Carroll County, MD Commissioner Ed Rothstein- District 5, 9 Mar 2019

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From YouTube: District 5 - Town Hall Meeting with Commissioner Rothstein

Description

Town Hall meetings provide a great
opportunity for commissioners to brief citizens and for citizens to ask questions
and share concerns, thoughts, and ideas. All are welcome.
Commissioner Rothstein said, “As the District 5 Commissioner, it is very important
to me to establish many open lines of communication to inform the community
about current projects and initiatives,” said Commissioner Rothstein. “This Town
Hall is an excellent opportunity to reinforce my motto of ‘Listen to you…Learn from
you….and Lead with you’, and I hope to see many residents in attendance to discuss
local topics of interest.”
Briefing Topics
• Economic and Business Growth in Carroll County
• Public Safety and Security
• Public Schools

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First and foremost good morning and really appreciate you all being here.

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This is about oh five, six, seven times more of a crowd than I was expecting, but.

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I like it, I like it a lot and I am gonna use the mic, although I don't often like.

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Using mics, but I just want to make sure that you can hear me in the back, so is it okay in the back? You can hear me we're like this with the mic. That's what.

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I figure so I'm a little bit out of my comfort zone using mics, but as long as I.

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Can get the word out, you know that's what it's all about.

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My intent is to do these town halls. Basically, every quarter, it's been 90.

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Days since I came into office and a little bit about my background and why.

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Town halls are important. I served in our military for 30 plus years. The last job.

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I had I ran fort meade. I was installation commander. I had about.

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A thousand workforce, but about 55,000 that either live or worked on. For me, it.

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Was really difficult to share with folks my intent and the activities that were.

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Happening on installation, except through different media newspaper radio, tv, but.

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Town halls seemed to be the best, and the best town hall's have had we're the ones.

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That are very interactive, so the approach I want to take in the next hour.

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Little over an hour- and I definitely train to the task- not the time so we'll.

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Go as long as you want is for me to take about a quarter of the time, a fifth of.

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The time and you take about four-fifths of the time and make this as interactive.

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As we can, my approach are using three words: listen.

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Learn and lead and they're, not just bumper-sticker approaches and nothing. I.

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Really have am gonna say with some of my approach. Are things that I just make up.

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Overnight there are things that I've had from experience and from mentors that.

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I've had the listen learn, lead approach actually came from one of my bosses.

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General mcchrystal and the intent is to listen to you, learn from you and then.

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Lead together with you, god gave us two ears in one mouth and we should be.

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Prepared to listen twice as much as we're able to talk and that's what this.

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Is all about? Is I want to have the ability to listen, not just hear the.

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Things that you have to say learn from your experiences. Another word for.

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Experience to a lot of us is scar tissue and a lot of us have a lot of scar.

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Tissue from our experiences, I want to hear and listen about those scar, tissues.

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Learn from them and then come up with a strong plan to lead with you on what.

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We're doing here in district five in elder burg in sykesville and then also.

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In our county, my responsibility as I take it is to focus on our district. Our.

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Community on your needs and then share those to the rest of the.

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Government, but it does not mean that district 5 priorities are the only.

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Priorities that we are looking at inside of carroll county, the intent is to.

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Govern with the rest of the county or other commissioners come up with a.

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Strong plan and then resource the things that we believe are the right priorities.

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Apologize, it's a little bit small, maybe next time I'll be using view grass with.

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Such a large crowd, but the focus is to identify what our values are and that's.

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Something I'm going to want to hear from you and listen to you about what you.

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Believe our values are in eldersburg, sykesville and carroll county and then.

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How do we prioritize those values and then how do we resource those priorities.

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When I use the word resource, the first thing that comes to mind is money. We are.

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Focused on our budget, we're going to be walking into the budget season real soon.

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But there's other resources available to us our time, something that we never get.

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Back and then also the people around us, so if I'm applying my resources, my time.

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The people within carroll county and our and our money, I better be sure that it's.

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Attached to our priorities and our priorities are attached to our values.

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If we prioritize work, that is not focused on the quality of life and our.

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Values within carroll county- and I think our priorities are out of whack and I.

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Want to be able to listen to you again and learn what you believe our values.

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Are and ensure that we're prioritizing the work and the effort that we we are.

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Doing tied to those values and then we're able to resource and that's the.

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Necessary dollars, time and people to those prayers. Hopefully that makes sense.

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What I want to do is walk through.

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A few topics that I believe should be or not should be are on your mind or maybe.

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On your mind, the growth, the business and economic development, growth and change.

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That we see in eldersburg and in sykesville from down 30 to the warfield.

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Complex you going up 32 on the right side across from hate. Is the national.

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Guard freedom, readiness center, you keep going up to 26 and you make a.

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Right and on the left, you see some ground being turned and that's a la waze.

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In front of, what's going to be michael's, you keep going down just a little bit on.

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The right and there's a lot of dirt being turned, and actually that's just.

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Dirt, that's just county dirt. That's been put.

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Into that property for grading, but is not designated right now, specifically.

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For a specific activity, so it is private company moving dirt.

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Right next to homeland, that's what that is.

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26, if you go the opposite way, west westbound towards 97 the widening of 26.

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The concerns we have on the light between 26 and johnsville othe by the.

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Methodist church, those are topics that I believe should be interesting to you and.

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I want to hear some of your thoughts on those.

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Safety and security, the sheriff's department, is a great partner in carroll.

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County to carroll, county government and great partner to you and we're blessed.

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At the carroll county, sheriff's department is with us today and also.

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Will be later on this evening for me, my second town hall and he's going to share.

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With you, some of the statistics about what he's actually just came from today,.

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Right, the latest okay, year-to-date statistics.

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And I'm gonna get him up here in a couple minutes to talk about what the.

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Sheriff's department is actually saying safety. I talked about the the road.

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Intersection 26 in johnsville, ave, intersection, bennett, road and 32. What.

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Are the plans for some of these intersections? How can we insure the.

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Safety or those that are commuting, how can we ensure safety for the kids.

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They're going to schools, the sidewalks that are being planned around the.

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Schools, schools some of the changing footprint in schools right now. There are.

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No changing footprint down here in district 5 with this with the school.

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System my kids went to piney elementary in.

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Sykesville middle and sentry high school, I'm very proud of what they've achieved.

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Through those schools, I'm very proud of what they achieved through those schools.

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Because of those teachers because of the administration because of the cafeteria.

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Workers and those that kept those schools running because of the coaches.

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That they gave their time to teaching my kids in the elementary middle and high.

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School, so I am a strong advocate for public school education. I'm a product of.

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It my dad was a retired school teacher and before the military I was a special.

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Ed teacher, so I'm very much about public education, drugs there's no other way to.

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Say it except it's evil it is. It is something that we have to deal with.

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Every day- and it is a strong concern of all of us in our neighborhoods in our.

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Community and I want to share with you some of the activities that we're doing.

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In dealing with the drug situation, whether it's facilities that we're.

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Partnering with the state, it's the nonprofit programs that are.

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Supporting our community and county- and it's also the county, work that we're.

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Doing in dealing with the drug situation, the opioids, the fentanyl is the.

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Over-The-Counter drugs, it's a mess and we got to deal with it.

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Septic sewer roads busy when I'm sharing with you is infrastructure, changing.

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Infrastructure, what are we doing about the roads? What are we doing about the.

