St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 15 Jun 2021

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From YouTube: 6/15/21 Commissioners of St. Mary's County

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Please come to order good morning welcome to commission of st mary's county meeting this.

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Date, tuesday june 15 2021., I am randy guy president commissioner of st mary's county.

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I'd like to introduce the other commissioners sitting to my right representative. First.

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Commissioner district, which includes bridge piney, point st rose island. Mr eric colvin good morning.

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Representing mike hewitt, who represents the second commissioner district, which includes.

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Leonardtown hollywood good morning, sitting to my left representing third commissioner.

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District, which includes charlotte hall, seven district golden beach and mechanics village to.

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John o'connor good morning, representing the fourth commissioner district, which includes.

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Lexington park, some of california, great mills and some of hollywood. Mr todd morgan, mr david weiskopf,.

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County attorney and acting administrator is sitting at the table to my left.

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Elisa gases, our communications director is seen at the table to my right good morning. Amy carter.

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Our video media producer is behind the glass. Please turn your cell phone's offer on vibrate.

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At this time we have invocation and pledge by commissioner connor. Please stand.

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Heavenly father, as we gather today, I ask that you bring healing and calm for the colvin family.

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I ask that you be with the citizens of this county that are being subject to.

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Gun violence that is surrounding them rapidly. I also pray for our law enforcement that they will.

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Go ahead and find these individuals that you will guide them that the people that they work with.

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Will be forthcoming on the people and I also pray for the judges, your honor, that you'll give them.

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Clear concise thoughts on how they handle these individuals when they bring them forward.

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That they're not put back out to do more harm to our citizens and.

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I I thank you for everything that you've given us in jesus name. I pray, amen, amen,.

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Thank you, commissioner. Next we need the approval of the consent agenda.

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A move to approve the consent of grangenda, which includes the minutes of june 8th.

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2021. second, I have a first and second, all in favor aye any opposed eyes. Have it.

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At this time we have several proclamations for this morning. uh The first one is national, nursing.

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Assistance week commissioner o'connor will read, then I don't know if anybody is anybody.

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Here, for that, uh I don't believe they are okay, I'm gonna be present for this one. Mr president,.

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All right national nursing assistants week there is no one here to accept this proclamation and it.

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Will be mailed to st mary's nursing rehabilitation center, whereas the week of june 17-24 2021.

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Is observed as national nursing assistance week and this year's theme is kindness and action and.

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Whereas the nursing assistants of st mary's county have made a significant, lasting contribution to.

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The quality of life in our county and to their families, friends and acquaintances and their work.

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Inspires and guides all of us and whereas their selfless dedication, diligent service and concern.

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For others has earned them the respect, admiration and gratitude of the residents of this of saint.

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Mary's county and the saint mary's nursing center, the citizens and the citizens of the state of.

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Maryland now, therefore, we, the commissioners of st mary's county, do hereby proclaim the week.

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Of june 17th through 24th 2021 national nursing assistance week and urge all citizens to become.

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More aware of and involved with activities, issues and the continued need for nursing assistance.

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Thank you. Next, we have a world elder abuse awareness day, commissioner colvin very good.

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So this proclamation is being accepted by lori jennings harris. The director of aging.

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And human services and rebecca kessler, our home and community based services, division manager so.

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Thank you all for being here. Miss reads, whereas st mary's county is home to a growing population of.

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Older adults and the community benefits from their collective experience and continued contribution.

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And whereas our population lives longer, we are presented with an opportunity to think about.

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Our collective needs and future as a nation and whereas ageism and social isolation are major.

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Causes of elder abuse in the united states and whereas it is the responsibility of the community.

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To ensure that older adults are treated with respect and dignity as they continue to serve.

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As leaders, mentors and volunteers, and whereas recognizing that it is the duty of our community.

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As a whole, to ensure proper social structures exist, enabling older adults to retain community.

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And societal connections and reducing the likelihood of abuse and whereas preventing abuse.

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Of older adults through maintaining and improving social supports such as home and community-based.

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Services, senior activity, centers human services, transportation and protection from scams, fraud and.

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Exploitation will allow everyone to continue to live as independently as possible and contribute.

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To life and vibrancy of our communities and now, therefore be a proclaim that we, the commissioners.

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Of saint mary's county do hereby resolve to continue our commitment to the support of world.

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Elder abuse awareness day on june 15 2021 and encourage all citizens to do the same. Thank you.

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Sorry um just to thank the commissioners for the recognition and the importance of being aware.

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Of older adult abuse that does exist and exist in our community, whether physical abuse, sexual.

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Abuse, financial abuse or emotional abuse, so it's good to bring it to light and to ask people to be.

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Aware and do something if they notice something. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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Yeah we expect our elder population actually increased. The census.

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2010 census showed a 235 percent increase in saint mary's county and expect even a.

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Higher increase for the 2020 census, sooner figures come out way behind, but okay. Next we have the.

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It's a presentation uh on a community corrections facility virtual ribbon, cutting ceremony.

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That miss casa is going to display for us right now great. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

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I'm commissioner, president randy guy and on behalf of the commission of st mary's county.

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Welcome to the virtual ribbon cutting of the saint mary county community corrections facility.

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A collaborative project the facility was built to allow for continued medical and behavioral.

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Health services to the detention center and pre-trial release population under the.

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Social distancing needs of the code 19 pandemic, going forward. The community corrections facility.

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Will continue to offer enhanced opportunities for various programs? Thank you to all of our partners.

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Including the sheriff's office and saint mary's county health department for their hard work and.

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We hope you enjoy this virtual presentation, it's my pleasure to welcome you to the ribbon.

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Cutting for the community corrections center, this facility will serve several roles and a number of.

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Our partner agencies will also be served all in the furtherance of our community's welfare. This.

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Building was particularly exciting for dpw and t to work on. We worked with the sheriff's office.

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And the health department to create a special location for a very special joint effort that they.

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Have the pre-trial program and other programs that they run with a multiplicity of other partners.

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That groundbreaking program that helps people awaiting trial, with whatever problems they may.

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Have that contributed to them facing the upcoming trial is the critical mission of.

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The pre-trial program we had a very short period of time to deliver the building.

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And the interaction of both agencies that brought it to reality inspired us. Thank you, dr brewster.

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For finding the grant that made this a reality on the dpwnt team, special thanks go to gary whipple.

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Randy maczynski and drew kelly thanks again. So for a long time, public health and the criminal.

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Justice system have intersected on the issue of rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated.

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And those who are at risk for incarceration in public health, our mission is to protect.

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Quality of life and to promote health for all people. This mission drives us to explore why.

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Those involved with the criminal justice system as a whole experience worse health outcomes than.

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The general population, it also asks us and to ask and to find out why poor health, including drug use,.

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And neglected mental health is contributing to a cycle of recidivism in the criminal justice system.

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That's why our team at the st mary's county health department, is truly honored to partner.

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With the saint mary's county sheriff's office, in launching this new community corrections center.

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This facility will allow expanded access to behavioral health treatment services and.

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Recovery supports for those who may have had trouble getting access before it will give us.

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The space to really dig deep into the roots of crime and to repair what's been hurting.

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Our organizations have a common goal to help our community members get into healthy and more.

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Productive life patterns, while keeping everyone safe through the new community correction center.

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We can support health and healing for our most disconnected residents and.

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This venture is about promoting equity and breaking the cycle of recidivism.

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In a way that benefits our whole community, I'm grateful to sheriff tim cameron and his awesome.

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Team for their forward thinking and advanced leadership they've certainly led the way for.

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Saint mary's county and the state with their solutions, focused genius on many matters.

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Their pre-trial supervision program and this new community corrections center are no exceptions.

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We're eager for the positive outcomes and uh for the hope that this facility will nurture. And thank.

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You sheriff cameron for your wise and thoughtful leadership. Your whole team brings both passion.

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And compassion to the work of public safety you're, not just saving lives, you're, also creating futures.

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The st mary's county, detention and rehabilitation center prides itself in the use of alternatives to.

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Incarceration and offender rehabilitation, which profound has profound effects on not only the.

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Inmates and offenders, but also their families and our community to reduce recidivism and.

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Restore family connections, in fact, rehabilitation was added to the facility name a few years ago.

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The detention center is a concrete living facility wherein sharing of infection is an.

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Alarming concern and disease prevention is paramount when the detention center opened.

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In 1989 and for many years thereafter, the will of society was to incarcerate as many offenders.

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As possible with little thought to rehabilitation, of course, there have always been inmate programs.

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However, offender re-entry and alternatives to incarceration are now law with the justice.

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Reinvestment act and with the movement from incarceration to community corrections with coven.

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19 there was an undertaking to release as many inmates and offenders as possible to the community.

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For the protection of all on march 1 2020, the pre-trial supervision program had 67 offenders. The.

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Number on pre-trial supervision peaked at 142 121 increase in the numbers of offenders being watched.

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Successfully in the community versus incarceration the reality is, the public lobby cannot safely be.

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Utilized to prevent introduction of infection and disease protection for all the users or the.

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Inmates in this congregate living facility, while the expansion and renovation project.

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Is greatly needed and fulfills the housing demands of the female inmate population.

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And medical necessities all incarcerated in saint mary's, the original facility nor the.

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New addition were never designed with the number of office, spaces and program rooms to accommodate.

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Rehabilitation, I would be remiss and now pointing at not pointing out that the renovation project.

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Will address much needed air conditioning as well as upgrade the 32 year old security systems.

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Over the years, every square inch of the existing space has been converted and repurposed.

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With the goal of rehabilitation, the facility administration and extremely understanding staff.

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Were able to make it work until proven 19. program staff had to be assigned to telework, which worked.

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In the interim, however, long term does not work in a service oriented business such as rehabilitation.

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And community corrections to safeguard the detention center inmate population and ensure.

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Office space for the community program staff members to safely work as well as meet with the.

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Offenders, a community corrections center plan was formulated. Originally the plan was presented as a.

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Budget recommendation in january of 2018, however, funding was not available for the project at that.

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Time and we were told no and for the record I have been told- I'm not know a lot fast forward.

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Two years, the covet 19 pandemic and the karazaki grant funding presented an opportunity to make the.

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Community correction center a reality while county government could not fund the lion's share. Dr.

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Brewster at the secretary county health department, envisioned the safety of the community corrections.

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Center and committed the monies to further the much needed program for offender re-injury.

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With dr brewster's vision and most importantly, willingness to fund a partnership was formed.

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And the community corrections center has become a long-term community solution. Without a doubt, this.

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Project has set a record in county government, as within less than a year, this site has gone from.

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A legit grass field to an operational building, the period of cooperation is alive and well in st.

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Mary's county, the community corrections center will be utilized by the community supervision unit.

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Home detention, drug court and the pre-trial supervision programs, as well as community partners,.

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Such as the saint mary's county health department, poland, probation social security administration,.

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Workforce development, motor vehicle administration, college of southern maryland.

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Literacy, council and the friends of the library to name a few ultimately community corrections serves.

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As a navigator to our many partnerships in the communities, offenders have many complex issues and.

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Assistance is needed to segue through our systems. The corrections division is so very grateful to.

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Sheriff cameron's leadership, dr brewster's vision and the commissioners of saint mary's county.

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Their foresight to keep our community safe and advancing correctional programs for years to come.

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Is second to none, we look forward to continuing our long-standing partnerships and the commitment.

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To improving our community from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for not saying no and now for a.

