Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 10 Feb 2022

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session February 10, 2022

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Seriously: okay, commissioner, ed roth, since thursday february, 10th uh welcome uh all.

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To open session, as we do prior to all open session, let's stand for the pledge of allegiance.

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And take a moment of silence.

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With liberty and justice.

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Okay, let's uh start with priority carol um district 4.. Thank you very much.

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I want to start off announcing the new hires for the county. We have karine white office.

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Associate resource management, melissa, youngbar truck driver roads, operation.

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Sarah noor constable, the sheriff's office, bridget tracy, deputy family law, administration,.

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Administrator circuit court, elizabeth camuti assistant states, attorney states, attorney's office.

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Also want to read off a little note given to us by denise beaver with economic development. They.

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Are pleased to announce alicia grifford through their department, she is their new administrative.

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Assistant, all you new hirise welcome aboard mr swam. Do you have anything for me on the screen.

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To talk about maybe south carol wrestling or we'll do the stroll first, this past weekend I did.

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The stroll out there deer park in commissioners, weaver's district. He let me come out on a tour.

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With them, that was an absolutely wonderful event. It was on the front page of the paper yesterday.

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Reckon parks and the girl scouts teamed up with the library to create stroll the story stroll at.

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Deer park, what is a story stroll? A story stroll is unique way for families to combine literacy.

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With physical activity, the pages from a children's book are mounted on panels that.

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Are placed periodically throughout the park along the trail, there are 20 stations along.

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The trail, each featuring part of the book panels also include activities that families can do to.

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Interact with the book, the stroll takes an average family, approximately 30 minutes to complete.

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The first installment in deer park of the deer park show is bears snooze on which is hibernation.

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And I feel like hibernating lately in the spring, the next one will be when spring comes, and I will.

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Give a special recognition to the girl scouts who built these pedestals for the stories. I was.

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Very much impressed with it. This is something we normally see. Boys guys do, but these girls did it.

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And that is girl, step troop one, zero, two three six and I will read off the names of those.

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Lovely young, ladies, that did their best and did a wonderful job that is dagny beavers piper brown.

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Brianna buck maria bernhardt rose bernhardt sarah daniel maddie schiller. They all did a wonderful.

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Job there they are quite impressive and last I want to give a special thanks to the ladies. At the.

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Library who pulled this off successfully, that is director of library, andrea burssler, communications,.

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Director lisa picker coordinator of the event belinda bauman and communications specialist.

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Amber foreign- and I think the latest I have is the wrestling team out of south carol there. We.

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Go south carol high cavaliers finish the regular season, 20-0 undefeated 6-0 in carroll, county and.

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Carroll county athletic league champions monday at the regional duel quarterfinals, the south carolina.

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Team defeated ac acce from baltimore home and they had a tournament last night. I'm not sure.

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What the results were, commissioner frazier, would you know what the results of that? I do not know.

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All right well, we'll have to it'll probably be in the paper tomorrow, but hopefully they won.

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And thank you very much champions down there at south carolina district. Four. Thank you. Okay,.

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Commissioner frazier: um well I appreciate it, but actually I don't have anything right now. We had.

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The legislative meeting, I'm sure, commissioner, wants to go into that nothing. Nothing. Now you.

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Know out on one side or the other of the bells, if you know what I mean, nothing outrageous, nothing.

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Too too, I don't think there was a couple well yeah, but so I really don't have anything this time, but.

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Thanks, I was hoping he knew, who won the championship? Okay, that was about.

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30 seconds of nothing, okay, so uh come here cut it short weaver, nothing to nothing. I don't know.

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Okay, well, uh I guess the bear snores on here. um I called commissioner.

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Boucher snoring there at the one story, stroke spot, but they, the library, had a great system here.

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Combining with the wrecking parks to change these stories about every couple months, uh different.

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Quarterly at least change the up the stories, so people come back through with their kids and.

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Go through the trail and it was very impressive. I I commend the girl scouts on what they did.

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The other thing I want to mention county staff. We have been.

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Starting to work on the veterans celebration here for may 15th at our carroll county farm museum and.

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We want to invite all veterans in carroll county to come together uh just to collaborate with.

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Other veterans and to learn about the the uh what carroll county offers those veterans and we are.

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Going to be hearing more about that later, as we get into it, but we've started to put it together.

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With the veterans council- and uh this would be uh interesting to deal with last night- I did attend.

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The board of education meeting: uh you have our sympathy uh anyway. uh It was uh interesting.

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We are going to have a joint meeting with them on the 23rd uh coming up, and I uh one of the things.

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We have to do is the two boards is simply communicate back and forth what their needs.

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Are what our budget is and we need to uh talk back and forth where we're going to be here, and I I did.

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Emphasize the fact that you know everybody has to be positive, talk talk through all the issues.

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As a as a joint board- and uh I think we can resolve a lot of uh questions that we all have out.

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There at the present time, so um just I'm done. Okay, I won't go on for hours, wait a minute! You're done.

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What are you done with again so you mentioned, you mentioned the veterans event may 15th.

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To allow veterans to let their hair down and with that good segue commercial winds.

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Okay, I do see what you did there. I do. I see that I'm just saying, yeah yeah good morning.

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A couple things: first, I'm going to start off on a somber note.

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We had another what we are thinking they're, not technically. It's not been declared that yet, but.

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Another line of duty, first responder death and this occurred in harford county, and we want to.

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Give sympathies to wayne fisher's family wayne, fisher's, mom and dad actually live in my district.

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On up in the northern part of my district and wayne fisher, who did pass away at the darlington.

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Volunteer fire department got his start at the pleasant valley fire company, my home company.

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So we want to keep on in our thoughts and prayers there more to come on that, as is always the case.

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Medical examiner gets involved in that and we'll see what the rest of that is, but certainly we.

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Want to reach out and say our sympathies to not only harford county, and I talked with.

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A guy by the name of glassman yesterday, what's his first name mike, I can't remember something.

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Anyway, barry and I had a good conversation and he's aware of the of the uh connection here.

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So um were you going to jump well, I was going to say I know they're talking to the ag center and to.

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Other logistics here um in order to do a ceremony, if appropriate so yeah,.

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um Yeah at the ag board: that's what they brought up to me. Yeah. They did make a phone call. I think.

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It's probably gonna end up being in hartford, but we'll see where, but anyway, they're they're they're.

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Looking at all things there, so um that's that um mako are experts in the room, so I'm not gonna, say.

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Much on that I mean there's a lot going on. um A lot of bills will be dropping out of the sky.

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Over the next couple hours, probably mike you'll talk about that, we did have.

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A good hearing, tuesday, was it mike. Yes, on the uh ems reimbursement bill and, uh first of all,.

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I gotta thank chris swam because uh chris set the room up over there with the county.

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Seal behind it and it was like it was like uh you know, the best thing since sliced bread, so.

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The swami gets another shout out, uh but mike will talk more about that and uh I you know this ed.

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I think I'm trying to look for it. Governor hogan, declared this month or this week was it. Was it.

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Health care heroes- yes, it was this week. um Excuse me, the seventh, through the end of this week, is.

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Healthcare yeah, okay, uh proclamation right, see see that good picture there isn't that.

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Amazing of the seal, I see, but no no look at the rest of it. Oh now it's gone okay anyway,.

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Kind of wonky uh one thing that I I am very proud of. As you know, some of us uh are bringing.

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Down a long time here of serving our county, uh I ran on a couple things and uh a couple things.

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Occurred during the the eight years- not yet, but soon to be eight years and one of those was the.

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Unfortunate circumstance of uh seeing three of our schools get closed, uh particularly.

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My district, that was one of the a huge issue up there. We lost charles carroll elementary, which was.

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Sort of the uh the cement that held that community together well without going into a whole long.

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Dissertation on that uh march, the first at 9 00 a.m. We will be having the groundbreaking of the.

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New community center up there we're going to be sending out imitations within the next day or two.

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And I'm extremely proud that we're able to see that through there's been some folks that.

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Disagreed with putting anything there there's been a lot of complications. We worked through all that.

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There it is that imitation is going to be going out, but I'm just incredibly proud and I think.

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That's going to be one of the biggest things that pulls that community back together I mean they're.

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To the point where some of them vote in some place, some of them vote in the other, and it just.

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It's going to go a long way in that northern part of our our county being brought back together so.

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Very proud of that- and I hope we can get some really good attendance on tuesday march. The 1st.

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And don't forget valentine's day is monday. I haven't gotten the valentine's card yet.

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I'm sure that my colleagues are working on mine as we speak. Thank you very much yeah, but the mail.

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Gets a little wonky so hand delivering would be really nice, okay, just saying, but I gave you.

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The opportunity to use the word wonky so exactly right, so I'll, be here most of the day, just saying.

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Thank you very much. I have a costume you can borrow on the first, no costumes for the first.

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Commissioner, ross dean back to you, okay, very proud, carroll, county's uh unemployment rate is at three.

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Percent, it is the lowest within the state. The state's average is four percent, so we're doing.

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Extremely well uh very proud of our workforce development team, uh formerly known as burke, along.

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With the high schools and community college, all working together um in getting our folks employed.

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Okay, since that is up uh on the screen I attended uh with audrey, I was very humbled and honored to.

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Attend a ceremony recognizing um seven uh unaccompanied veterans that were interred.

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In garrison, forest uh military ceremony or military cemetery and those buried are.

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Those there buried unaccompanied homeless and without families, so it was a a very special.

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Opportunity to participate- and there was a couple hundred uh there and that rain did not um deter.

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Folks from uh in attendance, but just very, very good opportunity placing a coin uh in respect.

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Thanks chris, um as mentioned, we have the board of education joint meeting coming up on 23rd state of.

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The county uh opportunity to share our thoughts on february 22nd, which will be held at the.

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Carroll arts center in the morning and let's see last thing, I attended the ag board meeting.

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On tuesday evening um and uh again, I always appreciate attending the enthusiasm that they.

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Provide uh to our communities, amazing, we we just have a great um you know, set of boards.

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And commissions, and for us to participate whether it's the veterans, the the ag board, um the planning.

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Commission I mean they are just fantastic. I think, and that's why we're so successful in what we do.

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Here in uh in the carroll county community, so uh the ag board meeting unfortunately starts at.

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Seven and doesn't get over until nine, but it's a very short meeting. It's a preamble to the board of.

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Head, I think so: okay, let's um dig right into it uh mike want you come on up and uh let's talk about.

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What's happening down in annapolis from your from your purview, my perspective well,.

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First of all, this is so refreshing to be in front of you after so long staring at a screen.

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Impersonal, I think that's the first time in history anyone's ever said that about you, okay, we.

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Didn't need that to decide. Okay, making me look bad tim foot notes, comedy relief can stay over there.

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As you're rudely interrupted, please continue so it's never too early to talk about signy die so.

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We have 61 days remaining in this in this session, we're we're coming up on about 2 000 bills. There.

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Are a lot more to come? We expect monday was senate. uh Was the senate bill introduction.

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Day and tomorrow is a house bill introduction day, meaning any bills that are submitted after that.

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Date have to go to the rules committee then later on in the month march. 7Th is the day.

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After which anything is submitted has to have a suspension of the rules, so has to be some.

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Some mechanics done there and then crossovers on 31st. That's a really important day when the.

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Bills have to cross to the other chamber and then april. 11Th is confetti day.

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So the briefing material that I've given you is pretty long today we're going to.

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Move quickly, because most of it is really there for tracking purposes, um you'll see some dates.

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Highlighted and that's essentially dates that or hearings that have been scheduled since we last.

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Spoke but the first thing: the status of legislative redistricting. Of course, the.

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Maps have been passed, the will likely remain, but we we know there will be challenges.

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The challenges have to be submitted by tomorrow, or excuse me by today the 10th.

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The state has to respond to those challenges by next tuesday. The 15th then following thursday.

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The 17th judge getty will schedule a conference to work through the balance of the legal process, but.

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It has to be settled by the 22nd, because that's the candidate filing date.

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So everyone needs to know what district they're in in order to to be able to file.

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We usually talk about the mako initiatives. What their status is the.

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The highway user revenue bills that were submitted by the governor really no change there.

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But I don't expect them to move because there's been a senate bill introduced senate bill 726.

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And it has a very long and impressive sponsor line, including the chairman of budget and tax committee.

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Senator gazzone so that if you'll remember we're good up until 2025 and then that's the sunset.

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And we fall back so from 2025 and on we go from 1.5 of revenues to 15.3 percent of revenues. Then.

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And also 12.1 percent to baltimore city and then 2.6 go to the municipalities. So that's.

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A really good thing, of course, amendments can happen. It could be pared down a bit, but.

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um That that sponsor line is, I, I think, is a good sign, no change in the in the bill. That would.

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Criminalize threats against public health officials or hospital members, the.

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Senate bill 158 and house bill 35 are the 50 50 split between the state board of elections and.

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And county boards, no change in that they've been through their committees, but no votes have been.

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Taken yet and then the uh the medical assistance program transport bill that commissioner lance.

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Mentioned uh the hearing was on tuesday I'll. I want to mention that rob burke your comptroller.

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Is the coordinator for uh for uh leadership carol's day in annapolis? Of course, it had to.

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Be virtual this year and last year as well, so we wanted them to have the benefit of of seeing.

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A committee hearing- and it just happened to coincide perfectly with commissioner lance's.

