St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 2 Nov 2021

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From YouTube: 11/2/21 Commissioners of St. Mary's County Business Meeting

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A

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

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Date, tuesday november 2nd 2021, I am randy guy president commissioner of st mary's county I'd.

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Like to introduce the other commissioners sitting to my right representative, first commissioner district, which includes ridge, piney point st george island, mr eric colvin,.

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Good morning, representing the second commissioner district, which includes leonard town hollywood, mr.

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Mike hewitt good morning center to my left, representing the third commissioner district.

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Which includes charlotte hall, 7th district golden beach mechanicsville, mr john o'connor good morning.

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Representing the 4th commissioner district, which includes lexington park, some of california great.

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Mills and some of hollywood- mr todd morgan, dr rebecca bridget, our county administrator.

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Is set at the table to my left good morning, alicia cassis, our communications director.

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Is setting the table to my right good morning, amy carter, our video media producers behind the glass.

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Please turn your cell phones off or on vibrate. When you come to the presenter's table, please.

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Approach by coming down to center aisle and remember this meeting is being televised.

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So you need to speak clearly and directly into the microphone for recording purposes.

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So look good at this time we'll have uh invocation and pledged by commissioner o'connor. Please stand.

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Heavenly father we come today before you as servants. Servants of your will and guide guidance.

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We pray that we can do the work that you've said before us and that the people have set before us.

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And that we do it humbly with integrity and that when we stray, you got us back to that.

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Line that that we need to hold so tight, we appreciate everything that you do for us and.

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And the people that we surround ourselves with in jesus name, we pray, amen, amen, amen,.

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Pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the.

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

A

Thank you, commissioner connor. I now need approval of the consent agenda.

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So moved second, I have a first second, all in favor aye any opposed. I just haven't.

A

Okay, uh we were going to have accommodation for mr johnson who's retiring.

A

But he we have decided to move it forward. I think he has some kind of family medical thing anyway,.

A

Now they'll be moved and the day is not set yet but we'll let you know as soon as possible.

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Right now we have a proclamation for family court awareness month.

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Good morning, good morning,.

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You miss andy kenny, yes, hey thank you for being here today. Thank you for having me.

B

Whereas the mission at one mom's battle and the family court awareness month committee.

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Is to increase awareness of the importance of a family court system that prioritizes child safety.

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And acts in the best interests of children and whereas the mission at the fc amc is to increase.

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Awareness of the importance of education and training on domestic violence childhood trauma.

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And post-separation abuse for all professionals working within the family court system.

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And whereas the mission at the fc amc is to educate judges and other family core.

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Professionals on the empirical data and research that is currently available, such research.

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Is a critical component to making decisions that are truly in the best interest of children.

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The research includes the adverse childhood experience study, saunders study, the meijer study.

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Child study outcomes in case involving abuse allegations and the santa clara law study.

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Confronting the challenge of high conflict personality and family court and whereas the.

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Mission of the fc amc is fueled by the desire for awareness and change in the family court system.

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While honoring the 800 plus children, who have been murdered by separating or divorcing parents,.

B

Now, therefore, be a proclaim that we, the commissioners of saint mary's county, do hereby.

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Declare november 2021 as family court awareness month and commend its observance to all citizens.

C

Thank you so much for taking the time to recognize this issue. um I I think it's something that a lot.

C

Of people aren't affected by so they don't necessarily um understand how serious it is.

C

It's taken a collaboration of multiple organizations to really come together and.

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Bring this to light, but the center of judicial excellence has documented 810 instances where.

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A child was murdered in the midst of a divorce by one of the parents. 111 of those have been clearly.

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Identified as fully preventable because the safe parent had filed for an order of protection.

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Which was denied by the court, my own experience in family court was right here in saint mary's county.

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It spanned four years in 2017, I discovered that my husband was abusing our oldest daughter. He was.

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Indicted on felony child sex abuse charges and is now a tier three registered sex offender for life.

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But I still spent four years fighting to protect my other two daughters from him to make sure.

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The right boundaries were in place for the first two years. I had a private council. I went through.

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Thirty thousand dollars again before I ever stepped foot in family court.

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He was already convicted, there was no allegation, there was a conviction.

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The next two years I was lucky enough to find a child advocacy group that took on our case and.

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Family court never really came about and and put up the right walls for me and my children.

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The only reason I'm not currently in active family court is because he is currently at the detention.

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Center awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to molesting more children, so at the time of his.

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Arrest when he was caught hurting more children that weren't ours, I had an active court order.

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Demanding that I send my children to his mother's house every wednesday night and.

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Every other weekend for visitation, I just was refusing to comply at that point. um You know I.

C

Mean I know in in these cases it's really hard to identify what the truth is and what's happening.

C

But right now, um there's so much focus on the parental rights and when the other side of it is.

C

The child safety- that's got to be all that matters, so I I really appreciate your time and thank you.

C

So much for for taking the time for this. Thank you for your willingness. We appreciate your work, talk.

D

Up about this, because this is really important and it's really difficult, but people need to know.

D

These stories and what happens absolutely, thank you for telling your story. Thank you.

D

E

A

Next, we go right into county administrator time. Thank you, commissioner. President guy.

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Commissioners will begin with the draft agendas for november 16th and the 30th. Just to note there.

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Are no meetings scheduled for the commissioners on november, 9th and november 23rd so for november?.

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16Th, as I mentioned earlier, you have your recognition for the citizens academy, participants.

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Then you have your public hearing from department of land use and growth management at 9 15 for the.

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Electrical code amendments two proclamations are scheduled, giving tuesday and the great american.

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Smoke out, you also have a request for public hearing from the department of land use and.

F

Growth management on the alcohol beverage production, ordinance, saint mary's, county.

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Board of health is scheduled for an update, also a memorial ceremony for dale smith.

F

Your closed session that afternoon includes litigation, real property and legal advice.

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On november 30th, you have your joint meeting with the board of education, and that is scheduled to.

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Be an in-person meeting in this meeting room also that morning, with your business meeting, you have.

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The decision on the electrical code amendments regarding the department of land use and growth.

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Management request and then you have a closed session to review personnel.

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For this morning's business meeting, item b is from the sheriff's office, the doj edward j byrne.

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Memorial, justice assistance grant program for ffy, 2021 local solicitation award and I believe lottie.

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Bell fiscal manager and major american from the sheriff's office are presenting this morning, good.

F

Morning, good morning, commissioners and dr bridget, good morning morning morning in july, we presented.

G

The related grant application for this recurring formula based funding opportunity, as indicated.

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In the application, the funding would be used towards the purchase of a utility task vehicle.

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To be used by the corrections, division and conduct conducting parameter safety and security checks.

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The department of justice has approved the grant application as submitted, although there.

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Is no required match for the grant additional fund county funding is needed to cover the full.

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Purchase price of the utv, a budget amendment is included to increase the grant funding by 313.

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Dollars and to realign fifty six hundred dollars from the corrections divisions accounts to cover.

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The full cost, your approval of the related grant award and budget document is requested.

B

I move to approve the ffy 2021 edward burn memorial justice grant jag program, local.

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Solicitation award project us2236 from the u.s department of justice in the amount of 17 075.

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Excluding county funding to go toward the purchase of a utility task wheel for the.

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Sheriff's office corrections, division and authorized commission president to sign.

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Any related or subsequent documents and sheriff's office staff to accept and submit electronically.

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Second, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye aye, any disapprovals eyes have it.

A

Thank you. Thank you for your time. Hey, it's always a pleasure to see your smiling face.

B

As long as it's smiling, thank you, commissioners. That item c is from the department of recreation.

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And parks with the american rescue plan act your child care stabilization fund.

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Grant award mr shepard presenting this morning good morning good morning, shepard good morning.

H

Through the american rescue plan act, the maryland state department of education.

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Has allocated funding to us in amount 152 500 for our four school age programs.

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And in that, what we're going to look to we spoke before with our school age program is utilize, that.

