St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 13 Apr 2021

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From YouTube: 4/13/21 Commissioners of St. Mary's County

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

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This date, tuesday april 13 2021., I am randy guy president commissioner of saint mary's county I'd.

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Like to introduce the other commissioners citizens, my right representing the first commissioner of.

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District, which includes ridge, piney, point state drizzle, mr eric colvin good morning.

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Representing the second commissioner district, which includes leonardtown and hollywood, mr mike.

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Hewitt good morning center to my left, representing the third commissioner district, which includes.

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Charlotte hall, some district golden beach and mechanicsville, mr john o'connor good morning.

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Representing the fourth commissioner district, which includes elections in park,.

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Some of california and great middle and some of hollywood, mr todd morgan.

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Dr rebecca bridget, our county administrator, is seating setting at the table to my left.

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Elisa casas, our communications director is sitting at the table to my right morning. Amy carter, our.

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Video media producers behind the class. Please turn your cell phones off on vibrate. At this time.

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Please stand for the invocation and pledge.

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Dear heavenly father, thank you for this gathering of our citizens and the commission of st.

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Mary's county give us knowledge and the will to do the right things for.

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The people of our county enter your name, amen, amen, pledge allegiance of america.

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Please be seated.

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Next, I need to approve of the consent agenda so moved. Second.

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First, second, all in favor aye any opposed nice happen. Next, we have some proclamations.

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The first one is the week of the young child. I think mr hewitt has that one yeah I have it and.

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Actually, here we go aging and human services actually has, and I'm just going to read a copy.

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Good morning, good morning, the department of aging and human services, early childhood.

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Advisory council, ecac and other local organizations, in conjunction with the national.

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Association for the education of young children are celebrating the week of the young child and.

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Whereas these organizations are working to improve early learning opportunities which are critical.

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To the growth and development of young children and to building better futures for everyone.

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And whereas our young children and their families across the country.

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And in st mary's, county deserve access to high quality, early education and care, and whereas.

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In recognizing and supporting the people, parents, programs and policies that are committed to high.

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Quality early childhood education as the right of choice for children now, therefore, be it proclaimed.

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That we, the commissioners of saint mary's county, do hereby proclaim commitment to in support of the.

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Week of the young child on april 13th 2021 and encourage all citizens to do the same. Thank you.

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I think we we stand and we get a picture taken.

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Next, we have a proclamation for flood safety and awareness month. I think commissioner, morgan mason.

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I think um I thought journal is going to be here.

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Oh, there is come on up buddy. I didn't see it working in the back room.

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So this is another proclamation to deliver for flood safety awareness month.

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Whereas a flood is an excess of water from heavy periods of snow or rainfall on land.

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It is normally dry and can threaten homes and property from coast to coast and whereas floods.

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Can happen anytime anywhere and without warning and claim nearly a hundred lives and cost billions.

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In property damage in the united states each year and whereas flood damage from a flood is.

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Not normally covered under a standard homeowners policy and this spring will bring melting snow.

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And seasonal rainfall, which can bring potential with the potential for flooding where severe.

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Thunderstorms can create inland flash flooding and tropical assistance can create coastal flooding.

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In st mary's county, where there are 367 miles of saltwater frontage and whereas the citizens are.

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Encouraged, don't turn around, don't drown I'll say it again turn around don't drown when they.

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Approach flooded, roadways because just two feet of water moving can float and carry most vehicles.

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Including suvs and pickup trucks. Now, therefore, we, the commissioner of saint mary's, county, maryland,.

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Do hereby proclaim the month of april 2021 as flood safety awareness month in saint mary's.

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County and urge all residents to become educated about flood hazards in your area and take the.

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Necessary precautions to help protect your family and home from potential fun hazards. Thank you.

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In addition to the pandemic, we had the floods but uh gerald if you'd like to say anything or amy.

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um Again, this past year was very challenging for a lot of.

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For the county and for our citizens as we're all aware, uh emergency services teamed up with.

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Mde and maryland insurance administration this year recognizing april as flood awareness.

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To get that knowledge in public outreach, I believe joy hatchet from maryland insurance.

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Administration's online and also kevin wagner from mde uh two partners that we've been working.

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With very very extensively and continue to so I'm not sure if they have anything they'd like to add.

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Good morning, good morning go ahead. Kevin.

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Good morning, thank you gerald. I was just going to say that joy and I are really happy to be here.

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Today we really appreciate the commissioners recognizing april as flood awareness month.

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As you know, governor hogan declared this month as flood awareness month, so we're really trying to.

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Get information from one end of the state about knowing your risk.

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Reducing your risk and ensuring your risk so uh helping us to share information on your social.

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Media or your websites encouraging people to just be informed, download the fema app or the maryland.

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Prepares app would be a great first step. St mary's county is obviously no stranger to flooding.

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Many of you, commissioners, are actively involved in in issues and projects uh throughout the county, so.

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uh It'll be an ongoing effort. We look forward to continue to partner with you.

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Joy, just one additional thing: on april, the 20th we'll be having a flood insurance forum and.

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We're going to be focusing on all types of things, including flood insurance, but also mapping, which.

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Is so key to all of your constituents, so I would encourage you to encourage them.

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To join us on april, the 20th and gerald thanks so much for always being an excellent partner. Good.

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So, thank you all for letting us take a few extra minutes, but it is.

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Extremely important photo op time now it is. Thank you. Thank you. There you go.

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And next on the product we have the national animal care and control appreciation week.

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I will read that now bring peace from before our animal control, people that.

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Are here today, all of you several come on up come on up all of you can you're fine, yeah joy.

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Joy couldn't be here today, john's gonna, step in for have a seat. There.

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Sit in the front there, one over here and one over there and then we'll bring you up for the pictures.

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Okay, whereas the national animal care and control association naca is committed to setting.

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The standard of professionalism in animal welfare and public safety through training.

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Networking and advocacy, whereas nacc naca has designated the second week of april each year.

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As national animal care and control appreciation week and whereas the various federal state and.

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Local government officials throughout the country take this time to recognize, thank and commend.

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All animal control, officers and staff for the dedicated service they provide to various public.

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Safety and public service agencies, departments and citizens, as well as keeping with the long.

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And distinguished tradition of the animal control profession and whereas the saint mary's county.

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Animal control division is dedicated to the health and safety of at-risk helpless animals.

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And work throughout the year to rescue and protect animals from injury, disease abuse and starvation.

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Now, therefore, with the commission of saint mary's county do hereby proclaim the week of april 11-17.

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2021, national animal control care and control appreciation week in st mary's county.

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And encourage all citizens to join us in expressing our sincere appreciation for.

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The service and dedication of our animal control, officers and staff.

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We're just getting ready to start building our animal shelter, you might say, or I say, adoption.

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Center and that's being started very soon here and become a very important part of all y'all's roles.

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Thank you so we're pretty excited about that that that's getting underway. So that's that's.

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Outstanding again, joy, our supervisor could be here today, so just just a couple of things.

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That john here, our most tenured animal control officer, does an outstanding job. This year was.

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Also a challenging year trying to to do this job in the middle of a pandemic, a couple of notable.

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Cases we seized over 20 horses on one case. We had another one where we seized a number of dogs.

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From a dog fighting thing, they all do an outstanding job. Phenomenal and again, I.

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I just if you see him thank him for what they do. Their main focus is animal rescue.

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Outstanding, they really are, so I think, we're good for photo opportunity. We thank you.

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How do you want to space yourselves out? Thank you. Would it be? Okay, just for is.

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This okay for social distancing is that good all right! Thank you.

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Good okay: next we have uh national public safety telecommunications week and I think.

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Mr okay, mr colvin, has that one yeah come on up chris good morning good morning. All right. This.

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Proclamation reads: whereas emergencies can occur at any time which require the prompt response of.

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Police officers, firefighters or emergency medical services who are critical to the protection of.

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Life and preservation of property, and whereas the safety of our police officers and firefighters.

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Is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone.

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Communications dispatchers in the saint mary's county, emergency communications, division and.

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Whereas public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact, our citizens have.

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With emergency services and are the single vital link for our police officers and firefighters.

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By monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information and ensuring their safety.

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And whereas public safety, telecommunicators of the saint mary's county department of.

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Emergency services have exhibited compassion, understanding and professionalism during the.

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Performance of their job and have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminal.

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Criminals, suppression of fires and treatment of patients now, therefore, we, the commissioners of.

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Saint mary's county do hereby proclaim the week of april 11 through 17 2021.

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National public safety telecommunicators week in st mary's county in honor of the men and.

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Women whose diligence and professionalism keep our county and citizens safe. Thank you.

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Thank you, commissioner. I mean what can I say they work so hard. We've worked hard to improve what we.

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Do in the center, I think that our personnel have stepped up and done a great job during.

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The pandemic, all of our dispatchers, had to come out, while other people you know had to.

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Stay home and stay protected, ours could not, they had to come out and- and they were there every day.