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Special presentation at I'd ask major michael american, the assistant sheriff to come forward.

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Along with dr brewster for a presentation as the assistant sheriff former jail warden,.

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And the deputy sheriff for 35 plus years, it does give me great pleasure today to present this.

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To dr brewster, dr brewster over the years, has been a team player with corrections. Truly this.

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Would not have happened without her covered 19 when we were dealt lemons. She made lemonade out.

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Of this, for us and sheriff cameron has been certainly a great leader to us and, on behalf.

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Of myself personally and sheriff tim cameron, I would like to bestow upon you the key to the jail.

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Not too many people get these dr brewster, but it does say in recognition.

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Of your distinguished and dedicated service to the corrections profession.

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And specifically, the vision and leadership for community corrections center, your commitment to.

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The citizens of saint mary's county is without exception. Thank you very much, dr brewster.

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So I want to thank everyone for being here today with us, especially our partners in this. uh This.

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Facility my appreciation to our contractors, dr brewster, miss marianne thompson. Certainly.

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Our facilities from saint mary's county, our information technology, folks from.

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Our I.t department and the commissioners of st mary's county for the support, given this very.

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Worthwhile project we're now going to cut the official ribbon for the community correction.

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Thank you, lisa kassis, and thank you amy carter behind the glass for the hard work.

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On this, y'all did a great job in doing these uh presentations. We do appreciate it next. We have.

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On our main agenda, the department of human resources.

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Years of service awards that uh miss catherine preston, our director of.

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Hr is going to present. I think this is a 10-year presentation. Yes, it is okay, we'll give it up we'll.

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Give it to you now, so it's all it's off to you now. Thank you, commissioners and good morning.

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Is this on? Yes, sir good? Okay, great! Thank you. um It is my pleasure to be here today to present.

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Years of service awards, the years of service award recognizes employees with continuous service of.

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10 years or more and the employees being honored this morning have spent much of their professional.

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Lives as public servants, every resident of saint mary's county has been impacted in some manner by.

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The good work of these individuals, 74 county employees in total, are being recognized for.

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Achieving years of service milestones during 2020, and today it is my pleasure to present.

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Employees who have achieved 10 years of service, st mary's county government, we are truly humbled by.

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The commitment of these individuals and thank them sincerely for their dedication to county.

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Government without further delay for our award recipients, please come forward as I read your name.

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For supervisors and department heads please join your employees for photographs.

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I'd ask you to stay standing and then the entire group will take a picture.

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And then we'll hold our applause until each group is called. Please.

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So without further delay from the department of public works and transportation, we have.

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Robert jones, an sts driver and jeffrey wathen, a supervisor from building services.

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Congratulations.

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From the department of emergency services, we have kirsten shea accreditation manager.

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From the department of finance we have dana.

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Digorio nope tory I'm sorry come on up.

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From recreation and parks, margaret bowling.

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Congratulations and from the sheriff's office we have corporal atkins.

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Sergeant boyd property, specialist, charles ferrari, corporal pontorno and deputy luffy.

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Congratulations. Thank you.

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Everybody stay up just stay up here. One more come on down everybody.

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You shorter people get up.

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Can we go ahead and go forward want to make sure we can see all the.

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Commissioners always.

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Thank you, employees who were not able to be with us today, but also celebrating 10 years of service.

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Include kenneth quaid, alvin deshlein stan kozowski david long catherine poole, david potter, vincent.

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Chanter, christopher bayer and trevor teague. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you very much castle.

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Next, on our main agenda, we have the department of finance st mary county metropolitan commission.

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Resolution refunding dhcd bonds, all those are participating. Please come forward.

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Good morning morning morning,.

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Good morning, commissioners, I have here with me patti stigma: the cfo over at metcom and joy potter,.

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I think was coming or maybe not um we are here today. The county's board county bond council.

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Prepared the county's resolution and has signed for legal sufficiency, the county's resolution.

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Pledges the full faith and credit on an unlimited taxing power of the county to pay the principal.

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And the interest in the bonds, patty stigma will now present and provide further details. Thank you.

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Patty thanks uh good morning, commissioners, this morning we have three bonds that we are refunding.

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Refinancing the 2012 2013 and 2014 an amount not to exceed 30 million 400 000.

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The current rates that we're paying on those bonds is between 3.4 and 4.3 percent.

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And we're able to get 1.79 percent generally, we refund through um department of housing and.

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Community development, but they did not have enough agencies to pull together.

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For a refunding, so we used our consultant joe mason at davenport and went through the rfp.

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Process was it a local bank or somebody another bank was chosen or how was it funded.

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We got eight bids and it is uh funded through uh west bank. Oh, oh good, yep! I know they're.

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Not really, but they are local yeah, maryland bank and trust right, yes and good, very good, very good.

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I'll move to approve the commission, the county's resolution authorizing.

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St mary's county metropolitan commission to refund the 2012 b, 2013 a and 2014 a cda bonds.

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In the amount not to exceed 30 million 400 000 in accordance with section 113-2-3.

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C, sorry of the code of saint mary's county. Second, I have a first and second, all in favor.

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All right any opposed. I have thank you very much. Ashley you're saving, 2 million bucks.

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0.1, 2.1 million savings tremendous job, great job. Thank you very much. Thank you. Patty thanks.

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Okay: next, we have the department of finance final approval of the board of education, fiscal.

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Year, 2022 budget good morning, commissioners and I believe uh dr smith and tammy mccourt.

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From the board of ed are joining me and we received the board of education's final fy.

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22 budget package on may 27 2021 and reviewed the submission we prepared a summary comparing the fy.

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22 budget to the fy 2020 one approved budget and the 22 request received in january 28th.

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Also detail of the changes and positions for the unrestricted, the food services and the restricted.

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Funds were included, csmcu approved 98.7 of the recurring funding for fy 22. good job. Now, dr.

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Smith and tammy will provide further details of their budget package. Thank you. I don't really have.

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Additional details to add other than uh certainly thank you very much for the commissioners. I know.

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That it was a long process, but at the very end of it, the almost five million dollars.

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To be funded over the amount provided last year is a historic level of funding the highest level of.

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Funding that we've ever received one year over the other and it did allow us at the end, to fully fund.

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Our negotiated agreement for every single one of our employees in all units, as well as recognizing.

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Additional compensation and benefits for drivers and contractors so just an appreciation for the.

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Work that we did and for how we ended up, and just thank you very much with that anything that you.

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Might have a question wise? um Certainly ms mccourt and myself are here to answer any questions.

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I move to approve the board of education's operating revolving, restricted in capital.

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Budgets for fy 22 and the category and fund level, including fte positions and authorized commission.

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President to execute the related documents. Second, so do we expect the drama next year that.

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You created this year year over a year. We we look at what the school system needs to operate and we.

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Work closely with county government to understand the resources available, the revenue this that's.

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That's forecast, and hopefully we would. We would find ourselves in a really good space, as we do.

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Again this year, I would hope, with the extraneous fund balances you keep accruing, that it would.

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Be put to good use towards the salaries and the opeb and not the ranker. We had this past spring.

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I will absolutely continue to pledge that any fund balance that we create over the school year.

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Will be turned right back around and put towards the students, the classroom, the schools and the.

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Staff we will maintain no unallocated fund balance beyond those that have been traditionally held.

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For health care calls and operational costs that might go up slightly year to year, absolutely.

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Are we watching healthcare closely, so we I understand, it's all going up. So no no be.

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Very careful yeah we certainly we. We maintain a very proactive relationship with our health care.

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Providers, uh miss mccourt, interacts with them, um certainly monthly, and we do have a complete.

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Reconciliation quarterly good, good anything else. Commissioners, I have a first and second.

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All in favor that's motion, one hi, hi, hey nays eyes. Have it the second motion. I moved that the.

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Appropriation of 114 540 490 will be distributed to the saint mary's county board of education for.

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Equal installments over the fiscal year. Second, I have first and second, all in favor, aye aye.

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Any oppose, as have it. Thank you commitment. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.

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Okay, next we're going to turn it right over to our acting county administrator. At this time,.

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Thank you, commissioner. President guy first I have drafted agendas for june 22 and july 13th, as there.

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Will be no meetings of the commissioners on june, 29th and july 6th and so for tuesday june 22nd.

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At 9 00 a.m, you'll have the invocation and pledge by commissioner morgan and the approval of the.

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Consent agenda you'll have a commendation on john c raley's retirement, a presentation by.

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The saint mary's county sheriff's office, district 3 virtual ribbon cutting ceremony a presentation.

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By the department of human resources for the people's choice awards.

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And also the 2021 safety matters award and then at 10 o'clock, you'll have a department.

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Of human resources request for a public hearing regarding the low sap point award.

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Process for calendar year 2021 and then county administrator time, followed by commissioners time.

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Then, for tuesday july 13th at 9 00 a.m. You'll have the invocation and pledge by commissioner.

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President guy approval of the consent agenda and then you will have the saint mary's county board.

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Of health and then a proclamation for the national park and recreation month, followed by county.

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Administrator time commissioner's time and then followed by a closed session regarding personnel.

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Boards and commissions, and also remember that night at 6 30 you'll, have a public forum.

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And those are the draft agendas moving into county administrator time. The first thing on.

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The agenda is the maryland department of agricultural.

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Fiscal year, 2022 cooperative agreement between the maryland department of.

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Agriculture and the commissioners of saint mary's county, a present is mr lane heimer.

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Agromenist and administrator of weed control for the maryland department of agriculture.

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Good morning, how are you.

R

Yes, I wanted to. I appreciate the time to get with you. You know administrator for this.

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Statewide program, andrew bowles, here is a ag inspector with the maryland of agriculture and.

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Is responsible for southern maryland uh he's local to you? He lives in saint mary's, county.

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um It's a long-standing program with with your county, and I appreciate all the help.

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That uh and all the all the support you give us um this agreement is, is in place to um set up.

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Allows for the cooperation and management of the of your local program and it's a yearly thing.

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Every year, obviously,.

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The program again uh just a couple updates, since I can't I don't want to get you behind, but you're.

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Going way ahead, you're way ahead of schedule, which is great um last year, uh palmer amaranth.

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And waterhemp were added to our noxious weed law and that's why andrew's come on with us, because st.

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Mary's county does have some problems with with palmer amaranth um I'd like to complement your.

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Extension agent ben beal, he has been on top of it prior to even being on the noxious weed law.

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And has done an excellent job and is, is our go-to person really for information about.

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Palmer amaranth and control this year, one change um senate bill, 352 repealed the multiflora rose.

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Management law, it's a law, that's been on the books for quite a while. It's separate from our.

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Noxious weed law and that it it has to be done by complaining, very specific what properties were.

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Under that law it was repealed because it just has not been used. Recently, um growth has changed.

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In the past, multi-core village was a serious problem throughout the state.

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um What's overtaken it is bush honeysuckles, privets um and and other problematic [ __ ]. So.

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That that will take effect in october. That will not prevent us from assisting people with control.

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We do advise and consult on on control. Many invasive leads, including the phragmites and.

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Kudzu, which and it's a couple that you have in your county and we can assist on with.

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People or those different weeds um so again, um you've got a strong program. You've had a.

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Person with the program for many years- and it was a slightly slower year- obviously covet slowed.

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Everybody down um couldn't get out as much and and but we were able to maintain the noxious leads.

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In the county, so again, if you would approve this.

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Agreement and we're looking forward to another year. Are there any questions, mr heimer, mr bowles,.