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Money for our hourly staff to recruit and retain those to provide education and training for them.

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To keep them with their what's needed, to be a staff in an accredited building. Some additional.

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Supplies and materials, and as well as laptops and tablets at our different sites and centers.

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So that those can be upgraded there in the schools where we perform our after-school programming so.

H

I'm looking forward to you approving to receive this grant funding, move to approve and accept.

B

The child care stabilization fund grant grant award from the maryland state department of ed.

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Education in the amount of 152 500 and authorized commission presidents on any related documents.

B

Second, have a first and second, all in favor aye in disapprovals. I was having thank you. Thank you, mr.

A

Shepherd for that uh ceremony yesterday, great job with the benjamin hansen wrong afternoon.

F

uh Thank you, commissioners and item d is from the department of finance to realign projects from the.

F

Fin 22 capital reserve ms cudmore cfo presenting this morning. Thank you, dr bridget, um commissioners.

I

We're back, I think I know we were here on the 19th of october- realigning some projects we're back.

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um So now we're um actually taking um additional three hundred thousand four four hundred eleven.

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Dollars for the north county farmer's market and we're also separating out the dcip grant crosswork.

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Walk for the retrofit actually creating a separate project, which is a recommendation from the grantor.

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So this will actually be decreasing. The fin 22 reserve by the three hundred thousand four eleven.

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And after um should you approve the bas, this will then bring our um fin 22 reserve to um 1.9 million.

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Dollars what we're going to do with that kitchen up there we're going to actually cook something.

I

I'm sure they have plans to do that. I think there might be some teaching classes and.

I

Working with the farmers and the amish okay, so this is mainly to increase the sewage capacity and.

J

How are we making out with the issues they're talking about with the electrical components.

J

And not being able to move forward. Well um is mr dietrich here I think a lot of that has to do with.

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Supply um supply chain rest of us, what we're all going through. I think it was forecast in like the.

A

First, first november, huh is that the movie thanks for the question uh it's on our mind. Needless to.

K

Say we still don't have a guaranteed shipping date for that uh they say the end of this week, but we.

K

Don't have a date yet so as soon as we know, uh I'm going to get that word to dr bridget, so that we.

K

Can reschedule the ribbon, cutting and so forth? You know get it on a date that isn't going to move. I.

J

Was up in that area yesterday and it looks great I mean it looks like it's ready to go so frustrating.

K

Yeah, if you go in the equipment room, you just see all these wires kind of with nowhere to go.

K

Hanging out of the wall, but uh there's some kind of a special electrical connection box.

A

Of some kind, no uh there's a combination, wide shortage of breakers, believe it or not,.

K

And a lot of these are ground faults and so forth, so it makes it more complicated, but even uh so the.

K

We have the base for the panel is mounted to the wall, uh but we just we can't get the guts. It shows.

A

The ground fault tone yeah correct. I had that same problem, believe it or not waited three months.

A

And couldn't get I finally had ordered online from amazon of all places and found two 20 amp.

A

Ground fault circuit, breakers, pacific kind. I could not find them locally anywhere: yeah yeah, okay, yeah.

B

All the ships are uh holding up all these things that you know most of them already aren't made.

B

In the united states, these are, they were made now they're main giant yeah. The same thing with.

B

All the vehicles getting held up because of a computer chip, I mean it's, it's ridiculous.

B

Unbelievable, so no forecasted time on that, yet we just don't know wow, okay, we'll check amazon.

K

Hopefully, on friday, you'll be able to confirm that.

K

We have a firm shipping date and a lot of these things seem to come from wisconsin and.

K

There were materials coming from wisconsin that kind of held up the district.

K

Three sheriff's headquarters too, but that all gets settled out and I'm confident that we'll.

K

Get there and hopefully still in early december, okay, I was at a midnight viewing yesterday for a.

J

Prominent mennonite, who just passed away- and the point was many of those people.

J

Love to see that thing open up, so they can get no stalls and get their produce and apples and.

J

Squash and other stuff that they've got ready to go right. It's uh definitely much better condition.

K

People aren't going to be standing in mud, uh the horses are going to have actual stalls.

J

They're looking forward to it so yep yeah, it's it's a really great project and really happy to.

K

Be involved with ded on that okay. Well, thank you. I moved to approve the related budget men's relying.

B

On the various cip projects, decreasing the fin 22 capital reserve by three hundred thousand forward.

B

Eleven dollars and authorized commission president signed the related budget amendments. Second,.

A

Adverse and second all in favor, aye, aye and just approvals. I have it. Thank you. Thank you very much.

F

Thank you, commissioners. An item uh e is from the department of public works and transportation.

F

With the snow emergency operations plan brief and I believe rick tarr manager is going to.

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Join mr dedrick for the presentation- and this is informational only commissioners, how you doing.

K

It is with great pleasure that I.

K

Present this to you, uh of course, the the big news is literally big. The new salt barn.

K

That's almost completed, we should receive our first load of salt for the new salt.

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Barn in two weeks and I'll, definitely let you all know in case you want to come out.

K

Rick brought that up that you might like to come out and see the first load of salt loaded into the.

K

Barn, but it's quite a structure, it's it's much bigger and it still has these kind of saddlebag.

K

Attachments on the side for equipment, storage and so forth. So it's, I think, a really good project.

K

So I'm going to turn the uh presentation over to mr tarr, who will walk through the powerpoint.

K

Along with really the major, the only really major update is that salt barn, but we've added a few.

K

Additional streets to the program, obviously, because we've taken a few additional streets.

K

Into the county maintenance system and uh but we're getting rid of the newtown neck street.

K

You know, I think, that's probably gonna, given what we what rick and I heard in.

K

That meeting with dnr- it's probably gonna, take about two years before it works its way.

K

Through the bureaucracy up there, it kind of bounces annapolis is slow at getting things done.

K

But we're also trying to pick up camp cosmo and.

K

They kind of balance out each other in some ways, but both those are probably going to be a two-year.

K

Process so maybe there's a way we could do a shorter term mou with the state to just.

D

Flip responsibilities for snow removal and things like that as a quick that could be a possibility.

D

Short-Term option: someone can talk about with the state yeah great idea. Okay, uh next slide, please.

K

So the overview will go through. These are all the different items we're going to go through.

K

Quickly but the it ties into the program that dr bridgette put in place.

K

Of our five o'clock in the morning and 5 15 in the morning conference calls it's adapted well,.

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To inclement weather in general, you know, for example, last week we jumped into action using.

K

The same kind of plan uh working with emergency services and all of our partners that are.

K

Involved in inclement weather of any kind or any emergency really, it relates even to uh the.

K

um Calvert cliffs nuclear plant calvex and the alert, drills and so forth.

K

So next slide: can you tell us a little bit about how we actually get into the process.

K

With the readiness and alert phase well with today's technology, we're all attuned to the.

L

Weather between our cell phones, ipads desktop computers, the television, the internet, you name, it.

L

So anytime there's a weather alert that comes forth. You know we're all on pins and needles.

L

Especially the first one of the year, but we work closely with mr walker and his group.

L

Gerald does a wonderful job, you know keeping up to date with the weather service and getting live.

L

Updates from them uh and once emergency services kind of puts out the alert that we've got some.

L

Winter weather expected we were almost tied at the hip uh for the for the weather event, I'll run up.

L

Listen to the weather um briefings uh with gerald and his staff, mr dietrich will come along as well.

L

um And then from based on that, we start assessing where we need to be at the county level. In our.

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Snow weather response, it could be a minor storm, a major storm, but we'll go into all these uh in.

L

This in this briefing and at the end of the day, you know we're better prepared to deal with it.

L

And to get through the storm in a timely and efficient manner, next slide, please, as I mentioned.

L

With the weather conference calls, um you know, there's other triggers that take place.

L

Within county government, dr bridget, in in her checklist as well, we'll start talking internally.

L

Maryland state police, they may issue a snow emergency plan. Put that into effect and with.

L

Your approval last year with identifying priority roads. You know, we've done the same thing. We have.