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Diligently doing a great job, but I'm going to ask chris our chief of communications, to maybe say a.

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Couple words with you to do so. I would just like to thank you for recognizing our staff.

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They have been displaced this year because of the pandemic. We've put them through a lot and they've.

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Maintained their professionalism, so they've done an outstanding job. Thank you. Thank you.

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Thank you guys. Next, I need a motion to convene as the board of health.

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I move to adjourn as the commissioners of saint mary's county and reconvene as the.

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Saint mary's county board of health; second, first and second, all those in favor, aye, aye, how's, ever.

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Good morning, dr brewster, good morning, chris, how are you all very good, very good, good morning, good.

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Morning, because you I'm in pretty good health, okay, because you're in pretty good health.

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That way, I feel good all right, all right, excellent. um Thank you again for your time this morning,.

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And I'm here just to give a covet 19 update, which uh major focus will be on vaccine as uh that's the.

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Major campaign right now, so thank you. We'll move forward and kind of go as we usually do.

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And go through the data first, please.

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So on our dashboard, as of yesterday 6651 cases so far in saint mary's, county residents,.

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Over the past handful of weeks, we have seen some trend upward in the new case rate as.

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Well, as the weekly case numbers as we'll see in a moment, the new case rate, as of yesterday, was.

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Almost eight almost 19 cases per 100 000.. This is consistent with another surge in local cases.

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And maybe in part, at least in part, fueled by the emergence of some new variant, viruses of concern.

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If you scroll down, please you keep scrolling to the tiles with the variants.

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You can see the actually if you pause here before we go forward. You can see at the very tail end.

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Here how our cases appear to be rising, fortunately not as steeply as what we saw entering into.

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The you know holiday season that we just came out of that giant surge. But.

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Let's hope we can keep this low and let's hope we can actually start to reverse the trend there.

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So here are some: if you scroll up just a little bit to show the title yep. So these are some.

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Variants of concern- these are variants that the cdc has identified as variants of concern, and they.

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Are essentially variants of the original cyrus co2 cov2 virus that have demonstrated so far increased.

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Contagiousness, we also are seeing some increased disease severity associated with some of this.

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And greater impact in our young population than what we saw previously with the.

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The first virus that really fueled the emergence of the pandemic, so this, of course, is of great.

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Concern this is why we are now doing genomic sampling as a genomic analysis, as I've talked.

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About before on clinical samples, these include clinical samples like nose swabs, that people.

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Get not every sample gets tested for genomic analysis to determine if it's a variant virus.

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A very small number of samples from saint mary's county are tested for genomic analysis and of.

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These we've seen several new cases of the uk variant. That's what the b117 refers to and that's.

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The one that has now been designated by the cdec as the predominant covid19 virus strain in the u.s.

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And we've also seen some california variants, as well as the brazilian variant of coronavirus.

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This is also supported by our wastewater analysis, so we have received some results.

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From our wastewater sampling and we've started doing the genomic analysis on that, as I've talked.

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About before we have confirmed the presence of the uk virus and some of the local wastewater.

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Here in saint mary's county, as you can see, the new case rate has been increasing and, as of yesterday,.

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Was nearing 19 per 100 thousand if you scroll down please our pcr positivity also is trending upward.

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If you scroll down, please our rt, our transmission of estimated rt is has been trending upward. This.

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Swings around quite a bit as we've reviewed before, but it is I'm sitting at about one today.

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Or as of yesterday, and then, if you scroll down to the daily coveted related hospitalizations.

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uh The yep this next one here, thank you. If you want mine scrolling over, thank you as you can.

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See we're fairly low in our daily covid related hospitalizations. However, in the past week we have.

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Seen that number tick up and again as we're we're following this very closely, especially.

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As around the country, we're seeing reports of more and more young people being hospitalized.

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Due to uh in part, these new variant uh covered viruses, which might be impacting them more than.

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What we saw with the the first strain of the covid virus, if we could go down, please.

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At this point in time we have had now now have had 123 saint mary's county residents.

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Have coveted related deaths and if you scroll down in our long-term care,.

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Facilities, we still have active outbreak in chesapeake shores, long-term care facility.

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The good news, though I would say, is that the new case rate in those who are 60 and older.

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Remains very low, very low, and this is incredibly encouraging because it demonstrates to us that.

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The vaccines are likely working as I'll talk about in a moment and when I go through the vaccine data.

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The number of seniors in our county that have been now vaccinated is is very high, which is excellent.

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And likely is protecting them from having hospitalizations related to covet infection and.

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Also, protecting them from getting covet infection, including from these new variants that we have.

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However, our new case rate in the younger age group groups is increasing and that.

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Is where we're seeing currently, this current surge being field go to the next slide? Please.

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Next slide this one here, thank you so just some updates on our testing. We.

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Are still waiting on the pnc bank facility, that's being donated for the health department use.

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To become available so, in the meantime, we've reopened our testing site at the.

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Health department harm reduction office, uh that's in lexington park, uh in the plaza with the u-haul.

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If you all remember, that's where we started out with testing we're doing a slightly different.

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Mechanism this time, but people still drive up and park and they call a number and we'll.

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Come and do their testing samples so again leonardtown office for the health department, the.

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Lexington park office for the health department, both 9 a.m, to 3 30 p.m, monday, through friday,.

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We are continuing to offer community to the community testing also at the two new school-based.

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Health center sites in the late afternoon evening, hours three to six pm monday through thursday.

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So since we last met, lots has happened with vaccine and the vaccine rollout. We.

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Are now in phase 3 as a county and then also as a state, which means that anyone.

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16 and older is eligible and I'll talk through the eligibility specifically for the local.

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Vaccine clinics, all these web pages on our site have been updated with the new information.

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I would encourage our residents to check this out to get more information about vaccine and.

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Where we are right now, you can move to the next slide, please so dr brewster real quick, um I think.

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It's probably fitting that we talk about one of the top news stories today is concerned. I.

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Was going to bring that up a little bit yeah, I didn't want to great. Thank you. No problem, yeah.

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I'm glad you're on it. Thank you. um So the next one is really about who's eligible in phase three.

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So our general population for st mary's county health department, partnership, vaccine clinics.

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Anyone living or working in st mary's county, who is age, 16 or older.

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And again, only a pfizer vaccine is approved for 16 and 17 year olds.

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In terms of verification of eligibility, what people would.

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Need to bring to the saint mary's county health department, partnership vaccine sites.

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It's really just so. We can ensure that they're at least 16 years old, if they're getting pfizer or.

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At least 18 years old, if they're getting modern vaccine and then if they are not living here in.

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Saint mary's county and they're working here in saint mary's county some demonstration that.

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They work here in st mary's county, a letter or work id or something like that would work.

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So, at a high school identification work, if they have a, I don't think they put a birthday on it, but.

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Yeah it they don't. um Typically, we ask for parental consent on the informed consent form.

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So as long as that's on there and it verifies that they're successful, the important thing, though, is.

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That they have to have an idea of some sort with a photo yeah, some kind of identification. So we know.

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The person who were vaccinated- thank you thank you. They can also bring a letter or they can bring a.

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Birth certificate or something like that as well or a passport, you can go to the next slide. Please.

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So we launched, uh since we last met we've partnered with a company called pinpoint.

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Which has been a great partner of ours throughout this whole pandemic. They've helped us with occupational health screening, including for county government and now they've.

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Partnered with us to launch a pre-registration portal here locally for saint mary's county.

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And people can go onto this pre-registration portal. It essentially will ask them just a few.

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Basic questions I've listed some here, essentially some identifiers, so we know how to contact them so.

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That way, we can issue invitations to register for vaccine when we have special clinic opportunities.

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And then also when we're trying to fill up clinics that our intended target audience may not.

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Have filled so this is different than the states pre-written. Yes, this is different from the state's.

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Portal, um the state does have a portal. I encourage our residents to use that as well. If they're.

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Willing to go out of county to get vaccine. This is the portal that we're using and we've already.

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You know issued invitations for registration to.

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Several hundred, if not over a thousand of the people that have pre-registered through.

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This system, it allows us to help. It allows us locally to prioritize, continue to prioritize.

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Those who are 55 and older in our county, so it does ask questions about. Are you 55 and older.

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Do you have chronic medical conditions? Are you of certain occupation groups, because that's how.

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We that's how we then go and we help prioritize those who those invitation links get sent to. But.

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Even if you don't fit any of the phase, one or phase two eligibility criteria, you can still.

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Register through this pre-registration portal and and you may get invitations for a vaccine.

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We're we are continuing to prioritize seniors also who need telephone help through the partnership.

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That we've established with the department of aging and human services and again thank you again.

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To county government and that whole department team for.

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Being a phenomenal partner throughout all of this and getting our seniors linked to vaccine.

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Go to the next slide, please just some statistics and then commissioner colvin.

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I'll go a little bit in a few slides I'll go into your question about the johnson johnson vaccine.

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All right so who's getting vaccinated, we've had some tremendous progress, even just in.