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Septic situation, the sewer lines, how this all comes into play with the.

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Freedom plan that was approved in october, the freedom plan that was.

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Approved in october is a very strong milestone and a step forward in carroll.

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County to ensure the quality of life and again, the growth makes sense in the.

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Southern part of carroll county and in carroll county as it is a part of the.

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Region now the tough part is how to execute that freedom plan. How to work.

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Through the zoning you know, rezoning of properties throughout carroll, county.

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Some would say that the zoning should have happened before the freedom plan.

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Was ever approved, that's fine where we are today is we have an approved plan.

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For land use, which is called the freedom plan, which is designate growth areas, you.

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All know what man uh and then from there, what we're.

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Doing now is we're going. We just went through a series of work sessions within.

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Our government within the county focused on the zoning. Does it make sense how.

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Things are zoned, should areas be razones? Should they be defined differently? Are.

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The definitions appropriate for commercial and industrial and employment.

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Centers that rezoning work sessions, the half dozen work sessions are now going to be.

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Out for public comments, and I believe it was just putting a paper. I know we just.

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Announced it'll be a couple evening: events, late march or public comment on.

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How we are now defining the zoning and how we're looking at rezoning some of.

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The areas within carroll, county.

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I saw some conversations mostly on social media regarding parks and.

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Requiring the needs for our parks, the ball fields, the playing fields, the.

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Walking trails and it's important that we talk about and that I can share with.

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You what I know where we're at with the parks and the and the walking trails and.

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Again, how we're moving forward and applying those resources to get the.

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Adequate parks for our kids there's never enough. There's never.

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Enough flat ground for parks, but we're trying to do is optimize as much flat.

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Ground as we can and get parks in place, I saw some of those topics.

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I'm gonna get off the stage in a second, but before I hand it off.

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uh Or officer, I just want you to take a look at this, and this is where I want.

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You to start from and asking your questions.

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What, if you could do something? What if we could do something how about we do x,.

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Why don't we fill in a blank what's happening with.

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I have a concern with something. What do you think about me personally? I am going.

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To be as transparent as I can, you want to ask me a question about my.

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Values about how I think how I approach things ask.

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Being your commissioner, the intent is to give you the confidence in me that I am.

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Going to serve you the right way, this is not about campaigning.

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This is not about politics, this is about service 30-plus years of service. I want.

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To extend that service and that's why I'm standing up here and that's why I.

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Need you to share with me your thoughts to ensure that you have the best.

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Confidence in me that I can provide and moving forward.

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I'm focused on quality of life when we moved here into eldersburg into.

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Sykesville 12 plus years ago, I literally came out here on a friday from colorado.

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As I was pcsing changing stations from colorado to fort meade, it took me one.

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Day to find a house, I found it on saturday I selected on sunday, and I.

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Bought on monday, all without my wife and we're still married and life is good.

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The reason I bought that house was because of my neighbors was because of.

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The folks that were in that house were because of the kids surrounding that.

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Community they're, the ones that convinced me and literally convinced me.

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Within a day, it was that easy that was quality of life. That's what I.

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Appreciate most about carroll county and that's why I want to continue to stay.

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Here in carroll county and not just live in a house but keep it.

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As my home and keep it as a strong neighborhood in quality of life, this has.

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Nothing to do with politics, this has everything to do with quality of life.

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This has everything to do with neighbors, helping neighbors communities helping.

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Communities- and you have the confidence in me that I can convey to the rest of.

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Our government, these are the resources we need to apply because there are.

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Priorities tied to our values, so something to think about, and now I'm.

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Gonna open it up to you after we get a little bit of an update smidgen of an.

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Update brought the shortest person, I can find.

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In a sheriff's department to come talk to us for a second.

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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, my name is major. Richard hart, I'm the.

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Commander of the operations division here at the sheriff's office, so under my command falls our patrol division, our school resource division. I.

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Have a ton of stuff our special grants? The chef makes me do everything.

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Absolutely everything so so when you see the folks riding around in the mark.

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Police cars making traffic stops I'm responsible, there's a captain that works.

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In my division that works for me lieutenants, I put some of our crime.

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Analysis on the table, I didn't have enough, I'm sorry because this is a great crowd. Normally during the day, that's not such a big crowd. You folks are in our. We.

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Have nine patrol areas within carroll county it's divided into nine different.

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Areas you folks, are in the 8 & 9 area, so I've had our crime. Analyst pull some.

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Statistics for a year to date for what's going on in 8, 9 crime wise and for our.

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Drug overdoses, I will tell you- and this stands to be true- we live in the safest.

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County in the state, our violent crime is next to nothing and I knock on wood and.

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That's a great thing: we we have very little violent crime. We do have some.

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Property crime or retail thefts are up and that's mainly in the westminster.

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Area and in the 26 corridor we have the walmart and the barton's foods they're a.

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Hot hot topic for shoplifting, we have some issues with theft from autos folks.

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Going around stealing things out of cars at night, the vast majority of our theft.

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Motorists are from people that don't lock their cars, we have a few every once.

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While we'll have a window broken out, when somebody sees a purse laying on the.

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Front seat or a wallet or a cellphone, obviously that's you know a target, but.

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Most of time, it's our folks that go through and at nighttime and try and do.

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Our knobs and they go in and the door handles and the cars unlocked and.

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They're, stealing things from cars, we can't stress enough: we could cut our.

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Number of theft from autos down in half, if we just locked our cars, just some.

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Preventive preventive measure measures. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm a big guy, but I.

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Speak softly. My folks always tell me for that. Our property crime is fueled by our.

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Drug issue- and I brought some numbers here that are kind of staggering in 2018.

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We had 513 overdoses in carroll, county 513, that's yeah, it's crazy, seven 217 of.

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Those were heroin and 71 of those were fatal. The people passed away from it and.

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That's just in carroll county in your area. In the eight nine area we had 78.

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Overdoses, we had nine fatal overdoses. It's. What do you say about that? I don't.

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I don't know what to say about that: it's the number staggering our property crime.

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Is fueled by this drug issue? Folks are stealing to go to baltimore and it's.

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Baltimore or york, pennsylvania or frederick to buy their drugs.

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Baltimore's a hop skip and a jump away. We all know you can go down there in any.

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Corner and buy heroin, so that's our issue right now is our retail theft is.

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Boomed people go into the walmart walk out with the big screen tv just walk.

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Right out and they'll take it right to baltimore and they'll trade it for drugs.

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So we have detectives that do nothing but retail crime. That's what they're.

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They work on I'm the sheriff is committed to be proactive. We've done a.

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Great job in stopping this crime, we've arrested a lot of folks and we're doing.

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What we can we work very closely with our ally resources, the state's.

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Attorney's office, the health department's to try to figure out a way.

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To fix this drug problem, it's nationwide- it's just not here! So that's our biggest.

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Battle at this point again, I get a lot of people calling me and say: well, I got.

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A ticket on 26 and I got a ticket on johnsville road and all as I do is see.

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Your deputies out there stopping people for speeding and my response isn't.

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Popular some people, but I tell folks in this county chances you getting injured.

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Or hurt, thank goodness in a crime barrier, minimal, minimal the chance of.

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You getting hurt very seriously or killed in a car accident is conte. It's.

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It's going to happen as opposed to a crime, so the sheriff has made it quite.