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Testimony on that bill, so a lot of people saw your seal and and uh and presentation.

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And I think it uh went very well, I think it was well received and obviously there were no.

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uh No opponents to that the seal didn't stop them from listening to my fabulous testimony. Well that.

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That was certainly the highlight. Okay. Thank you for the two minutes. Thank you. Yes, thanks very much.

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uh Under business and taxes and and procurement um again, we've had some hearings scheduled for.

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The family medical leave program I'll mention again that the one of those two bills that is most.

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Likely to pass is the second house bill 496. That hearing is scheduled for next week. That's actually.

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Sponsored by the chair of economic matters and then the the coven 19.

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Occupational disease presumption bill, no change there, still no hearing scheduled on that.

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Mold remediation reporting, no change on that hearings have been scheduled for the.

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Discharge permits bill senate bill 492 and house bill 649. So we have some hearings set.

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There one bill, that's that's new to you. Is the senate bill 567. This would would allow.

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Improvements to agricultural land to qualify for agricultural assessments.

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There are concerns about non-ag improvements being placed there, that.

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Might ultimately lead to an abuse of the assessment, the lower assessment, uh some concerns.

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About creating an unfair advantage, for example, a farm brewery versus an urban or suburban brewery.

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That so the legislative committee took a vote to oppose that bill. That was an interesting debate.

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Yes, it was dennis. You were in the room when that occurred. It's a good idea. It looks good to and.

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Potentially, it keeps the tax rate at what is it 10 cents on the dollar? I think for.

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For ag yes, something somewhere there about, so, if you do all these improvements, it would still be.

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10 cents on the dollar, but yet, if you open up a brewery, a brewery, it's hard for me to say.

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Not hard for me to go but hard for me to say uh in the downtown westminster they would pay assessed.

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On the commercial right so there's the debate came down to well, we got to do all that we can.

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To uh to maintain our ag uh businesses and all that, but I think there's much more.

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To this than just that yeah, I think the intent of the bill. I think everybody agreed the intent.

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Was good just but the way the bill is structured. It's problematic and amendments aren't really.

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Going to address all the issues that people had right, the intent is to help out the farmers.

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Who are trying to make ends meet, there's no doubt that they could use some help and everybody would.

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Like to help them out, we want to keep the farmers farming, but it doesn't make sense to do that when.

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You put other businesses at risk because, if I can do this over here for 100 bucks and but it cost me.

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10 000 over here, no one's going to do it over here, so you're going to take those businesses.

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Away from the urban areas- and so it's that's where it has to be looked at and adjusted and so forth,.

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It's just it makes unfair competition, it does yeah so anyway, I don't want to carry on that, but.

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Wilbur levingood from caroline has a good debate on there too, and potentially, what he said was.

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You're you're losing what farming really means by doing something like this because remember.

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That most of the crops that are being used in in a winery or whatever, are not coming from that farm.

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You're, just creating a barn that doesn't have a cow in it anymore, they're, manufacturing a wedding.

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Dress in it, instead of a cow, so it's just you know, and I have to say one last thing on that.

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The really good part of that bill is that if you have a dairy farm that all your the buildings and.

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All the stuff you have to buy for dairy farm would be excessive. The agricultural rate, which is great.

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If they could just put that carb out there and just put that part of the bill in, I think everybody would have been for it. But all this other stuff that went.

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Along with it was what people were against yeah and and even though mecca is going to.

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Oppose I think, in their testimony they're going to make yes, they are points that.

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A new bill that came it's it's an old idea, but it's back again this year and.

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That's house bill 596 and senate bill 783 constitutional amendment.

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Environmental rights so establishes a fundamental right to a clean environment.

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The bill's been toned down, apparently.

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The the probably the biggest problem with it is really no limit on standing, so anyone from across.

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The nation could could step in on any issue. It is similar in that way to the to the previous bills.

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Apparently, there are a number of states that have taken similar action. uh The hearing is.

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Scheduled in the house on the 23rd, but mako will will oppose that bill. For those reasons.

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Another new bill you heard yesterday house bill 547 and house bill 617.

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This would require equal access, primarily by site, impaired students to the same digital.

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Tools as others, so we think about a software program, something that is.

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That is, visual in nature would would have to be made available in some way to those students. The.

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The amendments that are going to be proposed would limit that to what the ada standards are.

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And, and also would acknowledge the uh the changes in annual enrollment. So if you have to fund to.

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A certain number of affected students in one year that number will will most likely change.

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From year to year, they'll have a formula so to speak. The determinant right exactly.

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So uh those hearings have have been scheduled, so we'll keep watching that one also.

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Interestingly, on tuesday, as well in the senate, there was a discussion on the floor about this.

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Accountability and implementation board so house bill 633 has been proposed. The discussion was that.

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The accountability and implementation board did not have a geographic representation. It was really.

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Limited to the I-95 corridor, now senator pinsky explained that there were a number of that that.

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Basically, they had to choose from the applicants and there were really no applicants from those.

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Areas so it was, it was challenged again by senator hershey. So I think what you see here.

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On the house side house, bill 633 does that it spells out that there will be geographically based.

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Participation on the board to make sure that we have western maryland eastern shore represented.

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There so no hearing schedule on that, but we'll be keeping an eye on that when one of mako's prime.

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Primary efforts is always to increase local participation.

D

Mike before you go into the local government, bring up one more education bill.

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House bill 758, I don't know if you have anything going on or not, but I just.

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Found out about this last night, it was it's a bill that says that if you're, a teacher that beginning.

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Of the year, you have to put everything online about your textbooks. Any videos you're going to.

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Use any online websites any anything you're going to use and all your lesson plans have to be online.

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At the start of the year, okay, it's an absurd bill. It's oversight, I mean we have in order to.

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Become a teacher go to college for four years, you have to be certified to be a teacher when.

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You become a teacher, you have to take a continuing education courses. Eventually, you get your master's.

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Degree more continued education courses, so these people are very, very well prepared.

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To teach in the classroom, but we're going to put all this oversight on them and the only reason in.

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My opinion to do this is to censor what they're going to use. Oh, you put you're going to use that.

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Book, no we're not going to allow that. Are you going to use that video we're not allowing that.

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And you're and it's the absurdity to use one of your words of putting all your lesson plans online.

D

I mean I taught for 40 years we were taught for a little while too didn't you and I might what I'm.

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Planning to do friday might change according to what happens in classroom monday, tuesday.

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And wednesday that is ridiculous. To put that stuff online, I think as a board, we should write a letter.

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Opposing this, because it is ridiculous and what makes it worse or better, I guess, depends which way.

D

You're looking at it is that delgad krebs, delegate, shoemaker duggar, rose all signed on to this bill.

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And it is a terrible, terrible bill, it's nothing, but they say it again. Do we know why they signed.

A

On what was it a party party-line vote? Was it a complaint? I do not. No, I I don't have the answer.

D

To that I just and like I said I just found out about this last night, when someone when I saw it.

D

And- and I would you know if you could dig into this bill and give me a little more information.

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I'm pretty positive that what I'm telling saying it right now about the bill is all correct.

D

But there might even be worse things about it, but this is a bill. People that don't know.

D

Anything about education, trying to oversee it and and censor, what's being done, it's a terrible.

D

Bill it's a terrible bill. I'm you know. Several years ago, carroll county tried to do curriculum.

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If you're teaching this agenda, this curriculum, everybody in the county, had to be on the same page.

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Same day, yeah stuff, like that, it didn't work, there's too much flexibility and you need the.

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Flexibility yeah different students. I mean there's no chance in that type of curriculum.

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For second chance learning for all kind of things, it becomes.

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Just dictating what has to happen, and it takes away the flexibility and the variability in.

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Students as far as learning styles and the way they learn, and sometimes you have to slow things.

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Down, sometimes you have to speed things up. You can't have it in a year in advance. That is.

E

uh Like uh predicting the next snowstorm, how many inches are going to be and know exactly.

E

When it's going to happen, that's uh well, I'm sure mr fowler briefed us on and I'm very curious as.

C

To who the sponsors are because the sponsorship could determine actually whether it's doa or not,.

C

Well, there's a number of of delegates that have signed on to it. I don't know. Sometimes it depends.

C

On which side it is yeah, and I believe my I again, I didn't research that much didn't have like much.

D

Time but I believe they're all the same side of the island and it sounds. It sounds like it's a.

A

A crt type of you know bill. It sounds like there's a couple of you know, acronyms out.

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There that people are so against that this is to cut you know this whole crt concept, and this is.

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A political election year so exactly and that's why some of these bills are being dropped. Let's.

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Face the facts: that's exactly why some of these bills are being dropped, but we I mean, give us.

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More information on that, if we would mike, but we should write a letter against it, we really should.

C

Bring myself, I look forward to being briefed going in the future. There are an actually a number of.

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Curriculum related bills that have been introduced this year. I haven't followed them because they're.

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Not typically not the bills that we would have operational impact, but um yes, they they are.

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Political, I think that particular bill, as, as you know, is part of the larger national conversation.

H

uh There are other bills that that mandate, what has to be in the curriculum in terms of history.

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And and culture and so forth, so I'd be happy to to bring all those bills to you for for your review.

H

I'll jump on this one particularly quickly, because I don't know what kind of hearing dates may be.

H

Scheduled could be trouble yeah. I don't. I didn't see that information yeah, but at all I'll take.

B

A look at you might want to have mako jump on that one too mike yeah. Actually I just wanted.

D

To call on yeah I'd be surprised if they would get into that discussion because it doesn't have.

H

Again, doesn't really have a fiscal or operational impact on the counties and certainly not one that.

H

From a political philosophical position, that's true you're going to find much common ground. I.

G

Would think um mabe would probably take that up? I suspect, mabe. um I suspect the uh the education.

H

Association would be very strong. Msca is a pretty strong player there. So interesting.

D

Didn't mean to take you off track? No! No! No! No! That's that's! Why we're here.

H

So in the local government elections, so the election uh judges bill I mentioned last.

H

Week still no no change there. That was that was um heard this week, but but no change.

H

The uh senate bill 371 the bill that you asked the delegation to bring forward. We had.

H

The hearing yesterday and there were no questions asked by the committee, so I think that one will.

A

Should sail forward, it's not going across the board and it's carroll county specific, but.

A

It just makes sense that the other counties would yeah well in this particular case,.

H

The the state law it is such that each county has to be given the authorization to do this in state.

H

Law, so there are 10 other counties that currently do these background checks, at least on prospective.

H

Employees and seven of those uh perform them on prospective volunteers and, interestingly, howard.

H

County is the only one that that requires for every employee yeah their their language is.

H

Shell not may so. This is just adding that with howard county for a long time. Yes, because I.

A

I coached there um back in the early 90s now centennial wrestling and it was volunteer, but.

A

I had to go through this process uh back then so it's been in there. Everything was a little.

H

Less tricky back then I guess no, mr fowler, you mentioned 10. Is there a breakdown between the.

C

Charter counties and the commissioner counties and that it's a mixture, okay, it's a mixture. I.

H

Think it's charter, it's baltimore and anne arundel and howard and then the battlefield.

C

If all the ten or the charter counties- and none of them are commissioners I'll, just wonder how the.

C

Authority works out yeah, it's a mixture, montgomery county uh does it for taxi drivers and the city of.

H

Frederick also does it for taxi drivers and the balance or a mix of commissions. It's some sort.

C

Of consensus and continuity of that statewide would probably be really good yeah. So obviously,.

H

Obviously, it's not an express power because you've got a mixture of counties in there. So thank you.

H

Senate bill 352 is the uh processing of ballots again no change there. uh Voter rights protection.

H

That's three additional days opposed to that: no change there uh senate bill, 542 and house bill 451.

H

Are a bill bills that would require the prompt payment of grants. There are a lot of complaints.

H

That the state grants are not being paid quickly enough after invoices are presented, so that would.

H

Require a 30 days within within 30 days of the invoice date, a bill we've seen in the past.

H

House bill 619, creating polling places at continuing care retirement.

H

Communities same bill as previous sessions, additional expense and a staffing challenge.

H

For the local boards of elections, so opposition there uh hearing in ways and means on the 15th.

H

Senate bill 541 and house bill 727 are the result of the commission that was established over the.

H

Summer, that looked at the maryland condition of maryland state parks and and what could be done to.

H

To make those more accessible and beneficial to residents of the state.

H

The mako is uh is supporting that with an amendment that would add funding for county.

H

Parks as well and those hearings are scheduled later this month under public safety.

H

The body worn cameras bill, we have a hearing scheduled senate bill, 12 and house bill 129.

H

Those are the bills that would, as written attempt to limit police involvement.

H

In mobile crisis teams that respond to mental health crisis, there were some concerns that.

H

That the the counties and the law enforcement agencies were already working.

H

On this issue to try and achieve that result, but they didn't like the idea of a one-size-fits-all.

H

That amendment has been proposed and accepted. It changes it to minimizing from minimizing law.

H

Enforcement involvement to prioritizing mobile crisis units over law enforcement.

H

So I think that gives the flexibility. That's that's needed in this case.

H

Senate bill 330 is the the bill that that senator reedy has sponsored his hearing was.

H

Yesterday- and this would require you as the board of health to be a referee or adjudicate appeals.

H

That come from the public on actions taken by the health director and his staff mako did oppose.

H

That and I believe that senator reedy and and mega are going to continue to discuss the issue.