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The past couple weeks, since I was last here so far, nearly 40 000. These are data's from.

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Yesterday, so it doesn't include all the numbers of people we vaccinated at our site. Yesterday.

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Or you know throughout the county yesterday, so nearly 40 000, saint mary's county residents have.

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Now received their first dose of covid19 vaccine and about 25, almost 26 000 have now received.

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Their full series or full dose series of covet 19 vaccine of those and you know- includes some people.

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Who are not saint mary's county residents who work here in this in the county? The health department.

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Partnership effort has administered over 30 000, almost 31 000 first doses, and of that, in addition,.

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The final dose almost 19 000 or actually almost 20, 000 final doses after yesterday's numbers.

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So now about a third of our population has uh been vaccinated and the percentage population.

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Vaccinated is at least with their first dose is highest in that 65 to 74 age group very closely.

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Followed by those 75 and older, as I said, we are continuing to prioritize anybody who is.

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55 and older in this county. So if you sign up on a pre-registration portal- and you are 55 and older.

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You will very likely get a vaccine appointment within the week if not by the following week,.

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And we are really excited that we've seen a boost up in that 16 to 64 age group, as we have.

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Opened up eligibility in phase two and then now in phase three again special thanks to all the.

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Vaccinators in the county, we have several primary care offices now offering vaccine. We.

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The hospital continues to provide vaccination support and is looking to expand its faction.

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Vaccination support. We have several pharmacies: private pharmacies in the county, providing vaccine.

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All of those efforts the base is providing vaccine. All of those efforts are contributing to these.

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Stellar numbers for our county and then also, of course, special thanks to the very amazing partners.

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We have here locally who've, been working with us at the health department to implement our mass.

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Vaccine efforts, including the sheriff's office and, of course, county government, many agencies from.

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County government department of public works and transportation department of emergency services.

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I mentioned department of aging and human services already, the st mary's county library is also.

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Continuing to offer phone support for individuals who need it and getting registration and.

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Our volunteer ems and fire rescue departments in the in the county have been tremendous help.

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uh At the vaccine site um I'd also like to recognize maryland national guard. They have.

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Been an incredi of incredible service nationally and here in the state, and certainly here in the.

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County they have been with us for a very long time supporting our vaccine efforts and testing efforts.

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And I just want to express our deep appreciation for their ongoing service and, of course, for their.

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Commitment uh to all counties and in maryland and and certainly here in saint mary's county.

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I we also uh for the past few months, have been implementing a very special partnership with dr.

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Pradeep um similar, who is with southern maryland, allergy and immunology, he's an.

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Allergy immunology physician he and his team have been phenomenal in partnering with us.

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To make sure to offer a special clinic for individuals who have a history of severe allergy.

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And administer vaccine within his clinical setting, where they have, you know, offered up for free their.

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Time and their space and their supplies to assist us with that, we are moving uh from.

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That partnership to a slightly different change as more and more primary care practices, get vaccine.

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We're encouraging people with a severe history of allergies. That means you've had anaphylactic.

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Reaction or something like that to prior vaccine or to injectable medication, this could be.

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Could also include injectable penicillin if you've had that history of severe allergy to.

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Any other vaccine or to injectable medication. You need to first get cleared through your physician.

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To get go and get another vaccine, including covid vaccine, and so we recommend for those.

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Individuals that they get vaccinated in a clinical setting in a doctor's office and.

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So we encourage them to check with their primary care doctor to get that vaccine at their site. If.

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There's more information on the allergy webpage on our website as well. If the doctor's office.

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Is not carrying vaccine? They can call the kovid19 hotline at our health department at 301-475-4330.

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To and we'll assist them and trying to get them connected with vaccine here locally, if we go to.

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The next slide, please, in addition, we've been following, of course, and tracking the racial.

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Disparities related to racial ethnic disparities related to covet 19 and then also related to.

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Vaccine access now what we have seen with through our partnership, the get out the vax partnership.

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We've definitely seen an improvement in the number of black or african american residents who have.

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Gotten a vaccine- this is uh we're almost at 13 percent, have of those saint mary's county.

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Residents who've been vaccinated, identify as black or african american and we're slightly improving.

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The ones for individuals who identify as hispanic ethnicity and currently it's at 2.4 percent,.

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Good in the next one face and again I mentioned, get out the vacs- there's been a lot of activity.

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With this very unique partnership and tremendous partnership, I think we have with the local naacp.

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Chapter as well as the local minority outreach coalition who've been working very closely with.

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The health department for many weeks now to address questions about vaccine to get the word.

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Out about vaccine to help our neighbors throughout the county get registered for vaccine appointments.

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We've done a lot of groundwork and we've also partnered with a variety of faith leaders.

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In the community and much appreciation for all of them who have helped us reach.

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Or provide information about vaccine to their congregants, we did have a very successful get.

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Out the vax faith vaccine event on april 11th, this past sunday, we vaccinated almost 500 people.

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Through the get out the vax faith event, and then there was an additional few hundred people that.

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Were vaccinated that morning through other efforts, the get out the vacs campaign has been doing.

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Neighborhood canvassing walking around door to door to give people information about vaccine to.

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Answer questions and, as appointments are available to also help get people registered.

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For vaccine appointments and then again thank you to the naacp local chapter.

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As well as the minority outreach coalition here locally great work, thank you.

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I'm really pleased. Yesterday we announced a very special public-private partnership with.

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Safeway pharmacies: this is, you, know, an incredible incredible opportunity for our residents here in.

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Saint mary's county, um the initiative was steered by delegate brian cosby, who had really advocated.

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Very strongly for our residents and getting access to more vaccine and now safeway is going to be.

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Partnering with the health department and all the entities that we partner with to implement vaccine.

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Here in the county to offer improved access to vaccine in the great mills lexington park area by.

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Locating community vaccine events there, which I'll talk about in a moment and then also to roll out.

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Vaccine access, because this is pfizer vaccine, the only vaccine, that's eligible for 16 and.

I

17 year olds, so we are now partnering with the school system to and and the non-public schools.

I

And saint mary's college of maryland to offer a student vaccine initiative, so anybody 16 and older.

I

Within the high schools or the residential students at st mary's college of maryland,.

I

Would now have dedicated access to pfizer vaccine, starting this friday and taking us through next.

I

Wednesday, so we're really excited about this I'll talk more about it. In a moment when I get.

I

To that the community vaccine events, so this brings us to your question, commissioner: colvin.

I

We have two community vaccine events this weekend, saturday and sunday scheduled at great mills high.

I

School, this is in partnership with safeway and all the other partners that have made this. That will.

I

Coordinate to make this happen, we're really excited about this. It will offer.

I

People can park and walk into the building. They do need to have an appointment to start just like.

I

When we normally have our vaccine clinics- and they can go to our website to make that appointment, we.

I

Originally planned to do johnson johnson vaccine because we knew there was a significant demand in.

I

Our community for johnson johnson vaccine, so we had originally planned for johnson and johnson.

I

Vaccine for this weekend, we are now shifting all those appointments into pfizer vaccine.

I

And we'll open the clinic back up under a pfizer vaccine model and the reason for that is.

I

This morning, around 7 30 this morning, the fda and cdc, put a pause on use of the johnson and.

I

Johnson vaccines, so they could further study it. As you know, with these vaccines, as we roll out.

I

These vaccines campaigns and millions of people get vaccine they're being very closely monitored.

I

To see if there's any cause to pause the rollout and further study whether or not there have been.

I

Any adverse effects with johnson and johnson it was announced that there were six people.

I

Out of the seven million people in the u.s that have received.

I

Johnson and johnson vaccines, six people developed a clotting issue, a blood clot issue and because of.

I

That they are pausing the use of johnson johnson vaccine, and we will at this time not be offering.

I

Johnson and johnson vaccine, um we have not seen safety issues or adverse events of this type.

I

Associated with the moderna or pfizer vaccines, those are totally different. Types of vaccines.

I

They run on a messenger rna platform. The johnson johnson vaccine runs on an adenovirus platform.

I

The I I want to point out that the clotting issue that they've seen is uh is something uh that is.

I

Similar to a clot that happens uh with a stroke, but it happens in a different space.

I

So this is actually what's called a cerebral, venous sinus thrombosis and the cvst, and what.

I

That, basically, is, is that, when there's a clot that develops in a certain portion of the brain.

I

And so some of the symptoms that people can get from that are headaches fainting. They might have.

I

Seizure depending on where the clots located and they might have other types of stroke, symptoms.

I

In these six cases there were actually six women younger women between 18 to their late 40s.

I

Who had developed this within two weeks of receiving johnson and johnson vaccine and so.

I

It was time associated and because there were six cases they're looking further into it. I do want to.

I

Point out this rare clotting condition: the natural occurrence of this in the population is about five.

I

Cases per 1 million with the johnson and johnson associated with the johnson johnson vaccine, we're.

I

Talking about six cases per 7 million so again, very very low, low rare occurrence. However, enough.