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Clear to me- and I make it quite clear to my folks that we were out there aggressively enforcing our traffic laws. People have to slow down, they.

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After/Drive sensible, we see it every day, 26, there's so much traffic and it's just.

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It's the nature of the beast: we have retails stores the daytime traffic.

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Increases immensely the population, so we work collectively.

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With the municipalities and state police to go out and try to make sure our roads.

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Are safe, our dui enforcement, it's very important, make sure we get our drunk and.

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Drugged drivers off the road we have a neighborhood enforcement deputy that.

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Does nothing but when somebody calls and says I live on such such road in there.

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Speeders so there's somebody going through the red lights of a school bus.

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Area we send out people out there, they knew nothing but enforce those laws. Our.

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Deputies that are assigned patrol areas are responsible for making sure that you.

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Guys are safe and unfortunately I hope none of you folks been stopping my.

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Deputies, but that's what we do and we're gonna continue to do that to make sure.

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It's safe here. I also oversee our school resource program. We have since last year.

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We have implemented through the sheriff and to the commissioners. We have.

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Intimate that we've started our school resource program, so we're very high school in the county. All eight high schools now has a deputy assigned permanently. That's where they stay. Unfortunately, again we know what goes on.

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At these schools and it's tragic- and we want to try to prevent that and it's a.

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To a 3-fold system, the main reason to have the deputies that these schools is.

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For security, that's priority number one, but it's also to get into the schools to.

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Mentor these folks, and so they can see uniformed deputies, and maybe they want.

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To you know, get into law enforcement, but our deputies have start very positive.

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Relationships with the high school students- and it's worked out very well so far- the safe school act with the legislature.

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Passed last year, the merrill edge nature requires to have adequate coverage in.

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All the schools in the state of maryland at some point, what's adequate coverage.

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Well, I mean that's up for interpretation, so the sheriff is gonna. Hopefully, when.

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We get some more staffing, we're gonna start our school resource program to.

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Trickle down into the middle schools also have deputies and unfortunates the.

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Day and age we live in that you have to have the uniformed police officers in schools, but it's a very good program and there was some concern that having a.

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Deputy in the high schools would be, you know, we're out looking for folks that.

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Are doing stuff wrong, we're gonna arrest, our school kids and that's not what it's about, and it's not what it has been about. Actually, the incidents and schools.

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Have gone down since we've had the school resource program in the high school, we have eights eight high schools in the county, and it's actually going down liberty, high school.

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They just started this year with a school resource deputy and it's been a.

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Very good program is real, quick with the sheriff's office. We have 118 sworn.

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Deputies comprised of our patrol division, we have a warrant unit, we have.

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Our criminal investigation division, anybody have any questions. I can answer.

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There is no resident trooper program, there are deputies still in the barrack.

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And they handle the state highways um 26:32. We were great working relationship.

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I talk to the bear commander every day, she's phenomenal. So it's just one date.

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It's just like the municipalities. We have, we all work together, but yes, they.

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Handle their primary jurisdiction is it's the highways now yep great, no.

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Questions that means we're doing great right. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

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We enforce that we there's there's law, there's traffic or in the traffic.

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Article there's loss, you could we? Yes, that's part of our aggressive driving.

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You do right and we do. We write people forward all the time. It's a distraction.

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That we don't need. Oh, I don't know, sir. I know it's, we watch for it every day and.

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They write tickets every day for it every day. I know it's a shame. It's such.

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A distraction- yes yep, yes regarding, I.

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Don't have the exact number, but I can we have an issue everyone's wrong with our.

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Marijuana in the schools, I can't remember the last time we had that.

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Student, that was stopped that had anything other than marijuana and I'm not downplaying that our vaping is a big problem. Now with schools, they're vaping.

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In schools- and I don't know the number- but it's not significant- on the schools.

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Are very good: we worked closely with them when they find somebody with a.

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Student with drugs we come in and appropriately handle it. We do at some. We.

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Don't put a drug dog, the sheriff will now put our canine drug dogs inside the.

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Schools, he doesn't leave in that. However, we do on occasion put him in the parking.

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Lots and the reason he doesn't do, that is marijuana- has residual smells effects.

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And if the kid had a marijuana in there last year in a locker and the dog hits.

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On it and the child is using that locker this year, we're not we're not. I want to.

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Go down that road, it's just not fair to the child. We will do the parking lots.

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Okay, very snide, on't. Remember I don't can't.

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Remember the last time we had something other than marijuana in high school and again I'm not playing downplaying marijuana, but we don't do not have an.

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Issue in our schools, with with drugs, we do not sally. That does not mean we do.

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Not have an issue with drugs with our children. It's schools may not be the.

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Place of use or storage for drugs, but that does not minimize the fact that our.

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Children are using drugs and we've got to deal with that, and it's not just our.

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Children with drugs- it is our community, but our children in this case is the.

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Target that you're talking about just because they're not found in the school.

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Does not is not the that means. There are no drugs that our kids are using. That is.

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Not a true statement- and we all have someone in mind that has either overdose.

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Or has dealt with drugs with their children or the children themselves. I.

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Appreciate the question: yes, sir, I'd like to know one thing: if you start.

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Putting the so-called medical marijuana stores in commercial places, aren't you.

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Making it easier for french scrupulous people doing getting marijuana? Yes, sir.

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And I I appreciate the question. Thank you so much and I'm going to answer that.

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Question but I'd be remiss if I did not share with you a couple of other things.

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One those that are with me today, I have roberta windham, our chief administrator.

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Linda eisenberg, head of planning, christine kaye, who runs everything in.

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Social services and citizens service excuse me to include the center also a.

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Shout out to a few folks that are out here my great neighbors chris and ray.

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Combs, who convinced me to move on to dickson ave and our saltworks in our.

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Community sally, it was an awesome event on saturday. The bit did you know that.

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There's a be no historical society located here in carroll, county and boy.

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Do they got a bunch of stuff in that building and they had a great event on.

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Saturday evening, so thank you so much for the invite.

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On chant mayor of eldersburg, thank you for being here. So, if you don't know don.

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I'm sure most of you know don and of course, bob. I start work.

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Dealing with zoning and a decision that was made by our commissioners, including.

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Me as I was, uh I think, a strong part of that conversation in dealing with.

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Medical marijuana: I never expected that I would be talking about medical.

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Marijuana, I never thought in government we would be talking about marijuana. I.

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Apologize when they take this.

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I just want to capture the topics that we're going to talk about like two three.

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Words- and just so I can continue to highlight those- you know comments that.

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We're gonna talk about today and then this evening and continue the momentum with them. Okay, so, regarding medical marijuana, we.

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Decided to put medical marijuana dispensaries in commercial zoning.

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Districts, as you have heard about in the paper with the intent that medical.

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Marijuana being regulated and governed by laws already will be dispensed for.

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Medical reasons not for recreational reasons making it available to those.

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That need medical marijuana and it's again already governed so to add another.

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Layer of regulation- I'll tell you, that's something I do not agree with. I believe.

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That we should have the laws that we have in place. Enforce the laws that we.

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Have in place and if necessary, to emphasize those laws or supplement them.

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We make those decisions, but in deal with the zoning, the decision was that medical.

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Marijuana dispensaries is to be zoned in commercial locations, just as, if a.

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Pharmacy dispensary is dispensing other medicines and they be misused. Absolutely.

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Would it be available for children who misuse not from that dispensary? It would.