L

All of our priority one routes now identified as snow emergency routes so as soon as the state.

L

Police issue, the the snow emergency plan, we'll do the same at the county level and authorizes the.

L

Local law enforcement state police to uh deal with parked or abandoned vehicles on the side.

L

Of the road in those uh priority, one salt routes, so sorry, why do we wait for an outside or a state.

B

Agency to make the decision locally for that, just it it's in tune and they're they're, pretty.

L

Proactive one to begin with, I know meanwhile usually like meme, is making the decision up.

B

There, when they push it down right yeah, they push it down in the state and they consult.

K

Very good, very good. Thank you, yeah. The conference calls that rick and I go over.

K

To emergency services to participate in uh really cover the whole state and.

K

With all the people that could possibly be involved and pretty comprehensive and.

K

So the idea is to totally sync up uh the efforts, so it works. I think.

B

I think that I wanted to get on with your presentation, but I think it's important that.

B

People understand that, because every time you say why aren't school close, why aren't the roads you.

B

Know why aren't we salting why? But that there's a call that happens with lots of experts, lots of.

B

People that are evaluating everything throughout the state, the weather agencies, so you're making.

B

An informed decision to best use those resources so absolutely there's a reason why it's not being.

B

Done when it's being done or it is being done, the perception of the public, correct, yeah and I'll say.

K

The same thing I've said every year, because the state tends to deal with the state as a whole.

K

They tend to use the same strategy in all locations and, as I say every year, uh the brine.

K

Really just doesn't work down here because we tend we 90 of the time we have rain before we have snow.

K

uh And so we don't do brine, you know we pre when we pre-treat, we pre-treat with salt and.

K

We put it down at the time that it's gonna stay there and uh not end up in the ditch yeah. If you.

A

Put salt down: it's gonna be washed away. If it's raining right yeah, so I can understand that yeah.

A

Yeah next um take it away. Yes, uh the readiness alert phase again the checklist that dr bridget.

L

um Developed- and you know we again, we work with all of our local agencies to pre-plan and as well.

L

As this form is used post event as well, to make an informed decision as to whether or not we're.

L

Going to open county government the next morning after the weather event, the next slide uh on the.

L

Readiness phase uh internally in county highways, you know we're constantly watching the weather.

L

We're looking at the week out two days out, even just you know that same day and we're going to.

L

Schedule maintain and our maintenance work and any larger projects. Accordingly, you know we don't want.

L

To start anything that we can't finish because of of a snow event, you know we don't want to replace.

L

A pipe and not be able to get finished by the end of the day, let alone we need the staffing and the.

L

Resources to deal with the snow so we're always watching the weather in that regard,.

L

Seasonal preparation um september, we work closely with procurement and we send out the contracts to.

L

All of our uh snowplow vendors, our contractors, our contractual support. We also, as mr dietrich alluded.

L

To we update the road database with new roads that we brought into the system that year, which.

L

Directly ties to our routes, our response plan, the the snow map that we'll go over in october. uh We.

L

Re-Prioritize no routes, if we need be depending on development, you know, is a road seeing more traffic.

L

More than it saw five ten years ago, we'll re-prioritize it you know we'll give it.

L

That much more attention during the snow event, we also update the fire ems service list.

L

We support the fire departments and the rescue squads we'll go out and plow the aprons and the.

L

Immediate road going in that is strictly at their request. Not all of them see our service. Some of.

L

Them would rather do it themselves. Some would rather not see any salt, so it's it's up to them.

L

But if they want us there we're there um they're considered one of the priority one locations to.

L

Support in november we're finalizing contracts. uh We also typically meet with the contractors.

L

To go over the routes and see if they have any questions but because of covid we've been kind of.

L

Just working one-on-one with them on the phone and if we need to meet with them, you know in.

L

The parking lot we will um typically, the main reason we have to meet with them is because.

L

Of the new roads and if we brought in some new roads and the contractors, you know supporting.

L

A subdivision that is continually expanding and I'll just use wildwood as an example. He.

L

Needs to know what additional roads we brought in, you know just because the road's there and.

L

Open and it's posted with a green sign doesn't necessarily mean it's in the maintenance system.

L

You know we haven't brought it in yet and, as as you know, you guys have approved the maintenance.

L

Agreements so I'll work with the contractors there as to whether or not they need to go in there.

L

um First, no removal because up to that point, it's up to the developer to manage the roads.

L

uh We'll inspect the contractual equipment make sure everything's up to up the par, and we also.

L

Prep all the county's equipment, so right now all of our stuff is ready to roll. We've got the snow.

L

Plow frames on the salt spreaders: we've got all the equipment staged at the uh the salt barns.

L

That we need to deal with the next snow event, mr carr, how about your contractors? Are they lined up.

J

And don't have any issues with people calling out or having them if you need them? No, sir uh they're.

L

Believe it or not each snow event, uh they'll actually start calling us before we call them.

L

Which is okay, so we kind of have to pull back the reins a little bit. You know they get eager and I'm.

L

All for it, but there is there's a timing issue. As commissioner o'connor mentioned, you know working.

L

We're working with other agencies as to when we need to you, know mobilize and.

L

Begin operations, so it's a timing, issue. Okay, you also inspect their equipment right. We do.

K

We inspect the equipment on on the next slide. Please uh approximately sixteen hundred and sixty.

L

Roadways in saint mary's county that we we have to plow 1320 lane miles quite some distance, so.

L

It takes us a while on a typical snowstorm. It's eight hours for one pass to hit all the roads.

L

We have four service districts, the northern, the western central and the southern. We also have the.

L

Three priorities: um three priorities of levels of service that we provide to these roadways; priority.

L

Ones are the snow emergency routes, the roads that we consider the main arteries high priority.

L

For obvious reasons, you know we want the major traffic flow to continue. That's.

L

The major collectors, the commercial roadways we'll manage those with the county equipment.

L

On occasion, we may put a contractual piece in if we need to to support if something's broke down or.

L

You know whether it's dictating such where we need to up the the level of service.

L

And the priority two and three routes, those are typically the residential side streets.

L

Contractual support 100 on those good question for you, sir, um with us having emergency medical.

B

Services servicing out of the campus here and then, as well as the bunker in leonard town.

B

Are they added to the priority list to ensure they have a clear route out.

B

And how do we work with leonardtown to ensure that there is a clear route out from the bunker.

B

For the paramedic vehicles, courthouse drive is already on our priority. One uh route list.

L

So the county trucks are rotating through there on a continuous basis. uh The main road here in.

L

The complex is also a priority one route, so we have trucks coming through here and on a.

L

Semi-Minor storm we'll also put a backhoe up here with a snow plow on it, and he just runs around.

L

All the time making sure everything's open the sheriff's department, the courthouse you name it.

L

The governmental center, so it is a high priority. Okay right in our building services, people.

K

Immediately, deploy when snow is happening with for the 911 center and the.

K

uh Patuxent building or the sheriff's office, so that works pretty well. One thing: that's key here.

L

You see the priority one and priority two uh three routes. When we mobilize we mobilize everything.

L

When we start on the count the priority one salt routes, we call it the contractors at the same time,.

L

We're not staged we're not doing concurrent operations, we start on the residential streets.

L

At the same time, we start with the main roads and the goal is we finish at the same time,.

L

Life can go on. We want schools to open back up. We want people to get back to work, want county.

L

Government to open back up again, so we don't want to be saddled with you know, dealing with the main.

L

Roads and then another day or two trying to deal with the snow, packed ice covered side, streets.

L

Dealing with everything all at once, and I think it is key in our recovery phase to getting back.

L

To normal good idea, operations phase we'll run 24 hours a day until we until the snow events over.

L

With and we've got everything cleaned up, it's not to say we won't park the trucks for a couple hours.

L

Let the guys get some rest, but the main office is open and we're dealing with things until it's over.

L

With we'll start plowing and treating the roads when we get about two inches of snow on the road.