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Commissioner hewitt, can you tell us the contact information for uh who we call.

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And, what's up contact for us? Yes, if some, if the constituent wants to call those there's phragmites.

R

Right um well, the simplest way would be to call our main office, um and then it.

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Would trickle down um that number was four one: zero, eight four one: five, nine two zero.

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I know that um andrew is working on redoing the brochure making a county brochure that.

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Can be left in the different offices and would have the contact information.

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Plus a little information on about the weeds that is in the works, and that would you know again.

R

That would be like a calling card that could be provided to your constituents. Okay, thank you. Yeah.

A

Make sure you conclude that brochure and give it to our public information officer. We appreciate it.

P

Great any more questions. Commissioners move to approve the fbi, 22 cooperative agreement.

B

Between the md department of agriculture and the commissioners of st mary's county.

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For the continuation of the program, control eradication, invasive and designated weed species.

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In st mary's county and authorized, commissioner president execute the related documents. Second,.

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First and second, all in favor aye any opposed eyes have it. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you.

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Sir next on the agenda is the sheriff's office, sex offender, compliance and enforcement in maryland.

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The fiscal year 22 grant application present is captain willenborg and lottie bell fiscal manager.

A

Good morning off morning, commissioners, good morning.

L

This fy 22 grant opportunity is a recurring grant offered by the governor's office.

L

Of crime, control and prevention, the application is for the amount of 13.

L

835 dollars, excluding counting funding, this grant funding will cover approximately 27.

L

Of the salary fringe costs for the administrative coordinators position.

L

This position provides administrative support to the sex offender coordinator, detective.

L

Thus, freeing the detective up to be available to conduct more compliance checks, funding for.

L

This grant is included in the fy 22 budget at a higher amount. So a budget amendment is included.

L

To decrease the grant funding by 1495 and increase the county funding by 275 dollars do.

L

You have any questions I see our numbers are 124 and captain marlon borg, always nice to see you, sir.

O

Is that decreasing, it seems like we were in the group. No.

T

Staying about the same as of today we're at 130., oh no, the same time. Last year we had.

U

um 121 so up a little bit, but a lot of that has to do with people moving from county to county too. So.

T

Not necessarily an increase in sex offenses. Well, I was encouraged that.

O

It looks like we're a little higher than calvert a little lower than charles and.

O

Kind of with our population seems like it fits, but thank goodness, we're not in the same categories.

O

Baltimore city and some of those uh districts that have a very high rate of these people.

O

A move to approve the fy 22 sex offender, compliance and enforcement and maryland.

O

Grant application project md 2224 from the governor's office of crime control and.

O

Prevention on behalf of the saint mary's county sheriff's office, in the amount of 13 835 dollars,.

O

Excluding county funding and authorized the commissioner president and sheriff.

O

To execute the related documents and staff to submit electronically. Thank you second.

A

I have a first and second, all in favor aye any opposition. I just have it thank y'all.

Q

Thank you next on the agenda is from the office of the county attorney for the ymca proposed mou.

Q

For site selection and conceptual uh facility site plan- and mr robbie gill is mr gill here yet okay.

Q

I guess we can pass that one until mr gill gets here. Next is department of economic development.

Q

Annual memorandum of understanding, with visit, saint mary's maryland for tourism responsibilities.

Q

And present is chris casalimus, regina faden and barbara sapoto. The executive director.

Q

Director, thank you, mr weiskopf and good morning. Commissioners, uh oh perfect timing, for I just.

V

Went back to that she's gonna run a little ahead of schedule. Sorry she's running behind, but it's a.

V

Perfect timing, so thank you for coming commissioners today today we're asking.

V

You to approve an mou with visit st marriage for the coming year. uh It's a little bit of background.

V

Three years ago, the commissioners approved a 10-year master operating agreement with, with.

V

Visit st mary's md, the 10-year master operating agreement sets in place the long-term relationship.

V

Between the county and visits st mary's, it states the county's intent to recognize this entity as.

V

The primary entity through which tourism promotion will be conducted on behalf of the county.

V

And the county's intent to provide long-term funding for the agency.

V

So the miu that's before you today states the county will provide 400 thousand and 194.

V

Dollars to visit st mary's for fiscal year 22., this is the same amount as they received in 21.

V

Per the master operating agreement, the county has stated its intention to fund visit st mary's.

V

At a minimum of 38 percent from the previous year's collection of county's accommodation, tax.

V

However, on an annual basis, the commissioners are free to provide more or less.

V

The amount of the accommodations tax for fy 2020 was 828 150, which is a drop from.

V

The previous year, but the commissioners agreed to provide level funding for the coming year.

V

Mostly because it was a due to the pandemic, that the tax collections were down sure that yeah.

V

The agreement also provides no cost office space for visiting st mary's in the offices.

V

Of the economic development department over in the potomac building and I think, you've met.

V

Once before, our new executive director, barbara zapata, we're very excited to have her on board.

V

She brings a lot of energy and knowledge to the position and we also want to recognize.

V

The strong leadership of the board- and there I think there are many board members here today so.

V

With that I'll turn it over to, I believe regina is going to speak now good morning. Thank you for.

W

Giving me an opportunity to talk to you this morning. I just want to thank each one of you.

W

For supporting and holding the funding level um where it was last year because our.

W

At the 400 000 level, because you know with your support, we were able to support small.

W

Businesses this year, restaurants and others that were struggling during the pandemic and so is.

W

The leadership of the county commissioners again providing grants and and working in.

W

Partnership with visit st mary's that made it possible for some of the places I like to go.

W

To to survive a very very trying year, and so the other thing I want to do is just again introduce.

W

Barbara she's been with us less than two months, but she is you'll, find very bright and very.

W

Engaging and we interviewed her the first time like she's, the one should we want.

W

Her here we want her working with us. No pressure, she's been all over the place.

D

All over the place so anyway, so I'll turn it over to barbara and just say again.

W

Thank you all and thank you for being good partners to us and to the business community.

T

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, regina, and thank you, commissioners for uh having me here today.

X

I still have the nerves, but I'm excited to be here and I want to mirror what both of.

X

My colleagues said in thanking you for the continued support financial support.

X

It was a hard year for everyone, and uh so what I've brought today to present to you.

X

Is not an overview of last year because we're all trying to move forward from that for sure.

X

But I thought I would introduce you to sort of my strategic thinking of how we're going to grow.

X

The organization and how we're going to support the county in doing that so.

X

With your indulgence, I have a few slides to share and I guess I'm supposed to just say next.

X

Slide to you, okay, so uh next slide so anywhere. We start. We have to talk about what our mission is.

X

And our mission, as you guys know- and this was uh defined before I got here- is to serve.

X

This community and the economy of the county by designing, developing and supporting tourism assets.

X

And by attracting overnight visitors for the economic benefit of the county, our vision, I'm.

X

Not going to read off of the slide, it's basically to really make this place known.

X

As a distinct destination for a really unique tourism experience, the history, the community.

X

The rural nature, the untouched nature of the water, all of that makes this place extraordinarily.

X

Distinct and that's what we want to amplify and celebrate, so how do we do that next slide.

X

The first thing is we're, starting with a fresh start, as a lot of people are as.

X

We come out of this pandemic, and the plan here is to make sure I appreciate mr colvin.

X

For noticing that I've been out there, I'm trying to introduce myself to everyone and.

X

Introduce the organization and our mission to the community and I'm introducing myself to all.

X

Of our local partners, of which you guys, are very important, as are many of the people in this room,.

X

I consider our partners to be the core. The key to our organization and those partners include.

X

Our state and county government a lodging providers, restaurant owners, museum and.

X

Historical site, executives, event, venues activity providers and, of course, the business owners.

X

I'm trying to introduce our organization as being uniquely positioned to help with product.

X

Development sales and marketing support regulatory support and capital investment and basically, what.

X

I'm doing is I'm getting out there and I'm doing a lot of listening and a lot of learning every.

X

Single person in this county has 10 stories to tell me, and they are all really really interesting.

X

I want to make sure I'm setting expectations and that we are transparent as an organization.

X

And what we are doing and why and I want to make sure that we're connecting the community I it is.

X

There is no such thing as great tourism without great community, so we we start- and we finish there.

X

uh So how do we do that next slide? uh Looking ahead, I have a plan to focus on the foundation.

X

Of the organization and again on our community and what we're doing in that regard is, we are.

X

First and foremost, starting with our website, we need to make visit st mary's maryland.com, the hub.

X

Of all tourism related information, and that means original content compelling reasons to come here.

X

And connecting all of the experiences together so that someone coming from the outside can.

X

Discover everything that's unique here: we want to revitalize our social media to attract and engage.

X

Visitors, we want to optimize analyze and share our visitor data, because this is the key to growth.

X

Is reviewing and optimizing your data? We want to create and distribute enticing content and.

X

Collateral from the website to the rat cards, we want everything to express the truly unique.

X

Distinct nature of this county, we want to engage all of our partners in strategic planning. They are.

X

The subject matter, expertise that we need to be successful and we also want to provide educational.

X

Opportunities for our partners on marketing best practices. This is where we can help everyone to.

X

Sort of keep up with the joneses online as it were next slide. So we, uh when I got here, I was handed a.

X

Beautiful plan and the plan has nine tracks of opportunities that were previously identified.

X

And I'm in full agreement with them. I've only added one to the next, and so those.

X

To advance those things, what we're going to do is we're going to really think about what the big.

X

Dreams are but we're going to make some we're going to learn from our small wins.

X

You have to start somewhere, we can't, you know, we can't start big. We have to start small.

X

And so those areas again are lodging dining water access and activities. Leonardtown south county.

X

Museum and historic sites, events, agritourism and farm to table outdoor activities and the.

X

One that I added again is community because again can't have great tourism without great community.

X

Next slide, please so I've been here for two months: we've made some small progress and some small wins.

X

I think, and I wanted to inform you of those we've spent a lot of time- spending grant money.

X

Promoting local businesses and attractions the state of maryland, provides us with a regular grant.

X

To help us do marketing, and there have also been additional grants to help.

X

With coveted recovery and to keep the small businesses afloat during this challenging time,.

X

We've used that money in advertising on google search and display ads facebook display ads.

X

We have broadcast podcast and streaming ads running right now in maryland, dc new york, new.

X

Jersey and pennsylvania, we have print ads running locally in the county times the old town crier, the.

X

Rec news and the enterprise we are also offering administrative and consultative support to help.

X

Bring more activities to leonard town wharf, I'm happy to report that as of this weekend, coming up.

X

If you so desire, you can join captain phil on an afternoon or sunset cruise right out of.

X

Leonardtown wharf and those tickets are available on visit, st mary's maryland.com or, if you want to.

X

Take your chances, you can walk up to the boat 10 minutes before and maybe buy a ticket, but I'd buy.

X

In advance, we also are offering administrative and consultative support for our farm wedding venue.

X

Partners in their crafting of their incident reporting process, and mostly I'm spending.

X

A lot of time learning the magic of st mary's county and there's a lot of magic to learn here.

X

Next slide, so in closing, I want to say thank you again, but I also want to make sure that.

X

I point out all of the good partners that have shown up today, so our staff is two, but our group.

X

Is I'm going to say 200, maybe 2 000, I'm not sure yet, but we have in the room today mary wagner, who.

X

Is our communications and marketing assistant and she is a lifelong resident of st mary's county and.

X

Has been a valuable asset to me, and many of our board of directors are here, including obviously,.