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Not and that and that's where we have to hold the dispensary and those that are.

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Running it accountable and abide by the laws, great question.

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Sensitive question emotional: at times again, I never thought I'd be talking.

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About pot or marijuana standing up here as it's used medically, but it has been.

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Proven that it is, has good usage and should be dispensed appropriately. That.

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Can also be discussed in open session irska media when we late march, when we.

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Come out for public comment as well, I do appreciate it.

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Yes, sir we're home with this, I have seen 26 about freedom center. The big concrete.

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Would appear to be concrete? Plating is going in there, which tells me that.

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There's some kind of plan, at least a foot, to do something there. To put it.

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Some kind, my question: is this pain? What is that.

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Property zoned for- and I know that you said I'm going to give it right now.

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We're just moving dirt, but if they're putting in infrastructure, obviously.

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There's so it is zone c2 right so so so I am. I am using the the new words new.

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Letters see once you choose, it is gonna, be zoned c2. It is moving dirt from two.

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Other county projects that need to move dirt out of those projects and make it.

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Available so now they're moving it to there. So it's actually doing our county.

A

Government, a good deed by moving that dirt. It is preparing that land for.

A

Commercial use, so that's why you see the change in footprint, but specifically.

A

What is going to go in there? I do not know, and that is for the developer, that.

A

Is working that land right now do to figure that one.

A

Yes, ma'am, not necessarily so I actually, I met with a developer a couple times.

A

And I believe what he is interested in putting in that location, it's.

A

Appropriately zoned, so there would be no changes in zoning necessary for what I.

A

Believe he wants to put in that into that property. What that's gonna be I.

A

Don't know I mean we we've all probably heard, maybe a lydell small grocery store.

A

I don't know if that's still on the table or not that's his business, not.

A

Ours, but I it is zoned gonna, be zoned c2 and it will be appropriate for the.

A

Things that he wants to put in medium density, commercial. I apologize. You want.

A

Walkthrough, it's a medium commercial designation. So typically, what's allowed.

E

In there are buildings, no larger than 60,000 square feet under our current bnr.

E

There's a 10,000 square foot limit per use, that's gonna be brought up to 60,000.

E

Square feet per use limit and it's it's smaller than our current bg, because a bg.

E

That we have non-business general allows a much wider and any size can go in over.

E

10,000 square feet, so this will put a limit on. What can happen is for our.

E

Square footage of a site they can also do age restricted for assisted living.

E

Nursing continuum, care and age, restricted, 55 and older community can.

E

Also is also allowed to be on that c2 site in the future.

E

No, so right now it's in a draft and that draft has been made public. It's on the.

E

County website and we're having to public outreach meetings, as commissioner.

E

Rothstein said march, 26 will be at the county office building at 6 o'clock to 8.

E

P.M. and then the other will be march 27th here from 6 to 8 p.m. and then.

E

After that, we'll take back any additional concerns that may arise out.

E

Of this comment period to come back to the commissioners for a further.

E

Discussion prior to going to a public hearing and if they decide that they've.

E

Heard a lot of particular issues on one topic or multiple topics. They will maybe.

E

Make a different decision than what's already been presented, and then they.

E

Will host a public hearing and we don't have any dates scheduled for that. Yet.

E

The freedom area is the largest desde growth area in carroll county. A couple.

A

Of the committees that I sit on the commissioners divvy up our time outside.

A

Of just the the thursday's open sessions to support committees and commissions.

A

Around the county, I serve on our veterans advisory council as an x.

A

Aficionado with commissioner weaver, but in this case I also serve on the.

A

Planning and zoning commission- I am the county representative x,.

A

Aficionado on that, commission, as well as I want to continue to learn, but also.

A

Participate in making those right decisions that I believe you know are.

A

Necessary for our community is specifically in a freedom area, so it's a.

A

It's a great question: a lot of work has been done. A lot of due diligence work from linda and her team and coming to us with definitions, making.

A

It into small words, so we can understand it having strong dialogue going back and.

A

Forth coming up with a draft plan that I believe is timely and we didn't just.

A

Hold on to something for years, but now it's been six weeks and we're ready to.

A

Go forward to you with this draft plan, to get your thoughts and comments when I.

A

Say you collect of lee, then move forward and putting the.

A

Zoning in place and make it regulatory, yes beth. I apologize yep, absolutely.

A

No, no, I I appreciate it. I was already directed to do that once.

A

So exactly repeat the questions.

A

So we made a deliberate decision to have the work sessions focused on commercial.

A

Industrial employment, centers, that's where our resources came in with our.

A

Folks and our time in doing that, and getting that specifically in place now.

A

That we've moved forward from that gonna get the public comment. It's gonna be the.

A

Next step, let me talking residential the other part about this freedom plan. I met with a handful of folks already and I'm very.

A

Impressed with the dedication the discipline, the work that you have done.

A

And getting your voices heard about this freedom plan? I think it's on the second.

A

Page one of the priorities of this is to stand up a community group and I believe.

A

That community group is going to help navigate us in making the right.

A

Decisions in executing this plan, if we don't do it that way, we're going to come.

A

Up with decisions and ideas, thinking as for the best use for you, but we're.

A

Probably going to be missing the mark, so getting your fingerprints again.

A

Collectively, on helping us execute this plan through a community organization.

A

Which doesn't mean not me or not, linda, we are available as resources to you.

A

That's why I'm up here today, but to ensure that it's your voice, that's heard.

A

Collectively on how to execute this, that's that's an important role that I.

A

Want to ensure you understand that I want to participate, but it's it's moving.

A

Forward to the next step, a plan is done whether I agree disagree, how things.

A

Happen regardless, it was accepted, approved, signed in october of 2018. It is.

A

Now, time to move forward with the zoning, it's now time to step up with a.

A

Community group and continue to dialogue with us in moving forward it's a great.

A

Question about residential, it's just! We can't do everything all the time at once,.

A

So we made deliberate decisions on moving forward with the commercial.

A

I only know the other letters that they are now. I just say: commercial, industrial.

A

Employment centers and then also ensure that they are conforming with the.

A

Regulations and and laws that are in place at the state level and that's also.

A

Where the medical marijuana discussion came in as well, but when it comes to.

F

To be developed.

F

It's the best, you know when we started out. We talked about what's best for your.

A

Mess, okay! So so, first off I don't always agree with you, but I agree with you that.

A

It is important that we've know that we focus the residential zoning.

A

Side with the commercial industrial employment center zoning or put them.

A

Together because they are, as I would say, nested together, you can't have one.

A

Without doing the other, if you do one in a stovepipe without the other you're.

A

Really going to mess up the zoning of one of the efforts and the concern is.

A

Are we going to.

A

By delivery, looking at the commercial industrial, employment centers right now,.

A

Are we going to by mistake, have unfortunate effects on the residential.

A

Zoning that's the biggest concern. The answer to that is. I do not believe so.

A

Because I do not believe we're gonna be waiting very long before we start.

A

Attacking the the residential zoning issues and where the committee that you.

A

Participate on is going to become more active. It's just we had to get from from.

A

One point to the other: so we're really in the nation c of this october 2018. It.

A

Is march something 2019 in office ninety days, this is about five months old since.

A

This was signed five months ago, think about all of the activities have taken.

A

Place regardless of the election, regardless of.

A

Us being put in place, but it was putting a planning and zoning director taking.

