, it's outside and open to the public as a result, but we can take away the public.

A

It just it was confusing. That's all I'm for commissioner lance and chris swam doing a.

H

Little concert there: okay, I'm not going near him, I'm for the cookies and I can't believe you're.

A

Not either eric with you in the food thing, I do love the food. I do work for food. I think that.

H

No matter what type of thing we do, whether it's a couple of us or whatever people don't show up and.

H

We don't want to have inadvertently people congregating I'd prefer. If there there could.

H

Be some sort of recording you know, president lance could do a holiday, recording or whatever and light.

H

The tree, I just think we need to be in conformity of whatever standards that we have placed upon us.

H

That inadvertently, no matter what we do, we show up there on those steps. People are going to show up.

A

Yeah, that's that and that's why I brought it up eric. I just I don't care who does it? I mean I.

A

Two three: four: all five of us can be there. We can social distance and it is outside. Let's be clear,.

A

I think we just need to take the emphasis away from we're inviting everyone to join us. That's all.

A

That's my only point we'll do it we'll we'll talk amongst ourselves and we'll we'll get it done and.

A

But just take away the uh the commissioners are inviting you to attend part of that pr. That's all.

A

And provide the information on where they can see it live or recorded how's that.

L

Well, it won't be live stream, but it will yeah live streaming's, tough because we don't have.

E

Wi-Fi through these brick walls, okay, I thought cbs was going to come and do I'm.

A

Down the front of the building with a microphone in his hand or something I don't know,.

S

We've done it before, but that might draw a crowd yeah. Well then there are going to be people coming.

A

That's true: okay, we'll take we'll talk amongst ourselves, we'll we'll we'll take care of the.

A

Of the ceremony and um we'll we'll just we'll go from there: okay, uh tuesday, the 8th.

A

uh Department of planning work session at 9 00 a.m,.

A

Is that a go? I've got a whole tentative on here. I would assume that's a go since we're.

A

Having the hearing this evening there, it is, I just scheduled something: okay,.

L

Well, unless you guys don't want it to be, I mean it's really up to you, but.

L

When, when linda, when you guys wrapped up the last of the company zoning and talked about the next.

L

Steps the date was mentioned, and everyone seemed okay with it, but if it's not good, just let us know.

A

Well, I think it would be in the best interest to do it. What do you think ed? You are.

A

Yeah there's the thumbs up. I think because the public hearing comments will be fresh.

A

In our minds, we probably should have a work session that day I don't know how long it needs.

A

To be, but for no other reason, we've also got to make a decision on when we're going to do whatever.

A

We're going to do decision-wise too, because we haven't really talked about that either. We just.

A

Have a planning session, I've had a couple of folks says when asked me one. So when are you voting when.

A

Are you right? What do you mean so we need to you know we need to talk about that too. So so.

A

It unless that con is a big confliction, dick we're going to keep it on there. Let us know if it is, and.

A

We'll we can make amends there, even if we start at 10 a.m or something we can. We can work around that.

G

How about 7 am.

A

Okay, you're going the wrong way.

A

Yeah yeah, I know okay, uh that's it for tuesday december the 8th, because at 7 00 pm there is no.

A

Ag center board meeting so that can be taken off as a result of the uptick in numbers. The.

A

Ag center board has decided not to meet that evening, wednesday, the 9th we have.

A

Mako- and I don't know if these are actually.

A

Committee meetings, or not because winter mako's going on so we're going to have to get a.

A

We're going to have to see what exactly that is so we'll we'll work on that. uh The governor's.

A

Workforce development board meeting is at 3 30 p.m. Also on the 9th and that's commissioner rostin.

A

uh Next, we're still on wednesday the 9th 5 pm board of education meeting. That's, commissioner,.

A

Frazier I'd like to put it out there, um maybe commissioner boucher would get an invitation.

I

As well, because we're supposed to be going back and forth on that, I mean I still want to be there.

I

I'm going to be there, but if you'd like to, if we can get an invitation to use or a link, so you can.

I

And tune in and see what's going on and you know just to.

I

Get it started that way? Thank you, dad. That was a good idea.

A

Okay, uh thursday december the 10th 8 30 a.m is a virtual breakfast.

A

Bwi partnership and that's commissioner osteen at 9 00 a.m. We go into open session typically, as we.

A

Always do kovid starts to process. We have a pilot program for westminster bond senior apartments.

A

That we're going to discuss extension or renewal extension or renewal of that uh we're going to.

A

Talk about zoning text, amendment for community solar energy, generating systems.

A

We're going to uh come back with the 2020 financial assurance plan from the.

A

Department of land and resource management, we have a stream restoration, brynwood.

A

Acceptance of an award for riparian buffer plantings, another stormwater drainage, rehab.

A

In village, green subdivision, bixler, church, road, culvert replacement and that's it.

A

Right now, 7 pm on thursday, the 10th is the virtual.

A

Mml meeting and right now three of us are listed as attending that.

A

um Friday, the 11th there's another mako thing on there, but I don't think that's relevant either.

A

I think that's just part of winter mako, so we'll we'll get that straightened out with.

A

Our with the agenda and commissioner weaver has the podcast and he will be doing that at 6 00 a.m.

A

Just thought I'd throw that in there, since he wants to have a lady.

A

Okay, all right uh the week of december, the 14th tuesday, the 15th planning and zoning 9 a.m.

A

Commissioner rostein veterans advisory council at 2 p.m. That day, commissioners ross teen and weaver.

A

Wednesday, the 16th community college board of trustees meeting commissioner weaver at 4 p.m.

A

Thursday, the 17th open session covent starts it. We go into our comprehensive annual financial report.

A

From our comptroller's office, and that's all that we have right now, that certainly will.

A

Change uh the 18th well, the 18th, we're gonna has another mako, but I think that's winter mayco and.

A

Commissioner frazier has the uh podcast um I I don't want to make light of the mako.

A

Information but uh winter mako is typically the time that all of us.

A

Gather in cambridge and uh for that two or three day.

A

Conference down there, so mayco is still doing that just virtually and that's what you see here.

A

uh On these mako items and just as a reminder, if you get a chance to tune into some of them,.

A

It's it's great and they're providing recorded sessions on them too. So if you didn't get a chance.

A

To do it, we missed one. Today uh it was at 10 a.m. Beyond the 9-1-1 call, which was a really good one.

A

Was proposed to be a really good one, so you can you can jump in on those uh recorded. They.

A

Provide that opportunity so make sure you take advantage of the mako. Just let you know I attended.

J

Yesterday's mako session and uh very informative to talk about the legislative priorities going.

J

Into the 2021 uh session, I talked about the hybrid approach that the general assembly will be taking.

J

um During their sessions and committees, but all those will be, uh they will be in person.

J

It was good, it was a good hour and a half spent on what the expectations are walking into uh 2021.

J

As far as make was concerned, so mr fraser, how much time should I lock into my counter for the boe.

I

To the board of education meeting, um maybe four or five hours, I'm going with six but just saying.

A

Rusty's going with 10., sometimes it's quicker, but.

I

A minimum of four hours is what I would say so I need to drink coffee start at five end at midnight.

A

Have virtual dinner available eric virtual dinner there you go okay, uh anything else for open admin.

A

All right, if not, I will entertain a motion to go into closed for land acquisition, so moved.

I

Second, all right: I got a motion a second to go into closed. All in favor.

A

And then I'll need a motion to adjourn after that so moved. Let me adjourn afterwards.

A

All those in favor all right so stay on we'll let uh chris will let us know when.

A

We're off the air and a reminder to everyone just where the damn mask stay, safe. Everyone.

A