X

Regina and chris, and I think there are a few others in the room if you'd raise your hands.

X

And we also have a few of our our business partners here today that came out and support.

X

And I want to thank all of them because I have been here two months and I have never felt such a.

X

Abrasive and supportive community in helping me to figure out where everything is and what's going on.

X

And so, in closing I say thank you. I can go to my last slide. Thank you again for the funding. Thank.

X

You for the support and I look forward to working with each of you. My contact information is on this.

X

Slide and I welcome all contacts if anyone has any ideas or wants to interact with us in any way, if.

X

I haven't gotten around to your business, yet I'm coming don't worry. Thank you well. Thank you very.

A

Much I met you down at st murray city during our first visit uh for the new fort discovery, yeah and.

A

uh I, like your enthusiasm and uh visit st mary's or tourism, is a big part of our community and we.

A

Want to do everything we can to increase that, and let people see how st mary's county, what we really.

A

Have here to offer- and I'm very excited about the first landing, of course in saint mary's, not first.

A

Lady but saint mary's cities as the first capital of maryland and the discoveries were finding there.

A

I lived down that area. I was born and raised down there and the only thing I saw was fields of corn.

A

Years ago, there's nothing there but uh being farmed and all of a sudden we dig down a few feet.

A

And we found all these unbelievable artifacts, so it's great that we're discovering that and.

A

That's a part of our tourism and like everything else in the county, and uh so I appreciate your.

A

Hard work and we look forward to continuing it. Maybe this year things will start busting open.

A

For us, yes, they will. Thank you, commissioners, do you want anything else? I move to approve.

B

The annual memorandum of understanding with visit st mary's md for tourism services for fiscal year.

B

2022 and authorize the commission president to sign all related documents second, and welcome to.

C

St mary's barbara, thank you. Yes very much can feed you. Where were you from originally? I just moved.

X

Here from washington dc washington- well, that's not very far away yet no not very far, but a different.

T

World you knew about us all along see, he just wanted to get down ahead. There was a reason to.

A

Get here good good! Well, thank you for being here I have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye,.

A

Aye nays always have it welcome and we'll be supporting you. Thank you. Thank you. Listeners.

Q

Thank you, commissioners, and next uh mr castlemas has a couple more items of one. Is the renewal of.

Q

The moa, with the college of southern maryland for sbdc services to local business owners.

V

Thank you, mr weiskopf. This is annual agreement time of the year so today we're doing an.

V

uh Our annual agreement with the college of southern maryland for small business development.

V

Center services sbdc works to help startups and small businesses in saint mary's county.

V

The commissioners have allocated thirty seven thousand five hundred dollars in this mou.

V

For the fiscal 22 budget, sbdc has provided services to the county since 1980 sbdc is.

V

Funded by the u.s small business administration and requirement of this funding is that the.

V

Local government must provide a cash match to the freight program costs. This is an annual agreement.

V

The 15th that the county's entered into with the college for services of the sbdc and like visit st.

V

Mary's there also there's an office on our floor for sbdc on in the economic development office, so.

V

I know you know when briscoe she is the regional director for the small business development center.

V

And I'll turn it over to her. I just want to mention that I think you guys also know during.

V

The pandemic sba sbdc provided a lot of support for small businesses through their program, so I.

V

Want to thank them for that and I'll turn over to win. Welcome, miss briscoe, south county girl.

A

Good to see you yes good morning, how are you all right sent over data because we weren't able to be.

Y

Here in person, so I want to make sure I just read over a few slides, so you can see what we've done.

Y

Year over year, with the businesses of saint mary's county, due to the pandemic, we have seen a triple.

Y

In our in our business services of the number of businesses in each county that has requested.

Y

Services- and it has been incredibly we're so grateful for sba, giving us cares, funding which.

Y

Allowed for us to have two part-time staff to be able to help with the influx and we're so grateful.

Y

To chris and economic development for being able to have this funding for a full-time consultant.

Y

We had a gap, as you know, in our staffing last year, for during the pandemic, we were, we were.

Y

Staff members down for st mary's county- I was your former business consultant before moving into the.

Y

Director position, so we had quite a few months of of a gap of a consultant that was here so I did.

Y

Both roles as the director of sbdc, as well as your consultant, okay, so I did work both positions.

Y

uh Full-Time, thankfully, with chris we were able to bring on our full-time consultant, aaron harrington.

Y

uh To sbdc and she came on november 9th of last year, so when you see the stats, our stats for this.

Y

Semi-Annual is from july to december, so we're grateful to be able to get her in and get her.

Y

Up and going for at least that last month of the data to get her in so I'm just briefly, I'm going.

Y

To read over the information- and we can get this to you at a later date- because the slides weren't.

Y

In for your board docs, but from july 2019 until december of 2019, we serviced 189 businesses in st.

Y

Mary's county specifically and for july, through uh december of 2020, we service 306.

Y

Okay for the number of new, first-time businesses from that previous period forward in 19, we had.

Y

29 new businesses come on board in the last fall period. We had 69 new businesses come on board.

Y

The difference in the consulting hours ranged about the same for the number of businesses.

Y

Ranged right around 1200 hours that was put in for those new businesses, uh training events went from.

Y

Four, the previous year to ten for this reporting period, uh training attendees ranged around for.

Y

That time, around 25 for those particular courses and the business starts which we're really happy.

Y

To be able to maintain that, with our with the staffing that was limited during that.

Y

Time payment uh we were able to have eight new businesses start from scratch. During that period,.

Y

One of them you are very familiar with. I worked with her from the beginning and that's peggy.

Y

Benzel with pier 450 so super excited to be able to get her off of the ground and get.

Y

That business in south county up and thriving and most people know pier 450. Now is the great.

Y

Restaurant on the water there with the boutique hotel and great venues but space. So that is one of.

Y

Our brand new businesses that we were able to get up and going and launched in the reporting period.

Y

Among the other, eight and the jobs that were added during that time was 260, which were super excited.

Y

To see employment come up with businesses that were newly opened, they were able to then bring.

Y

On more staff and the capital growth that we saw uh from the previous year believe it or not,.

Y

Went from 1.7 the previous reporting period to 32 million and that next reporting period, so the.

Y

Businesses were actually growing and thriving, and I've had numerous people. Ask me about the.

Y

Businesses that were closing during the covet period and to be very honest with them to let.

Y

Them know that many of those businesses were already struggling. They were already kind of on.

Y

That teeter point and did not have the cash flow, the working capital to be able to sustain them.

Y

Beyond a month or two, which we always advocate for businesses having working capital having their.

Y

Savings having their cash flow reserve of at least six to eight months, and if they would have taken.

Y

That sage wisdom, they would have been able to at least bridge a gap until there was relief funding.

Y

But for those that were not prepared, the covet pandemic definitely brought to surface those.

Y

Businesses that were not prepared and to their demise, and so now we see more businesses revamping.

Y

Their cash flow understanding that savings is important because, again, you never know.

Y

What could happen not just a pandemic but just life and to know that if you run a business, you.

Y

Need to make sure you have your your savings in canned, so I think that's a really important point.

C

And, as you know, I taught this stuff for years at the colleges yeah. But not only should a business.

C

Prepare for six months, but households should pay for six months and as much as I recognize.

C

You're concentrating on those businesses for six months, but I really believe it's important.

C

Also for families to understand a six-month savings plan in case of another pandemic, a job.

C

A downturn, something like that, so I appreciate you bringing that up absolutely we're here to.

Y

Give them sage wisdom so from the household to the business and again it's a behavior pattern.

Y

On savings so helping them to understand the minimum of six months at home and the minimum of.

Y

Six months in your business would definitely help to reduce the burden that was levied on everyone.

Y

So that's very key and the capital infusion that was put into those businesses from the previous.

Y

Reporting period was 5.3 and in this reporting period was 7.2, so we're really excited to see.

Y

The growth we have a tremendous number of startups that has happened in saint mary's county.

Y

Due to the pandemic, whether it was job loss and people decided to go ahead and live their dream.

Y

Or whether it was just taking on a separate, we see what we call the side hustle starting.

Y

More and more of people taking on a separate initiative from their full-time employment, so.

Y

We're here to support those existing startups, but, more importantly as well. The existing businesses.

Y

To be able to know that we're here we're no cost for our services, and we want to reiterate.

Y

That america's sbdc has been established for 41 years and is a taxpayer's resource. So if.

Y

They're not utilizing our expert consultants, we have one in every county. You have one here.

Y

Right in leonardtown next door at the potomac building and to know that we're here to assist.

Y

For all of the existing businesses, no matter your size in this region, we can support you everything.

Y

From your government contractors to your mom and pop and those that are even operating um at home,.

Y

So, um just to give you that brief overview, we're focusing also as well as chris knows um on the.

Y

Sectors of manufacturing- that's something that has been we're looking at that as well, that was a part.

Y

Of our saids and our strategic plan is: how do we diversify the economy so making sure that we honor.

Y

That as well with commercialization and growing the manufacturing sector here in this region, so.

Y

Making sure that that's done and every year in october we work statewide to host a manufacturing.

Y

Summit, that's locally at the college of southern maryland. We've done that via zoom.

Y

Last year- and it was great- we had a tremendous turnout and stakeholders that were on from.

Y

Commerce and maryland mep, as well as rmi those are our manufacturing stakeholders in the state.

Y

Of maryland, and it was great to be able to see st mary's county shine and be the hub of.

Y

Manufacturing for the state for that initiative, so thank you again for your support and your funding.

Y

We are greatly appreciative and we we thank chris for the space and craig aaron harrington. If you.

Y

Have not met our newest consultant, she is in the office and definitely you want to connect with her.

Y

She is bright and phenomenal and a go-getter, and she is here to assist the businesses of st mary's.

Y

County, so thank you. Thank you, ms briscoe. Well, mr president, I move to approve the memorandum of.

C

Agreement with the college of southern maryland for small business development center services.

C

For fiscal year 2022 and have the commissioner president sign all related documents? Second,.

O

Discussion, ms briscoe, tell me: uh what number would they call someone wanted to get in touch with your.

O

Group, absolutely um we always advise them, call our main number. So that's going to be three zero. One.

Y

Nine three: four: seven: five, eight okay. Secondly, how many jobs you think you've created with this.

O

Program well, according to the data, the jobs that were created down here is.

Y

260 during this particular reporting period, which was july 1st through december 31st of 2020.,.

Y

Oh, that's that's for this particular reporting period, which was the tail end of the pandemic. You.

A

Created that many jobs- yes wow exactly during the pandemic, right 260 and the year prior, it was 33.

Y

Okay and tell me, are you, are you providing any assistance with small small businesses finding.

O

Help I hear from many that they can get people the people they get uh sometimes call out too.

O

Often and they're just it's tough right now. Yes, so we have assisted them with assist workforce. So.

Y

Also connecting them with tri county council, the existing resources that we have, as well as helping.

Y

Them to be able to market their business to bring on the right staff, because it's not just filling a.

Y

Seat, it's filling the right seat with the right person so that you don't have that turnover.

Y

So helping them to identify from a staffing perspective and a management perspective on who is.

Y

Going to be best for their business in this season that wants to work that wants to come back to work.

Y

Those are really key things, so we've been working with the businesses that have connected with us.

Y

And if anyone has a question on workforce, please do connect with us. We've been here to support them.

Y

As chris knows, with everything from assisting them with applying for the grants and the loan programs.