A

Away the acting participation ribbon of it and making her our planning director.

A

Standing up work groups having those work groups, I think five or six work.

A

Groups and have walked that moved in place. I've met with the community folks.

A

A few times already on standing up a committee, that's a priority to this. So.

A

It's not not doing something, it's trying to put it all together, but I absolutely.

A

Agree with you kim that it is very important that we nest our zoning.

A

Residential with the other zoning that's happening, and you can take it from me.

A

That we will be doing that. Yes, sir.

G

Department stores or places like that, because they are welcomed by berms and.

G

Shrubbery and trees and does carroll county give that any consideration at.

G

All, instead of having people drive down the.

G

River to see a half a mile of park and buy and somewhere down the half a mile.

G

Away is a series of stores, and now those stores are putting fast-food restaurants.

G

Right up next to the road, so that I don't know the difference between.

G

Randallstown and eldersburg is okay. I don't want to be negative, but I know.

G

Those things are necessary, but do they have to be so visible that it's just one.

G

Right, after the other and the same thing with commercial and industrial.

G

Facilities that they could be a little.

G

You don't notice them as much instead of trees. Is that a consideration because.

G

You said you're in planning it's a great question so again repeating the question.

A

I am learn about is columbia. Just south of us has a lot of commercial and.

A

Industrial in place, but you don't openly see it because it's behind berms.

A

The signs the signage is limited in colombia.

A

Why doesn't carroll county look at that model and start working towards not.

A

Having all of these signs on 26 and looked like it's just one, big commercial.

A

Zone and one big industrial zone, it's a great question colombia developed as.

A

Many of you should know jim rouse many years ago in the late 50s came up with.

A

The idea of developing colombia and his wagon-wheel approach with the town.

A

Center in the middle and these spokes that went out- and there were village.

A

Centers and those village centers he designed to not necessarily be hidden.

A

But to conform to the property and not level the ground and keep those berms in.

A

Place and keep the trees in place, and it has grown up to be just that. That wagon.

A

Will approach with village centers and the town center, where it's not just one.

A

Big strip mall. Now there are areas in howard county that there are commercial zones, and you know I on 175. You know, there's large.

A

Department stores and all that kind of stuff, so there are some commercial zones.

A

But inside the town itself of columbia, you're right, it's designed that way. I do.

A

Not believe the town of sykesville was designed that way or any of the other.

A

Municipalities here in carroll county nor eldersburg when it came to this.

A

Except to identify the necessity to keep us as rural as we can, and growth and.

A

Development where it makes sense so we're not just putting stuff on top of.

A

Each other, the challenge is what you see is 26. You know and a lot of the.

A

Commercial growth there is it considered. I.

A

I agree with you that we should be looking at maintaining the beauty that.

A

Carroll county has and do as best we can when it comes to trees and when it comes.

A

To you know, keeping the ruralness and rural feel of our community.

A

It's a great question: I'm gonna look more into it, I'm how we're doing that.

A

Talk to some of her folks about that, but it is a great question. It was very.

A

Deliberate with columbia on how they did it, I do not believe that model. While I.

A

Know that model was not put in place here in carroll county, but it's it's a.

A

Great question, though, and should be continued to look that yes, sir okay, so I.

A

Appreciate the questioners talking about a specific project and the tree removal.

A

Has taken place and what is the current status? I don't know you know.

H

I don't know as much as our water resource folks do you can contact our.

H

Them tom devilís is the director, but we are.

H

Required by federal law through the state through a what's called a national.

H

Pollutant elimination, discharge system permit m pds to to work on to mitigate.

H

So much stormwater- and that is this- this project is part of that. So we're doing.

H

These stormwater projects and have been for years all over the county and so.

H

It's taking, I believe, I believe, two ponds and making them one and.

H

Modernizing them up to date so that they would handle the proper amount of.

H

Stormwater, it's a great question, a very specific question. I owe you an answer. A.

A

Very direct answer and I'll get that to you: um there's a lot of changes that are.

A

Happy some, I know more than others. I can talk to you about the freedom, readiness.

A

Center, I'm 32. Yes, sir.

C

Has to be replanted, I'd like to know where are you planting these trees or.

C

Carroll county, specifically the lutins area that just tore up all these trees.

C

The so-called retirement community- that's just down: where are these trees.

A

Okay again, I cannot answer directly that that question and then the question.

A

Again is where are we replanting trees that are being removed, while we're.

A

Developing in these different areas, especially some of these commercial.

A

Zoned areas, I owe you that answer and I will get you that answer I'm there, but I.

A

Apologize, I'm going to get you that answer and I'm gonna talk to tom about.

A

That but we are required by law to.

A

Ensure that we are making the best effort to replant and put trees where.

A

We're removing trees, which I just want to share with you,.

A

Another committee I stand on or irs nothing I sit on is what's called mako.

A

Which is the maryland association of counties every wednesday to include.

A

Tomorrow I go down to annapolis and while the legislative session is in.

A

Place with our delegates in both here in district 5.

A

Along with those in district 9, which represent those south of a south of 26,.

A

In eldersburg, sykesville are in session trying to make the best decision put the.

A

Best laws in place, meiko is all counties and the city coming together to help.

A

Navigate them through those discussions and laws. One of those and the reason I'm.

A

Sharing this with, you is one of those topics. Specifically, you had to do with.

A

Reforestation again really good question, and that is specifically the commissions.

A

And committees and activities and meetings that we have, why aren't they.

A

More convenient to be inclusive of the community and to get the community input.

A

Necessary to make those right decisions, we have open sessions in the mornings on.

A

Thursdays we have planning and zoning commission. I think I have a meeting next.

A

Week, in the middle of the day, we do have, I think, once a month, every first.

A

Wednesday of the month in the evening to vote to help focus on having it both.

A

During the day and I'm torn out planning and zoning commission, but the fact still.

A

Remains there are a lot of activities happening in our government that are.

A

Both community led through these commissions and committees and council.

A

And then the government led, through these open meetings that we have on.

A

Thursdays, how can we become more inclusive to you and and get you more.

A

Involved because again you shouldn't worry about who I am or type of.

A

Government we are or any it should be. What are your needs? How can we improve.

A

Your quality of life, how can you talk to me better and ensure that I'm listening.

A

And then can act on it. This is one of those ideas to have a listening session.

A

This morning, at 10 o'clock to have you here and then also have one this evening.

A

At 7 o'clock, because those available now may not be available this evening so.

A

It's again, it's a it's, it's taking the extra step and that's my intent as one.

A

Of your commissioners is to take that extra step. Make myself and ourselves.

A

More available to ensure that we can listen to you and get your ideas, I'm.

A

Gonna do my best. I can in doing just that, but it is a great question because.

A

It's never always convenient for everybody to have these meetings, but I.

A

Do think we need to do continue to do a better job and identify the times that.

A

Are best and then also identify who should be on those committees? Do those committees represent you? Are there committees that.

A

Are out there that don't represent you and should they be changed or moved.

A

Around and I got you and the answer is yes and we're doing just that.

A

From the planning and zoning to the veterans advisory council to all the.

A

Other committees and councils on aging disabilities- all the other me committees,.

A

Councils and groups we're looking at quarterly, who should be on those or who.

A

Can be on those who are eligible be on those it takes. You.

A

It also takes you to volunteer your time and ask yourself: is this something a.