H

Senate bill 394 in house bill 408 is the stop act. It widens the scope of who can administer.

H

Nalox naloxone and requires public and private health providers to dispense that free of charge.

H

Under certain conditions, uh the change there is, we have a hearing scheduled on the house.

H

Side later this month and then house bill 47, criminalizing obstructing impeding official.

H

Proceedings of legislative executive branches that was initially written.

H

To cover the state government, the amendment is to request, including counties, no change there, a new.

H

Bill you heard yesterday senate bill 630 and house bill 706, creating an office of resilience within.

H

The department, the newly created department of emergency management that will establish.

H

That office within emergency management act as a hub for emergency planning efforts, statewide.

H

Will help react when federal declarations are not necessarily forthcoming.

H

We'll coordinate grants for resiliency projects, and this is counties and planning and response and.

H

Supporting projects that mitigate the effects of climate change, so a different approach to climate.

H

Change dealing with the impacts, as opposed to working to try to to stop the impacts. If you will.

H

Senator hester is on that, as a sponsor of that and uh mako will support that effort. Also, I knew when.

H

You saw senate bill 633. This is the omnibus 911 emergency telephone system bill. One aspect of this.

H

Is it would enable counties to increase the 91 911 fees to the level necessary to provide service.

H

You'll remember the previous bill was limiting. In that nature, it allowed you to increase.

H

But it was limiting in that this would would take away. That limit also establishes some.

H

Cyber security support for the system, so that's a new bill, no hearing scheduled yet and then senate.

H

Bill 548 and house bill 609 is the bill that would establish grounds and processes for the removal of.

H

Local health officers sets the conditions under which the county can relieve its health officer.

H

The thing is there: there are no similar conditions or limits on any other appointed.

H

Official, so that that's problematic um mako is opposing that and uh there's no hearing scheduled.

H

Yet in the house, but there is in finance later this month, uh then the opioid restitution fund.

H

Hearing scheduled for that one second bill house bill 794 is the creation of the opioid restitution.

H

Fund advisory council, and that would be a council that would advise on the distribution of the state.

H

Portion of those funds senate bill 637 house bill 935, that's related to behavioral health services.

H

Reimbursement, it would establish medicaid reimbursement for certain health, uh mental.

H

Health services, including peer recovery, crisis, response measurement based care and some home care.

H

No hearing scheduled there for that and another new one house bill, 608, shelter and.

H

Transitional housing facilities grant program would increase funding for that grant program.

H

Legionnaires disease prevention we've talked about that hearings have been scheduled there.

H

Which brings me to the the climate bills and commissioner fraser you mentioned not.

H

Much yesterday we went pretty quickly over these didn't talk about the substance of them.

H

Really talked about primarily the major concern in the bill being.

H

The the effects on methane emissions on landfills, but there's an awful lot in this bill.

H

Even going as far as the societal impacts, I think, are pretty strong, so senate bill 528.

H

Is the climate solutions act bill? So this was introduced last year made pass through the senate.

H

Got to the house came to the floor, but there was a just could not come to terms of agreement.

H

On a number of issues and ran out of time on that passing, so the bill is essentially in its.

H

Same form as last year, there are some changes there, the methane portion of that it still has.

H

Requires that a comparison be made between airborne methane measurements and the ground-based.

H

Measurements that the county takes and if they are, I think out of sync by 25 or more. There has to be.

H

A study done to determine why there's that wide of a discrepancy but the real, problematic part.

H

uh Comes in that mde must establish the california standards as a minimum, starting in 2024.

H

So I I'm really not prepared to speak to the details on that. I think that really needs to.

H

Come from the public works folks, but that's one of the issues highlighted by by mako to.

H

Try to deal with doesn't the general assembly produce a lot of methane, no question there.

H

We talked about one one bill in a week or last week that went to the state's.

H

Portion of school funding and if you either constructed or replaced a fossil fuel.

H

Heating system hvac system, the state- would not pay.

H

These bills all work to de-incentivize the use of natural gas and oil and propane fossil fuels.

H

House bill 708 is the house. Basically a house version there. There was discussion early on that.

H

It would be an omnivorous bill on the senate side and it would be broken down on the house side. So.

H

The comprehensive climate solutions bill 708 is is generally what's in.

H

The the senate bill, there are some differences it it does, specifically direct utilities.

H

Away from natural gas promotes heat pumps for residential space heating.

H

Doing that will require substantial electric grid.

H

Investments by the utilities, no question there: if you're transitioning to a completely electric.

H

Society, it's going to take some significant electric grid improvements.

H

House bill 831, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in commercial residential buildings, so this.

H

Outlines new energy efficiency standards um has the same sponsor at 708 and and it has its hearing.

H

Later this month, I think the real irony in all this is it's going to take a whole lot of fossil.

C

Fuels in our power plants to create this clean, electric energy, yeah, it's it's! It's a complex.

H

Way to approach this um you're you're really talking about what's going on in maryland, but.

H

Maryland is not an island. Maryland gets a lot of its power from pennsylvania and states to the west.

H

The ohio valley, which have a lot of coal-fired plants we've always there's.

H

The clean air act was focused a lot on air emissions and a lot of our air emissions come.

H

From prevailing winds from the ohio valley, but we do import a lot of electricity, it's.

H

Not necessarily solar, wind or nuclear or hydro renewable, in other words, thanks for clarifying.

H

That so so, this is going to be a challenge. So when they talk about net zero they're talking.

H

About they're, including offsets in that as well, so you you work to to make your emissions.

H

Clean to offset what's occurring outside so again it's a it's a complex.

D

It is complex and it is, but is it easier to try to.

D

Put standards and regulations and whatever else you need on a power plant, one power plant which.

D

You can work at and change the emissions so forth, or ten thousand different things out here.

D

It's easier to do to one here and make sure it's abiding by the clean air standards than all these.

D

10 000 over here, which a lot of people that's just like when catalytic converters first came out.

D

People were modifying their car, so they didn't work. A lot of people take their.

D

Home heating stuff and they modify them. So is it easier for the for the government to say.

D

This power plant has to put these scrubbers in and this other stuff in so the air to the.

D

Gas is coming out of here are much cleaner or 10 20, 30 000 different homes. That's why this.

D

Is done like this? Well there's and there's a, but there is a difference between between.

H

Emissions of particulates and and greenhouse gases- yes right, but oh it's all being looked at. Yes, yes,.

H

And and and that's why the emphasis on natural gas and propane is greenhouse gas emissions because.

H

A lot of coal plants have converted to natural gas, which has led to a reduction in emissions.

H

And in particular, right, right and and greenhouse gas emissions as well, because cleaner burning.

F

Fuel, but these bills are yes, and these bills are are, though, going to move away from that you made.

C

A good point- and I try to give the analogy with this climate issue as if we're all in a bucket.

C

And each municipality or state drills, a hole in the side of the bucket and no matter how high.

C

Marilyn decides to drilled a hole in the bucket to make sure the bucket fills up to that point.

C

If other states and jurisdictions drilled a hole in the bucket lower, it will never rise up their.

C

Standard because we're talking about air, it's fluid across all these states and jurisdictions.

C

So unless everyone has the same hole in the pocket, we never truly reach the objective that we want.

C

Individually as a steep, because if pennsylvania has the whole drill in the bucket lower of coal.

C

It's always running out, we'll never reach the point that we as marylanders want to achieve.

C

It's a terrible analogy. Well, it's terrible! I think it's a very good analogy. It nails it well.

B

It's all debatable. I mean I could debate the fact that promoting heat pumps is not the best thing.

B

Heat pumps in this climate here in maryland are terrible.

B

And we're promoting them and they draw more coal fires and they draw a heck of a lot of electricity.

B

And they don't heat when it's 20 degrees out your heat pumps are jumping off their they're.

B

Constantly running and yeah, so I would I mean my point is if this is all so it's arguably.

B

Complex, it is, and I don't know that any bill is going to get us to where we need to be so.

B

I wish them the best but yeah, and I do find puzzling that that the the intent is to.

H

Affect is to affect climate change itself, is to affect global warming right, and will this.

C

Regulate china? Well, the the interesting thing is they: they quantify the goals very, very clearly.

H

But they never quantify the effects on the climate so yeah. How do you gauge it exactly.

H

Exactly so um be that as it may, that's that is the direction we're heading, so I mean the bill. Does.

H

Does establish uh funding to try to make this transition? uh Employment and retraining is a.

H

Large part of it, but but again it's it's very, very comprehensive and and forward-looking, because.

H

The ultimate goal is to reach net zero, in other words, either either zero greenhouse gas emissions.

H

Or through offset to achieve zero emissions by 2045., so all of these bills are are consistent.

H

In that goal uh I thought the the most creative title was senate bill 552 and house bill 695.

H

The better together to save our weather act of 2022 and I keep hearing the climate is not.

H

Weather, so I'm not sure why we're conflating these two terms, because climate doesn't rhyme.

H

uh The the problem here now now I I should back up and say that that.

H

Consistent with last year's approach, mako will support these bills with amendments, so that gets.

H

Mako a seat at the table, as the discussions will continue through through the life of the bill, but.

H

This bill is being opposed because it is pretty owners, it requires.

H

All the counties to develop their individual climate plans.

H

On a pretty tight timeline, a very extensive list of items that need to be included really beyond.

H

The capability of many counties to comply with this so we'll be opposing that one pretty strongly.

H

So I know I'm only supposed to be taking 15 minutes. I wanted to have that climate discussion.

H

A little deeper though it was one bill that uh I think was pesticide regulations. They wanted.

E

To change from the department of agriculture to the department of environment, yes, where is that.

E

I mean I hate to say it, but the department of environment won't have a clue what you're.

E

Talking about on some of these things, yeah, um I think there were. There- were two bills proposed.

H

Similar to that to transfer oversight, um let me look at that. One specifically when I.

H

Leave here and I'll just follow that to you yeah. I want to go back to page 7 senate bill.

C

633 to public safety, 9-1-1 emergency telephone system, I'm I'm really looking forward to.

C

Commissioner, lance paying attention to this and keeping us updated he's the expert on this stuff.

C

And your opinion is on way heavier than this for me, so please do everything you can in your.

C

Contacts to keep as well as mike said, it's a good bill uh and I don't, I think it's gonna float right.

B

On through, we should talk about six, six, three, six, thirty, three! Yes, six! Thirty! Three! I'm sorry.

C

It that hadn't been cross filed yet right mike there's no hearing schedule, but I suspect it'll go.

B

Through themselves, somebody's going to be calling for it, though uh any other questions like this one.

B

One last one locally, uh the bill that was put in by one of our delegates to.

B

Tweak our compensation, if you will assigned yet and where is it hearing on the 17th.

H

I'm saying that was.

H

That was submitted by the senators, so those have a senate bill right, yeah, okay, in in uh education.

H

Health environmental affairs is where that bill, and we had discussed going at it with a code.

B

Looking at it from a code channel or a state code, okay, and we're doing that, okay.

J

Mike last last year, the legislature enacted a police accountability and charging legislation.

J

That made all the counties set up these two boards: an accountability board, a police charging board.

J

They were going to for lack of a better word, provide some oversight on the disciplinary.

J

Procedures and and actual charging done against local police officers as police standards and.

J

Training, commission, yes, uh the police standard and training commission was going to issue regulations.

J

To guide these local bodies and they announced that they weren't going to do that by the july.

J

Deadline is there anything happening down there. Nothing that's being discussed publicly.

H

Yeah- and I don't know if you've heard among any of your, your colleagues anything on that.

H

Yeah, but the law still requires you to form those committees and and to have them in place.

H

But there's no disciplinary matrix, for example, for law enforcement to use, because that's also.

H

Within their charge so well, our attorney obviously has a concern about this correct.

C

How we're implementing it and the logistics of it they're spending all this time on methane, when the.

J

You know this is a real problem that they've dropped in your lap and uh you know and you as.

C

Our legal counsel needs direction to help us with this directly. Well, I was just curious. I mean I'm.

J

Not the only one pointing this out to them and it doesn't seem to be making any headway well,.

D

We have to form committees, but the committees have nothing to do yet because there's no! No! No! I guess.

D

Standards are yeah. The point of these regulations was to give these committees some expertise as to.

J

What uh what they should be applying to these police officers and it's ambiguous.

C

Not existing, I mean we're going to have you're going to have five people sitting around, not.

J

Knowing it's being ambiguous, yeah well, which which comes back full circle to we, should have some idea.

B

Of what they would be dealing with, because that gets us to putting the right people right here.

B

Because I don't think well that's for another day, but I can't I can't imagine we'll find.

B

It's going to take a while to find people to sit on that. Let me just say that right yeah, I.

C

Agree, I think the best is wonky right there yeah so so best say that again, commissioner frazier.

B

He doesn't know mr frazier said at best it's wonky right now and it is well. I guess.

H

From like I mean from a legal perspective, the law requires that a state commission.

H

Develop these policies in order to guide a governing body to establish the law properly.

H

So if the commission cannot meet those dates, then then I that's where it stands unless.

H

The legislature takes some kind of action, but what action are they going to take so.

J

We'll continue to we're in a vicious circle. Yeah. I think you got a lot of homework to do mike. You.

B

Better get going yeah, you give me a lot to do once those potential process and procedures that are.

C

Developed does it need to go back to the general assembly for approval or they have the authority.