Y

All the way down to staffing, so we cover the entire spectrum of the business in support.

Y

Whatever they need we're here to assist great well one business owner, we went to.

O

The restaurant and there was no wait, staff, okay and they came out and told us look, it's gonna be.

O

A while before we get to you, we just want you to know and we hung around, but it was quite a weight.

O

And you know I felt bad for them. I was I'm came from all this now when you talk about servicing.

O

Somebody servicing a business. If someone were to call you up, do they expect you to look at their.

O

Business plan say you need six months of reserves which people might say. Well that sounds good, but.

O

In reality, it's really tough. uh I just know from being a small business owner the the challenges.

O

We face so when someone says calls you up what should they expect um so we're very, very hands-on.

Y

So they should expect someone to be there to walk them step by step if they're, a new business.

Y

Is that what you're referring to a news, anybody anybody you're helping now? Yes, so when they make.

Y

The first call from there we're responding back to them within 24 hours to let them know that we will.

Y

Have a consultant be in touch and they're going to be in touch within a 24-hour period and from there.

Y

Whatever their needs assessment is we're going to walk them through that process. So again, if it's.

Y

Business plan review, if it's an existing business, that needs staffing assistance or.

Y

If they're an assistant of needing to apply for sba loan or any of the county funding or any of.

Y

Things of that nature, then the consultant for that county is going to be in touch with them. We have a.

Y

Consultant dedicated to each county in the region and from there they'll address it step by step.

Y

If that consultant is not able to fulfill that that that problem or that concern.

Y

Then they will bring in another consultant. We work together collectively within our region,.

Y

All three consultants work together and then also statewide. So there's plenty of times where.

Y

We bring in specialists, uh lastly, uh no cost to the. There is no cost and it's never been a.

Y

Cost this is a taxpayers resource funded by the small business administration. Our state.

Y

And county resources combined, I knew the answer to that question. I just want to hear you saying.

O

Yes, I'm always out being the outreach champion for sbedc to let them know this is your.

Y

Taxpayers resource whether you use this or not, we appreciate you paying your taxes, but please come.

Y

And utilize the service that you're paying for. I think that people need to know the success.

B

Stories that are behind it because some people are skeptical about is there red tape in the.

B

Process, there's always some sort of process and I want to say it's red tape, but the sbdc.

B

Helped me significantly starting my business from there. They helped me grow my business.

B

From consulting to security services, to help secure funding for a live scan, machine building, a.

B

App that's currently in the app store for law enforcement officers. So there's.

B

Various different things, not only that, but you know if you're a veteran the resources that open.

B

Up only through the sbdc, through the state of maryland for zero percent funding for long-term.

B

Loans, I think it was 15 years that the loan was available at zero percent. I think you can get up.

B

To fifty thousand dollars um for that loan- and you know it's significant and that's what helped me.

B

Get my live scam, machine because they're, expensive, but and that live scam, machine the business model.

B

The plan that was there, the financials everything came to fruition through the help of sbdc and that.

B

Live scam machine was paid off in no time well. The loan was so success. Stories are out there.

B

You just got to work through the process, so my business wouldn't have been in existence if it.

B

Wasn't for the sbdc and their help that went along so I do appreciate that and I know my business.

B

Partners too, as well now that they've joined the business. Thank you so much for that success.

Y

Story, um commissioner, o'connor, because you know it's one thing to tell an individual that we're.

Y

Here to help, but it's nothing like hearing from someone how impactful our no-cost services are.

Y

And I always tell them in kind of a little joking form that we're not no costs we're priceless.

B

And it's a long time, that's a good one. Has it been business since 2010 now until you until.

Y

You end and then from there there's quite a few businesses in the in the county or even the state.

Y

Where they have sold their business and we transferred and worked with the new business.

Y

Owners, so it's legacy we're with you from start until your exit and whatever your exit is whether.

Y

It's a session planning with family and passing it on or whether it's your employee and you want.

Y

To turn it over to them, or if you want to sell it, we help you with that transition and also bringing.

Y

In a new owner, so it's a great program, that's exactly what you did with the security company.

B

It was the southern maryland sbdc in the prince george's county sbdc, and it was I'll tell you it.

B

Was very impactful because I sold the security company or novated whatever you want. The term.

B

That was used the contract, so it was, it was great. I mean really seamless from here across the state.

B

It doesn't matter great communication, so people need to know that and they need to utilize your.

B

Service and we just brought on and with the cares funding it allowed us to bring on two part-time.

Y

Subject matter experts so we have one now that his name is dan and that he is a retail restaurant and.

Y

Hospitality consultant and then also um tisa, who is our government contracting and construction.

Y

Consultant so now we have, in addition to our core staff. We have two subject matter: experts that have.

Y

Been phenomenal with helping people get started in those fields and those existing businesses to help.

Y

Them grow. It's amazing yeah! So thank you! So much yeah. We were able to help out some of these people.

A

In the restaurant, especially because most of them were in in-house sit down, then all of a sudden.

A

They had to convert to carry out outside dining, so when the pandemic first happened, we reached out to.

Y

Our restaurant owners and that's when we connected with them and let them know again that the word.

Y

That you've heard continuously right is pivot and to let them know you have these goods coming in.

Y

They are perishable, let's change the model, since your dining room is closed and I recommend it.

Y

To as many as possible to go to that commissary and that that marketplace model to be able to.

Y

Instead of preparing that steak or preparing that chicken now sell that or sell those eggs sell the.

Y

Dairy that you have and and the dry goods uh and, of course, who would think to go to the restaurant.

Y

To uh to get your paper goods right, uh but they they had them in stock, they were getting the.

Y

The distribution continuously, so they it allowed for them to still have their working capital.

Y

And get the cash flow that they needed to sustain their staff with a different model. So that's over.

Y

Here is to literally just shift your thinking. Sometimes it's not about reinventing the wheel.

Y

It's: how can we make that wheel be a little bit more smoother in a different track on a.

Y

Different road, so we definitely shifted with the restaurants. And since you can't have indoor dining.

Y

Perfect allow people to come in on a scheduled time frame with a limited basis where they.

Y

Are socially distanced to be able to get their goods and have groceries since the stores were.

Y

Very limited at that time, very good, very good. So thank you wynn for all you do. I see you everywhere.

D

You're the busiest person in the county- and you really are boots on the ground hands-on. So it's.

D

Good this morning to hear kind of your boots on the ground economic report about just.

D

How the situation's looking and it's good it's it's good uh information for us to get so. Thank.

D

You thank you. If you hear of any business that has a challenge I need to know about it very good.

A

Thank you. You got a question, commissioner. I have a first and second, all in favor aye any opposed.

A

Eyes have it. Thank you all very much. Thank you, commissioner, have a great day. Thank you, ms briscoe.

Q

Thank you, commissioners, and the department of economic development has uh won more, which is.

Q

The uh transfer of bond allocation authority, mr castillemis yep, thank you, mr weiskopf.

V

Today, we're asking the board to approve a transfer of bond allocation authority to the.

V

Maryland, department of commerce and the maryland department of housing and community development.

V

This is an annual thing. Each year the department of commerce notifies the county.

V

Of the amount of bond authority that can be used by the county or transferred back to the state.

V

The total amount includes a portion for housing and non-housing portion in january.

V

The department of commerce notified the county of its non-housing bond allocation authority in the.

V

Amount of one million four hundred and eighty seven thousand one hundred sixty five dollars.

V

Plus a bonus amount of 371.791 for a total of one million eight hundred fifty eight thousand.

V

Nine hundred fifty six dollars. Furthermore, the county was informed that the housing allocation.

V

Authority is four million three hundred and thirty seven thousand five hundred and sixty four dollars.

V

It's recommended that the county transfer the allocations back to the state, which has been the.

V

Practice for the county in the past, the housing allocation allows the state to fund housing.

V

Programs or issue mortgage credit certificates as a reminder, these allocations are simply bond.

V

Authority limits not actual bond funding. Our bond council reviews this every year and they.

V

Recommend continuing the practice of returning the bond authority back to the state. This protects.

V

The county's debt affordability level and also eliminates the county, labor and costs associated.

V

With the bond issuance, in addition, these funds are available for projects in saint mary's county, so.

V

We recommend commissioners continue the practice I move to transfer both the housing and non-housing.

O

Allocations of the county portion of the 2021 private activity bond authority to the appropriate.

O

State agencies and have the commissioner president sign all related documents. Second, discussion: just.

D

A quick question when we transfer this back is the state required to use this bond authority here in.

D

The county or could it be used? Can the these agencies use it in other counties? The housing.

V

Authority portion is used back here so that our housing authority gets to use the mortgage bond.

V

Issue those things the rest of it, it's just available at the state level, and you know if we.

V

Need to tap into that, we we have that ability too, but it's really like I said here: it's it's. It's.

V

The authority to issue those bonds, bouncer private practices- it would be a little problematic for us.

V

But we have if we had a big project, we could always use this authority for tax exempt bonds.

A

Any more questions.

A

I moved to okay, all those in favor.

A

Any opposed, I have it sorry about that. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you, commissioners, and I see.

Q

Mr gill is here so we'll take up the ymca mou for site selection and conceptual facility site plan.

Q

And my office did provide a memo. Basically, the mou is going to provide a couple things. It's going to.

Q

Allow the ymca to create a task force to look at the two site: selections, nicolette park and.

Q

The one by great mills high school pool and then once that's done, they will also.

Q

In your package, they provided the um person they were going to use, grow development llc for the.

Q

Pre-Design and conceptual design phase and then once that's done, they would uh bring.

Q

It in front of the commissioners is that a fair summation of our mou, mr gill. Yes, sir.

Q

I don't know if you had anything to expand on it. We we've had great success with grow.

Z

As a company, I've used them four different times and the product.

Z

That we've gotten has been outstanding, so I highly recommend them and it'll give us.

Z

A conceptual design on the two sites, so we can really go from there and determine where we.

Z

Think the best location is, and then they can work directly off of the market study that was done.

Z

To make sure the facility design itself addresses those core amenities that.

Z

Need to be a part of the facility just to meet community needs from program service standpoint.

C

Wasn't grow vis previously on the video without zoom or microsoft teams, or something uh no, so that.

Z

Was triangle? Two? Okay? I apologize. Yes! Thank you, mr mr gill, you have two projects going on in uh on.

O

The eastern shore, one in kent, county one in queen inn and those are in the same budget range as a.

O

Budget that st mary's county has how are those projects going for sure, so the kent.

Z

County project is currently under construction and scheduled for completion at the end of december.

Z

And going very well, we break ground on our project in queen anne's county june 30th.

Z

We're going to go ahead and get all of our site work done now, with material costs being elevated.

Z

To say the least, we're going to hold till the fall to lock in our contracts for steel.

Z

But should begin building that building in late fall and typically a y construction project.

Z

Timeline is between 16 to 18 months, depending on weather, but yeah both are both are full steam.

Z

Ahead, which is really exciting, but both those projects have been seen queen ends. County has.

Z

Been in the work for over a decade in kent county for about the last four years, so I'm excited those.

Z

Communities are very excited and we're excited to be at a stage where we can celebrate that good.

D

So, mr gill, when we look at this timeline, um this sorry grow um they're, going to look at.

D

Both sites and then come back to us and we narrow down and decide which site we're. We.

D

Prefer because right now I prefer the great mill site. I think that makes more sense personally, but.