A

Topic, you want to be engaged in it involved in and then submit to us. I want.

A

To be involved in this committee- and you know, I would appreciate that.

A

Plus the more insight I get from you, the better, I can do my job, but it is it's a.

A

Great question and I apologize it's never convenient for everybody all the.

A

Time the answer, so the traffic is able to get through.

D

Like this, you and it's route, 32, and I would just like okay, so great questions.

A

And suggestions focus the discussion per minute on 26 and highway 32. There are.

A

Three state highways in this community in our district main street sykesville.

A

851 26 and 32, I am meeting with state highway administrator the lead engineer.

A

That focuses on carroll county next week. I think yeah that were mean next week.

A

Specifically focused on those three issues that you're told well tuition. You.

A

Talked about I'm adding 851, because that road is deteriorating main street. And if.

A

We don't fix it, we're gonna be in a world of hurt down it down, sykesville, so.

A

Keeping the attention on sykesville and 851 is very important to should be to.

A

All of us regarding 2626 and johnsville, is they bare. I totaled my car they're.

A

About four or five years ago and sam was in the car with me, and it was pretty.

A

Pretty scary, fortunately, we were fine. The car was not I've, seen cars upside.

A

Down recently and I've seen lots of accidents on 26 and 32 26 johnsville by.

A

The methodist church, that was the catalyst for me, picking up.

A

The phone and talking to john concannon, who is the lead engineer for state.

A

Highway for our our community for district 7, which includes carroll county.

A

As their, why and and he agreed that he wants to meet and he's gonna come with.

A

His team about what about that area and about thirty two and the plans to widen.

A

Thirty-Two there are plans to whine thirty-two. There is funding in place for.

A

The plans, the widen 30- there's not funds in place to execute those plans so.

A

Working with him working with mdot his parent organization, maryland department.

A

Transportation working with some ideas on what's happening on 32, which may.

A

Include federal dollars because there's that national guard readiness center.

A

That's gonna be a sixty five thousand square foot facility and all said, and.

A

Done across the street from hate, so you see a lot of dirt being moved. That's.

A

What's going on in there and coming up with ideas on how to why didn't you and.

A

Make it more appropriate for the traffic? You know on 32 no easy answer um as far.

A

As johnsville and 26, the initial answer is they're widening. As you know, 26 west.

A

Of townsville ave, the intent is to get that done and then look at the traffic.

A

On townsville, on the on that corner now, he's gonna come to me with statistics.

A

And the latest and greatest information and then we're gonna go from there.

A

Regarding the synchronization of the lights, we're gonna have the same.

A

Conversation, they control those lights and we're gonna talk through that. As.

A

Well, because you're not the first that have shared that with me um and you're.

A

Not the only one that has experienced it and it's frustrating, and I know that.

A

Feeling as well I most of my work, I go southbound 32 and I get frustrated on.

A

How long it can take the bottleneck on 32, so we're also talking about that.

A

We're going bypass, I don't have an answer. That's not even right now on my.

A

On my agenda, so 32 widening 26 on the corner of johnsville and 26. As far as.

A

The lights, 32 and bennett and then also the y name, is 32.

A

Yes, right now right absolutely so the question is on.

A

26 specifically around homeland, if and when commercial development takes place,.

A

Just to the west of homeland is there going to be access roads available to.

A

Take care of the traffic or is it gonna bottleneck even that much more and.

A

That's a concern and the question is: can I bring that up to state highway.

A

Absolutely I will bring that to the state highway. I will share with you in.

A

My past life, I was an economic developer in anne arundel county, as I worked with.

A

Developers and building in the county requirements for ingress and egress and.

A

Safety or paramount before they start building, so there had to be a plan when.

A

It came to county, the state. Does the same thing I hate highway. Does the same.

A

Thing with their engineering, so when something comes in on a state highway is.

A

Their appropriate ingress, egress in and out traffic and is it safety? Is it safe.

A

I will have that conversation with them, because that isn't absolute concern. You.

A

Know and that's anytime, you see, growth happening on any of those highways is, is.

A

There adequate space for safety or ingress or in and out traffic good.

A

Question it's a dangerous situation and I cover that territory. So it's tough for.

I

Buses as well as everyone else, so when you have your conversation next week,.

I

Would you please reiterate the fact that we really aren't growing weary at the.

I

Time that it is think I know they had two changes of scope and the work of.

I

That project, which caused some of the delay. My second concern is the.

I

Intersection right down here at liberty, road in oakland milk.

I

They are widening and changing that intersection and adding some storm water.

I

Mitigation for the reservoir again, another project that was started and.

I

Stopped- and it has taken far too long so when you discuss these things with the.

I

State, please ask them why they're not doing better up front engineering to.

I

Uncover the issues that have to be impressed when they start work so that.

I

When they start working ok, so I and I appreciate so the the winding of 26 west.

A

Of johnsville, I have that's on my agenda to talk about the timeline associated.

A

With that and where they and when I can then share with you, this is the end date.

A

Expected ending.

A

Because you're right things can keep going on and statements of work and.

A

Change over time and all of a sudden it becomes what was a six-month project, is.

A

Three years down the road and hath done okay, so I owe that to you.

A

um Oakland mills- I appreciate it that was not on on the agenda and I will put.

A

It on there and welcome through that concern as well I'm 26 and get his.

A

Thoughts on that, um as far as their abilities in.

A

Engineering, I'm going to be as tactful as I can and partnering as I can to.

A

Ensure that they understand the requirements when they're asked to do.

A

Something and alive it has to do with communications and ensuring that I.

A

Understand I being our county, what is happening and what are the expectations.

A

And then I can share that with you. So that's a good point, yes ma'am, so so the.

A

Question specifically was again with homeland and 26 and the concern the.

A

Safety concern on 26 those that are moving turning right into homeland. They.

A

May not be turning right into homeland 80s, maybe turn their right blinker on.

A

Going all the way down to the library down to oh to walmart and the person.

A

Leaving homeland says oh they're, making a right and they're gonna pull out and.

A

Then they get t-boned, and that is a major because I appreciate that.

A

Enforcement is gonna, be very important. It is a state highway so like from the.

A

Sheriff's department partnering with the state highway making that awareness and.

A

You start making people aware of that two three four times all of a sudden.

A

That changes a little bit of culture on on that concern, I can bring that up to a.

A

State highway, as well as for our signage. Maybe there is something that can be.

A

Done there, but but but I understand the fact that if you make that blinker.

A

Thinking half mile down the road you're gonna make a right down to walmart. It.

A

Does it becomes very dangerous so, but I right regardless right, yep yep? No, I.

A

Understand dancing partnering with the state 26 good idea, yes, ma'am. It's almost.

J

Impossible so last year I didn't email to the state highway administration and.

J

Asked them if they would either put a light at homeland, which they won't or.

J

Maybe we could do a like a boulevard where they could take. Everybody would.

J

Turn right go to the light at west and make a u-turn, and I'm seeing people in.

J

The middle lane actually make a u-turn in the middle lane in between the roads.

J

And I thought that's not right having to do right going to the mall going into an.

A

Odd turn around and come out. Okay, so understand the question one more time.

A

Again with homeland is coming in and out homeland, the 26 making the turns it's.

A

Nearly impossible to make those turns working with state highway, I'd like to.

A

See that letter- and I can take that and also put that on the agenda with state.