L

You know, as mr dietrich alluded to, we don't pre-treat the roads with brine.

L

We strictly use rock salt in our normal operations and we'll wait till the snow piles up a little bit.

L

Salt, the roads, let the salt work its way down through the snow onto the onto the asphalt. Let.

L

It start doing its thing melting and create that nice brine layer so that when the plows come.

L

Back through it plows right off and then we'll resaw immediately and we'll just keep doing that.

L

During the duration of the event level of deployment, it may be uniform in the county.

L

It could be, you know, across the board, the same level of effort on every street or depending on.

L

The forecast, if the northern end of the county is predicted to see if you know four to six inches of.

L

Snow in the southern end, just maybe some rain and sleet will move most everything up. North.

L

So there is no assigned route per se, will move things as as needed and what's what's helpful,.

L

With that is the contractual support they're in tune to that, and they don't mind and they'll go.

L

Wherever they're told once they're on the clock, they say I'm here, let's go and we'll do it.

L

Level of uh we also respond to please fire ems calls, so the 911 center will call and request.

L

Assistance if we get a phone call, let's say an ambulance has to report to a private residence.

L

Which is down to private road, it may may not have been plowed at all, because it's a private road.

L

We'll go in before plow the road for him, we'll wait and then we'll open the road.

L

Back up on our way out same thing with any kind of fire calls or police calls.

L

Also on the operations side, if blizzard conditions persist, high winds will suspend operations only.

L

Because you know drifting, it may become a problem. You know it's, you can't fight a snow.

L

Drift all night long you've got other roads to deal with, but, more importantly, the safety factor.

L

You know if the wind's blowing and you've got a dry, powdery snow, snow flower operators can't.

L

See so you just got to shut things down. You know when you're out all night dealing with this. It's.

L

Mesmerizing in the snow, especially when you're in that truck- and you just got to stop and let.

L

The wind die down a little bit, so you can see what you're doing it's a safety factor.

L

Level one and two um minor storm events level one's less than two inches. We may only call out.

L

Our county trucks and a few contractual support, and the only thing we may touch- are the priority.

L

One salt routes- that's all it requires and then we'll go through the side streets and just check.

L

On them level, two another minor storm, two to four inches, we'll call out everything.

L

But that storm event you know we're usually done within 24 hours. It's a easy one.

L

We like those by the time you start, and you finish, we're done you get into the major storm events. The.

L

Level, three and four and five level: three four to twelve inches of snow. um It's starting to pile up.

L

We've got everything out and we're just going nonstop until we're done at level four again.

L

We've got everything out. We may only conduct plowing operations, we may not salt at all.

L

Because of the sheer volume of snow that's coming down and we don't want to waste the salt you're.

L

Talking about kind of that kind of snow, most folks are probably going to be staying at home.

L

And the roads are going to be snow, packed you can get around on snowpack roads, but we want.

L

To make sure that they're still passable, so we may go into plow on the operations.

L

Level five 18 inches, plus we get to that point. We may only focus on the level one roads party, one.

L

Roads for a while, because we want to make sure that the main arteries remain open, we may hold.

L

Off on the side streets for a couple hours, because again we may have to pull all the equipment out of.

L

The side streets and put them on the main roads so we'll do that if we need to and then as conditions.

L

Become better we'll go back into the side streets? So it's! It's always a you know. Each each storm is.

L

Different everything's in flux, each storm event and how how we respond as far as communication.

L

County government- it they have a banner at the top of the main website same one where you can.

L

Find the road closures and so forth in this case, they'll, put out weather alerts for the snowstorm.

L

In 2013, we implemented the service area map. We use this for two reasons, and this map is available.

L

To the public to view how we are responding to the storm, have we made one pass two passes five.

L

Passes down their road, it just gives them an idea where we stand with the snow response. This map is.

D

Excellent people love it it is. It always gets good response. So that's. Thank you. That's good! Staying.

D

Up to date with that, thank you, uh the other component with that, just as they see what's going.

L

On with the storm we use it internally to see where we are, you know, is there an area, that's kind.

L

Of lagging behind now you know, does an area need additional support? Have they received more snow.

L

Did a piece of equipment break down and we're not aware of it or it's? It's causing problems.

L

And then we can use that to redeploy equipment to get caught up. Channel 95 has plenty of updates. You.

L

Can also call uh the county government main line at 475-4200 extension 4911 for updates.

L

And then emergency services they have that reverse 91 911. Also the the text messaging capabilities.

L

Next slide, so on the contractual support. Again we have upwards of 46 contractors, plus.

L

Or minus it varies from year to year, also 100 pieces of equipment scattered about the county.

L

And when you think about thirteen hundred lane miles divided by a hundred hundred fifteen you're.

L

Talking ten ten miles per piece of equipment, that's a lot of roadway for one piece to keep.

L

Up with, but we do well, we do well with it the contractual support and I want to give kudos to.

L

The construction and inspections division in our department, without them the contractual.

L

Contractual side, I'm sorry, um would be very difficult to manage if it was just us within.

L

County highways, they managed the contractors in the snow response they're out in the field.

L

Checking the roads working with the contractors making sure they're staying on on top of.

L

Everything and they monitor all the the hourly time sheets for the contractors and also the.

L

Invoicing so again without them, you know, it'd be very difficult and uh we appreciate their support.

L

Chemicals and abrasives um rock salt sodium chloride. That is our number number one.

L

Friend in these storm events- and it's used to facilitate the removal of snow by keeping it.

L

From binding to the asphalt we're not using it to melt all the snow, we use it so that the snow.

L

Doesn't stick to the asphalt we can plow right off. That's our number one priority with it and goal.

L

With the new salt barn, we have a capacity of 3 500 tons down at st andrews and another 1800.

L

Tons in leonardtown here so we're upwards of 5500 tons of salt. The goal here and you may ask: why do.

L

We need so much salt, you know. Why do we need to store so much at the beginning of the year.

L

You never want to be dependent upon restock of salt in between storm events. Last year alone,.

L

Was a prime example: we had a number of storms, I think it was in february. It was back to back.

L

Week to week- and there was a time when we got pretty lean on our rock salt, but we made it.

L

And you don't want to be dependent upon that and with this brand new salt barn.

L

We're able to stock enough material to get us through an entire winter normal winter, without.

L

Having to be dependent upon these, the restock of salt yeah, the salt has to come down from.

K

Baltimore yeah and keep in mind every time we put in an order.

L

So does everybody else every other jurisdiction, so you know there's limited.

L

Supplies as far as trucking availability get it to get it here in a timely manner.

L

Salt as great as it is once it gets below, 15 degrees is very it's ineffective. It doesn't work.

L

It slows down it's, it's melting point is almost non-existent. We use calcium chloride, mixed with.

L

Sand uh very effective now, calcium chloride in its raw form is very expensive, but it goes a long way.

L

So we mix it with the sand to try to spread it out thin it out. If you will.

L

And the sand also provides traction in the icy conditions and we use that, for you.

L

Know hills our box culverts. You know areas that freeze before the normal roadway does.

L

And then, as as conditions persist, and if we allow we'll go back to the rock salt.

L

We buy a rock salt uh via contract from wharton salt through a maryland department of general.

L

Services contract, it's negotiated every three years, so we're piggybacking a state contract.

L

We also have assault and aggregate utilization agreement with sha.

L

If, in the event we run out of salt, we need some additional, we can go to sha here locally.

L

And each year we're entitled up to 1500 tons of salt, but that is for an emergency purpose. Only.

L

Fortunately, we haven't had to utilize it. This is our third three year agreement with sha, so.

L

We like to have it in our back pocket and with the new salt barn less likely to have to use it.

L

But nonetheless, we're still going to continue to renew it every year so long as sha allows.

L

And then the recovery phase uh once we're once it stops snowing the sky is blue people.

L

Are ready to start moving, uh the guys will go back out start plowing back the intersections.

L

The shoulders and open up the curb and gutters and we want the water to flow.