D

um Just trying to get an understanding of that yeah, I think there's some.

Z

Some broader conversations that need to be had so when you talk about the great mills site.

Z

We needed to have a conversation with parks and recreation and county leadership to determine is.

Z

Is that facility going to be standalone? Is it going to be connected in some capacity to that.

Z

Pool what does that relationship look like and as far as the site goes, then? Where do you put that.

Z

Facility and then within the park itself at nicolette park.

Z

You've got passive recreation, that's around there within the skate park and other pieces.

Z

And so where would the y sit right? How do you make sure you're designing that in a way to where.

Z

um Safety and security of people that are because you're going to increase traffic. You know 100 fold.

Z

There, so how do you make sure that that's designed in a way that everyone's comfortable with it, so I.

Z

Think there's some logistics on both sites that need to really be worked out and then, ideally.

Z

To your point, we come back and say: okay, here's what that relationship at great mills would look.

Z

Like and where the and, where the facility would go and how that ebb and flow would look from a.

Z

Service standpoint and here's what that looks like in nicolette park and then we'll have this.

Z

Task force of folks that kind of help navigate that and then ultimately, from there make a.

Z

Collective decision, ideally with everyone kind of in agreement, what that looks like and who would be.

D

On the task force locally, I thought I saw in here that it would be some local people in there too.

Z

Sure so I've been given some names of individuals. There needs to be county representation on that.

Z

Group as well, so that's a group that, if you have suggestions of who you think, would be helpful to.

Z

Serve that would be great, but we would also pull people that have been involved in this process.

Z

From a community standpoint for sure, probably around six to eight folks.

B

Aside from the names that you were given, is there any way that the county can advertise and.

B

Get names for people, because you know what I want to make sure is that it's.

B

A widespread not just names that you're given by one individual.

Z

Yeah, I don't know what that process looks for you. It looks like for you guys, but if you I'm happy.

B

We normally advertise for task force, that's why so we put it out and we.

B

Get people from all over the county that apply so if there's six to eight people.

B

Kind of make sure there's a a partner from various different levels. You know it could be somebody.

B

From parks and rec that would sit on the board from county government or our director. You know.

B

Things like that, this way, you know we'll make sure we capture everything. Well, definitely you.

Z

Need parks and rec representation because of the fact that you've got to facilitate two sites that.

Z

Are ultimately connected to to their department for sure? Have you spoken to art shepherd yet no.

B

Sir, I have not, I think, it'd be good if you don't mind reaching out to him being that he is parks.

B

And recce he unfortunately, parks and rec has not been involved in this process for the pretty much.

B

All of it I mean they may have one or two things but sure I think they they need to either one.

B

Catch up, but two also at the same time, have some significant input based on programming um that we.

B

Already offer so, if you don't mind connecting with him, I'd really appreciate that that'd be great.

O

I moved to approve and sign the mou with the ymca for the site, selection and concept.

O

Site plan and per the agreement reimbursed to ymca for the growth development, llc expense of.

O

Sixty thousand dollars and for the commissioner president to sign all related documents. Second,.

A

I have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye.

A

Any oppose I just have it. Thank you good, seeing you guys. Thank you. Thank you. Have a wonderful.

Q

Day the long drive just fixed it yeah thanks for coming down. Sir no problem so take care.

Q

Next, commissioners, we have uh department of public.

Q

Works and transportation with the air tech operating agreement.

Q

Mr john dietrich and allison swint, presenting.

G

Good morning, thank you, commissioners and thank you, mr weisskopf.

G

uh This is an annual renewal, a review and renewal that happens. uh The original.

G

Agreement dates back to 1998.. The purpose was to provide services at the airport that.

G

The average person who comes flying in or someone who has a plane on the airport if they need to do.

G

Maintenance, self-maintenance and so forth uh kind of put that all into an agreement.

G

And uh that was signed with air tech there's also uh piedmont. uh Flight school is also.

G

uh In that particular hangar that the county has so uh in the review this year of the agreement.

G

We allison swint and the air tech reps looked at the small amount of money.

G

That is actually collected for transient tie downs uh 667 a year and thought that really.

G

The administrative cost is greater than that, and it would be better if they just.

G

Keep that money because they actually provide services for that.

B

Okay, this is an extension of their fbo right, miss one, I'm sorry they're the fbo right. Yes,.

B

Yeah, that's what I feel. Okay, that's right! I'll move to approve the modified and renewed operating.

B

Agreement between the commissioners of saint mary's, county and air tech, inc and authorize.

B

The commissioner president, to sign the related documents. Second, I have a first and second, all.

A

In favor aye aye any opposed nice very much. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioners. Next on the agenda is.

Q

The department of information technology to accept the mou from maryland state department.

Q

Of housing and community development for existing broadband network expansion and.

Q

To present, that is mr bob kelly, the cio good morning, good morning good morning.

AA

Commissioners, I'm a for you requesting that you accept the mou from the maryland state.

AA

Department of housing, community development for the existing broadband network, expansion grant.

AA

This is a project that we've been doing for several years. You actually authorize the.

AA

Submission of the grant on january 12th, but I felt uh in talking with mr weiskopf and miss cuttenmore.

AA

Felt coming for you for two reasons would be good to get the approval to sign off on this mou.

AA

As opposed to it, just being a consent, agender a ministerial one, the legislature this year in the.

AA

State of indianapolis they move the office of the governor's office of rural broadband from.

AA

A direct report to the governor to the department of housing and community development and renamed.

AA

It to the office of statewide broadband, so that was one change so which approved for submission.

AA

To one department is now another department and additionally, uh in part of that restructuring.

AA

And and the intent of the legislature to provide um enhanced connectivity in the state of maryland.

AA

They modified the the grant, uh it was a 50 50 match and the and uh there's a hundred thou.

AA

Or two hundred sorry, two hundred thousand dollars that the commissioners authorized in the operating.

AA

Budget of information technology for this grant for the next of next fiscal year, um but and so.

AA

Was 200 and 200 the state came up with another, uh some more money so included in this approval.

AA

And the documentation is a reduction in the I.t of forty thousand dollars uh reduction in our.

AA

Budget next year, forty thousand dollars, because that's covered by the state, that's good news.

C

So we ask this question: how many more miles per se, you believe we should have to cover.

C

To you know, get as many people as possible broadband. That's a loaded question. um I get.

AA

That part, but I mean just so so if I could change the question from miles to uh unconnected or okay.

AA

So um up until about two months ago, we were concentrating on residential areas, and so we.

AA

Had really really good numbers because we've been working residential for the last five or six years.

AA

And then with what was happening at the federal level and connectivity and at the state level you.

AA

Know they're looking at connectivity to everybody, so every address and so part of the legislative.

AA

What the legislature did in annapolis this year is they tasked this new office of statewide broadband.

AA

To have 98 connectivity statewide by 2027, I believe, is, is the date, and so so that causes.

AA

When they, when they were doing having those discussions and they finalized that that caused.

AA

Us to to roll in our commercial- and you know so- we've been dealing with residential, so right now.

AA

We're not completely done with the commercial assessments, um but uh I I can tell you that we're.

AA

Worried about 3 000 addresses, give or take 100 either way that uh that we know or.

AA

We either know or not connected, or we have not categorized as being not connected yet well.

C

Well, that's okay, because, commissioner guy and I are two of those three thousand along the way.

AA

Yes, it's always challenging to come before and talk broadband when uh three out of five of my.

AA

Bosses do not we're not connected want to become concerned about. Is president biden came out last.

C

Week and made an announcement that says from now on, federal workers can't work from home or.

C

It's going to be put forth that they all can work from home by an executive order. So since.

C

We have such a large quantity of federal workers in the county, not only who work at pacs, but work.

C

Up the road my concern becomes, you know how do we hook them all up, since the president says.

C

They'll have to work from home versus using dsl to use dsl and one uses a satellite at this table.

C

And it may be if the the question may not have an answer. I understand that part two. You said three.

C

Thousand people, but three thousand people could be you know three million dollars or thirty million.

C

Dollars right it is money and and and it's time and um well time is money. I get that too.

AA

uh So um again, we're still we're still assessing it's a big project. I mean honestly, I would put.

AA

Saint mary's county up against anybody in the state. I really would as far as connectivity.

AA

um I I would uh suggest that continuing on these opportunities and other opportunities that would.

AA

Be that would be coming down the the pike uh in the next couple weeks. I think um you know there's.

AA

We're making significant progress but again that last that the last mile, which is always.

AA

The most expensive, and then the last bit of that last mile is, is very expensive. So.

AA

We are making very, very good progress and we have some very, very good opportunities.

AA

uh To leverage not only our cable franchise agreements, we're um so we we we're leveraging.

AA

Our cable providers, both comcast and atlantic broadband, there's uh several fcc programs with.

AA

Potentially, new providers coming down that have to in the next three or four years.

AA

They have to provide some level of service down here. There's opportunities that the board will.

AA

Be able to consider- and I think it's next week with part of the american rescue fund plans.

AA

One of the one of the items that I put in there is a phase one for some for some towers which which.

AA

Has some very interesting, uh multi multiple facets, including not just giving better connectivity for.

AA

Your cell phone, but there's at the state level, there's a desire to do some. A wireless educational.

AA

Network which we can we could preserve some space on the towers that we help help perpetuate.

AA

And, and also that, has potential of helping getting some infrastructure to those areas where those.

AA

Towers, obviously, if there's unserviced areas of towers, that's because there's limited people down.

AA

There, so if we can get some infrastructure down there um and encourage vendors to go down there,.

AA

It's kind of a three-win three-way win, and so you get some immediate benefits. You get some future.

AA

Benefits with what the state may be planning and you get some infrastructure installed in.

AA

Some of our remote areas of the county, and so we're combining all these efforts, just like.

AA

Just like we've been doing for the last several years and we're in a very, very good place, mr kelly.

D

I think you hit the nail on the head with your use of the word leveraging and getting the most bang.

D

For the buck, I think you've done a really good job of that making the dollar go as far as possible.

D

To get the most efficient use out of it, um and I think this has been one of the side benefits.

D

Of the kovid pandemic, the investment in our infrastructure for broadband, and it's just.

D

Such a huge investment over the last year or two and the impact it's had, but it's also drawn a.

D

Lot more attention, statewide and nationally to it, with more attention being on the urban areas. Where.

D

People do not have broadband access to do you have you paid attention to that at all and do.

D

You think it will impact the amount of money from coming from the state to the rural areas.

D

As they look more at baltimore city and people who don't have connection in baltimore city,.

AA

Yeah, I think that's a great point, commissioner, um and my conversations with um with dick gordon up.

AA

At the office of statewide broadband um he's he's very, um very attuned to and very aware that um you.

AA

Know up until this, like you said up until this point it's been very rural focused, but now the.

AA

The emphasis is, is, it seems, to be kind of turning to urban, but it's a different problem and, and it.

AA

And it- and it still is a problem that we have it's not a problem of accessibility in the urban areas.

AA

It's a problem of affordability and so one of the federal programs that just recently came out and.

AA

The lease has been very, very helpful in getting this message out in the county. Is that the they.

AA

Have an emergency broadband assistance program that the fcc has has they have a lot of money.

AA

Across for across the state which helps people um pay for that connectivity during the pandemic.

AA

And so we were early, um we were attuned to it and we we plugged ourselves in we. I inserted myself.

AA

Into that conversation- and we became very uh ad promoters and advocates of this program and so.