A

Highway again, I'm meeting them next week and in fact, the link director of.

A

Operations or assistant director I met with yesterday will also be in that.

A

Meeting as well from mdot, so it's gonna be a pretty inclusive meeting to talk.

A

About a lot of these issues regarding hemlock, that is county, let's, let's start.

A

With the one, let's start with the enforcement and partnering with state.

A

Highway on 26 and move forward from here, so we have been working with state.

E

Highway on maryland, 26 to look at a redesign of what they already have. Many.

E

Many years ago, state highway got to what they call 30% design for the upgrades to.

E

Maryland six, then the project was halted for various reasons. We've been working with them again to identify intersections.

E

Like that and make those improvements they have, I already identified high.

E

Crash areas, errors were one makes sense to put that boulevard in. So you could.

E

Only have braids hand turns into certain areas and right-hand turns out to avoid.

E

That left-hand turn, which is the most deadliest type of collision, so we.

E

Actually been meeting with them staff to stop on friday to talk about what are.

E

The systemic improvements that can be made to redesign 26 and not go back to.

E

That original full boulevard, but really make the improvements that need to.

E

Happen now for safety, more importantly, along the 26 corridor, so bottom line in.

A

This is partnership between the county and the state.

A

The sheriff's state police partnership between us and state highway.

A

Administration, the staff, the staff work- that's also happening, that's still not.

A

Enough, because you would still have the problem now, we just have to keep moving.

A

Forward trying to fix that problem, it's hard, it comes down to resources, comes.

A

Down to priorities, just as I share with you earlier, the values, priorities and.

A

Resources, the state goes through the same drill and what are their values.

A

Priorities and resources, and how are they allocating them and where does it.

A

Make best sense one of the first questions they bring up or or want to.

A

Talk about is well, there's no accidents happening right. There.

A

Or there's no accidents documented right there. In many cases we have to get past.

A

Bad to go to the next step, because there's another issue completely outside.

A

Of our community on 97, if you go northbound 97 you're, making a left into.

A

The arc that is a one, tough left turn because you're coming off the ramp onto.

A

97 and it's frustrating because I I just did it I'll, be bringing that up to them.

A

As well, but I mean it's- there's lots and lots of requirements, one of the things I learned a long time ago when I was running the.

A

Installation I would walk down the road literally walk down the road.

A

And I would find 10 deficiencies on that road, which one deficiency did. I want to.

A

Fix because that's what I was resourced to do, it's a challenge. It's putting them.

A

Into our priority list and then working the resources to fix the issues, but I.

A

Presented and would never be a priority if it's not from you telling us here, are.

A

The concerns that we have so I appreciate that.

A

Yes, ma'am another subject completely: what's the status of a hotel, slash.

K

Restaurant, so restaurant, I'm not specifically sure of and I believe.

A

You're, referring to the hotel by safeway and home depot yeah yeah candlewood.

A

Suites, it is owned, they went through. You know the proper steps in presenting it.

A

And it got accepted and that's kind of where they're at right. Now I had a.

A

Discussion with our economic development team recently and they're moving forward.

A

But it has been identified as a candlewood suites and there was a.

A

Concern about the traffic and a circle and that's also being taken care of as.

A

Well, so that's where we're at with that! Yes, ma'am.

F

L

So the question was traffic enforcement and speed enforcement and most she's.

B

Concerned about bartholow road: it's the children, leaving liberty high school, yes,.

B

We do traffic enforcement there, we now effective the beginning of the school.

B

Year we now have a full-time school resource deputy at that school. That.

B

Would be part of that school deputies? Responsibility is to enforced not only.

B

Just going out and forcing in our speeding issue, but also educating our.

B

Children tell them that we're going to be out there so and that's part of the.

B

Battle, it's just given the warning and talking to these kids about it and the.

B

School is aware of it too: we are yes, you're, absolutely correct, and so hopefully that's mitigated real soon, because our deputies have always been.

B

Out there, but now we have somebody, that's dedicated just to that. To that.

B

School and now that we know also that the bino historical society is located.

A

On bartholow road, we're gonna have thousands of people going into that area.

A

So we got to make sure that safety is taken care of. So I appreciate it. Yes,.

A

M

Is a hotel being planned in sykesville and what you are referring to? I believe.

A

Is on the warfield project, so the warfield project? There are four specific.

A

Or specifics to the project, one is the renovation of the historic buildings and.

A

Get and using them for offices and businesses. There are three of those.

A

Buildings that are already renovated and are occupied. The next step is getting.

A

The other buildings renovated and then either sold or leased and occupied.

A

The second step is the town homes that are being built there, which are being.

A

Built underneath of the elm feet developers and there's 145 townhomes.

A

They're being built right, there.

A

The third step is opportunity to build retail in the warfield district from the.

A

Ground up and then the fourth is specifically a hotel and property that.

A

Is allocated to a hotel there's a couple of parcels that they're looking at a.

A

Warfield, but building a hotel is there a plan to build a hotel there? Just what I.

A

Share with you, that's the plan specifically. Is there a targeted vendor.

A

Or someone to build a no, the developer is talking to lots of folks include our.

A

Economic development team to find the right hotel to build their. What they're.

A

Looking at is probably about an 85 key hotel or 85 room hotel, so relatively.

A

Small in comparison, the candlewood suites, I think, is 125, give or take so.

A

It's gonna be relatively larger, but um there is a plan for a hotel. Is there a.

A

Target community that could use that hotel north of grumman being right next.

A

Door has 40 or 50 folks a week that come visit north of grumman and they stay.

A

Somewhere so that may be a strong targeted audience for a hotel like that.

A

A

So how do we justify two hotels in district 5, sykesville eldersburg.

A

Two different plans: two different developers, two different opportunities.

A

For those developers to have appropriate zoning for hotels.

A

The market analysis done by the hotel itself and by the economic development.

A

Team and developers was done, and there is a large enough population need.

A

Requirement that determined for candalas suites, which comes under the.

A

International hotel group ihg, which is very very, very large, doing their market.

A

Analysis saying yes, a hotel of this size and this you know capability that.

A

Candlewood suites would bring would be suitable for the eldersburg area.

A

Warfield community or warfield district that analysis had been done by the.

A

Developer now, working with a hotel group or.

A

Someone who wants to build a hotel, it's that individual or team, that's can do.

A

That analysis on whether a hotel would be suitable, be built there or not. What's.

A

The last thing you want to do is build two hotels and then be empty. You know.

A

And and not be used so from a business perspective, it is both zones.

A

Appropriately for that type of no business to be built and the market.

A

Analysis has to be done. I do. I do know that the market analysis was done.

A

Regarding a candle with sweets and the one by safe wing, you know where that's.

A

Gonna be built in one in warfield, I think they're still in the very.

A

Beginning of that discussion.

M

L

And we're doesn't even a bottle crash.

A

It is it's: it's local business community, its visitors, its its family members, that.

A

Are visiting the schools, you got south carroll, liberty and century. You know you.

A

Have you have communities around here that have people coming in and where do.

A

They stay, they either stay there. You know families houses, which is a nice.

A

Idea but maybe not for an extended stay speaking personally, but I think I think.

A

There there has been determined a need or a requirement that would be.

A

Appropriate for our candlewood suites.

A

As far as the one down in warfield, I believe what they're looking at is more.

A

Of a business community that could be tied to something like northrop.