L

We want it in the gutter and out of the roadway, we don't want it piling up and re-freezing overnight.

L

Causing you know sheets of ice black ice in the morning, we'll inspect the areas known.

L

To have drifts, cold spots, steep slopes, we'll give them some additional attention as well.

L

Again, as I mentioned in the operational phase, and even afterwards, if we have to send some.

L

Additional equipment somewhere because we got behind we'll, do it we'll ship resources.

L

We repair service and clean all the equipment. uh These storm events are very hard on these trucks.

L

Pushing the plow you know continuously um you wear out the the cutting edge on the on the plow itself.

L

The augers, the the salt spreaders on the back end of the trucks, take a beating, so we got to fix all.

L

This stuff, we also have to clean everything. Typically, we get 10 years out of a dump truck.

L

uh It's it's unfortunate! It's just that this rock salt is so hard on these. On the.

L

Equipment- and you know you figure that truck's running non-stop in this in the slush, this salt.

L

You know brine solution all night all day long and we power wash everything every every storm event.

L

But nonetheless, we still get about 10 years out of a truck trying to prolong that as much as possible.

L

We'll make an order to morton salt and restock the salt and or the sand inventory. If we need to be.

L

The contractual support they turn in their daily logs and our invoices.

L

And then the fiscal process begins and jeanette and her staff are very supportive in that.

L

And also the time keeping for the county staff as well.

L

We'll go out and repair shoulders and potholes as we've been uh notified of them. That's not.

L

To say that you know a snowplow will catch a concrete, curb and gutter once in a while and.

L

They've been known to break, um you know, loaded trucks, pretty heavy and we'll catch a curb. Once.

L

In a while so we'll make take inventory and make fit in repairs fix potholes mailboxes.

L

It happens, we don't try. Trust me, mailboxes are not targets, we don't try to do it, but it.

L

Happens, especially in the heavy wet snows heavy wet snow mailboxes are going to succumb to the.

L

Stuff coming off the plow current county policy is if a truck or the snow plow physically takes.

L

Out the mailbox or the post, we will replace it. We got a little too far off the edge.

L

We'll fix it, we'll replace it if it's the material coming off the plow that takes it out.

L

Right the answer is no okay, so I've had several calls on that from people who live on route. 249.

J

And they're saying that when people do that, shoulder that you know they drive a little faster.

J

Maybe than they should and that creates that material coming off pretty fast, pretty hard and.

J

I know one gentleman's had his mailbox replaced three times, so the point is no help for him. No.

L

Well now, I think we we do encourage residents where they've had mailboxes taken out in the past.

L

If you see a weather event coming more than likely, the postal service isn't going to be.

L

Delivering mail the next day remove the post. You know you can always take it out of the ground.

L

There are sleeves that you can put on the ground, remove the post and the mailbox right out of the.

L

Ground and then go back out the next day and put it back up and 249 is a state statement. The state.

L

Road, it's a state road and the other thing too, with that you know at state roads, they're, wider.

L

Sometimes, with the sidewalk involved, they'll want to go through and speed up the truck a little bit.

L

To get it over the shoulder over the sidewalk, so I'm not mounting it up in the curb and gutter.

L

So you'll see the material flying a little bit further, but you're saying 249 is done by the.

J

State, we don't do that correct, okay! Well, the same thing holds true on great mills. Road, particularly.

E

With the sidewalk problem, that's where the state highway comes down the road as fast as they can.

E

They blow it up goes over the curb lands on the sidewalk and the citizens have nowhere to.

E

Walk except back in the street, that was one of the reasons why we implemented the uh by the board and.

L

Implemented the ordinance back in 2015, you know to clear it up within 72 hours. That's that's! On.

L

This note any citations for that. No sir, thank god citations. So again, mailboxes. It is not one of our.

L

You know we don't try, um we apologize for it, it's not uh something we strive for.

L

But it it's they're gonna, it's gonna happen and again we encourage folks to take them up.

L

If you can, you know, put a sleeve in the ground and just take the whole thing up: okay, the sidewalks as.

L

Commissioner morgan mentioned in 2015, an ordinance was, was put forth by the board uh within 72 hours.

L

Of the end of precipitation, the sidewalks must be cleared and no, we have not issued any citations.

L

Doing a good job of it, and also we reassess the snow routes and the assigned equipment.

L

After each event, we kind of sit back and and do a self-critique. We ask ourselves how much snow fell.

L

Where did it fall? What type of weather event did we have? Do we need to change anything? Do we need.

L

To you know, provide additional equipment to a certain area or you know, do we need.

L

As much equipment in this particular area, let's reassign it somewhere else to be more effective.

L

And with that, if there's any questions, you know the question: what's your prediction.

L

With the brand new salt barn, an additional 2000 tons of salt capacity, uh I'd like to say, we won't.

L

Use it yeah, that's like washing just because we haven't, I don't have no weather service.

A

Forecast yet wow I've been wrong before it's uh nothing against the farmer's almanac, but.

L

I don't know, oh no, you wash your car, it rains yeah new salt, barn, it's gonna snow, it's gonna, snow.

B

But uh the quick question I have is: what is the mechanism for citizens to call if they feel.

B

Their street was missed, so there's two actually two mechanisms: they can call the 4911 extension.

L

Or turn into 3-1-1 and we'll get to it right away. You know we're alerted to the 3-1-1.

L

And if you feel that your street's been missed, um you know, let us know.

L

Again, go back to the service map, you know just because uh it's been, the color has changed to.

L

Indicate that you know it was serviced it may not. It may not look like it, but it has.

L

It's just in the beginning, a lot of snowstorms. The truck will come through. They may not plow off the.

L

Snow right away, he may be running through simply dropping salt and leaving the snow.

L

So that you can start to create that nice brine layer and he will be back in.

L

A number of hours he or she in a number of hours to plow it off. It is receptive and I.

B

I wanted to make sure people knew because I was leaving for work. My wife was leaving for work and.

B

The street wasn't done, and I said okay- maybe they haven't got out here yet and then I went.

B

Out to one room, so now that's done! No! Next one wait the next. I remember that incident next. One.

M

I remember that incident like I think they might have missed the street. uh But when I, when I say.

B

Receptive fast, the neighborhood, the neighbors were very very happy at how how fast a truck got.

B

Out there and I think they there was a few other streets back up uh it wasn't. It was a route tissue.

M

Right, I'm just leaving it. Then they were everybody. There was like oh wow, okay, great perfect in that.

M

Case we've redeployed quite a bit of material equipment to get there a quick comment and then.

J

Two questions comment men and I said yesterday acorns have been really big and plentiful.

J

And also that the persimmons have been really healthy this year indicator of a bad winter.

E

Climate change- maybe I could turn around and talk to miss cudmore and give her heads up on the.

L

Financial side, I'm scared to look at her reaction right now. If she's in the room tell me I can see.

A

Her smiling yeah 57 page uh no, a nice control uh I'll I'll leave the forecasting up to the experts.

J

Tell me this uh on: when you have these storms, these big storms, you still still see people out.

J

There with vehicles- I don't know where they're going, maybe they're going. Maybe they need food.

J

I don't know you still see vehicles out that shouldn't be out there. What's our policy on a.

J

Vehicle, that's stuck in a major roadway or what's the state policy, if they're stuck in a major.

J

Roadway with a car that can't get through the snow so, first and foremost, we encourage everybody to.

L

Stay home during the weather event, please one is dangerous for yourself and everybody else in the.

L

Motoring public too, it makes it very difficult for us to clear the roads in a timely manner.

L

That's that's number one number, two, with the new ordinance that was passed last year.

L

By declaring the priority one salt routes, no emergency routes, if a car is abandoned or.

L

Parked on the side of the road law enforcement has the authority to have it towed via the ordinance.

L

If they're stuck on the side of the road simply call 9-1-1 and I'm sure law enforcement will will.

L

Come out and then make arrangements, try to get a tow truck out there to get them out of there.

L

To get them to pull them out of the ditch uh well, I wouldn't think they would be ticketed if they.