C

Just to make them move forward, they they've the law has laid out the framework. The laws are.

C

Within it, nobody needs overseas, so the the police, standards and training commission is the state.

H

Commission that has been given the authority to develop these standards within the guidelines.

H

Of the bill as it was passed so their problem is, they can't put all this together in the.

H

Prescribed amount of time that the bill they can't screw it all in a five pound bag, probably.

C

I'm just concerned that if and when these procedures come out, we have law enforcement.

C

Officials are not happy with it in some way and have pushed back and and they'll be looking to us.

C

To help them in some way revise it, potentially it can get pretty tricky. This is a very tough subject.

C

Just like the fact that probably someone motivated to beyond might have a negative.

C

Motivation to be on that board and most people wouldn't want to deal with it. So it's tough.

H

Well, I mean the law: is the law you're compelled by the law to take certain steps and they are.

H

Compelled by the law take certain steps. They are not going to meet uh their obligation under the.

H

Law am I am I right in that assessment? Yes, that's that's the pickle we're in.

C

So, thank you, mr fowler. Thank you, okay. Thank you very much interesting time of year. Okay,.

A

Let's move on to uh covet update um sue are you on? Actually, we met that was matt maggie.

A

Okay, good morning, maggie good morning, how are you all? We are well well ready for an update. Thank you.

K

Excellent, um let me sorry this is always a little confusing with one screen to get to.

K

The slideshow here we go. Thank you. It actually works pretty well, okay, so everybody can see.

K

You know me I'll be short and sweet, so um shouldn't take too long. So.

K

There we go all right, so just a quick update. Actually, since I get skipped maryland data um is.

K

Daily cases are decreasing, statewide positivity is almost down to that magic number of five percent.

K

um Hospitalizations are lower. um I do want to just kind of remind you throughout this presentation.

K

That the um the case cases do not include for the most part, um you know home tests, people.

K

Are you know we're not they're, not included in it? Just like we, we don't include probable.

K

Tests, so we don't include those home tests, so just so you know, um as home has become more.

K

Available and people are able to use them to find out that they're, positive and act on those results.

K

um They, don't necessarily, you know, always get a confirmatory pcr, so that just doesn't include.

K

uh Those tests, um so then they're sort of under counts um and then just you know, transmission is.

K

Still high, but the trends are positive, so cautiously optimistic news. I would say.

K

Say this is data through monday, so just keep in mind, and this has changed a little bit since.

K

Since then, but we are now over 20 000 cases, um but that's a much lower number. Since last week's.

K

Report, so that's good news: uh definitely the rates are coming down. um Positivity rate is around 10.

K

I'm pretty sure it's lower now, um so that's good! That's all so um going down and uh deaths. You know.

K

At least we've said many times that deaths do lag cases and hospitalizations, so we still had.

K

A significant number of deaths in the past week, I'm hoping to see that going down pretty soon.

K

So I brought back commissioner fraser's favorite graph.

K

So you can just get another chance at looking at it. I wanted to make the point that um you.

K

Know so we haven't, as you know, we haven't been able to access all of the data that we normally.

K

Have for the last few months, and that has not changed, although gradually we've been able to.

K

To get some data through the state, so I just wanted to use this graph to point out that.

K

The cases are still high, so here you see the top. um You know. High peak here is 176 cases per 100.

K

000, but um in our highest peak in the omicron surge um that was at jan january 2nd that week.

K

We had 967 cases per 100 000. so, as you can tell, that would not even.

K

Fit on this graph or three graphs above it really really that was at astronomical levels. It was way.

K

Off the charts, so I just wanted to kind of you know kind of put give you some perspective on.

K

Where we are now so now we're we're back down by quite a bit we're excited, but this past week.

K

Full week, uh the week of january 30th, we just reached the top of the chart, so we're 183 cases.

K

Per 100 000, so it's still a little higher than that top peak that we see on this chart that we.

K

Love so much so I just wanted to kind of give you that perspective. So definitely cases are falling.

K

That's great news, but we are now back really back into high transmission from astronomical.

K

Transmission- that is a great chart, so here so here are less colorful colorful charts here.

K

um You know to just remember remembering this is really you know. This is a short, much shorter span.

K

Of time, so we're only seeing the one surge on this chart. It's just showing us what has.

K

Happened over the last few months so, but you can see we're definitely coming down, which is great.

K

But we're still, you know at a pretty high high case transmission level.

K

Hospitalizations are going down, which we're also very excited to see.

K

So that's really really trending downward and our hospitals. You know, reporting, um you know much less.

K

Stress obviously, they're still taking care of code patients, but it's uh this process is much much.

K

Lower um and here's just the icu and acute beds um all going down, then just this is just the the.

K

Death, the graph for deaths, um so you know it gets a little confusing because the numbers that we.

K

We often provide are from one day to one day and it's a little bit different and then some of the.

K

Deaths, you know we don't find out for a week or so so they go back into the other other weeks and so.

K

The numbers change a little bit for the last few weeks that we're always adjusting um to make sure.

K

That they're represented correctly but you'll, see we're leveling off a little bit here. It's.

K

Definitely gone down not as low as we hope to see it soon, but um but it's going down, which is good.

K

This is just a kind of a just a reminder from last week again.

K

That you know primarily we're seeing the deaths that we're seeing on people who are not fully vaccinated. We do use that term not fully vaccinated to be you know the most.

K

Accurate because we would include anybody who had one vaccine but for the most part.

K

All or or almost all of those people are completely unvaccinated, so really unvaccinated is.

K

A better way to think of that group, and then you know we tend to see that continue to see that the.

K

Majority of people who are um younger, who are passing away from coded, are unvaccinated.

K

This is just the same graph from last week, just to remind you that there you know the vaccination.

K

How how important vaccination is um in preventing deaths from covet.

K

uh Just a little vaccination update where you know, we continue to climb a little bit.

K

You know our vaccination clinics are not super busy right now, but.

K

We continue to see people getting their first. Second and uh booster doses.

K

um There are um a few people who have contacted us who are immunocompromised, who had a um a third.

K

Primary dose, as you might remember, that, was really to allow their bodies to kind of catch up with the.

K

Rest of us who've had a primary our primary series completed um and just allow them to reach the same.

K

Levels um as others, so it kind of took them in that extra dose to complete their primary series.

K

um And so now um the cdc does recommend that they get a booster like the rest of us. So um so those.

K

Folks are eligible for boosters if they've had their primary series was finished five months ago.

K

uh Here's just our vaccinations. We uh we changed this from one dose to fully vaccinated. Since I.

K

Know a lot of folks are looking at that again that still means fully vaccinated. We don't have an easy.

K

Way to include the booster doses in the data that we get, um so this isn't up to date, as cdc would.

K

Say it's just fully vaccinated, but that is you know. Certainly indicative of people who are you.

K

Know who are at least fully vaccinated one or two vaccines depending on the brand, so these numbers.

K

Continue to creep up, um you know looking still at those younger ages to try to encourage those.

K

Folks to get to get vaccinated so, as I said, we are down from astronomical transmission, but still in.

K

High transmission- and I know that um everywhere, a lot of things are changing and mitigation measures.

K

Are being reduced, um I do caution you to see that a lot of them, while they're being reduced, are not.

K

Necessarily being eliminated immediately, so a lot of the masking and especially school masking is.

K

Not um not changing right away, those are they're they're. um You know they're kind of just assuming.

K

That this trend is going to continue uh and that they're looking at ending some of those mandates.

K

In the next several weeks, not necessarily right away, but right now our community is still in high.

K

Transmission and so we still recommend all those same mitigation measures, um you know no masks are.

K

Effective, we know vaccinations, save a lot saves lives. You know, we know that that's ventilation and.

K

Being outdoors and avoiding crowds helps prevent the spread, and we can still do these things to.

K

Prevent um spread and protect ourselves and our community, so um that message has not changed.

K

Terms of our services couple updates: uh we've now opened all of our vaccination clinics at carroll.

K

Community college for anybody five and up so just to make it a little bit easier. uh We do have.

K

A couple you know some afternoon evening, clinics and now saturday clinic clinic coming up next.

K

Saturday, I believe then so I think it might be. I have to check on the date, but it's it's.

K

Coming up um so um so just trying to make this a little more convenient for folks. um The ag center.

K

Testing is still open to everybody um and we are going to be moving back to the health department.

K

Starting on the 22nd, because we've had you know pretty low numbers, and so we just want.

K

To make it a little bit easier for our staff to accommodate so still be drive drive through.

K

Testing like we did before, but we'll be able to accommodate those numbers at the health department.

K

We are still receiving test kits, we did get a batch out to the libraries and they are.

K

Giving them out this saturday at their uh of their branches.

K

um While supplies last, uh we do anticipate getting a lot more in the next couple of weeks.

K

And so hopefully we will be able to give them out through other partners as well um and masks.

K

We're distributing to the libraries but we've run out for now, so we're getting more of those. But.

K

Hopefully, folks can also find some. Several pharmacies in the county are also giving them away.

K

I think this. Yes, anybody have any questions. Ms coons, thank you very much.

C

For your presentation and that's a nice photo to team there, I want to uh look at the carol.

C

Data on the seven day rolling average chart the last week of that chart. It shows the.

C

Fully vaccinated moving up and the not fully vaccinated moving down, I want us to keep an.

C

Eye on that, I'm worried about that trend. Hopefully it's just an anomaly. I'd hate to.

C

See it continue like that, so uh I'm looking forward to paying more attention to that so.

K

You'll notice, it happened before, like they're, very perceptive you'll notice that at that.

K

That end, it's one, I think it's one person, so I think that's why you know that's. This is one of.

K

The reasons that's challenging sometimes to track our data locally as important as it is. um It can.

K

Be hard because when we're lucky and when things are going well and our numbers are low, um you know.

K

We're looking at very small numbers, so the trends- don't you know, aren't as significant, but you did.

K

Yeah I did notice that as well, and I think that's just I was worried about that. The vaccinations are.

C

Starting to wear out on our elderly population how much more dangerous this is for them. So thank you.

A

Yeah, I don't, I don't think that's the case. I mean.

K

A minimal of one individual 54 folks that have died are not vaccinated. 11 are vaccinated.

A

I mean I'm worried. I appreciate everything that you share maggie, along with the entire team.

A

It resonates with those that are listening. It does not resonate to those that will not.

A

Adhere to vaccinations or best practices, you can only do the best you can, as we can as well.

A

And share the information which I appreciate you do on social media and elsewhere.

A

You know I feel like sometimes oftentimes, I'm a broken record in saying this.

A

As I'm sure you do as well, because you can only say these are the best things to do.

A

And you know now, the the sense is: oh, it's about science and science hasn't changed. No, it's about.

A

The numbers and numbers have changed and we should have guarded optimism because we're doing.

A

The right things overall, we're close to 80 percent in carroll county that are vaccinated and we're.

A

Doing the best we can, I appreciate everything you're doing but again I wish I could give you.

A

More resources to incentivize those that are not listening to the message that this is the best.

A

Thing to do and that's to get vaccinated, but we'll just deal with it as it comes as folks.

A

Spew their opinions on social media and elsewhere, and we just have to deal with it. But as a.

A

Body from the county and from the state, we are consistent in saying that vaccinations are the.

A

Best procedures- and uh you know we are- we are, I think, uh together in doing this- between the county.

A

And the state and uh they're doing the right measures, so I really appreciate uh your work with.

A

Chris weinbrenner and others in being consistent in doing that, and also the municipalities, because.

A

I know you're working very close with them as well. um I was at the ag center board meeting and.

A

Tracking the same with that um and the the support that they're providing you uh at the center.

A

So, okay, is there any comments on the slides? We had great support from our community partners and yes,.

K

I also wanted to just thank our healthcare heroes, both our uh our community partners. You know our.

K

The hospital and all the facilities that we work with, who have really worked hard to to keep people.

K

Safe and then all my colleagues here who you know just to shout out to all of them, those are.

K

Who are actually health care, workers, uh rns and doctors, and things like that and those who have.

K

You know been stepping up and filling those roles to help um continue to provide services. All those.

K

Services we talk about to our community, so just a chance to give our little shout out to to my own.

K

Health care heroes, absolutely they are selfless workers supporting our community. So thank you. Okay,.

A

Any comments additional thanks. Thank you very much, maggie. Let's move on to uh debbie when you come.

A

On up and er we're going to be you're the next uh good morning, chris good morning with us on this or.

L

He is here in case you have questions, uh oh I don't know. I hope I don't do anything wrong and.

A

I don't think you will well we're going to have see commissioner fraser last, because he's seen me.

L

Like hang up on people, and I have technology and my fingertips- sometimes I do okay and sometimes.

A

So I appreciate coming in we're gonna, have an update on the federal funding.

A

um And status and see, if there's additional decisions that we need to make in moving forward.

A

So miss debbie, it's on you, okay, so um yep. Today we'll look at some of the federal funding that.

L

You have received as a result of covet, including a final look at the crf plan that you adopted.

L

The projects approved to date in the frf plan, along with an update on the final rule that has.

L

Been released and new project requests and then finally I'll take a quick look at federal earmarks.

L

And the infrastructure bill or what we know to date on those two federal sources. So first the.

L

Summary on the crf plan that ended 1231 of 21., the county's allocation was 4.7 million dollars and we.