AA

So, basically, making sure that our cable providers were authorized vendors to to access this program.

AA

Which which we did- and they were doing it anyway, but we encouraged them, so it was comcast.

AA

And atlantic broadband, if you have access to that service, then you can. You can get like 50 a month.

AA

To pay for for internet access through this program, and so as of I think it was last week.

AA

There was over over 40 000 folks in st mary's county has applied, have applied for this program.

AA

So so it's accessible, it's affordability, it's and and accessibility, and so.

AA

um Yes, do I think that there's going to be some pull uh from some funding, I think so.

AA

I think it it'll probably happen, but um it's it's a different problem than than really.

AA

What we have been addressing to date, but this program certainly helps the affordability issue.

O

Mr kelly, you make a good point. First off you're, doing a great job. Thank you and thank you for.

O

Being in st mary's, county seniors have talked to me about why they go to the library to do their.

O

Forms for uh social security or state level or federal level forms because of the monthly cost.

O

They said look, this is going to cost me. 50 60 70 bucks a month, and I can use that money for.

O

Something else so, knowing about this assistance program, very good, anything we can put out is.

O

Great too had two quick questions on your attachment. One, you list a lot of roads here.

O

Lanes roads great, uh I know, you've had one lady who reached out to me every I put her.

O

In touch with you- and her point was- is hey the road over next to me is done.

O

When they doing me, uh thank you very much. I see that road is on here. Well, that include.

O

The whole road does this include the whole road, or does it only go in so far yeah, so.

AA

So, as our efforts to connect the county have evolved, so has what we consider.

AA

So those are middle mile projects and and that's what this grant helps fund the middle.

AA

Mile projects, so so, if you think about getting the cable down a road to a cluster of homes at the end.

AA

Of that road, right and and part of that build out traditionally has been that you you build out that.

AA

Infrastructure but then, once the infrastructure is laid, you rely on the cable franchise agreement.

AA

Because that's the providers that are putting it in you, you rely on the cable franchise agreement.

AA

Connectivity requirements, which basically is about 300 feet; okay, so if your home was 300 feet from.

AA

Where that infrastructure was installed, then uh traditionally and to in the past.

AA

Then you got connected connected for free, but if you were beyond that, then it was a cost to.

AA

The customer well well since covid and since you know the broadband front serves students, grants.

AA

And and the funding for that we've kind of modified the middle mile project.

AA

So that to to avoid the frustration exactly what you're talking about hey the county, the county and.

AA

The state paid for infrastructure down my road, I'm 1500 feet off the road there. It is right.

AA

There, why don't I get it, and and so what we've? What we've done um and and it's included in this.

AA

This submission is that we're just going to hit every home that we possibly can up to almost a.

AA

Half a mile so so we and we're trying to go to the very end of the road. uh So we don't so we.

AA

Don't have that we don't have that frustration, somebody who feels like they're left out or.

O

Stigmatized or discriminated against because of where they live absolutely and- and we don't have.

AA

To go back when we're actually because, because really we're in this little sweet spot. Where.

AA

We're close to finishing up the middle mile, you see the list and there's maybe a few more homes.

AA

That are or a few more roads that may be added to that. But you know we're getting close to finishing.

AA

Middle mile, where we can really concentrate on the last mile, those 30 uh 3 100 addresses. So so we we.

AA

Recognize that, and you know the states in support of it and and certainly um the arp funds support.

AA

That last mile process, um so so it seemed to make makes sense that, with this submission that we're.

AA

We've modified that that approach okay, my last question is: it has to do with atlantic broadband.

O

Which a lot of people express frustration with, and it referred around two calls or I shouldn't.

O

Say calls but people reached out to me and first one was hey, look, they ran, someone came and they.

O

Ran the cable all the way up to the telephone pole when they're going to come and connect it to my.

O

House I said: well, I guess that's call atlantic broad, oh, we have, but you wait. Can they call you.

C

Who should so, I know but they're like look the cable's right there uh contractor came and did.

O

It how come he didn't hook it up to my house, and I said I don't know yeah so so I work very closely.

AA

With atlantic broadband I mean they're they're by far the largest provider of of cable services,.

AA

In the county and- and we have a st mary's county government has a very good relationship with with.

AA

That organization- and you know I I would yes they- can they can contact me. My point is, do you have.

O

A hotline: do you have like a red phone that when you pick it up that they'll pick up on their end.

O

Because people are definitely frustrated with the wait time and then finally getting somebody.

O

Who can't help them so the wait time is so. I've had a lot of discussions with atlantic broadband.

AA

About that, and- and here is here's- what I believe is happening right and, and some of this quite.

AA

Frankly, uh some of the wait time and some of the challenges that that folks are having with service.

AA

It's it's our own doing, and I know that sounds kind of weird. What do you mean, but.

AA

So so here's hundred thousand dollars four hundred and forty thousand dollars that I'm asking you to.

AA

Approve so that we can go, do construction in you know eight six or eight roads in st.

AA

Mary's county well, atlantic broadband didn't hire additional construction people. Now they have.

AA

Contractors that are doing this work, but but when you look at what we've spent you know, we've spent.

AA

Over three million dollars in funding last year for cable expansions atlantic broadband spent.

AA

Three and a half million dollars in new construction uh installation last.

AA

Year so that's like seven million dollars in new construction, but they still had the same service.

AA

Resources, human resources to respond to that. So not only are they doing all this construction.

AA

And expanding their we're still expanding their network still have a bottleneck. In other words, yes,.

AA

We're still expanding their network and I don't. I don't believe that their business model has.

AA

Caught up with what the new level of services required and um we're not done with that expansion.

AA

So it's difficult for them to address that, so we quickly doubled their workload in a sense.

O

More than double yeah all right, so so the thing is: stay on hold and get a cup of coffee or whatever.

O

uh Okay, the last question is- and I know of two instances of this- uh a person called me up said.

O

A tree a car had run into a telephone pole and that it didn't wipe the telephone pole out, but it.

O

You know, cracked, it and slowed, that's definitely compromised, so smetco comes out, puts in a brand.

O

New telephone pole right next to it and takes all smetco stuff and moves it over and leaves.

O

Atlantic broadband still hooked on the cracked pole, so the person's point is: is that hey? Look the.

O

Cable is now lower, they're, always lower than the power lines, and it's now lower and we're worried.

O

That a ups or a fedex truck or something will hit it again and then we'll lose our cable too. What do.

O

They do in instances like that. Shouldn't smetco automatically move that over or do they have.

O

Some kind of agreement we're removing our stuff you're moving your stuff yeah, so uh it you know.

AA

The atlantic broadband and comcast cable that are installed on smeko polls, which smeco owns most.

AA

Of the polls in saint mary's county, probably 95 percent, maybe even more verizon hones, the.

AA

Remainder um but but but they lease that space, the cable companies lease that space, it's their.

AA

Equipment, and so I I would suspect that it's a liability issue, you know if smeko were to.

AA

To move the cables and snap, then you know they, so so they don't. So it doesn't make sense that.

O

When they put the new pole in they had all the equipment, why didn't they just move all the lines.

AA

Yeah but it's not their gear and and they don't want the liability, I'm sure and quite frankly,.

AA

Atlantic broadband and comcast can't go in until some echo's work is done. The most dangerous stuff.

AA

Is the voltage stuff so just tell them to call a b and b again sure and uh and smeko notifies the.

AA

The cable companies, when it when there's there's a utility issue like that now the other, the other.

AA

Thing to be aware of, and one thing that we're dealing with in all these projects right now is.

AA

That smeko is making uh an extensive effort on going underground with with much of their much.

AA

Of their um infrastructure, and so what what that means is they decide to go down a road.

AA

This is what we ran into at st jerome's neck a year or so ago, and the reason it took us over over.

AA

A year to expand down there is that when we went to go on, we, the cable company went to go on the.

AA

Polls down there smeko said hey, but yeah you can. You can do that, but in a few months we're going to.

AA

Be underground the whole way, and so now that's another expense that the cable company has to.

AA

Incur basically at the whim of of the utility company right, so hey we're taking our telephone.

AA

Poles out guess what we've got a few months that we have to go in and we have to go underground.

AA

Good news is, I think, underground, you know less prone to the the cars accidents and trees and.

AA

And stuff, but it isn't, it is an upfront expense. Again, it's an a b and b call, not a county call.

O

That's correct, that's absolutely correct and the good news, the good news for the saint mary's.

AA

County is our approach to expanding broadband services. Our approach to date has been that.

AA

There is no ongoing cost to the county for this infrastructure. That's being installed.

AA

Yes, there's expenses, yes, it's expensive to do the expansion, but it's the commercial uh entities that.

AA

Assume the maintenance and the upgrades and and keeping all that infrastructure in place. It's not.

AA

It's not the information technology department, building a kingdom and installing networks that.

AA

You're going to have to pay for forever and ever amen, so I moved to approve the mou from.

B

The maryland state department of housing and community development for the existing broadband.

B

Expansion, the amount of two hundred forty thousand dollars in the budget, amendment increasing state.

B

Funding by forty thousand dollars and authorize the commission presence on all related documents.

Z

Second, remember first and second, all in favor aye any opposed that. Thank you, mr keller.

Q

Thank you, commissioners and next is item j, which is the department of finance, jeanette, cudmore,.

Q

Chief financial officer presenting regarding the budget authority for tropical storm isaias.

Q

And realign and close out projects to the fiscal, financial, 21 capital reserve.

M

Thank you dave. um I have john diedrick here and I believe gerald is here and um steve walker who.

M

Can talk about the fema money um that we might be receiving for the tropical storm? I say us.

M

um So we have um two different items here. I was gonna make this two different board docks, but I.

M

Decided to combine them since they were both using the fend, 21 reserves. So the first budget amendment.

M

Will decrease the operating appropriation reserve by over 1.5 million dollars to set up.

M

Budget authority for the tropical storm isaias for fema funding, the current fema fund, reimbursement.

M

Submitted totals over three million dollars with a 75 percent reimbursement. Federal funds will.

M

Also be in place for the operating in cip and the final reconciliation once we receive all the fema.

M

Funding for this storm, then we will be coming back to you for any monies that may be needed.

M

From your emergency reserve, the remaining budget amendments will increase, defend 21, reserve and cip.

M

uh Transfer tax by fifteen thousand six hundred eighty seven dollars peco. Seventy eight thousand.

M

Four sixty two and unsold bonds of one point: seven million and decreased the state and federal by.

M

1.8 million, of course, that's the piece. That's for the um the tropical storm isaias for the.

M

The bridge project and the landfill project projects being decreased are the recreation.

M

And parks facility projects, improvement, projects of 8460 and the great mills high school, partial.

M

Roof of 68 376.. I have john dietrich here because we're increasing his project, the transportation.

M

Plan by about 60 000, so after all of these um items, you'll have about probably maybe.

M

Two hundred thousand dollars left in your operating emergency appropriation reserve so.

M

The eight million dollars helped um when we came forward in back in may and then you'll have about.

M

Roughly 2.2 million dollars left in your fin 21, and the majority of that is your unsold bonds.

M

Which will drop to um at the end of the fiscal year and then we'll come back.

M

And set up, probably, I think, it's in july, to set up the new fin 22 reserve.

O

Now the fin typically doesn't have a balance associated with, like our reserve fund right.

O

Right, it's it's actually from the closure and changes in project throughout the year for.

O

uh Whenever we sweep accounts or something exactly, I move to approve the budget amendments.