L

Simply slid off the road um it would intentionally park. The car I mean unintentionally, you know.

L

Parked the car, if there was an emergency reason, I don't think they're going to give them a ticket.

L

You know if they simply slid it off the road because of weather related they'd, give them a hand.

L

Okay, so they should call 911.. Okay. Other question is the salt that you put down if.

J

You put down a lot of it. Is it reasonable to think it impacts the streams and impacts the environment.

L

So we try to use enough you typically six to eight hundred pounds per mile when we're.

L

Clearing the roads, it's enough to keep that salt to keep the snow from binding to the roadway.

L

The industry standard is that six to eight hundred pounds per mile, uh it lessens the impact to the.

L

Environment, you know we don't want to waste it because of financial reasons too. We don't want to.

L

Waste it only to find its way to the to the freshwater streams right, so we're using just.

L

Enough via the industry standard to clear the roads and that's it and you know so, that's our.

L

Goal uh is there an impact, it's something mde watches all the time. You know I'm notified of.

L

Snow operations, you know continually always in mde and in the epa and some of these non-profit.

L

Groups are always encouraging the industry to use as little as possible and we try to.

L

But at the same token, we still have a need to clear the roads so that you know the motoring.

L

Public can be assured that the safe passage okay, so we try to use them as sparingly as possible. We.

J

Do okay, good! Thank you. I just want to make a point of clarity um between the two uh it was mentioned.

B

That will you be ticketed if you uh slide off the road or something like that, but there's.

B

Two separate situations here: if you're just driving down the road, it's not a snow emergency.

B

Haven't said, keep your vehicles off the road except for essential personnel.

B

No yeah, that's right, but if there's it's a snow emergency, it's a priority route.

B

You're driving you get stuck, there is the possibility you can receive a state citation.

B

For failing to follow the emergency order and operating your vehicle when you're not supposed.

A

To your car's probably towed away and your car can be towed away so really notice. The the the two.

B

Two separate issues, so I don't want people to see the meeting and think I got you. Oh it's.

B

No big deal but there's there's two separate situations, so, okay, duly noted. Thank you, sir.

A

The other questions, commissioners,.

A

Information is very, very well done. Thank you, mr tara. Thank you, mr dietrich, and hopefully.

A

We'll have a minimal event, I hope so this year and you folks are welcome to come down uh during the.

L

The the inaugural unloading, uh mr dietrich, will stay in contact with you. Come down inspect the.

L

Facility, you walk in right now and there's nothing but an echo right now. You just you're just in.

L

Awe of the size, but uh there's a need for it and there's a reason, good good. I do want to come down.

B

There and see that I'm all about throwing a little salt, absolutely when's the first load due and you.

A

Don't know yet uh the week of the 15th we get the 15th, I'm waiting for construction to stop and then.

L

um Once construction is finished and then I'll put the order in and then I'll wait to hear from.

L

The vendor at 15 november, okay, yes, sir, I got to get. We need to get some material in our asap.

L

Just you know rest assured: we have about 2 000 tons here in leonardtown, so we have enough for.

L

A couple weather events, but nonetheless I still want to get it stocked for the winter good. Thank.

L

You that's right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen and commissioners. We do have a.

F

Added county administrator item for the state of emergency over the weekend, so give me a minute.

J

F

So, commissioners, as you know, on october 29th, the national weather service issued a coastal.

F

Flood warning and a high wind warning governor hogan issued a state of emergency on october 29th.

F

For 30 days for the for the maryland shoreline, so the chesapeake bay, potomac, river and atlantic.

F

Coast, which, of course includes saint mary's county our commissioner president guy also issued a local.

F

State of emergency in his authority that's a seven day state of emergency, which is from october 29th.

F

To november 5th, so today we are asking for the full board to extend the state of emergency for a.

F

30-Day period to allow for the recovery estimates and the damage assessments to be completed.

F

So that would extend your state of emergency to november 28th.

B

I moved to approve the local state of emergency extension to november 28 2021 concerning adverse.

B

Effects of coastal flooding and authorized commercial present guy to sign related documents.

B

Second, I have a first and second, all in favor aye, any opposed nice have it. Thank you, commissioners.

F

And this completes county administrator time. Mr president, I have one thing I could bring up. Please.

E

I, um the last couple weeks we've been listening to the issue of the maryland settlement on the opioid.

E

Issue- and I think many of you know that the county commissioners have been actively involved.

E

In pursuing litigation from the very beginning, we're one of four or five counties in the state.

E

That has been part of the class action suit. You also probably realized a couple weeks.

E

Ago attorney general frosh came back with his proposal and maryland decided to get into the.

E

Litigation at this point in time and has offered up an 85 15 split with the state taking 85 percent.

E

The county getting 15. and there's a bunch of nuances in the proposal that have to be agreed.

E

To by all the counties in the state well, that'll happen: I don't have the finished idea, but one of.

E

The caveats in the attorney general's proposal is that you'll get your 15 percent and there's.

E

A bunch of other mathematical formulas to go with it, but then it'll all become grant funded.

E

And it'll be up to the state to decide for those counties with less than 240 000 citizens, whether.

E

You're going to be eligible to get the grants so much like the tobacco settlement of many uni years.

E

Ago, saint mary's, culvert and charles were the most drastically affected in the tobacco settlement.

E

And the tobacco summit finally took place, the money somehow went up the road uh to big counties.

E

And the counties who were most effective sort of got part of the shortage of the stick in the.

E

Opioid settlement every county in the state has been significantly affected by this um tragedy.

E

But the still the state's going back and saying we can manage the money better than you guys can.

E

Even though you've been affected, so what I'm leading to in this is part of the grant.

E

Project is you have to have active projects, they're prepared to be ready to receive money.

E

From the opioid settlement, one of the things that the board here has been discussing for some time.

E

Is using the arpa funds to build a hub facility in lexington park on great mills? Road at the.

E

Old bank and the old uh first national bank, I think it was, and we've sort of deferred that.

E

Along the way, what I'm proposing today to the board is to proceed with using the arp of funds.

E

To begin the construction of the hub, because if the hub isn't built.

E

Then the state can come back when it comes time to applying for grants and says you're not prepared.

E

So, looking down the road, I'm asking from currents from the board to use our arpa funds to begin the.

E

Hub construction project- and I know, there's going to have to be some computations done by miss.

E

Codmore and her staff with 22 and 23 dollars, but I'm really afraid the state if they get their way.

E

Is going to take the money and we're not prepared to receive our settlement funds? Because our grant.

E

And our facilities aren't in place yet so my proposals, I know that we had looked at.

E

Our funds, before for construction of the hub, we sort of not made a decision yet so my suggestion.

E

This morning is to proceed with the arpa funds to build the hub at the facility on great mills, road.

E

You know how much you're talking about it's a two-point, it's 2 million 371 000 is.

F

Her request 2.4 371 out 2 million 371 000, yes, and what's the name of the behavioral health hub? Yes,.

B

Yeah, I think, after the events last week in the county, there's no more fitting time for.

D

Us to allocate money to behavioral health and supporting it. So I support your idea.

D

Here I think I've been on the calls with attorney general frosh too, and I understand.

D

What you're saying- and this is a good thing for our county, and so I support this well then so.

B

I'll formalize it for you, commissioner, morgan um make a motion to allocate 2 million 371 thousand.

B

Dollars of american rescue plan funding for the construction for the behavioral health hub, the st.

B

Mary's county health department to be located in lexington park, great mills I'll. Second, it.

A

Now one thing uh is this is for this for construction of or this for.

A

A e or whatever we already have all that done. This was her total project request for the.

F

Renovations to that building, so we've already done all the architectural work and everything.

A

To make sure this is the right figure yeah, and so I assume, commissioner, guy, that she has done that.

F

Work because they're partially in the building now, but she needs the fit out okay, so we need.

A

To know from her definitely from them whoever's doing all this construction work exactly amount.