I

Because we are so hyper concerned about safety enough to cause a pause right now, while we can.

I

Look into this further and the fda has an emergency meeting on wednesday to look into.

I

This further and determine what next steps to take again, dr the the the category of individuals who.

D

Were coming up with that plot, you said: were women between the ages of 18 and 40. 18 and late 40s.

I

That's what for the six cases that were identified and within two weeks of getting and within two.

I

Weeks of getting the jnj vaccine correct, so there were six cases, six cases out of seven.

A

How many million doses out of seven million seven million doses, six women, six women and those were.

I

The ones within two weeks and again, the natural occurrence of this condition, is five cases about.

I

Five cases per 1 million so far below what the natural occurrence would be right, but still enough.

I

You know and again, as I said, we're all very um you know very closely monitoring everything related to.

I

Vaccines- and uh this we're out of you, know the abundance of caution. I mean it really truly. Is.

I

An abundance of caution, but it's important to pause and and take a further look. These people.

A

Could have some kind of underlying condition that caused them not just exactly, but it's enough to.

I

Cause concern enough to pause it and to look into it further, and I will remind the public.

I

And that the moderna and pfizer vaccines have been out the longest we've had pfizer out since.

I

You know december, and uh we have not seen those safety concerns. It's been a good handful of months.

I

Now that we've been using pfizer, there are tens of millions of people uh in the in the country.

I

And then hundreds of millions of people around the world who've received pfizer vaccine and.

I

Moderna vaccine and we have not seen um the type of concern that they're concerned about now with.

I

The j and it is a very different kind of vaccine, a different platform and a platform that we think.

I

Is likely, as I talked about it before a medical breakthrough and safe vaccine technology,.

I

You can move to the next one, so so the community vaccination clinics there'll, be some movement.

I

Around with individuals already scheduled to make sure they're, they want to continue to get vaccine.

I

Now that we're switching it over to pfizer vaccine for the student vaccine initiative.

I

We had always planned to utilize a pfizer vaccine and so starting this friday and taking us into.

I

Wednesday of next week these will be held at the hollywood volunteer fire department.

I

Through our normal drive-through mechanism and again, there are specific days for each school.

I

And where all the invitations for a vaccine have been issued through the schools.

I

So if you are a parent, if watching and you have a child who is at least 16 years old.

I

In any of the public or non-public schools, if you have not received invitation for vaccine, please.

I

Contact your school, we are making sure that you get that invitation once uh you know once you.

I

Once you bring up that you haven't received it, we can certainly get you a reinvitation. So just.

J

To be clear, the events this weekend at great mills high school, that's for the entire county.

J

If you're registered for it it's just being located at great mills, high school and then.

J

The student ones are still at the drive-through. Yes, we are operating two clinics at the same on.

I

The same days on saturday and sunday there's going to be a great mills, high school clinic.

I

That's in the building and there's going to be a drive-through clinic at hollywood, volunteer fire.

I

Department on saturday and sunday the students are going to go to hollywood, volunteer fire department.

I

And the general community who wants vaccine can go to the great mills high school site.

I

Okay and again, a tremendous tremendous partnership with all the partners whose logos are listed here.

I

And especially, want to recognize and thank safeway for this incredible act of generosity.

I

That they're doing and making sure that, in the rural areas of the county of the state.

I

And in saint mary's county in particular, we have solid access to vaccine and thank you.

I

Again to delegate crosby for arranging all of this for us go to the next slide. Please.

I

So vaccine appointments are currently available. We are because of the news from this morning.

I

We're updating the clinic links and they'll probably be disabled for a period of time. Today,.

I

Before people can go back in and register to make sure that it's clear that it's.

I

Pfizer vaccine that's being offered not johnson and johnson vaccine this weekend.

I

And so, if you, by the end of today or by tomorrow morning, we'll have the new links posted. So the.

I

Community can continue registering for the weekend clinics at great mills. High school.

I

I'm happy to answer any questions. Commissioners, if you have dr brewster, yes, sir, just so I'm clear.

B

If you're 16 17, if you're a miner parents, yes permission, you can't have a minor show up, say.

B

I want my shot. Everybody who gets vaccine has to have an informed consent. um Everybody who gets.

I

Vaccine, whether you're a minor or a major, have to have a informed consent, form completed the.

I

Safeway initiative in particular, you need to have a printed copy of the consent form they operate.

I

They need to have the paper version of it, and so the the consent form needs to be signed.

I

By the parent, okay, I just want to make sure miners are not getting vaccines. That's correct.

B

I did listen to uh delegate crosby and he talked about 9 000 vaccines that those are obviously all.

B

Pfizer yeah, so those are going to be pfizer. Now there was originally we had intended. Some of that.

I

To be johnson johnson, based on what the demand was in our county, we through our pre-registration.

I

System we can see the people who want to have john cena johnson, but now that there's a pause.

I

On johnson johnson we're switching that supply to pfizer now, do you intend to distribute that whole.

B

Supply at great mills high school on saturday and sunday, no, no, the great mills high school events.

I

Will be a certain amount of pfizer on saturday and sunday, but then it's the collective amount.

I

That's also through the schools initiative. I guess I'm confused who's going to be administering the.

B

9000 vaccinations, so it's a partnership primarily between the health department and safeway uh we're.

I

Both providing operations they're not going to do the injection; no, they do. They have pharmacists.

I

So it's their pharmacies, that's right! So safeway pharmacies they're actually sending a team down.

I

Here to saint mary's, county they're, staying in hotels and they're going to be operating.

I

The great mills high school clinic and then the health department and, of course, all the community.

I

Partners that are helping will be providing a significant volunteer support to assist.

I

Them in those operations, there'll be some health department, vaccinators there and health department.

I

Nurses drying up vaccine as well as the safeway pharmacists and operations team that does vaccine.

I

At the hollywood volunteer fire department, it will be primarily health department staff and then.

I

Safeway will send some of their staff as well to support those operations so especially since we're.

I

Running two vaccine sites: at the same time, again, it's a great collaboration. I will tell you uh more.

B

People stopped me and said: hey, dr bruce is doing an excellent job, went and got my first shot and.

B

Went right through and everything was seamless thank you and congratulations on. Thank you for the.

I

Accolades you're getting thank you! It's and again it's there's a huge team behind all of this. I get.

I

To talk about it, but I really want to recognize um you know national public health week just finished.

I

But we really need to be celebrating public health and all of our community partners every day of.

I

Every year we have a fantastic team at the health department. That's been doing this, including our.

I

Planning section chief katie wells, our operations, section chief, terry prock, now communications.

I

Officer, jenna guzman, you know quinn, alzheimer's hannah zimmerman, there's so many that are.

I

Pretty critically and integrally involved in these mass vaccine efforts, I just want to recognize all.

I

Of them well with any team you're right, the team members are very important, but all starts with.

B

Leadership and that points to you. Thank you, sir. Thank you appreciate that he's done a great job.

A

Of setting all this up, dr brewster um senior centers, yes, any new progress gonna happen soon.

I

That's all I can say um this is a decision from the governor and.

I

uh We are certainly working with the department of aging and human services. They are on it.

I

And getting prepared, we have offered vaccine to all staff at department of aging and human.

I

Services in preparation for getting the senior centers open, I'm excited about the.

I

Progress that our seniors have made in getting vaccination, those higher vaccine rates mean that.

I

Being in a senior center is going to be much safer for this very vulnerable population, so.

I

It will very likely happen soon, we're just waiting on the state to make that decision and.

I

We're making all the preparations now in advance. I know they're very excited too. Yes, yeah. We are too.

A

I need to get up as soon as possible because I've developed a covet around my belly.

A

I missed my my twice a week: exercise there for the past year, so I've got that covered.

A

19 bulge, I need to get rid of it. 10. the code 10 is covered 10.. I think it's more of a glass.

C

Curve, I need to flatten, I need to flatten my curve. I need my man there to help me kevin 19 how's, that.

B

On college, it was a freshman 15. right. This would be the coven 19 how's that dr burst. One question.

L

I have is uh you've, mentioned a lot of stuff about schools in here, um or maybe just a general.

L

Statement the school's going back full swing next year. um One of the concerns I have is the.

L

Communication between the schools, the health department and parents- so I'm hoping that maybe.

L

You can reach out to the chair of the boe. Miss bailey have a conversation with her. How you can.

L

Bridge that gap and similar to you've done with the sheriff's department county government, maybe.

L

There's a mechanism you can put in place that can help middle school to high school and elementary.

L

And make sure the health department's involved in this way, um you know when we're returning to.

L

School put parent at ease, put the kids at ease, and hopefully it can be a continuous flow yeah yeah. I.

I

Think that's a great point and just to say you're aware I mean we have daily communications with.

I

The school system on not just you, know, coveted quarantine and isolation matters, but also in.

I

Planning and preparation and all these various safety measures, so they are excellent partners.

I

With the health department and- and we very much appreciate that partnership and communication.