L

Did fully expend those funds, the additional 4.1 million represented on this chart was granted to.

L

The county from the health department's allocation, both the health department and the county, got 4.7.

L

So all together, the plan provided 18.8 million to the county to respond to coven.

L

And this is the final allocation of those dollars, the largest share of funding 43.

L

Went to your constituents and your partners, so these were business non-profit.

L

Fire department grants we provided funding to municipalities, allied agencies.

L

And then some programs directly impacting citizens like rent relief. We did.

L

Ipads for isolated seniors and we did services for homeless. The next slice of the pie. 28 went.

L

To safety measures for both staff and the public using our buildings, so this was.

L

Your lobby redesign 911 center redesign, hvac projects, ppe and the technology upgrades that.

L

Allow us to do remote, remote meetings and and remote work and then the last slice 29.

L

Went to hazard pay and to salaries of those public safety staff presumed substantially debted.

L

To covet dedicated to covert response and then a little teeny bit for some admin costs like audit.

L

So that's the final look at the plan. If you have any questions about that.

A

The total we have right now that we're scheduling is fifteen point, eight six million. So that's the.

L

Frf so I've got a couple so this was this is the coveted relief funding? Okay yeah? They came in.

L

It seems so long ago, about two years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, in the cares act we.

L

Got a direct federal allocation, um both our you know the county and the health department, and we.

L

Spent that madly with you know, weekly updates um on uncovered response straight up. So all of this.

A

Has been executed, as of 12 31 yep spent done we're just organizing records and getting ready for you.

L

Know any audit that may happen we were audited by our auditors, our single audit, that came that was.

L

You know that we had wonderful results from that, so we'll be ready for any federal audit. That comes.

L

So now the frf money so just to remind the board of the parameters of this. This is the 32.7 million.

L

In direct federal money that you received last spring, we received the first allocation in may.

L

Second, allocation will come, this may grant period, runs through calendar year, 26 with all funding.

L

Allocated by the end of 24- and this is intended again to respond to covid, just like the crf.

L

But then more broadly, to stimulate our economy and to support long-term recovery. So I'll just.

L

Just wanted to touch on the final rule. We did um we've gotten that the feds released that a couple.

L

Of weeks ago it goes into effect april 1st, I will say there were no huge shifts that impact any of.

L

The projects that you have authorized today, they are all still eligible, but just some highlights.

L

Under the public health emergency category, there's additional emphasis on proportional response.

L

They want to make sure that we are focused any of those dollars on those most impacted.

L

And then we have a few more requirements around capital projects. um I think the intent of this is.

L

The farther we get from the initial pandemic and the initial shutdowns, the harder it may be to tie.

L

A request to covid, so they want to make sure that these requests are tied to coven.

L

Broadband, the feds have maintained their commitment to terrestrial service and that 100.

L

Up and down speed, they did add a requirement that all isps that build with this money offer.

L

An affordable option for low to moderate income, households, water wastewater and storm water.

L

Projects remain eligible with some expansion of the types of projects that are eligible under that.

L

Funding and probably the biggest change in the final rule is this idea of lost revenue. So we.

L

Included this in your initial plan, um treasury was allowing jurisdictions to make a calculation of.

L

How much revenue they lost as it as a result of covid? We had not done that calculation, yet it's.

L

Complicated we were going to have um someone come in and do that for us, um but we waited long enough.

L

And now the feds have have, in the final rule, will allow jurisdictions to take up to 10 million as a.

L

Presumed impact of covet in lost revenue, and I want to just talk a little bit about that.

L

A couple of things it doesn't add to our allocation. It's still part of the 32 million.

L

And it doesn't mean you have to change your plan, all your projects can still be under the fr.

L

Categories, but it does give some flexibility and you could spend up to 10 million dollars of the 32.

L

On general government services- um and you know, as you started to to say, commissioner rusteen, what's.

L

Left in the plan is not, we don't have 10 million dollars left, but it would. um I would like you to.

L

Consider that administrative decision, because it would give us flexibility at the end of the plan.

L

If we haven't fully spent, then we can spend that on any government.

L

Service that we would normally provide to our citizens, so just because of that flexibility.

L

All right, so I wanted to give you a look at the plan as it stands now. This is everything.

L

That you have approved to date, including the emergency requests that have come before you.

L

And the um match that we have pledged to the state broadband grants we've had. We had.

L

Three isps go in for the 10 million infrastructure project on behalf of.

L

Carroll county and then we had a neighborhood grant, so you have allocated or approved.

L

15.8 million in projects, which is just under our first year's allocation. All these projects are.

L

Moving forward uh they're, all in that that um that phase of designing the rfps some of.

L

The rfps have been released um and it was good that our timing worked. That way, because we got to.

L

Look at all of these projects with the lens of the final rule, just to make sure.

L

That everything was still eligible and, as I said, all these projects are fine.

L

So I also wanted to just give you a quick look and in your package you have a whole list of.

L

All the projects that were that were requested, but this is the projects that were presented to you.

L

In um in august that we did not find- and I did adjust lost revenue so then that that follows.

L

The final rule and it's at the 10 million mark we had estimated that at 6 million, so you still have.

L

In remaining projects that are not allocated 12 million towards broadband- and this was your last.

L

Mile projects to connect citizens, four storm water projects, two hvac, a generator project.

L

Some projects for utilities, water and wastewater, the bonus for circuit court employees and then.

L

The collaboration with westminster around water supply, I have zeroed out some of the projects.

L

Because I don't think that we need frf money for those anymore, but I wanted you to remember. They.

L

Were in the plan, so one was economic relief for landlords. We received 4.2 million citizen services.

L

Is administering this grant for rental assistance and we think that takes care of that need.

L

The county office space at penmar, you elected to spun that with one-time county funds.

L

And then the state's attorney fiber connection is in the capital project, so we didn't need it.

L

Here in the fra, um if I can for a second, the collaboration with westminster water supply for.

D

Three million dollars. I thought that we said that that was for water supply for any municipality.

D

That we would collaborate with not just city westminster. um I think in the in the original.

L

Plan this was the language um I don't know if it was broadened after that, but this was the original.

A

I think it was westminster specific and that westminster was going to match right right, but.

A

We never got past, I mean I, I had conversations with sykesville afterwards with the mayor and.

A

Town manager and I'm meeting with her again, but we never committed other municipalities in a matching.

A

Program except for westminster, so I I don't know I mean I'm more than happy to do it. I think it'd.

A

Be great to collaborate with some of these I mean I I don't want it up to three million dollars is.

D

That what I'm looking at, but I I thought we had talked about- let's say sykesville or or.

D

Union bridge or somebody said that they wanted to put money toward water supply and they had a.

D

Project and it was 500 000 or something like that. If they committed money, we would commit matching.

D

Money with them as well and it depends on when the product projects came in, be I'm not saying.

D

I'm going to take the money away from westminster, but I thought that was the discussion that we had.

D

We had settled on put three million dollars aside for water supply, as municipalities would come in.

D

And and have projects for that, we could match up to up to three million dollars and depends.

D

What they were, we could say. Yes, we could match part of what they're asking for. I think that's.

A

Expanding the scope or the parameters of this initially.

A

I'm open to it, I'm personally, I I mean the more: we can collaborate with the municipalities.

A

In these projects and do matches, I'm I'm always four, um but this specifically from.

A

What I recall was the dialogue we had with westminster, but if we want to look at it.

A

From the eight municipalities and and looking at a a match because they have their own funds,.

A

Coming in I'm, I mean, I think, that's open for discussion, so uh I don't know what others think.

A

About it, I'm I mean I have one jurisdiction, you know right yeah and I'm not. I don't want to take.

D

The money away from westminster, but I know when we talked about that we had talked about other.

D

Municipalities might have similar needs. We had a three million dollar in a pot out there. If another.

D

Municipality said, you know what we could use we'll match: 500 000. So we have this need here and if it.

D

Fit the parameters of the water supply thing they could get 500 000.. If westminster said we.

D

We need all three main, and this is why I I don't know, I don't know what they're going to ask for.

D

But we did say three million dollars, it's a total pot, but I mean: are we making? Are we making it too.

G

Complicated, it's also still in the unallocated. So the it's not it. You know the board did not choose.

G

To put it in the we want to spend this category yet so it's still in the we were contemplating.

G

Spending it well, I know: that's, that's your decision, I'm just making sure you understand it.

F

Right, you haven't directed to move it over, so there actually isn't any money in the to be spent.

A

No, but it's available within well limitations of this the frf dollars. We still have that.

A

Available to us to allocate it right ye sort of well well, so so I think that.

L

You know so unallocated right now is 16.8 okay. So, let's just let me go to the next slide so that.

L

Okay, so 16.8 is the unallocated balance. I made an assumption here that you would want to continue to.

L

Leave the 12 million in the broadband allocation. We have not released to that we're waiting for the.

L

State to make decisions about their grants and then we'll decide what to do. But you know I'm.

L

So I made an assumption so that only leaves you with 4.8 million. So if you took three for water.

L

It just there's not there's not very much left, it's surprisingly easy to spend 32 million dollars.

A

Yeah no, no, I I understand so that's where I you know we just wanted to caution right. That's there.

A

There's um and I agree, uh we are putting a great emphasis on broadband and I.t for all the right.

A

Reasons um there are a lot of opportunities to keep going after grants and state and.

A

Federal dollars, which we are um you know, uh and I don't want to slow down that momentum whatsoever.

A

It's it's broadband water, I mean that's, you know in development and uh you know if we allocate that.

A

3 million out of that 4.5 or 4.489, and it doesn't have to be three- I mean it could be whatever.

A

To entice uh incentivize municipalities to come on board and say hey, we want to.

A

Do something we don't have all the funds, but we want to have a matching approach.

A

I I think it's a good idea um to go beyond the borders of their municipalities. Well,.

D

These new requests here, because you're already taking them out, we haven't healed his family.

I

He took him out of what he just said right now,.

D

You just said you already took them out. We haven't talked about them yet.

D

So we're still looking at 4.8 correct millions left over correct and if you go.

D

Back to the last slide, then we're looking at funding those out of the 4.8 is that correct.

G

Any of those right, not all of those that have enough money for all of them, but any of those.

L

Would also still be in the mix and that's why I wanted you to see what was still remaining.

L

As unallocated as these are still projects that we looked at originally.

G

So all of these on this page plus any of them right and if you're looking.

D

At what we have discussed in the past, the hvac hvac systems, if you look at them because.

D

Better hvac system it was, is a benefit, especially when you have airborne coveted or whatever else.

D

Might come along in the future: let's look at the hva systems and that's another one.

D

I just I just I hopped back to the approved because we did there were seven buildings. I might.

L

Have been moving around, there were seven buildings that you did allocate funding to hvac. For that.

L

Reason that we're on the top ten list for dpw, okay, so right, we've done seven already, but they're two.

L

Two and switch like that and look away, but now we have two other buildings here.

D

That are in there that's correct that are our buildings. Yes,.

M

Yes, buildings. Are there um it's on your plan. I can look see who's faster.

G

Historic jails being done, burke's being done, it would be the courthouse.

G

Annex they're, both in the courthouse annex and the elderly,.

B

I'm glad the subject was brought up about these hvac investments. These are all.

C

Tremendous capital, investments for us and it emphasizes the importance of us maintaining.

C

All these things and how critical it is for us to have the personnel knowledgeable with.

C

The experience and maintain all these systems, because if we make this big investment in all.

C

This mechanical equipment- and we don't have the proper personnel- that's a lot to maintain.

C

That we have to have that personnel there maintain there. All these investments will deteriorate.

C

Fast for us is any of this funding available for us to put towards the personnel to maintain.

C

These systems, or is that off the table? I guess technically we could, but the money will end.

L

You know we only have money for staff through um the end of 24 and we're we're really sparingly.

L

I mean there we really just have a part-time person in the grants office. That's all the staff.

L

Right now that we've added broadband was the other position that you looked at to give some.

L

You know some support during the grant period, but in the back of my head I always hear director.

C

Zolowski say each time you create a new thing or a building or project. You have to mean it.

C

And maintain it, but this is amazing: this isn't creating new. This is new technology. New systems.

C

It's upgrading the system right we'd have to maintain anyway. What I'm getting at is there's a.

C

Constant revolving process to maintain- and I want to make sure that we have the staff and personnel.

C

That are mechanically inclined to maintain all this stuff to keep it at its highest level.

B

So what are you looking for today? All right, so let's go back to this slide, so I wanted.

L

You to consider the new projects that we have before you. um There are four requests.

L

One for the sheriff this would fund ppe um they're pulling some from the stockpile that we.

L

Created under crf, but there are some things that they need outside that stockpile.

L

And then test kits- and this would be for the remainder of the grant for three years.

L

Circuit court: we did a lot of technology upgrades in courtrooms for the circuit court, with the crf.

L

Money, this is one courtroom that was not completed. We did get grant money to fund about half of it.

L

They still need 18 five to finish that project and that is to allow remote meetings, social distancing,.

L

Within the court and that's as a result, we put this on the low end because we didn't have that.

G

Judge at the time, so this is for the expansion of the extra judge for judge de leonardo sorry.

L

Commissioner's office website migration project, this makes the website a little easier to use as.

L

People are using that more with with remote kinds of activities, and then the last request is to fund.

L

Stormwater management project for the ag center parking lot and chris hein is here today to answer.