A

So we're proposing 2 million 371 000 now and it could be plus or minus we're fulfilling.

F

Her request: that's her total request. Okay um and I I'll make a an amendment to my motion.

B

If commissioner morgan says not to exceed two million.

B

Three hundred and seventy one thousand that are concurrence without our concurrence.

A

Okay, I have a first and second on a motion for use the arpa fund for a hub construction in.

A

Lexington park do we have the other motion written down? Yes, sir? Okay, okay,.

B

I tried to speak slow this time because I know I missed it. Okay, everyone understand, emotion,.

A

Okay, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye aye any oppose how's that thank you, gentlemen.

A

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners, and this completes county administrator time.

F

Very good, thank you. Okay. This coach is right into commissioner time and.

A

We'll start with commissioner hugh at this time. Well, thank you, commissioner. President guy.

J

Well, last friday we had the no name storm. I think someone's recalled it as, and uh I.

J

Guess some someone else said: well, we knew it was coming, even though it didn't have a name.

J

I think they called it the cyclone bomb or the bomb cyclone or something when it hit. California.

J

But I had the opportunity to go down to st george's island. On friday I have a high truck and.

J

It's uh blow up but down there, where the state has put that revetment or put that material down that.

J

Has uh hopefully helping out the erosion of that roadway? There was 14 inches of water. There.

J

It was very, very alarming people there had no emergency services, but or they would not, they.

J

Would have a very hard time getting emergency services. Hopefully they didn't have any.

J

But I do like to mention, though sha, when we had our meeting last week, they talked about there at.

J

Fdr boulevard, as you come out of bj's or lowe's, and you come out towards route four, they changed.

J

That right turn arrow in the right lane. Very quick. Thank you. Miss tran, acting director of district.

J

Five, that was quick service. Also uh recently, I had a procedure done at the st mary's hospital and.

J

During the procedure, the nurse that was uh giving me an iv which very nice job, thank you very much.

J

Said, aren't you a commissioner, I said well, hopefully doesn't infect this iv, but yes, I am.

J

There's an issue with safety on fdr boulevard. She said when you come to those roundabouts.

J

She said I live there, I use it often. She said the vegetation has gotten very thick and she.

J

Said people walk across there plus kids use bicycles. I want to thank mr tarr and.

J

Dpw they went in there and took that vegetation out there. You can see it's great, but my point.

J

Is is we respect responding to what people are asking us or identifying as problem issues and.

J

Hey it works, so if you see us it works. Secondly, I was at the viewing yesterday of a prominent.

J

Mennonite in our community, mr henry stauffer, now anyone knew henry, he was a wonderful man ran the.

J

Loveville auction three days a week up there, he was killed by a.

J

Driver who's been identified but still hasn't been found who ran off across the lane.

J

Went from his lane across the other lane across the shoulder and tragically ran right into mr.

J

Starford's buggy and there was hundreds of people there. There was buses coming down from.

J

uh Pennsylvania, ohio, new jersey kentucky, there was just lines and lines of people, it was really.

J

A wonderful thing to see this tribute to this man and how many people were impacted by him.

J

I was there. Obviously I've been helping the mennonite community with their church and.

J

Loveville and I've helped some other buggy shops and different uh people get permits or.

J

Help with the permitting process, but the point is that the loveville area is very prominent for.

J

Mennonites and it's part of our culture, it's part of the rural character that we enjoy as st mary's.

J

County residents and one thing to keep in mind, as I was explained yesterday and I think I've known.

J

Is there's often a what's the term it's hard to understand who's, mennonite, who's, amish and well.

J

The mennonites as you'll know always shave. They have the new order in the old order. The old order.

J

Doesn't use electricity doesn't drive, they'll take rides. I gave several of them a ride in my truck.

J

The new order does use electricity, they do drive, so it's a difference, but the amish are totally.

J

Different once they get married, they don't shave and they grow beards. Now neither sect really votes.

J

They'll say it's not forbidden, but neither ones really do they talk to being part of the kingdom.

J

Of god, not the kingdom of man and while I told many of the family members, I was very sorry for.

J

Their tragic accident, they said, don't be that way, uh commissioner hewitt, because it was god's, will.

J

You know he left the house late that day and he was killed in that accident, but that was god's.

J

Will so please don't be sorry, it's just god's. Will it's a very interesting philosophy and honestly it.

J

Makes saint mary's county that much richer of a place to live? The last thing I'd like to mention.

J

And I'll bring it up to the county administrator is when people were reaching out to me about the.

J

Gis map and different things on our website with the gis. What would be very helpful and metcon.

J

Mentioned they would be part of it. Today is if the gas layer categories could be alphabetical order.

J

uh They're tend to go all over and if you're looking for something a map or something.

J

You know you don't know exactly where to find it and there's so many layers which, thank god.

J

We have so many layers, but it would be better for the public if it was alphabetical order. Thank you.

D

Eric very good well, thank you, mr commissioner, president, when I got married, I tried not shaving.

D

But my wife didn't let that go for too long, so I still have to trim and shave I'm wearing.

D

A mask this week I was last week, I have an immune, compromised family member visiting. So that's what.

D

She asked and so we're honoring that request. I have not been exposed to kova that I know of.

D

I'm not sick at all, just so that everyone's aware why I have a mask on last weekend this week.

D

It was a difficult week last week in the county, there were several really bad traffic accidents.

D

Slow down when you're driving be careful, it's it's dangerous, especially with the less daylight.

D

Just slow down there's suicide, no matter how tough it seems it can get better. There's help out there.

D

Reach out, if you need help, don't take those drastic steps halloween over the weekend, though,.

D

Was a great time, a lot of family fun. I was able to go and attend the trick-or-treat in the square.

D

In lexington park- and this was their second year doing it- they started it last year during covid.

D

It was an incredible event they last year, I think they had roughly 10.

D

Businesses out there supporting this year, they had over 40 businesses and organizations out there.

D

The community was coming out and this was all privately organized. It wasn't run by the.

D

Government, it wasn't done by anyone. It was the community stepping up to make a difference in.

D

Their community and everyone was enjoying it and having a great time, and it was a huge success. So.

D

Thank you to everyone who is involved in getting that off the ground and running and doing such a.

D

Great job with that yesterday, commissioner, president guy and commissioner morgan and I.

D

Were able to attend the benjamin hance memorial unveiling, benjamin hanse was.

D

African-American back in the 1800s, who was lynched in saint mary's county is the only documented.

D

Case of a lynching in saint mary's county- and there is a new memorial placard- that's put up.

D

Next to the old jail museum in leonardtown, go out and check it out, go see it the event. Yesterday I.

D

Want to give a huge thank you to recreation parks, museum division, karen stone, she did a great job.

D

Organizing that event publicizing that event and running it, and then um our county attorney dave.

D

Weiskopf, I want to give him a shout out for his remarks during it. He did a wonderful job.

D

And uh dr tawanda, jordan from saint mary's college was the keynote speaker. She did an.

D

Excellent job too, it was very interesting presentation and a very, very good ceremony, a.

D

Lot of community involvement. Finally, don't forget change your clocks this weekend, I don't like it.

D

But we have to do it so change your clocks, don't forget! Thank you.

B

You got it. Thank you, sir. um My thoughts, prayers and and um any resources we can help with the.

B

Leonardtown community, in in their loss of a student, it's it's never easy to deal with.

B

Suicide, um you know it's it's very prevalent and that's and that's why, beyond more things with the.

B

Opioids, I believe that um the decision by commissioner morgan to bring that up.

B

About the behavioral health hub is extremely important for our community. You know it.

B

I think this is two times in one year. We had a situation where um we have kids that are.

B

Taking their own lives so, and those are the ones that have been publicized- those are the ones that.

B

We know about believe me there. There are plenty more where our crisis workers are trying to work.

B

With them and there's just not enough, so I I think this was very timely, um very much needed.

B

And it's going to be a great resource, the health department and our community.

B

Traffic fatalities, you know, if you look around every time you turn around. There's another traffic.