I

So the there's a couple of things that are really critical here and and one is if we want to get.

I

To a place where our minds as parents are more at ease with our kids being in person with school and.

I

Having greater in-person presence in school, we really need to get these.

I

Vaccination rates up in our community, because what that does is when we get a vaccine when.

I

I get a vaccine, it's not just protecting myself. It's protecting everyone around me.

I

And it's helping the rate of disease spread in the community drop, especially as we're getting.

I

This greater and greater concern with these variants. We really need to get people. You know to.

I

Get vaccinated so that we can protect the whole community. This opportunity that we.

I

Have this week and and running into next week with getting students vaccinated, is a huge.

I

Step in the direction of safe, safer, in-person learning and more days of in-person learning.

I

And I I can't stress enough how important it is for parents to very seriously consider and.

I

Discuss with their teenager the option of getting vaccinated on that in this next week, it will help.

I

Us decrease the issues that we've been seeing with covid spread in our schools and issues that we've.

I

Been seeing with coveted spread and a variety of our youth sports, which nationally youth sports.

I

And schools have now become a major mechanism of transmission of covid in younger populations.

I

Because now we're seeing more and more people back in play, yeah I'm hoping that the occupational.

L

Is it occupational nurses that will go into the facilities that are already at the schools, so the.

I

Schools have their own occupational nurses that they've contracted during covid to help manage.

I

That side of things and then of course they have their existing staff and those nurses and other.

I

Staff members at the schools coordinate with the health department nurses when cases come up, but it.

I

Has been a significant load, certainly as schools have returned in person, we've seen more and more.

I

Cases and outbreaks even uh related to, like I said you know, various settings, including youth sports.

L

Well, that's the whole point of my request is just to reach out and see how they can lessen that load.

L

And see if the facilities that you have as a health department in the schools can be of use.

L

um You know from the board of health perspective, see what we can do to you know just keep a an.

L

Easier line on it and maybe ease some of those concerns. At the same time I mean you know best.

L

How to how to approach it, that's why I give it to you to reach out to her. Thank you a great idea.

I

And I'll definitely do that and and certainly have more conversation with the superintendent.

I

On that matter, thank you. Thank you. Okay, the great mills high school with april 17th and 18th. That's.

A

Open to everyone, 16 older, not just great, most high school students, that's correct, in fact,.

I

Great mills, high school students are going to come friday to the hollywood volunteer fire department.

A

There you go as a drive-through and the reason why we did. That is because we want to the school.

I

System is making buses available to help transport students and it's much easier to run the buses.

I

Through a drive-through mechanism than to park it and have all these kids congregating in an indoor.

I

Setting yeah joshua provides a more centralized location for the chop. The con kids coming down.

D

Or the great military exactly exactly sir, and it also allows us to uh operate in a very efficient.

I

Manner with the high number of people we expect on those clinic dates very good, very good. How are.

A

We doing vaccination wise compared to the rest of the state our county is, our county is doing pretty.

I

Decent compared to the rest of the state, I mean I mean it's: every county is working really hard.

I

To get vaccines, other counties have mass vac sites that are state-run in their jurisdictions, so they.

I

Have access to those sites as well right we are about the state overall, is trending at about.

I

Similar numbers, as we are in terms of about a third of their population, has received first doses.

I

And it's different from county to county in terms of the distribution across age groups. Well, the day.

A

I was at hollywood, looked like a mass site, it looked like a mass vaccine. Today I was at the.

A

Hollywood vargas vaccine site, it may not be yeah yeah, it is uh and we've been operating it. You know.

I

Really, I guess almost what was it late december? We stood it up, so it's been. It's been great. I think.

I

It's it's really been effective. We are the main vaccinators in the county, but I'm hoping as more.

I

And more primary care providers and and pharmacies get supply and the county that um the the.

I

The load of that responsibility gets more spread out well. Thank you very much. Thank you. Okay. Okay.

A

I need a motion to adjourn as a county board of health. I move to adjourn as the saint mary's.

J

County board of health and reconvenence, the commissioners of saint mary's, county.

B

Second, all those in favor aye don't move. Thank you, sir. Thank you, dr bruce. Thank you very much.

A

Okay, next, we have uh on the main agenda here now: a department of finance.

A

Request for public hearing supplemental appropriation, ordinance.

A

By mr jeanette cuttmore, our chief financial officer good morning good morning morning,.

M

All righty um section, 27.9 of the code of st mary's county maryland, authorizes.

M

And empowers the commissioners of st mary's county upon the recommendation of the cfo.

M

To make additional supplement supplementary or emergency appropriations from contingent funds.

M

Provided that the cfo shall first certify that in writing, that such funds are available for.

M

Such appropriation, the funding will be grant. The funding will be grant funding being allocated from.

M

State and federal sources in accordance with resolution, 2016 6, the public hearing, is held.

M

Open for seven days for written comment prior to being placed on the commissioner's agenda.

M

In preparation of the upcoming grant request for fy 2021 our current year, a supplemental.

M

Appropriation totaling about eight million dollars is needed to have sufficient budget.

M

Authority to move forward with the grant request to date, the anticipated grants are.

M

Over two million dollars for round two of the sts grant, which I think is coming on the 20th agenda,.

M

4.5 was the e r ap application, which was on the 30th um agenda, which was from housing and 600 000.

M

um Fema related funds that we've already received in 2021, and I just learned this.

M

Morning that there's another 38 thousand dollars being anticipated to come from fema and then 375.

M

000 from dhcd for the economic development for non-profit funding- and I think that's on the 20th.

M

So the supplemental appropriation requires legal advertising and a public hearing to.

M

Follow for appropriate budget authority prior to accepting the grant funding.

M

We're requesting at the public hearing be on, may 4th and then based on.

M

Updated motion to remove the um seven day and then approve the actual supplemental appropriation on.

M

The day of the hearing, if so, approved the move to hold a morning public hearing authorizing.

L

The commissioners to suspend the administrative rules and register resolution 2016-06 for public.

L

Hearing only as they pertain to leaving the record open for seven days to place the matter.

L

Back on the commissioner's agenda for a decision, therefore, to vote on the eight million dollar.

L

Supplemental appropriation for fy 2021 grant funds immediately following the public hearing.

J

Second, first and second, all in favor, aye aye any opposed eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you, mr moore.

A

Next from the office of county attorney, a request for public hearing, saint mary's county.

A

Public ethics ordinance revision good morning, commissioner murphy you're going to be presenting.

A

Today, I am yes, deputy county attorney. Thank you. Thank you. So this request for public hearing is.

N

Concerning the ethics ordinance in 2019, our ethics ordinance was updated in accordance with the.

N

Requirement from a 20 2017 law that was passed by the general assembly since then, the ethics.

N

Commission updated the ordinance in a number of ways, one of which was to place or to change the.

N

Ethics ordinance, which originally stated that the records for financial disclosure statements were.

N

To be with the county administrator they're, based on the changes, they're going to be with the in the.

N

County attorney's office because diane gleissner is the secretary for the ethics commission.

N

And would be the record holder for that and then the other change more significant was that.

N

The financial disclosure statements originally as written, we would retain the most recent five years.

N

However, if somebody began their term more than five years ago, we wouldn't have the original.

N

Statement we would have only had the last five years, so if somebody it just led to a bunch of.

N

Addendums, that may not reflect actually the original document, so the ethics ordinance.

N

Was amended to so that we would have the original statement and then the last five years. So we have.

N

A more complete picture of somebody's financial disclosure statements and then finally, the.

N

Ethics ordinance was amended to reflect some minor revisions to regarding the structure, so it more.

N

Mirrored the state ordinance or the state law, and then lastly, the ethics ordinance was amended. We.

N

Got something back from the state regarding, if somebody files for candidacy, if they don't file.

N

Their financial disclosure, within eight days of filing their candidacy under the state law, the.

N

Ethics or the candidate c is deemed to have been withdrawn if they don't file. So.

N

If you file for candidacy, you have to file your ethics statement as well.

N

So those are more or less the changes um that, uh in a brief overview of the ethics ordinance and at.

N

This time we just like to ask for public hearing mr murphy, what uh caused this to happen? I mean.

B

Do our ethics ordinance doesn't follow the state ethics ordinance? Does it uh it does not.

N

Follow the state ethics ordinance, though we are required to have our own ethics ordinance under.

N

A 2019 law- I guess what I'm driving at is, I see you say we're falling in line with essentially.

B

What the state's doing sure and but we don't have we don't follow the state ethics ordinance.

B

That's correct, so I guess what caused this? What generated this, so I guess to restate our ethics.

N

Ordinance uh was originally originally had one section with all the prohibited activities.

N

And it was really really really long so the way that the state law does it is they break up the.

N

Prohibited activities into individual sections so, instead of having one really long section.

N

The way that um it was amended is so we have a number of smaller sections. So if somebody was.

N

Looking, oh, what are the laws on um employment? They could just look under employment, section.