B

Related to tropical storm isaiah setting up budget authority for ot2120 and the amount of 1 million.

B

One 571 one hundred and seven dollars and realigning the various cip projects increasing the.

B

Fin 21 capital reserve by 16, 838 and authorized commission president sign really documents.

C

Second, discussion: uh the bridges that are still out, especially manor road.

A

Do you have any kind of projection? I get a lot of complaints from farmers.

A

That that are farming, the areas have to drive cricket distances with their equipment around.

A

To get to various fields, yeah the uh original po we put out to replace both that bridge and.

G

Busy corner the contractor's not performed his engineer has uh was supposed to design the footers.

G

Has not performed, we got another email saying that it's going to be three more weeks till they.

G

Get the footer design I told willie buckler to cancel the po we've already discussed the matter.

G

With the finance department, with procurement with brandon hayden, we know the process.

G

For doing that, and we're going to turn the work over to great mills trading post so that bridge is.

A

Forecasted for six months out a year, it's we're also going to look at temporary bridge.

G

A temporary bridge yeah we can rent one uh I've done that somewhere else in another.

A

Okay, I've just had a lot of complaints with local food. It's pretty embarrassing. I agree.

A

Yeah yeah it is that is embarrassing. They they keep asking me why why why, and I said hey.

A

uh Yeah, the local farmers having to drive over their equipment to bypass that area.

A

Yeah I understand, and the contractor that has the current po has is from an old contract. That's been.

G

Closed out, except for this one, it's uh it just makes sense to bring in the new contractor.

G

Every equipment contractor, hopefully in the future, we will not be using that old contractor.

C

Regardless their work, actually I don't disagree with that, but their work.

G

Actually was excellent, except for this subcontractor. They had this engineer.

G

And I don't think well I I don't want to stand up for him on this at all. I'm furious quite honestly,.

T

Okay, okay, we have a first and second, all in favor, aye aye, any opposition. I just have it.

A

Thank you, commissioner. Thank you very much. Thank you, john thank you, commissioners, and that.

Q

Concludes the county administrator time very good. Thank you very much. Okay, we're in commissioner's.

A

Time and we're going to start with uh commissioner hewitt. Oh thank you, commissioner president.

O

Well been a busy week this past week with ribbon cuttings. Last tuesday, we cut the ribbon for the.

O

New detention center- I guess I have to use the term the jail, but it's the major portion.

O

Of what we needed to do over there, so we can start renovating the existing facility. Thank god. That's.

O

Finally, behind us in our rearview mirror, as we can say, it's something that needed to be done.

O

And it'll be a big impact for the people who work there and also the people who have to stay there.

O

Also, we had the ribbon cutting for the health department's courtyard yesterday. It was very nice.

O

uh The garden club of uh brenton bay and uh leonardtown uh worked together with the.

O

Monica lee and some of the other people in the area and look they did a great job, looks very nice.

O

Hopefully, in the future, it'll grow and it'll obviously grow, but hopefully in the future. It'll.

O

Mature and they expect to see year after year, a better product there. But it's very nice and.

O

Lastly, last night was flag day ceremony uh here in leonardtown. Nice turnout, uh our alisa karris.

O

And alex and amy they did a great job. It was very well performed. I want to thank the saint mary's.

O

County elks lodge for their presentation on the flag day. I've been a member of that organization.

O

Now, for 37 years and a great organization also the reichen choir those young people were excellent.

O

And, along with avenue, american legion posts for the burning of the flags always always very.

O

Impressive and it's the correct way to dispose of your old flags. So if you have any, uh I think.

O

Commissioner, president, guys says: he'll take him personally here at the uh at the chesapeake.

O

Building or you can drop them off in the drop box to have an avenue, but it was a great day. Thank you.

D

Very good, thank you I'll, be brief. This morning, uh there's a lot of stuff. That's been going on.

D

As commissioner hewitt talked about some very uh inspiring ribbon cuttings and and good ceremonies.

D

But also yesterday was a difficult day in lexington park. There were several shootings.

D

That took place- it's not good, it's not acceptable. This is not good in our community. The amount of.

D

Illegal guns in our community, it's unacceptable. The violence that's happening there. It's.

D

Unacceptable, my heart is out to the community members to the police that are trying to protect.

D

In that community, um it's just not a good situation to the families that are impacted.

D

I'm sorry for your loss um hope everyone has a better week than yesterday was thank you.

B

um I'll be brief as well. I think that the ribbon cuttings were amazing.

B

uh I'm glad to see that the adult detention and rehabilitation center is expanding. I'm glad to see.

B

That we finally meet the state requirements for uh segregation of population and that.

B

We have a safe facility not only for those that are in there to be rehabilitated, but.

B

Those that have to work as well I'm looking forward to, as I said there phase two three.

B

Four and five being done in the next year and a half so they have a massive undertaking. There.

B

To address the gun, violence uh in our community, you know, I know that the sheriff's department.

B

Has their task force that's working on it? The the issue that always arises is the fact that.

B

It's a partnership with the community. Our law enforcement can only do so much.

B

And but they need help from the community. The community needs to step forward and say who these.

B

People are because you know who they are. There is no doubt in my mind, people know who they are.

B

It's just how it works. It's from experience, 21 years of doing this. I know you know who they are.

B

And you know if you think the streets are going to fix this.

B

They're not live by the gun, you die by the gun and that's exactly what's going on in our community.

B

The problem here is that we have more victims, and I'm not talking about the person that got shot.

B

I'm talking about the kids that were at our park that were hiding in the dugouts, because these.

B

Criminals wanted to go ahead and broad daylight and shoot somebody. No it's unacceptable.

B

It's unacceptable at all, and and quite frankly, if you're hiding the identity of this individual.

B

You're, just as bad as them and you're a coward and you're hurting our community. So I hope that our.

B

Community as a whole steps up puts some pressure on these people brings this information forward.

B

Because this needs to stop the retaliation needs to stop the back and forth. That's.

B

It so I hope our community actually does something on this one. Thank you.

C

um A couple things that are brighter notes is, commissioner, have identified. We had a great flag.

C

Day ceremony yesterday well attended, you know we are that we have the biggest flag day ceremony.

C

In the state, so I think that's really important to go on with our veterans day pray that saint mary's.

C

County really does make the map for important events honoring our nation um over the weekend. I.

C

Want to thank the sauderly folks, they had started. We usually have a sauderly gala, but due to covid.

C

They had to change the venues and there was a number of venues that folks all showed up for.

C

And they were really really, they were really well attended, was really really nice just to get out.

C

And be socializing again on sunday we celebrated the 75th anniversary of lexington park baptist.

C

Church I want to thank pastor chris mccombs and all his folks. There was really well attended. I.

C

Went down, there's probably 150 people at the event, so um good thing on those guys. I want to.

C

Thank pastor chris for what he did. I want to thank sally for what they were doing and I'll just echo.

C

Commissioner, colvin and o'connor's sentiments about what's going on in lexington park. um This.

C

Is not just you know, commissioners or the police issue, it's a community issue, and I would hope that.

C

Leadership in the communities would be focusing on some of those issues, rather than some of the.

C

Issues that they're looking at right now that you know are sort of uh not nearly as well. It's.

C

Just it's a bad situation, excellent park. I hope that some of the community leaders down there.

C

Start focusing on that stuff too. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioners. uh First thing I want to do is.

A

uh Recognize that 12 june was women's veterans day. I know we're three days late from that, but.

A

For those women who get involved in the military, thank you very much for your service.

A

And uh for almost oh, my gosh, I think and I joined, and then there was no women in.

A

My career field in the middle in the air force even until mid 80s, and then I can remember two.

A

Out of my entire squadron that uh were active for about 10 years,.

A

uh But it's getting more and more prominent now and we uh welcome and hopefully uh celebrate your.

A

Your your causes, also uh I'm I'm I'm grateful that our county has been so active in uh testing for.

A

This covid, and also if the vaccinations have been going on things, are finally opening up.

A

uh I'm the chairman of the veterans area council. We had our first meeting last week, actually live.

A

Of course, only six of us showed up for the live part. Everybody else was on zoom, but it was a very.

A

Productive meeting and we're working to help our veterans in the tri-county area as best we can.

A

All of us in to the entire country suffered uh for this covid, uh uh you might say.

A

Loss of employment places closed down, we're finally, reopening we're getting more and more in.

A

Involved and I'm grateful for that, but even with us in the county, our emergency services suffered.

A

Especially those that are emts and paramedics that didn't show up for service, and I understand that.

A

That's just the way the employment picture went and uh on 25th of may. We authorized.

A

Our emergency services directed to hire at least 38 people, and I bring this up because on 25 may.

A

And the one of our papers that it wasn't very even several people described he only hired 16 people.

A

That's true 16 ftes that are full-time employment for our county, the other 22 he was authorized.

A

To come up with either hourly employees or contract, we do have a contract that we use.

A

And and he's doing diligently hard work, I understand he's got 12 or more.

A

Letters of agreement already out there to hire these people and that's good.

A

That's a quick survey. You talk about less than a month from the time that he was.

A

Given an authorization to hire, I was expecting six to twelve must hire all these people.

A

But uh hopefully this will bring us in uh better light with the our service that we provide.

A

The emergency medical transport service that we provide in the county, it's very important.

A

That we do provide this and if he needs more direction from us, I welcome his input.

A

To better serve the people, if we can't get the contract or the hourly employees set up.

A

Then we will go more contract or more ftes if that's what it takes but understand the.

A

Paper was somewhat a little bit fuzzy on how much we authorized on the 25th of may.

A

We authorized 38 positions and so we're going to continue working to get them.

A

Also the flag day is. It was very important to me because I served 26 years in the air force.

A

And within a year after I joined and was trained as load master on 130s, I was sent to vietnam.

A

And uh I was a loadmaster on one thursday, the entire time and of course, we wore the flag.

A

On our left, shoulder patch, like you might say, the entire time, I was there and it was for me.

A

Traveling from ridge maryland all the way halfway across the world into some foreign zone and.

A

Couldn't speak the language or nothing? I said wow. This is a hell of an experience.

A

And I will admit, the american flag meant a lot to me and the only thing I did was just hold it. Every.

A

Morning as I was going to a plane to pre-flight, do our missions for that day, which used to be.

A

Five or seven missions a day- and that was it was a lot of load but kept was busy. But I just prayed.

A

That I'd be coming back home and back to saint mary's county to the place I loved and enjoyed.

A

And uh my family and everything so but for 14 months I endured that came home and I'm grateful.

A

Still, after all those years, I'm still here, so it was uh the flag meant a lot and that's why we had.

A

Such a big ceremony here and it continues to grow, and I thank our communications director here for.

A

All her job, she did to put it together and amy for all of her work in the film and everything.

A

And all the people that participated, thank you for coming out. I'm glad to see that we're. Finally, I'm.

A

Sort of a social type person, I'm glad that we're finally getting out and starting to see these.

A

Things and get busy with uh going on with life here and for those of you who are still hesitant.

A

In getting your vaccination, I think you should think twice about it. I got mine in february and.

A

I I didn't grow any odd limbs or I don't feel any bad feelings from it. So I mean, I think it works.

A

And I'm grateful for it and finally getting our mask off and everything and we're sort of getting.

A

Similar back to normal- and I I appreciate all those out there, especially in our uh dr brewster.

A

Our health department did a great job, so thank you very much with that. We'll close the meeting today.

A

A