L

Any questions specific to that project and they're requesting 240 000. um So the total and new request.

L

Is 368.5 so we're asking if you want to release any of those projects today, oh and then I did want.

L

To also just remind you of some of the things that so citizen services, um some commissioners.

L

We put that that rfp went out last week if we get more requests for behavioral health.

L

Services you wanted that to come back before you to see if you wanted to put additional.

L

Money towards that project we allocated 1.5 million. So that's just as a placeholder.

L

We don't have dollars to that any funds for future pandemic. You know when we adopted this plan in.

L

October, I know I didn't know how to pronounce omicron. So I mean we don't know what will happen.

L

And do we want to have some of these dollars sitting? You know for future pandemic response.

L

um And then there is an additional water project that utilities is interested in and looking at.

L

Frf money for but again we don't have a lot of details and or dollars associated with it. So.

L

Just some placeholders I have I apologize where where's that three million dollars one more time.

A

um So it's in the unallocated where so I'm flipping slides. Okay, so you have.

L

A total of requests right at 43 million dollars in requests that you have not allocated right.

L

um And we have 16.8 million dollars left and of that, the lost revenue is also what we want to.

A

Achieve this morning, right only to make the so I have to- or we have to in the next report make the.

L

Decision right, are we going to take it or are we not going to take it right? It.

L

Doesn't mean that you have to change your plan, but at the back end, if we haven't spent.

L

A couple hundred thousand dollars right: we can put general county expenses to those.

L

It'll, let us spend down, the entire grant, is really it gives you some flexibility and it it comes out.

A

Of that 32 it does so this one is yes right, 33, so so so one decision is approving that piece and.

A

Then the second today is to look at those others to whether we want to move forward with those or.

A

Not correct any of the old projects or any of the new projects right any of these projects.

G

And and or the new ones requested, yes, okay got it yeah, I'm a very strong advocate at helping.

C

Citizen services to emphasize the human impact this epidemic has had on us I'd love to hear.

C

A report potentially from director steckel like where we're at before the pandemic, where we're at.

C

Now how we're trending? Because I think she has a really good handle on the pulse of what's going on.

C

To give us some sort of briefing to how we can potentially help with some of these resources.

C

So well, I think when, when you know, as debbie said, the rfp was just put out on the street for.

G

Those beh additional behavioral health services last week or two weeks ago, and um so when that.

G

Process is you know and you're about to award. I think that would be an appropriate time to have.

C

That keeping the public informed because there's so much that they really are not clear. On and.

C

Eliminate any ambiguity on that, so thank you and I looked really quickly before I came over at the.

L

Rest of the coveted money that we've gotten. So, in addition to these two, the crf and the frf, which is.

L

About 50 million dollars, we've received another 20 million and most of that came to citizen services.

L

Some to burke, but the vast majority of that went through to aging to housing, to homeless programs.

L

We've received a lot of formula funding, the rental assistance, the rental assistance, and we just you.

L

Know we got 4.2 million in the first allocation right, we'll get another. I think 2.7 they just.

L

Sent us the grant agreements will be coming before you to talk about that, so they have received a lot.

L

Of money outside these plans to do that kind of work- and I know they're being very creative.

A

As well so always yep. um Okay, so do you want us to take this in two chunks? One is.

A

The easier one, which is the ten million dollar loss revenue um accepting to.

A

Shelf that and kind of I mean that's really what you want to do.

A

And then, from that we can have a conversation on the rest. Is that right? I mean right. You want to.

G

Recognize 10 million of the 32 million as lost revenue? Basically, yes, so that I can make that.

L

Election and then we have that flexibility, okay, so I'll make that motion that we accept that 10.

A

Million dollars uh is put to lost revenue of the 32 million dollar frf sorry, okay, I got a motion. I.

A

Got a second any discussion on that specific item seen here, none all in favor, all right! Okay! So now.

A

Let's look at the project descriptions of. I guess these, along with those four or five newer ones,.

A

Correct- um and I think it's been the sentiment of all of us to keep that momentum on broadband.

B

Yeah I've gotten I've gotten over a dozen calls in the last two weeks asking where my internet is.

B

So that's a need that has been identified. Your art you guys are debating about this.

B

Three million in water. We don't even know what that means. We do know what I.

B

T means and internet we have got to keep it in there right. I agree. So if you switch the page.

B

I agree, but I'll tell you water is I get the water thing, but I need to see specifics.

B

On what that means right now the needs flip the page once these needs are in front of us.

B

We we, even here we've agreed that we're saying that we said that's going there. No.

A

We all agree, there's no singularity, I mean we all agree that that is a.

B

Need, and as far as I'm concerned, these other four are the new request. I think.

B

We heard the sheriff talk about his test kits and how much they use at the detention center.

B

I think that's warranted uh getting the circuit court up to the date is also very important, as.

B

A matter of fact, there's a bill in the general assembly right now that would make us spend a.

B

Lot of money to do, I think what we're already doing so we might be ahead of the game there.

B

I'm not sure what the website migration is. I didn't hear about that other than.

B

I will say that I've had constituents reach out to me and say your website's a little complicated.

G

um So this this will, I I I don't I'm not the best. I ask chris if he, if he's listening,.

B

Not a lot of questions, but, but so what would the maneuvering? What would the.

G

Website migration do for us chris back in august, we noticed some issues with our forms.

M

These forms are critical to a lot of the information that we collect from the public.

M

We've used these forms in the past for covet information. We've used these pat.

M

For um water allocation pieces, we use the forms primarily a lot for our pia requests.

M

They stopped working. We believe it's because of the current content management system, that.

M

We use for the website needed to be updated uh in our research. We found that to update that.

M

We had to migrate the entire website to a new version so basically, like we did a few years.

M

Ago, where I had to move all the content from the old website to the news site, we're gonna have to.

M

Do that all again, but instead of me having to do it, uh the core tegrity will would be doing that.

M

In regards to making it easier, there will be a lot of new applications along with this new version.

M

I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I've been told it's going to be a.

M

Definite improvement that was the voice of divine providence. Okay, so last he started talking. Okay, so.

A

Where else do you want to go with this [ __ ] yeah? Typically, when you're navigating it's.

B

It it does, you got to keep going in steps chris, you know you get to the forums, maybe that's what.

B

You're talking about, and then you don't know where to go from there, because it just seems.

B

To me that it could be easier and that's what this would do. Right, yes, yeah and- and you know.

M

Another off topic a little bit regarding you, know, navigation. We can improve that at any point.

M

Okay, uh you know if they're, if they're, if you can share some of that information with you.

M

Okay, I've had the same concerns. Yeah I mean I've had people from varying.

B

Not only just a couple seniors reached out, but I had a couple other folks say.

B

You know when you compare it to other county when you hit on something you get it, but here you got.

B

To hit on something that hit on something else, it just takes you deeper, and it please identify those.

G

Because we can't catch them all so when they're there we we can, we can fix those. I've had a lot.

E

Of contractors say you know they try to follow their permitting and stuff on excel on there.

M

That leaves the site they're getting launched, that's a different subject.

G

Excel is not our website. That's a different subject. Oh okay, absolutely that's different.

B

And then the ag center parking lot, I think, is way overdue, that that has to be done yesterday.

E

It's got to happen this year. Well, this is the storm water management associated.

G

So there are two parts to that: it is right, but we need we. We need that funds to allow.

A

Them to do the things they need to do because it is well overdue and it is an economic impact.

A

To our county and partnership with the farm, museum and others, um so if we do all of this.

A

It's taking off that other page about unallocated funds, correct yeah. Well then, it reduces.

L

If I could flip back to that page, you have to ask commissioner frasier.

A

I'm giving you a heads up or just or just give them the you know green light red light. You know.

A

um Okay, so that would reduce you know what the third and again, if we take out loss revenue.

L

Because it's really, you know not a separate you'd have 33 million of requests and you've only got.

L

Four point right: six million dollars left, but that 46.6 million would be eaten up by those other.

A

Good if we agreed to that the broadband along with those four projects, no, that's well it would it's.

L

You could let me move, let me go back to that slide. So, even if you kept broadband in.

L

12 million you approved these four projects. You would have four point: five million dollars left.

L

To allocate you can still have some okay with these. These couple of you know placeholders.

L

That you've talked about, so you would have enough to do to put a three million potentially.

L

Water project out and leverage municipalities, okay, funding, you know good, that's good! You know.

A

I think um no that's great. I appreciate one the patience that you're providing as we're going.

A

Back and forth- and um I mean I love and read this stuff and you don't I do. I appreciate the patience.

A

I appreciate the clarity that you are providing. um I I believe, as um mark and his team continue to go.

A

After broadband and you as well brought in grants and opportunities that can also reduce that number.

A

um Because our governor is pushing a lot onto I.t and broadband, it could be yeah if those three.

G

Large, uh not neighborhood, but the other, the infrastructure right infrastructure. If those.

F

Three applications were to be approved and we'll know that toward the end of april, that would.

F

Have a huge difference from this: whether we need all of this 12 million, which is great so um but.

A

Regardless of that, I think it would be put into make sure we put this in place now going so.

A

We did the tim out. You want us to now agree to this. If you want to approve any of these four new.

L

Projects we could, we could allocate those today and then I would get those projects started. Yes,.

G

And I think it would be good to specifically vote on allocating the remainder of the 12.

G

Million to broadband, don't you debbie, because it really hasn't been allocated.

G

Previously it hasn't, it's just been it's sort of a gentleman's agreement that that's where that's.

A

Okay, so so you want us to second, topic is approve, what's in front of us right now from.

A

Unallocated to allocated the five items is that yeah, okay and we could always okay. You know in.

L

April, when we know what the state has awarded and there's more broadband money coming, we'll look at.

L

That, in a minute with the infrastructure um so yeah, we could get a lot of money from the state.

A

We're not going to bet on the check in the mail we're not going to yet right now. Okay, so you want.

E

To take these individually or as a group that is totally up to the board, if you feel that you're.

G

All sort of it sounds like you're all sort of a nodding agreement that you're okay with these.

A

Alignment of the five then we could probably just do all five. Do we need to do the motions on the.

C

Sheet, first and sequence, or how procedurally well, you already did the ten minutes. Okay, so.

A

Do I have a motion on accepting the five unaccount unallocated requirements and make them.

A

Allocated at this time, yeah yeah, okay. Second, so I got a motion. I got a second.

A

Is there any discussion on this? Okay, all in favor, and just to be clear, if I may, for in.

G

Case we have to watch this sometime later to see what those were yeah. They were 12 million dollars.

G

For it, broadband remain remaining projects, ppe and test kits for the sheriff's office.

G

Technology for the historic courthouse website, migration um and then stormwater management ag.

G

Center uh parking lot project right and it was a breakdown of 12 million 100 000 for the sheriff.

A

18 5 for the circuit court, 10 000 for the county government and 240 000 for land.

A

Resource management for the stormwater management ag center parking lot, and that leaves 1 million.

E

489 thousand five hundred thirty two dollars left correct, correct; okay! No, no! No! That's four million.

E

No, no, after that's used, there'll still be a million there's still. No, it's four four million.

L

There's still 4.4 million right: oh okay, oh yeah, okay, okay, because you have nothing.

E

This is getting better all the time.

E

I love creating there's 4.489 million left. Should we go to that last slide.

A

To see if we want to at this time, make any decisions in allocating funds.

L

You mean these potentials; no, no! No! No! No one back! Then. Sorry,.

D

Yeah, I would like to put the three million dollars aside of that four point. Whatever it was um aside.

D

For what are projects that we can leverage with the municipalities around carroll county, so you're.

A

Opening the aperture to all municipalities, yeah I mean we, but it would be up to us to how we're.

D

Going to allocate that three million- it could be part here, part there, and these are matching.

D

Funds, so the municipality has to put up their half, basically, okay, so, but I think they all need.

D

They could all use some help and again I don't disagree, it's just you put a lot into it. So.

A

All municipalities matching yes, fifty percent, uh you know, is there a a cap on it or is it.

A

First well, then, then we would look at it and decide. Yes, they could get this amount or.

D

Or whatever it also depends how many requests we get, we might not get one. I just want to make sure.

A

I understand what you're, what you're asking right so so we could reach out to them and lay out the.

G

Parameters and ask for their proposals if you'd like and secondly, um if I could have a bit more of.

G

A definition of what you mean by water supply, for example, right, um you know uh sykesville, since you.

G

Mentioned it does not run a utility, they don't run a water or sewer system in carroll county. Does it.

G

For them other, so are you limiting it to utility water and sewer service, or do you mean storm water.

G

Management keeping in mind the county already has a robust agreement with the towns where we pay.

G

For eighty percent of the stormwater management process, my intent on that is water supply, so.

G

Water sewer service, yeah water service, actually, I'm not even looking at sewer moving water service.

D

That's what I'm that's my intent and just limiting it to the municipalities, because we have two areas.

B

That we provide water to that aren't immunistic, but we do it. It's carrollton, they're, ours, hillary.

A

A

um I mean we, we can call it out the municipalities, I mean we can say who we're talking about.

A

Right, seven municipalities run some semblance, so westminster union bridge.

A

uh New windsor mount airy, I was going to say finksburg uh manchester, united manchester united.

A

Hampstead and tony town now yeah those seven right and hampstead's included because they.

G

um Provide the clean water we, the county, provides the wastewater okay. So so that's why.