N

Rather than a really really long, this improves clarity. Okay, exactly that's what I meant. I'm.

N

Sorry I meant to uh I don't know. I appreciate that that question um it wasn't. You know why we.

B

Do stuff, sometimes we do stuff, because we don't have nothing better to do. No, certainly, certainly.

B

Okay, so you're clarifying good, absolutely.

A

Need a motion all right, I moved to approve and authorize the county attorney's office to.

J

Advertise and hold a morning public hearing on the st mary's county, public ethics ordinance proposed.

J

Revisions, second, I have a first and second, all in favor all right all right any opposed, and what was.

N

The date that we, oh certainly uh may 4th was the requested date. May 4th. May 4th yes, perfect good.

A

Good, thank you, commissioners. Thank you very much, and next we have all the all important.

A

Legislation update from the office of county attorney, uh mr david weiskopf, our county attorney.

A

Didn't postpone signed, I didn't no sir, it's over you tell them all to go home now.

O

It's over and uh the governor's already vetoed some stuff and the legislature overrode some of.

O

It quickly so we'll talk about all of that. Let's see um house bill, 590 the capital budget. That was.

O

Created we gave you a list of all the monies that were awarded to st mary's county. I'm happy to go.

O

Over them, if, if you would like 150 000, was given to the saint mary's county sports complex to help.

O

You know, plan design and construct 1.8 million for detention center upgrades.

O

250 000 for the innovative center for autonomous systems out at st mary's county airport.

O

4.8 million for the university of maryland's third academic building, 2 million for the historic st.

O

Mary's city commission for deferred maintenance, 4.7 for the maryland heritage, interpretive center.

O

Visitor center, which is the new um visitor center at historic, st mary's, that they're going to build.

O

The big deal that's going to be oh, absolutely yeah. How come there's two of them, though, there's.

B

4 7 and 10 8. Well, I believe the 4.7 is for for the start, maybe for the plans and then the 10.

O

8 is for the hard build the construction costs, but I yeah they did break it out for some reason.

O

And then they also received 1.5 for campus infrastructure improvement, st mary's county parks.

O

And playgrounds received 1.5 as a grant for indoor and outdoor projects, the ridge volunteer.

O

Fire department received 500 000 for renovations. The patuxent river naval air museum received a.

O

Hundred thousand for renovations, the point lookout, water treatment received, uh 312 000 for funds for.

O

Infrastructure improvement and then anne arundel hall, to finish that at st mary's college is the.

O

17 million and the governor's supplemental budget gave the charlotte hall veterans home 200 000 for.

O

An ambulance the southern maryland ag development commission had their budget restored to 450 000.

O

Saint mary's college, academic building and auditorium got 20 million.

O

Saint mary's college facilities, renewal got 1.5 historic, st mary city, ford excavation got a.

O

Million oyster seeding got a million, and that is that part. What did college get about? 40 million.

B

15 million saint mary's coach made out really well this year, yeah really well, that's like man.

B

Compared to everything else, it's like that some years they do and some years they don't right.

O

So I guess there might be also additional funding for land preservation too, but I'm.

J

Not sure where that falls in you got 20 million for an academic building auditorium then another.

B

15 and a half million for a heritage interpreted center and then another at 17 and a half million.

B

For the anne arundel hall, that's yeah, well, the auditorium I'm sure will be able to be used by.

O

The public and that's what they said: yeah as well, that's been on their agenda for years. Well, if you.

O

Recall the the auditorium they have now out there by calvert hall is probably built in the 40s right.

O

There right good for them absolutely absolutely so. uh The following bills passed and we'll go to the.

O

Governor for signature, which is the metcom one related to debt, the public facilities, bonds, the.

O

Building excise tax, the local gaming provisions and since that time, others passed as well.

O

Basically, the three saint mary's county bills that didn't pass were the human relations won.

O

The golf carts and the law enforcement hearing board one for specific to saint mary's county.

O

And house bill 655 did not pass. It did not make it out of committee over in the uh senate.

O

And then bills of interest that have passed, you have um house bill six one. Second, oh certainly.

B

No, no, no. I'm sorry took me a second to catch him. So when 655 didn't get out of committee.

B

So obviously didn't get voted on, didn't become law right now. Is that something that just gets.

B

Laid over until next year, if somebody brings it back certainly, and it starts the whole process.

B

Again in the house, certainly certainly all right. Thank you. Certainly thank you. um Okay,.

O

So oh house, bill 670, which was the large police, accountability and reform act over in the house.

O

Made it over to the senate was passed and then the governor vetoed it and then the.

O

It was a gubernatorial override, so it has become law. That's the one that.

O

You know strikes out the law enforcement officers, bill of rights.

O

Establishes a use of force statute, the body cameras, specific provisions about search warrants.

O

You know some good right: there's financial assistance programs for police officers for.

O

Higher education there's also well there's increased civil liability limits. I think.

O

It went from 400, maybe to 890 if it's police related, there's, also public disclosure of police.

O

Misconduct records, I believe, they're taking it out of the person you're saying it's not personnel, so.

O

You know, as everybody says, I'm sure we'll see a lawsuit or two regarding whether or not you know.

O

All of these are constitutional. Well, mr weiskopf, I think you you bring up a point. I had a discussion.

L

About it earlier and there's discussion throughout the state from other counties, as well as the fop.

L

You know I spoke with you this morning about it as well, but I I would like you to reach out to.

L

Your counterparts throughout the state and possibly the state fop, the sheriff's office,.

L

To find out, if there is a challenge that we could either join in on or see where it's.

L

Going based on the constitutionality of these laws and the fact that some of them supersede.

L

Already existing case laws such as graham the fact that there's already established case law.

L

And the state chose to override that established case law. You know it's troubling and it's in its.

L

Own sense, but also the ability of the sheriff to do his job in a duly elected official office.

L

The administration of his office is contingent upon many things that is within the state.

L

Constitution, so there's plenty here to be challenged with that. Also, the public health.

L

And safety portion of it, the ability of the commissioners to provide adequate public safety.

L

And the sheriff to provide adequate public safety, so I'd like to see what thoughts you have on that.

L

As well as your colleagues throughout the state and how we may be able to challenge some of this.

L

Based on those things that either the governor has stated, but also the constitutionality and.

O

That's something my office can look into and report back to the commissioners. Certainly.

O

Let's- and there was a senate bill that passed.

O

Regarding police will no longer be allowed to have cert to receive surplus military.

O

Equipment and also that there's now a new, a new law that will go into effect about investigation.

O

Investigation of death caused by police officers if the local state's attorney.

O

Decides not to prosecute it, then it could get forwarded to. I believe the office of the.

O

Brian frosh's, you know office there's also like I said they did a lot with senate bill. 178 was the.

O

uh What's known as anton's law regarding search warrants and inspection of records under the.

O

Relating to police misconduct, senate bill 71.

O

Is regarding the body-worn cameras, employee programs for police officers and use of force.

O

Senate bill 51 is regarding the tri-county council for southern maryland. You know for them to become.

O

The property manager of the rack, mr weisskopf one other thing that was notable in 670, was that.

L

um They stated in there that this board, the local board, would have to go ahead and create.

L

A police accountability board. Oh yes, there are certainly um some county um things that.

O

Have to happen, I think the way it was originally written. I think I might even be part of that board.

O

Right, if they didn't cover compensation, if it's state, if it's they, it was very, very vague.

L

And um what what is the participation of the local law enforcement agency.

L

Now, on top of that, the other thing that I want to know is: we have troopers that work in this county.

L

Now, are they going to be responsible to our alleged police accountability board or are they.

L

Going to be responsible to a state accountability board, because if they're doing it in our.

L

Jurisdiction, you know, there's lots of questions that I have here. Certainly um and 670 is one that.

O

Goes into effect july 1, so we do have a little bit of time, but my office will certainly get with.

O

Sheriff cameron and major american to discuss, you know what needs to be implemented and how to.

O

Best go about it or you know, certainly as always willing to help. Thank you. Let's see the house bill.

O

97, department of housing and community development office of digital inclusion, which established, is.

O

Established it's now the um odi office of digital inclusion, which used to be the office of rural.

O

Broadband and they're giving themselves you know some more duties, expanded responsibilities.

O

And then we have a couple of environmental ones: house bill, 76, water pollution, control, expanding.

O

The ways that a person can intervene in civil actions, you know standing basically and then house.

O

Bill 204, environment and natural resources again is is expanding the way, complaints, inspections and.

O

Enforcement uh happens on certain environmental and natural resources laws and, let's see the house.

O

Bill 589, which was the budget, reconciliation and financing act. um The estate shift did get removed.

O

From that, as well as the 1 million to charlotte hall veterans, home did get restored.

O

House bill 183 the public information act, they've expanded the jurisdiction of the compliance board.

O

Solid waste house bill 264 the solid waste management is um how large quantities of.

O

Leftover food, I guess- gets um separated from solid waste.

O

The kerwin the blueprint blueprint for maryland's future the emergency bill.