A

Yeah, it's analysis being done by those groups and by the those that are.

A

Building you can, but it's the person, that's actually putting a shovel in the.

A

Ground and putting the millions of dollars to build whatever they're doing.

A

Or taking out that mortgage, so they want to make sure they got it right and the.

A

International hotel group, with kennel with suites, believes they have it right in doing that. So that's a great question. Yes, sir.

A

The question is: 32 in bennett, what's happening in 32 in bennett, what I could.

A

Share with you is what the plan is in place right now, but there's not a whole.

A

Lot that is there. What I'd like to do is reserve that.

A

After has a conversation with the state highway engineer specifically to address.

A

That corner and then I can come back to you and say here's the latest and.

A

Greatest the congestion coming out from bennett, making a left on to 32, yes, 32.

A

Can be very congested and is that light appropriate? You know the timing and all.

A

That kind of from townsville yeah.

N

You know, and I can definitely bring that up. You know and they're gonna share with.

A

Me the same question about johnsville and 26 accidents about homeland and.

A

Accidents and what what troubles have they been seen, but I can definitely.

A

Bring it up and see what studies have been done and we'll just go from there.

A

B

Okay, so the question is before we change infrastructure and dump millions of.

A

Dollars into changing the roads, what about the first step in getting.

A

Enforcement appropriately for that corner and tagging people there doing.

A

Inappropriate activities on that corner so getting the enforcement there.

A

Absolutely yep yep, okay, yep; okay, that's good! You know and again that that's.

A

Where these listening sessions really do help, are we targeting the right areas.

A

For development, are we targeting right areas for enforcement? Are we targeting.

A

The right areas to put our attention and our resources to so I appreciate that.

O

In this conversation, has there been any consideration to the already vacant.

O

Commercial property, for example, off exchanged nothing the unit there that.

O

Had been vacant forever, so the question is: when we're talking about commercial.

A

Now, when we're talking about development, specifically commercial development,.

A

There is a concern that there are a lot of see-through buildings already in.

A

Place where there's vacancy in retail strip malls.

A

Choppers hallmark the japanese place that was right next door at the panera's.

A

Liberty exchange and how are we addressing those retail locations.

A

Working to make them more, marketable or folks to come in and and occupy those.

A

Spaces is one step, and that is on the developer and the community and chamber.

A

Of commerce to say this is a great location for you, so continuing to.

A

Advertise, whether it's hard to advertisement from the developer or its.

A

People like me, saying this is a really cool place on the strip mall, that you.

A

May want to look at occupying, but why not fill all those spaces before we.

A

Start building more and more and more and more.

A

It comes down to the developers, rights, the owners, rights of that property.

A

Develop appropriately on how that property is zoned, you then find the.

A

Right person or team or a group to either build or develop or do whatever.

A

So the answer really is a mixture of both is having the ability to build new.

A

But then also work hard to occupy those retail spaces. Some are more difficult.

A

Than others I'll just share that with you, some retail areas are just more difficult than others to occupy, and then some you.

A

May see some vacancy, but like on liberty, exchange the back rows. They are being.

A

Occupied and there is a plan for liberty exchange with the developer there, and he.

A

Shares that with us but understand the concern I mean the last thing you want.

A

To see is a handful of strip malls with 2/3 of it being vacant cuz. That's not.

A

Who we are so so? So I agree with you that that is a concern and I have been.

A

Talking some developers about that concern and they're actually moving away.

A

From retail to actually business service, type of buildings and retail shops.

A

K

Don't go same format, any news on wendy's, that's been vacant 20 or 4 years in.

K

Front of walmart: um when do you know no I'll, find out I'll find out, and it's a.

A

Good question: oh, the question was about: what's what's going on with wendy's, you.

A

Know it's been closed for four years, we'll find out right. No, no you're right.

A

Report it we need to understand. This is an opportunity. This type of listening.

A

Session towel is an opportunity for me to listen to you and learn from you. Some.

A

Of these issues- but this is one time after three months: okay, but we got to.

A

Deal with is every day so, please report you will never spam the sheriff's.

A

Department, you'll never over call just like when you're feeling ill go to the.

A

Doctor, don't think just to tough it out, because the more information they have.

A

Whether there's this issue with the sheriff's department, the more resources.

A

They can then justify to put against that concern, because if I'm highlighting.

A

One area all the time, they're gonna, put resource.

A

They'd be shared but resources there, but this concern the more it's highlighted.

A

The better opportunity and justification for resources we put into that location.

A

And also immediately call number one if you get a vehicle description, it's not.

B

Tattling, that's what you know. We might have a deputy or state trooper right down the road that will see the same car. Doing the same thing weekend may not be able to help with doran's saying cuz we their witness, sitter, there's no damage, maybe we would be able to. But if you, if this.

B

Happens please they reported immediately getting you know if it's a volkswagen, blue, whatever were two people in it. Being tagging would be great. We poured.

B

It right away, there may be some enforcement we can do. They may be.

B

Driving down the road doing the same thing we can be watching for that.

B

Vehicle what direction they're going a direction of travel? Okay? What we're.

A

Gonna do now is go through the speed round. We got about five minutes before I.

A

Get kicked out of here for lunch, okay, and I do not want to disrupt lunch here.

A

So five minutes: yes, sir.

P

Maybe we can collect your email addresses okay, so the softball was.

A

Thrown up there to ensure that I can collect your email addresses your.

A

Contact information to share with you, my intent and putting out a newsletter.

A

Periodic news I have done one so far: I've been here for 90 days. The intent is.

A

To continue to do that, what you can do besides me, gathering up all those.

A

Numbers is, you can go to leave. Tell her it's a carol. Color connect! It's on our.

H

Website you can click on it and and sign up for not only commissioner rothstein's.

H

Newsletter, but also any other news services that you'd like whether it's.

H

Brecon parks or anything else, and if I may suggest you do it that way, it isn't.

H

It's not our preference to put people in the system. We want you to select rather.

H

Than us selecting you okay, so again, if you can go to carol, connect.

A

Find that newsletter sign up for it. The intent is for me to share as best I can.

A

Information, that's on my mind for our community, but then more importantly, is.

A

To create that that tool, that approach where we can talk together, okay, so two.

A

Questions the the second one first and I had to do with 26 on the bridge, going.

A

Eastbound well on the east. Part of the town is there's a lot of potholes, so.

A

Make sure that we make that visible to state highway, and we will do that good.

A

Point the second one had to do with my butcher.

A

Paper and roads is on the bottom of that list on what I share with you earlier on.

A

That is not a priority list from top to bottom that this is the most important.

A

This is the least important. This was me last night, putting together a few.

A

Thoughts and ideas that I want to share with you and that's all it was, but there.

A

I you can better believe that discussions with state highway or with.

A

State love it has to do with infrastructure.

A

Specifically down here, 26, 32 and 851, so now it's a great point. Please do not.

A

Take that list as a priority from top to bottom, as a snapshot of last evening.

A

Putting ideas down on paper that I've listened to you from over the last 90.

A

Days on what matters? That's what those topics were? Okay, anything else.

A

I really appreciate your time- I am doing this this evening at 7 o'clock. There's.

A

Absolutely no need to be here because you're gonna be hearing the same thing.

A

You heard this morning, I really appreciate the questions.

A

I appreciate the guidelines, the mentorship and development and moving.

A

Forward so thank you very much.

A