F

Those seven, if you're doing water, clean water supply projects again, I just want to be.

A

Clear as we're ready to allocate three million dollars, so you want to allocate three million.

A

Dollars for water to those seven municipalities in a matching approach, matching ground yep.

D

Okay, that'd be my motion and I could see maybe taking out of the remaining two, whatever million.

E

Left in this thing, well, it will let this okay, let's go over this one first, so three million.

A

Okay, I'll, second, that I understand, is there any discussion on it all in favor, all right against.

B

Saying hi? Okay, because I don't like putting money out with no details. Well, so I think.

B

We should get the details first and then put the money out well so what I think we'll do.

G

Is send a letter to the towns saying that we, you know we've allocated, you know up to three.

G

Million dollars- and you know, let's see which, for this purpose, water supply only blah blah blah 50.

G

Match and um and and we're soliciting your your project and then you will review the projects and.

G

Award or not, and I want to put a deadline on it, certainly when, because, if not we're just going to.

G

Let this well, the money has to be allocated by uh 24, so we're not that I'm suggesting we go that far.

G

Anyway, but we there are limits by the federal government regardless, because this started.

A

Because because I agree with you, this started with the conversation we had with westminster.

A

Very specifically right with 97 in mind, and you know stretching on 97. yeah. It's just. I just would.

B

Have liked to have seen some details first, because three million is a little drop in the bucket.

B

You think you could potentially do three million just with westminster.

B

With all that, they have so we're going to become the we're going to become the who gets. What.

B

It can be controversial, I'm just having a little bit of I mean this. You know just tawney town.

B

Get it over westminster or the only way, sir, they only get so much. I mean we're limiting.

B

It to three million- maybe there's going to be some more money that would come in which.

B

Is why I'd like to get the details first, which is why I was not in favor um and then.

B

Allocate the money- maybe maybe it comes in at four- with all seven or something I don't know.

B

I just don't like putting a figure on it, and then we have that that forces us to then make.

B

The judgment call on who gets what I think we can satisfy both and doing the appropriate staffing.

A

Like roberta, you said reaching out to municipalities and bringing back this.

A

Motion and getting them to define their needs if this was put in place, because just like this.

A

We had 32 million dollars with 60 million dollars of requirements and we had to figure out. We don't.

A

Know what their requirements are going to come back, but I want that. I believe it should be.

A

With a significant timeline to get them to act on it.

A

And then we can go from there, whether it's three two or four I mean we don't know so, what's an.

C

Adequate timeline you're looking at, I would think I I know that several of the towns, because they're.

G

Getting frf money too they've all all gotten some money, um some significant I mean westminster, got.

G

Significant, yes, um the um that they are work, they are focusing on these kinds of projects.

G

um So I would believe that they already have this information that they can readily avail.

G

So I would say giving them two or three weeks would probably, I think three four seems a little.

G

Long to me, two seems a little short: let's go three: okay, um I'll go for 21 days, no three weeks.

A

Okay, so by march 1st I'll have a response: okay, so something like that yeah! um Okay. So with that said,.

A

Make the motion rescind that last, since we already took a code on it,.

G

So you don't want to allocate the money at this point. You want to see the the stuff you.

B

Must do that? I don't know. I voted no just for the record because I don't like you voted. Yes,.

B

Well, I kind of did not you said you, you voted for cautiously optimistic. I get your point. I.

F

Just don't like assigning an amount that puts us in a spot. I understand that then.

B

You're putting the cards in for the horse right exactly pits down against.

I

It I just that's a tough way to do it and knowing, of course, that a lot of that.

F

Mrf money: these municipalities are getting already right and, if they're getting a reasonable amount.

B

Then why should we even be involved? Why can't we put that three million towards something else? Do.

G

You want to know how much they've each gotten well, we know we already know well. Public knows.

A

That it's out there we know uh no, um so that so what I know and maybe others know more, uh the.

G

Congress or our senators, when it when it was first passed, sent us a list of approximants, um but they.

G

The um the local jurisdictions were capped and they could not get more than what 75 percent.

G

A certain percentage of their last year's budget so um that the the numbers for the most part.

G

Were higher but reported by the um congressional delegation than they actually received yeah, it's.

A

All public record I mean that's yeah, we can ask them, though, because we don't I mean you can get it.

L

I don't know I probably can get it because yeah I could probably it was. I think it ranged from.

L

About 15 million in the original for westminster to about 800 000 for union bridge. But I don't.

L

Know where they landed, but the okay my contacted dhcd is the guy giving it out. So I'm sure he can.

B

Provide that list- and you know in some instances it's a lot of money- it is yeah for them. It's.

L

This little matching thing. Well, it sounds great. We could potentially use against the.

B

Stormwater management project that we have that didn't get one of these four that didn't get.

B

I mean there's four projects here at 2.9 come on chris, you can show a motion. That was a good thing.

B

Okay, water is a, in my opinion, a problem in carroll county. If we want to keep moving forward with some.

D

Type of development we need water. I think we might abandon water. Look at this as a look at this three.

D

Million dollars to leverage with municipalities, because that's where the growth areas are anyway,.

D

For more water and if they have projects- and they probably do.

D

They want to put down a pipeline but put them pipeline there. Then we can help them with that.

D

And it's it's you're right, it's not a tremendous help, but it is a health right. I think.

A

You know there was energy about this one because again, commissioner fraser and I participated in.

A

Conversation with westminster- and this was oh man three months ago- maybe two months ago-.

A

um And we're like okay, how can we build on the relationship? How can we expand.

A

Out 97 and that's kind of where it all started moving from, but we can leave it, as is.

A

I don't think we have to make any further decisions at this point, I think we've.

A

Gotten what you wanted- and that was the 10 million and looking at others, that we wanted.

A

To say yes, let's allocate, and we did that with the five uh or four or five rounds and.

L

Nothing will happen to that balance right without coming before you, so we're not I'm not I'm not.

E

What's remaining, oh sure, change your uh screen. Would you just before I forget.

G

Yeah yeah 1.4. Well I see what you're saying the the very funds for future pandemic response is.

A

What if this happens again? Oh it's just uh oh it's not it's! Not it's not a holding. It's not.

L

It's just a you know just to as a reminder that we we you know, we come before you with.

L

Emergency responses, um and just before we leave the idea of water supply, I will.

L

And I didn't spend a ton of time because we didn't have a project that was allocated.

L

There are some guidance. There are some rules around what you can do for future water.

L

Through the frf- because that's not really the intent so we'll have to look at that and and.

L

Then also, you know, analyze those projects based on the guidance and what is allowed, because it's.

L

There's there's some language around what exactly you can do for future growth in future water.

L

Supply, so just keep that in mind that if I come back and you know quash a dream that.

A

I mean I understand: we're allowed to take some poetic license, but not all so yeah and.

G

Maybe if it's not too onerous, debbie we'll think about it, but we maybe put that in the letter so.

G

What we get we can reference, the guidance yeah has to be eligible projects, it does, and there.

L

Are some parameters around new water supply, yeah debbie? Do you need anything else from us.

A

I don't think so. Are you sure I'm good? You want to phone a friend.

G

Although you did want to go over real briefly the next, what's coming down the slide, yeah.

G

Just just to you know just to touch on what I know about federal earmarks and um the infrastructure.

L

Bill, although I will say I don't know a lot about how the feds pass a budget, but these both depend.

L

On them passing a budget without you know that they actually have to pass the budget. They can't.

L

Continue to operate on continuing resolutions so federal both the information about both of these.

L

Funding sources has gone out to directors. These are the I just gave you kind of the.

L

General projects that are eligible under federal earmarks, if you'll recall the sheriff requested.

L

The body-worn cameras last year, they're still in conversation with the federal delegation, because.

L

The 22 requests, since we're still operating on a continuing resolution have not been funded so.

L

They might if they pass a budget soon be in in play again. Otherwise, they'll submit again for.

L

23 the same project so they're still talking to the delegation about that now: infrastructure bill.

L

We have some again. A lot of this is apparently tied to them passing a budget. Some of this funding.

L

Is not there unless the federal government passes a budget? um That said, the guidance has gone out to.

L

Directors, you know, we've got a a timeline for 22 of when these competitive grants will open.

L

And local governments will be able to apply just so you know the kinds of projects I mean 60.

L

Of this was in u.s department of transportation, so there's a lot of capital money for highway.

L

Transit alternative fuels. You can, you can read the list hazard mitigation under public safety.

L

And then the broadband there's two billion dollars in broadband money, a lot of that's going to come.

L

To the state right, we might see that in these grants to the infrastructure they may just.

L

Put more money to those programs and or release another allocation and then we'll be able to apply.

L

For uh competitive broadband opportunities, middle mile projects and then cyber security, which I'm.

L

A little confused, some have said, that'll be competitive, others say that's coming through the.

L

State as well so we're watching these um in the grants office, we look at the federal opportunities.

L

That are posted every day and we'll push these out. If we see opportunities that we're eligible for.

L

And I'm encouraging directors too and and staff to talk to their state partners. You know money's.

L

Coming harry, what are you doing with it? Carroll county is interested in x, y or z. um With these.

L

Broad parameters in mind, so I just wanted to let you know what I know about those um pots.

L

Of funding and just to let you know that we're watching them and and trying to position ourselves.

L

So that we can apply for some of that money- important my ignorance, but what is middle mile.

C

It's not that last mile connection too, so it's that backbone, probably other commissioner vance.

L

Can explain it better than I will not? I can see. I got one ear and I got too much gain.

C

I can explain it, but I can't do it in my district.

B

So this it gets you from the the road to the it's, the it's, the port in layman's terms, kind.

B

Of I guess it's the roadway to the hook up or no no! No! So it's all so so! Every that size mile every.

G

Including carroll county government, we have x number of miles of our fiber network right.

G

And then um and then they go that then eventually gets hooked up to like this building.

G

Right, but between wherever that that ring, the closest ring of our fiber network is to.

G

The end building there's a middle mile and then there's the last mile. So the last mile.

G

Is like getting it to the building, but the middle mile is getting it from the ring to.

G

A close point near the building does that make sense? Is that the hope.

B

It's the right way to the box is what I was going to say. That's kind of the moment. That's the.

B

Wherever that is or to the tower got to the middle right yep, that's the latest.

C

So it's the logistics of distribution.

A

Debbie, this is good, I think, um understanding. Some of these earmarks.

A

Like dpw airport, we've had been having a lot of conversation about airport lately.

A

Understanding what that means, as far as funding potential could also.

A

Help us out so and and I have sent to them the specific. So there are specific federal.

L

Programs here that are eligible for earmarks or congressionally directed spending, I will say.

L

Not only do they have to pass a budget, but it's incredibly competitive because every congress.

L

Person can put forth 10 projects across the country, so very, very competitive um yeah. We and we.

L

So I caution people about that, but I you know it's back. We didn't do earmarks for many many years so.

L

You know if we have a project, we should put it forward, but I don't know that you would be able.

L

To count on getting it now in the infrastructure bill, though I mean yeah in the infrastructure.

L

Bill there is money for airports. We've already talked to um the f and faa, I'm like which acronym.

L

About what our we know, what our allocation is and what we can spend it on it'll be over the.

L

Next, five years, I think we get close to three 300 000 a year. So it's not a ton of money.

L

Really, it's not, and it's very narrowly defined on what we can spend it on. But there is money.

L

That will come to the airport under that um infrastructure. Okay, under that infrastructure bill.

L

Now are there going to be see, I didn't see any competitive opportunities, though, for airports.

L

Okay um or I would have listed it here- I don't think I I don't think I saw transit. That's nice.

L

Because all the transit money we've gotten has been operating. So the fact that this is there's.

L

Some capital money, potentially and and we've I've talked to them about that one too, so we're looking.

L

At that, um so we're watching these programs to see if there are opportunities that we think are worth.

L

You know we're we are doing some grant training across the county and you know the first thing I.

L

Ask people is to really think about whether it's worth it it's not free money. It's a lot of work.

L

To apply for these, if it's very competitive and very unlikely and the project's not.

L

You know sexy kind of right, you know, are we really going to be successful and should our effort go.

L

There, because we have limited resources so and there's always potential matching requirements too.

C

Or yes, yeah and yes, absolutely the especially the earmarks, because those are coming through already.

L

Established programs, so there there could there could be matching and they would be different.

L

In each of these, um each of these programs and that's a lot to take into consideration when you.

C

Make that deliberation well, we'd have to come before the board, because that would be unbudgeted.

L

Match, and so you guys would be the ones to decide whether we would move forward with any of those.

L

Projects any of these, we would come before you unless stanford is it. You are seen setting a good.

C

Example at lunchtime going for a walk, oh, I usually do get out and walk every day. Well, I'm very much.

C

Impressed and I try to encourage as many people as possible to walk so any of our employees out there.

C

If they want to get out there and walk and join you, I hope so the weather will start changing soon.

L

It was really pretty yesterday and there was no wind well keep up. The good example.

C

Oh well, thank you and that wind is huge yeah. It is especially because I go. I go.

L

um I guess south first and then I wrap around and come north, and it's usually that last.

L

That last little bit, that's in the wind, it's that last mile that gets you that's the last.

L

Smile I've seen administrator windham walk all the way up to the arts council before.

A

Okay, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Okay,.

E

On to the police field, okay, now, let's uh did I do. I need to get the sheriff on and.