O

Did go into effect, but I think we've discussed that we've, you know been.

O

Fine with our maintenance of effort, it's really for some of the other counties.

O

Let's see, there's some tax bill, tax property ones.

O

Some homeowner protections- I did note that in one of the.

O

Property bills, the.

O

Tenants people facing evictions will now be entitled to a attorney out of the maryland.

O

Legal services corporation so that'll be inter you know, and I guess the state is funding that, but.

O

You know, I think, there's 650 000 cases, um you know yearly so it'll be interesting to see how.

O

That gets implemented. My understanding is the landlord's um are going to have to contribute.

L

To the fund, based on the way the law is laid out, that's my understanding, which.

O

Means one thing: if anybody can guess right is that rents go up to cover that right. If.

O

I've got to contribute twenty dollars, and you know your rent just increased twenty.

O

Dollars, certainly I mean that's how they put on that. You can't increase the rent.

D

I mean this is a double whammy thing right: we're gonna, protect the people who are living in the.

D

Rental properties, you can't evict them we're going to provide free state counsel. The landlord will.

D

Pay for the council to evict the person from your house, and you can't raise the rent on the person.

D

Living in the house, while you're trying to predict because they're not paying the mortgage, that's a great deal right great deal, but once that person is gone, that the rent will be raised. Socialized.

O

Housing yeah, so mr weiskopf, going too far hb 745 the early voting centers. Okay, so we'll be getting.

B

Another one in lexington park is that what that means? Well, that whoops excuse me that is based on.

O

The number of um registered voters and do we have, I guess the question is: do we have more than is.

O

It 50 000 registered voters in saint mary's county. Yes, yes 63, we have 63, so it would be, and I'm just.

O

Trying to find the bill, my understanding is, it would go to two early voting. Centers did that.

O

Law preclude any additional early voting centers, or did it allow for the addition of others? It.

L

Says you have to have a minimum of two, so it says minimum of two okay good! Well right now we were.

O

Under the current law we were allowed a minimum of we had to have one, but we, if we agreed with.

O

The local board- and maybe somebody else that we could then have a second one as well right.

O

Because one thing is, we could potentially do one in the north one in the middle one in the southern.

J

Part of the county yeah exactly to keep it equal across the county, but I think let's recognize.

D

That's on our call: it's the board of elections call so we can muster here and sound great on tv.

D

But it's not our call yeah right, okay, but it did it did pass. Yes, yes, it did sorry. Okay,.

J

But it is 190 000 more out of our budget. Yes per cent per cent per second per cent yeah and.

O

If I look at memo, number two, it just goes into you know shows you that the saint mary's county.

O

Bills that passed and and the three that didn't the second page shows you the three um bills.

O

That were vetoed by governor hogan relating to police reform that were then overridden.

O

Their cyber security bill passed, but that they did take out the.

O

Part that would have mandated the employees, employee, yeah for a local government and.

O

We are looking at the uh state and local government uh teleworking bill. Just you.

O

Know I think we might have to create some policies based on that and there's uh some tax exemptions.

O

And there's something called the permanent absentee ballot list that you can now belong.

O

To and get a ballot mail to you each time in some ballot drop boxes. Interestingly enough, they passed.

O

A law regarding alcohol beverages for sale and delivery off-premises right that it's only going.

O

To be for a couple years, I believe that the county has to opt into it if it so desires. Obviously, that.

O

Would be the um saint mary's county liquor board's decision? I think, speaking with seeing an email.

O

From ms hildebrand and angela blandino they're going to do some work sessions on it and talk.

O

To some other people, the big you know question on it is you know it's a gold mine for underage.

O

Kids right sounds like and uh monk, you know, there's a story that montgomery county did a.

O

Oh, you know a test and I think they found 50 of the liquor was going to. You know. Kids.

O

So, mr wiseguy, I know there's certain liquor license. They call them on and off.

B

Now, if you have an on and off license, it means what on off meat. As I understand it means that you.

O

Can sell on the premises and you can also sell off to go. You know that somebody could buy a six-pack.

O

Yeah most liquor stores are off right right and some search stores, okay and some bars are on and.

O

Off right now they sell your six pack of beer right from the bar and you can take it out. Yes,.

B

But this will be delivery on off and delivery right.

B

This will be off yeah it'd, be definitely big. Dogs is the same thing.

D

Big dogs in abc would be on off because you go in the back and drink and then drive the drive.

D

Through or get a bottle to go right did this also include beer and wine in stores grocery stores.

O

But you were just asking if the ones that had it now could.

O

Could do delivery right well, it'd have to be a package store, probably delivery.

B

In the case, some bars to be able to deliver alcohol to residences as long as it's in their.

D

County there's been some sp. There have been some differences of opinion recently between calvert.

D

And st mary's, where individuals were ordering to go from cavern and coming across their bridge.

D

And delivering in saint mary's right, which was voided as illegal because it does not permit.

D

A calvert proprietor to deliver across the bridge and vice first so you have to deliver inside your.

D

County, I see somebody like mckay's over here in hollywood, you know by my house it's close by.

B

But they have liquor and that liquor wine and beer in there, along with all their groceries,.

B

But you don't get that down at bj's or my my understanding is. It was grandfathered right.

O

That the mackays was selling it long before we probably had an alcohol beverage commission.

O

Yeah and they had to go through, my understanding is that they have a.

O

And that's why if you look at the the new one they did up in, um I say sand sushi, but the name.

O

Change but the old sand sushi center, um they had to wall it off right. They had to throw up uh the.

O

Walls, that's the same thing in the lineup has got a wall up. You can't go in the storage, liquor store.

F

Okay, so you can't you got to go outside, you have to walk out of the store around the corner.

D

Right and walk in the liquor store, but they also the one they had to go through a special.

L

Process as to why leonard town, to get the sale and on-site consumption right right,.

O

Is involved with it as well? Okay! Okay, um let's see I mean that's basically it I don't know if you.

O

Have you know, questions about certain ones that we need to look at in more detail? Like I say, there's.

O

Certainly funny for us to still do, especially with the police stuff we have to. You know.

O

Speak with the sheriff and figure out what boards have to be set up and, and that sort of thing I.

L

Would just say to give delegate crosby all the time in the world if he plans on representing 655.

L

If you'd like to follow the already established process in st mary's county, so the people of this.

L

County can go ahead and speak on it and bring it up at our delegation meeting and see if he.

L

If you can reach out to him and say you know, if you want to bring it up again, how about we.

L

Follow the process, uh because that's one of the reasons that I didn't make it out of the senate is.

L

Local elected officials and the people of the county were not involved from the beginning.

L

We can reach out to him. Oh mr wife, tell me, sign dies happen. Sessions closed now. The governor has.

B

This is just fyi for people till july 1st um july 1st to sign the bills he has 30 days. I believe.

O

To sign or veto them and if he doesn't sign it automatically, it automatically goes into right.

O

Because I I have heard- and I forget which one that that there are certain ones that he's not going to.

O

Sign it, so my point is this: if he doesn't sign or if he signs, then they go into law, they passed.

B

That seemed that always struck me as unusual and then once he vetoes now they can be. They can be.

B

Overridden right, while the session's in in session right, so they can't have any overrides until next.

B

Year, unless they were to be so upset, they called a special session: okay, okay right, yeah, something.

B

Called right, but otherwise right if he were to veto one and there was not a special session, then.

O

They could just, and they could wait until they make sure wait till next year and choose.

O

To override it, if they wanted to and if they did, then it would obviously go into effect in july or.

O

October of next year, so the next thing we should look towards is maybe july 1st.

B

And see what's vetoed, what's been signed and unsigned and then we know it impacts us certainly.

O

And we can um keep a list of that and just you know, email, you, commissioners and let you know what.

L

What it is- and I think get more time on 670 anyway, while it may become an emergency piece.

L

Of legislation, it doesn't actually go into effect until 2022., so there's a rider in there.

L

Last time I checked, who knows what they did on third, but.

L

That it wouldn't take effect until 2022, so I think I think, there's time to go ahead and.

L

Marinate on that one and figure something out, certainly: okay, and what I would just comment.

D

Is that while these bills are just passed, there's going to be fiscal notes associated with them? That.

D

We're going to have to study before and during our budget sessions coming up to see just where.

D

Just where the fiscal implications are going to be for us over the next few years,.

D

Across the board, right because I'm sure there's a lot of things hidden in these bills that you.

D

Know we just haven't seen yet. Well, that's that's always the case right. It's always the gauge right.

A

That's very true anything else, mysteries. Thank you, commissioner. Thank you, mr weisskopf. Thank you.

A

Let's see, I think, next week go right into county administrator time. Dr bridget, you got it.

P

Thank you, commissioner. President guy commissioners draft meeting agendas next week on tuesday april.

P

20Th, you have five proclamations, fair housing week, national library week, national child abuse.

P

Prevention month, administrative professional day and national county government month, the next is a.