B

Fatality in the county, it doesn't seem like we go 30 days at times and maybe more don't hold me to.

B

That, where we don't have a severe traffic accident or a fatality surrounding that it's driving, it's.

B

Roadway construction, it's roadway, engineering, it's enforcement, it's behavior! It's drivers, behavior.

B

There's there's lots of tools that are available to go ahead and curb driver behavior, and you know.

B

I'm hoping that we can find other mechanisms to slow people down and have them pay more.

B

Attention while they're operating now mind you the the situations where people are operating.

B

Motor vehicles- intoxicated you know, that's that's something that law enforcement has dealt with for.

B

A very long time and they're still having to deal with that um and that's and I I bring up uh the.

B

Stauffers and you know elam uh one of the family members, you know our family's been going to his.

B

Tax shop for years- and this definitely hit their community very hard so today, if anybody that's.

B

Out in the community that is watching, uh please, you know, stay clear of loveville road. If you can.

B

The family is going to be paying their respects. Loveville road will be shut down. So you know just.

B

Try and stay clear make it easy on the family, make it easy on the community as you go through.

B

Several booths in the county- I know not many people spoke about that, but I'll tell you that.

B

It was nice to be able to get out and drive my son through some of the booth throughs that.

B

That was down there and take him over to leonard's grant. I I think, uh leonard's grant by the time we.

B

Were leaving there was people parked all the way up to hollywood road filling up the school filling.

B

Up the library I I couldn't believe it and biggest turnout, I've seen and the house is there they're.

B

Really into it like they're, like all right come on down here, and I mean I just saw all sorts of stuff.

B

Plus they had the big candy bars they weren't getting out the small ones. It was great.

B

And then you know with the state damage for saint clements island.

B

There's been some damage reports that came in, which is on the state side. So um our sure our.

B

Totals are going to change on the state side of damage, which I'm glad why we extended that.

B

State of emergency to go ahead and get those full totals in but other than that.

B

I appreciate the time, mr president, thank you hi. My name is president again, uh commissioner.

E

Guy commissioner cole and I attended the benjamin hands ceremony yesterday, I would.

E

Express our thanks to all the speakers to rank in high school for the musical and dance performance.

E

And to the museum division for orchestrating such a great event yesterday afternoon,.

E

Secondly, I want to we had the discussion this morning with metcom on.

E

Projects we discussed patuxent park, which is going to be done. I think he's mr december of 22 correct.

E

For date, purposes, 21 21, okay, 21., so that one project will get done while I'm in office.

E

That project started just as I got elected in 2009 was the very first.

E

Phase so we started in 10, we'll finish it in 21, so one project done. Thank you. Everybody.

E

um I'm being facetious because a lot of other stuff's gone done too, but this is a major project.

E

In lexington park for revitalization fixing the road, the water and the sewer lines etc, but.

E

Harping back on the traffic issues, everyone knows, I have a personal issue in this with.

E

How people drive in saint mary's county and what happens in tragedy that befalls families.

E

Mr stauffer sadly died as a result of being hit by a person in a truck who has yet to be found.

E

We had the student loss from watertown high school and we had another gentleman named merv hampton.

E

Who appeared to have had a medical emergency this past week and crashed his car in the road too?.

E

So the common denominator, if someone is dead, the other common denominator, it happens in.

E

All different from all different circumstances, so, as the other commissioners have pointed out,.

E

Traffic safety is important, it'd be really nice. If people start paying attention slowing down.

E

A little bit more courteous of others, and I get a lot of comments about 235.

E

Because we see it and witness it every day, there's a lot of new comments coming up about route.

E

5, particularly through the upper great mills there callaway area, where we're going to have.

E

Two schools, a little flower and king's christian academy, do another church opening up up there and.

E

Then we're going to have a dollar store and a 7-eleven all convenient in one place with very.

E

Little, if any traffic curves whatsoever, so when I think about the parents coming out of a little.

E

Flower and I think about the buses coming out of wildflower in king's christian academy, we have a.

E

Serious problem up there with people who want to go up the hill as fast as they can and then zip.

E

Up north, so please be careful of all this stuff. We will be talking the state highway about this.

E

To talk about what we can do to you know ensure the safety, particularly the parents and the.

E

Students coming out of the schools, and with that I just want to say thank you very much and don't.

E

Forget to turn those clocks back this weekend, because we can always use an extra hour of sleep.

A

Thank you, commissioner. Morgan thank all your commissioners, uh I'm very brief. Everybody.

A

Instead of thinking of job safety and benjamin hanstein was very important to understand the.

A

Injustice that was done back in that time and we've dedicated a plaque to that injustice and.

A

So everybody who visits the old jail museum, we'll see that and understand some of the injustice.

A

And we recognize that, and hopefully uh things will get better in our life as we go through.

A

Also, I I went through the booth through at joe sinclair's barn.

A

I mean man put out a hell of a show, that's all I could say about it and it was. uh It was very.

A

Interesting to drive through and see all the work that he and his family and volunteers put into it.

A

And uh so it's great that we got people like this in our community that works hard to do that.

A

And a shout out also to uh him and his uh group and taking care of the saint coleman hundred.

A

At the uh saint george's island I mean columbus island and they did have some damage out there.

A

Like commissioner connor said, and hopefully they'll be incorporated, I think they're being.

A

Inspected or he's trying to get inspected today so we'll see what happens, but they definitely.

A

Had a big damage to their uh my turn up being a handicap ramp, as well as the ramp that supplies.

A

A barge type thing to get equipment on and off the island. So it's going to be an important.

A

Probably a large amount of money to deal with that, no doubt about it.

A

Of course, it's a state project more than anything else, we just approved almost 2.4 million for.

A

Funding to get this hub put up in lexington park, it is vital. There's no doubt that.

A

Not only physical but mental health also issues on a lot of us and we need to make.

A

Sure that people have a place to go, or at least be aware of what they can do before they make.

A

Some very bad decisions in their life, so I'm all for some kind of health to help to do this.

A

uh Mr stauffer, I didn't know him very well. I knew his brother, I think, is dave. Who has the.

A

Engine shop up there, I think it's his brother and it's very interesting how these people.

A

Use their own funding within the community to take care of themselves. They don't depend.

A

On the government whatsoever- because I remember several months ago as I was taking my lawnmowers.

A

I would get dave to fix it. I asked him the stimulus money. Did him any good and he said no.

A

I said why not, and he said I wrote, cancel on the check and send it back.

A

We don't use government help, that's true, so it's very interesting how they do this and it's.

A

Admirable but I I I would hope that they would use it, but they don't they. They definitely. Our thai.

A

Community set within themselves, they take care of themselves, but uh the man who's lost up. There was.

A

A very vital part of their community and plus not only our community but statewide in the produce.

A

Auction and the distribution of that area, so I'm very sorry about this happening, but hopefully.

A

Things will get better, we gotta, we gotta start paying attention and I'll say one thing that.

A

People drive driving. I still see a lot of this. I know these phones are great to have in life.

A

But please stay off them when you're driving. If you got to be on it, pull off the side. Road.

A

Like I do and it calls that urgent and and do what you got to do, but don't don't be driving.

A

Using this, I still see it too much, and I think we need to stop doing that. I think it's just too much.

A

Interference with our life here so with that said, let everybody know that we have our budget work.

A

Session today, the first one we go into about a seven month period of uh figuring out our next.

A

Budget and uh with the five of us sitting here, we're gonna have pros and cons on this.

A

Some people like something we say some will not so we, but at the end we have to come up with a.

A

Good budget by the end of the year here not into this year, but by may of next year it's a seven.

A

Month process so we'll all work together to get a good budget to support the people of our county.

A

With that all said, I we're entertaining a motion to go into closed session, we'll think about a five.

A

Minute break before we go into it I'll tell you my motto for this budget work session is: let's.

B

Go brandon all day long. I love it. I make a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of.

B

Discussing personnel second have a first and second, all in favor take a five minute break.

A