A

Let's talk about purchasing a handful of 2022 ford police, interceptor, suvs.

A

And let's see different ties: okay,.

L

See if I'll get this, please don't open that go away. Go for.

A

Okay, good to go: go for it! The office of procurement cooperation with the bureau.

I

Of fleet management warehouse operations request your approval toward the purchase of five 2022.

I

Ford police, interceptor, suvs from herchard fleet services and the total amount of 167 thousand.

I

One hundred and sixty dollars or thirty, three thousand three hundred and forty four hundred.

I

Thirty two dollars: each four vehicles will be used by the sheriff's department and one will be used.

I

By the detention center the purchase is being made through a maryland state contract. That was.

I

Competitively bid and the amount is within the adopted budget and no additional funds will be.

I

Necessary first off, thank you for the opportunity this morning this was a last minute addition.

N

To the agenda, I appreciate it reason being ford notified us that ordering for the police vehicles.

N

Is closing next week so we're here today seeking your approval to go ahead and order five explorers.

N

For the sheriff's department, as eli said, four of those five will be patrol vehicles marked patrol.

N

Vehicles, one will be fitted as a k-9 unit, the fifth one. We will be used by the detention center.

N

And these vehicles are like the other ones, there's a delay with them.

N

Six to eight months about when we will receive them so with your approval today we can.

N

And hope to see these by the end of summer. Okay, is there a difference in retrofitting or outfitting.

C

The patrol cars versus the detention center vehicle, or will they be the same.

N

uh They will be different. uh The next item on the agenda is discussing the next thing. For those.

F

Yeah, if you'd like we can discuss this we'll get through it I'll make the motion of board.

D

Of commissioners, the word of purchase of five 20 22 ford, police, deceptors.

D

Suvs from heretics fleet services in the amount of 167 thousand one hundred and sixty dollars.

A

Okay, I got a motion got a couple of seconds saying discussion. Yeah. Only one question is five enough.

N

Seriously well, this is uh this: is the the final vehicles we're looking to purchase for 22., okay,.

N

If you do recall it was back in july or august, we had ordered about 14 other ones, okay, so this is.

A

This is just finally closing it out and getting everything that we need, because this is the.

A

Last chance it seems like a good price yeah, okay, because of the way everything's moving this way.

B

Suvs, the way the delivery is yeah. I just want to make sure we're ahead of the game. Are these.

A

Are these on the lot now or no it'll be about a six to eight month? Wait until you receive these.

A

Okay, okay, I appreciate it. I got a motion guy a couple seconds.

A

Nothing else all in favor all right. Okay, now, let's talk about upfitting, these five vehicles.

I

The office of procurement, in cooperation with the bureau of fleet management, request your approval.

I

To use term contractor priority install llc to complete the up fitting of three shares vehicles.

I

One shares k-9 vehicle and one detention center vehicle, the amount of 80 245 dollars and 78 cents.

I

Includes all parts, labor, installation and delivery, this purchase is being made through a montgomery.

I

County contract that was competitively bid and the amount is within the adopted budget and no.

I

Additional funds will be needed, so the upfitting in the past has been performed by priority, install.

N

So with your approval, we'd like to go ahead and use them for these five explorers also.

N

We're very satisfied with their work and their turnaround time.

N

The outfitting consists of lights, sound equipment, storage, compartments and vaults. As commissioner.

N

Boucher was asking: there is quite a difference between outfitting a canine unit versus the.

N

Detention center um officer browning's here he might be able to provide a little more.

N

Detail, yes, sir, if he wants to we'd love for you to elaborate, the k9 unit is over top of.

O

The regular marked vehicles is about a 7 500 increase in cost the tension center vehicle.

O

Is very minimally upfitted! That's why there's such a difference in the in the cost to upfit.

O

The detention center vehicle- you know the dogs and inmates can chew on things right, possibly.

C

So the k9 unit is more expensive to up it. So, yes, sir there's an additional roughly 7 500.

O

For all the equipment that needs to be installed in the vehicle plus install okay, thank you I'll.

E

Move the board of commissioners approved the use of term contractor priority, install llc to.

E

Complete the uplifting of five shares vehicles in the amount of eighty thousand two hundred forty.

E

Five dollars and seventy eight cents, a second okay. I got a motion guys second name discussion.

A

Seen here and then all in favor all right, good job. Thank you, okay. Thank you. Guys.

A

We are now on first down chris, we got any callers. No, sir. Okay, we're gonna go into uh open admin and.

A

Then into agenda review, I have a couple of items for open admin. The initial item I want to bring up.

A

Is I believe we are all aware of the hard work that our county government has been doing and.

A

The challenges that come along with it in recruitment training and retaining a strong.

A

Workforce we have a planned with our intent to provide salary increases for our workforce.

A

Beginning one july, the new fiscal year, I'd like to make a motion that we initiate that.

A

On the first pay period of one of march, so we're accelerating it by um three months.

A

Understanding the uh the pay uh necessary or the uh dollar amount necessary.

A

Having the conversation with office of management and budget, we can handle that.

A

Difference in the amount- and you know we're just accelerating a decision- that's.

A

You know we're planning on making anyway, so I know it's uh long-winded, but that is my motion.

A

I will second that motion okay, I got a motion, I got a second. Is there any discussion on this.

B

No, the details surrounding it are certainly clear. uh You talk about recruitment and retention, uh we.

B

Have over 60 openings right now? Is that correct uh what they're about so, I think that's you know.

B

That's a challenge, which means that others are working harder and we've got to try to find a.

B

Way to uh attract uh people to the workforce, I mean I, I think, salary's just a part of that.

B

And I certainly do agree that that we can. We can do this uh and I think it's a good move.

B

But on that other side of the coin, I think we really are need to start looking at other ways.

B

Besides salary and benefits that could be an advantage for folks to work for county government.

B

And you know there are things such as you know, flexed hours, uh four day work weeks, I mean you've.

B

Heard it all working from home, I truly think that there that we should begin looking at that and.

B

We're doing the sigel study as most will remember. uh Perhaps they'll have some of those ideas for us.

B

uh But I think it's a great idea and um it's only gonna cost us a little bit.

B

Knowing, of course, what the definition of recurring is right, which sometimes people forget but moving.

B

This up, as you say, I don't think is, is uh I think it's going to be an easy thing to do and sends a.

B

Positive message and might just help a little bit if somebody's looking to get hired on here. I don't.

B

Know see what sigel says correct, but I have to agree with commissioner lance. I think it's due.

C

Time for us to look at being more competitive and thinking that it will be outside of box.

C

The labor market is changing and that we're in constant competition with the private sector.

C

Unless we as a government agency, step up and offer employees the competitive benefits and.

C

Flexibility that the private sector is offering we're at a severe disadvantage and obtaining the.

C

Quality personnel: we need to provide the greatest service possible as a municipality to our citizens.

C

So I'm wholeheartedly in in support of this concept. So what was the percentage again.

F

Yeah, rather not go through the percentages, yeah there's variables; okay! So no that that's okay,.

F

There's just variables associated with it: okay, um but uh let's just say higher the only one.

B

Well, okay, I mean, I know that there was a lot of discussion. Okay,.

A

All right, that's fine, um yeah, just fair to say it will meet the intent of what we want to establish.

A

Beginning of fiscal year, 1 july, we are just accelerating it to first pay period in march.

A

Again, recruit train retain, show our appreciation for the workforce and.

A

As you know, it's about readiness and it's about having your firefighters and my service members.

A

Ready and you know not to be looking for other jobs not to be looking.

A

uh Over there over their shoulders, so a large part of this as leaders is to have.

A

The best ready workforce um is there any further discussion on this. All in favor.

A

The other open admin topic I want to bring up. We made the decision last week to.

A

Take away the mask requirement or allow it to be a personal choice in government facilities.

A

And we made the limitations on a couple of the facilities like our senior centers.

A

I'd like to revisit that, I don't believe we are in the position. The five of us.

A

To make that decision, because I I don't feel the expert of who comes in and out of those senior.

A

Centers, but I would like our citizen services to look at the senior centers and whether or.

A

Not they should be now allowing those senior centers to be open, regardless of mask or not.

A

And it's a comfort level, you want a recommendation from staff. I would like a recommendation from.

A

Staff to move forward in opening it and if the recommendation from staff is that it is.

A

uh Capable of doing that, um then we should have that effective.

B

We tightened it anyway last week and said only if you're crap, yeah close proximity of playing cards.

A

Right but it's, but you know it's it's everything else was fine, but so I I agree so with that said.

A

You know if somebody's at the senior center and they're in their mid-60s, like.

A

You or commissioner weaver playing pinocchio, you know you should have the right mind to whether.

A

You're wearing a mask or not, and I shouldn't have to be saying: wear a mask or not now some.

A

May have a little bit of memory loss, not not done by you but others and on whether to wear a mess.

A

So with that said, I would like it to be optional at this point and they're the most vaccinated ones.

A

So if we can just make it clear that all senior centers, just like.

A

All county buildings, it is optional and is at the personal discretion of those entering and exiting.

A

The senior center is that optional, if you're playing peanut butter, but if you're playing bridge.

A

You have to okay yeah I'll, second, that okay, so master optional in all senior centers. At this time,.

A

I got a motion. I got a second all in favor, okay, thank you. um I used to play p knuckle. uh It's a.

A

Great game: it's a lot of cards, there's a great game. Okay! Is there anything else for open admin.

A

Nothing there's a lot of discussion on fyrif and a really good discussion on uh fr. Debbie miss.

A

Won you come on up and uh it's nice seeing face to face. um Let's go through our agendas.

A

A

A early happy valentine's day to you, ms wanda, on monday, the 14th, we have nothing scheduled on the.

A

15Th we have an advisory meeting, commissioner weaver and I will be attending having that.

E

They were going to suspend that march. We'll have to ask this afternoon yeah you're right. I think.

A

They were going by monthly, so we can find out we'll have to ask them yeah. They may have moved it.

A

To now bi-monthly, we have a meeting this afternoon with us right now. Okay, thanks on wednesday,.

A

The carroll county workforce development meeting.

A

Is it's gonna be over kate wagner? I will be attending that at least in the morning.

A

uh You know have some conversation with them and then on wednesday. As always, there's the.

A

Mako tech subcommittee, commissioner, lance and the legislative committee.

A

With both commissioners, fraser and wayne's attending are those virtual, both virtual.

A

Carroll county.

A

The community college board of trustees meeting is at 5 pm and commissioner, wants should be attending.

A

Correct, as far as I know, yeah, it's just you're not on there but yes, you'll, be attending in the great.

A

Hall over to community college and then the east sac at 7 00 p.m. You have an extremely full day.

A

On wednesday and commissioner wentz will be attending that on thursday.

A

We have open session starting at nine uh thursday february 17th. We have approval for the annual plan.

A

For fiscal year, 2022 bureau of housing, um yeah carroll, county bureau of housing and then also.

A

Carroll county workforce development, staffing plan, mr lybern and heather powell, be presenting.

A

I expect there'll be more added to that agenda uh for next week friday. We have nothing scheduled.

A

Neither on saturday and commissioner boucher has the podcast on sunday on monday bless you.

A

We are officially closed. It's a federal holiday for presidents, day monday february 21st at 6, 30.

A

P.M, commissioner weaver will be having a town hall at the what is formerly known as the north.

A

Carol high school, I take the auditorium- or this is at the auditorium and it's a town hall meeting.

E

A major focus will be on introducing the local citizenry to the new owners of the school and.

E

Let them present what they're doing the sheriff will be presenting his part. What's doing and.

E

We're going to discuss uh issues in the county, so it's more of a question-answer downfall. That's.

A

The major focus: what's the minor focus, that's what nothing? Okay, wednesday 9 30. We have uh mako.

A

Both virtual again, commissioner, lance and fraser will be attending. um There will then be.

A

I apologize on tuesday february 22nd. We have the state of the county.

A

uh Address which will be held at the community arts center all in attendance on.

A

22Nd and start time we'll find out, but I think it's at nine, but I'm not positive. No 7 30 isn't.

B

It yeah it's like 7, 30. yeah. I don't think it's usually yeah, it's like 7 or 7 30, because they.

F

Try to do that to get the business community back to work right. I think they they want you there at.

E

7 30, they start something at eight weeks, okay, so more to follow on that, but tuesday february 22nd.

A

At the community, art center is the state of the county. On wednesday I mentioned the.

A

Mako at 4 pm we have a joint meeting with the board of education. It is an away game.

A

Over at the board of education boardroom at 4 pm thursday open session starts at 9.. We have.

A

Fy 23 annual transportation plan, mr cassaway will be presenting and then the public excuse.

A

Me, the 2023 consolidated transportation plan with ms eisenberg presenting and I.

A

Expect more that be added on on that agenda as well friday saturday, we have nothing.

A

And I will be providing the last podcast of february 2022. good way to close that tomorrow.

D

What's that it's a good way to close out the month, it's a good way to close out the month.

A

um I need a motion to adjourn we're going to go to closed for land acquisition, we're going to.

G

Go to close for land acquisition and go to clues for land acquisition wait a second second! Oh man.

A

All right we're going to close for land acquisition; okay, all in favor,.

A

Aye aye aye and continue motion to adjourn after closed session. Second, I got a motion.

A

And a second to adjourn after closed for land acquisition, all in favor aye.

B