P

From the department of economic development, with a public hearing on proposed commercial property tax.

P

Credit. The next item was con discontinued last night, so that comes off your agenda.

P

You adjourn your morning meeting with an afternoon session for public forum.

P

The next week is tuesday april 27th, with four proclamations csm community college month.

P

Law, day travel and tourism week and after school professional week, you adjourn your morning meeting.

P

And reconvene at 6 30 pm here for uh your 2020 public uh hearing your budget public hearing.

P

Here again at 6 30 pm, dr bridget, um the rezoning for pb2 llc, I received some emails on that. Why.

L

Was that discontinued, who who made that decision to pull it off? So that was the.

P

County attorney's office: okay, what was the basis for that? I'm sorry for the postponement of the.

P

Public hearing for rezoning pb2 and the planning commission last night.

O

Certainly, last night director bill hunt filed it as a change or mistake was.

O

In this case, you know saying it was a mistake and in that instance,.

O

It really delves into case law, common law. What what denotes a mistake and.

O

One: it's what what the case law calls an honorous burden that there needs to be very strong evidence.

O

That there was in fact, a mistake, and so what my office wanted to do was to be able to research.

O

It more and see what exactly happened in march of 2010 when the comprehensive plan was adopted.

O

And then, in august of that year the zoning maps were adopted, and so what my office wanted to do.

O

And what we'll do in the next couple weeks? Because it's just been continued until.

O

June is review the tapes okay watch, um watch some meetings and be able to better advise the planning.

O

Commission as to what did or didn't happen, I appreciate it normally. Don't ask questions on.

L

This one, but I just gotten so many emails on this- um about waste and unexploded ordinances.

L

And conflicts and you name it I uh I wanted to understand it so sure. So it's just been delayed.

O

So we can get some better information, okay information, so mr hunt thinks that it was a.

A

Mistake in the rezoning back in march of 2010, yes, his if I recall correctly his his premise, is that.

O

The property, the six hundred and something eight per acre.

O

Property can only be used really for something like industrial or commercial right, and so maybe.

O

It wasn't properly looked, you know right now. It's currently zoned rpd, which would allow residential.

O

But if residential really can't be there because of you know, possibility of unexploded ordinance or.

O

um Things, I think it's really primers. If I recall correctly yeah, it might be. There's.

A

Tons of articles on it the site was pretty well cleaned up, but it's they're afraid there might.

A

Be still something there buried, that's my understanding and you know I I think the.

O

Recommendations from mde- or you know other people like that or that it shouldn't be a.

O

Residential area shouldn't be a residential area but or school or a nursery, or things like that.

O

But it'd be no problem to be, you know, light industrial or, and you know, and that brings.

O

Into you know, questions where it's located and things like that so yeah, that's some! Some of the.

L

Emails I saw when I saw that I was like oh okay, um yeah yeah. I got you. Thank you very much. We're.

L

Looking into it, mr weiss, I think it's very important, though, that people understand.

B

uh At least this commission, the commissioners are not behind this: we're not pushing this rezoning.

B

Yeah, no sir, this owner of the properties requested a rezoning of his property. This was um no. This is.

O

Actually, bill hunt putting it forward because he just thought I think in speaking with ded and and.

B

I mean: would he just come out of this up? The top of his head said: hey? Is this a good idea to do.

B

I think he just thinks that there should be some economic benefit. You know to the property that it.

O

Shouldn't sit idle that that there should be some use to it. Well, the people who own it need to make.

B

That decision, well I mean that's true. I have to agree if the people that own it didn't come.

L

Forward and request this, then it's a moot point to me. I don't know why we're trying to do something.

L

Because our department head is a reflection of us, so that's why we're getting the emails that say.

L

Why are the commissioners doing this so that that might be some of the logic that's coming yeah? I.

B

Would say I'm not behind this at all and and honestly, what I guess I would say also is that.

B

uh When something is discovered as a mistake, it seems like there ought to be some kind of.

B

An airing of it, I I don't, I don't understand how our well, maybe when he's here, to talk to.

B

Us he can explain to us why he thought it was that important to change it certainly.

D

Thank you. It's important to understand you. Obviously I understand where you're coming from.

D

But obviously, if mr hunt sees it's been an error, that's a piece of it but simultaneously. I think.

D

We've got to look at, you know, being might be the word of use. We have a lot of problems down through.

D

Maypole road macintosh run with flooding, and the question becomes, if that's where this flooding and.

D

Things start: are there things that we can be doing, because we know the state's not going to help us.

D

What can we be doing to improve water flow conditions, starting at the top and working their.

D

Way down, so we don't have issues like maypole, road and macintosh road when another tropical storm is.

D

Or something hit, I don't have all the answers, but I'm looking at finding with creative ways to solve.

D

Problems that we have an opportunity to do and that may be taking place when.

D

The comprehensive plan comes up too so yeah. If there's an auto there's a lot of.

D

This isn't just a one and done well, I guess what I'm concerned about or confused about.

B

Combination of both is that here we had the 7-eleven thing a while back that you know.

B

One of the the person who wanted to buy the property 7-eleven you know got with.

B

Their agent local attorney and applied for this and our land use, looked at it and said.

B

Okay, maybe that should be changed now again we had our input on that right now. This kind, this didn't.

B

Come along, I just don't know how it got on our on our horizon, how it got to our planning commission.

B

Without a request from the home, I mean home on the property property order, so so that part's.

B

Confusing to me, because it seems like if land use and growth management has time to go through every.

B

Single property in st mary's county and determine which ones were maybe mislabeled or misowned.

B

It may take them a while. Oh so this one doesn't doesn't smell right to me. That's what I'm going.

B

To be yeah, I'd also like to see who the members of the llc are. Why are you new well from the mr.

O

Facina, obviously, right that's what you've seen and the benefactors of these guys yeah. That's.

L

That's what I want to see, because if you look it up in sdat, all you have is their um resident.

L

Agent and authorized person, so I you know, I I just like to see who the members of the llc are.

L

I'd like to know where this is coming from and why it's a particular piece of property located.

L

In the county, and in particular in the north end call your friends and graders okay. Thank you.

O

Thank you, sir. Thank you so for today's business meeting commissioners on 6b is information.

P

Technology for the broadband for unserved students, the bus grant final report bob kelly, presenting.

P

This morning, good morning, bridgette good morning, commissioners, good morning good morning, bob so.

Q

We've talked about this several times the last several times that I've been before you.

Q

And what you have before you, and what I'll briefly go over on the slide show, is um the final report.

Q

That was that we provided our saint mary's county government's portion of the bus grant. That came.

Q

From the feds, through the state, through the saint mary's county, public schools,.

Q

Our portion was st mary's county government actually.

Q

Providing wired broadband services to student addresses in the county so all that to be said.

Q

If you could said, that's, what's displaying correct okay, so thank you on august 12th, the commissioners.

Q

Of saint mary's county approved the board of education category transferred, which included.

Q

Provisions for the broad accepting the broadband grant from the.

Q

Governor's office of rural broadband same day, they, you approve the memorandum of understanding.

Q

Between saint mary's, county government and saint mary's, county public schools,.

Q

For one million five hundred and eighty four thousand dollars of grant funding to.

Q

Be provided to connect 173 student addresses to wired broadband throughout the county.

Q

At the time we had spent a lot of time in gis and we identified.

Q

Or in addition to that, the saint mary's county public school had a part of that grant submission.

Q

Which allowed funding for wireless access to just over 500 students in saint mary's county.

Q

So before you right now being displayed is the actual final powerpoint and the report.

Q

That we gave provided st mary's county public schools on the 24th of march next. Okay, thank you.

Q

I'm just going to point out a couple of things um that second line under approved student addresses.

Q

It's that's. Actually. You may recall that the original grant went through december 30th of 2020.

Q

And then we were requested and we received an extension to march 31st so where it says.

Q

January 1st, to present that's actually because the slideshow was done on the 24th and I'm pleased to.

Q

Report that the funding for this grant actually connected the actual funding connected 215.

Q

Addresses in the county, so even even up from what we expected next slide, please thank you.

J

Mr kelly, do you know of those 215 addresses? Did they all then procure broadband services.

J

um Because this is just giving them the access, not.

J

Paying it is giving them it is giving them the access, and I am aware of um two homes that didn't.

Q

Actually provide service, I was just curious or didn't actually seek out and and get the service.

Q

So on the next slide, if you look at the the third line, where it says total mapping student locations.

Q

And I just wanted to point this out, because this was a one is a very complicated, very.

Q

Complicated project, but this was a moving target. So when we did the initial estimates and submitted.

Q

For the grant we had identified, 9 383, unique student addresses in saint mary's county and.

Q

Once a week the board of education has provided been, providing us update, new addresses and we get.

Q

Between 60 and 100 new addresses a week. So could you explain how that happens, yeah that that seems.

B

Like a high, I think it's probably a combination of people moving into the county people.

J

Moving locations within the county and then people choosing to re-enroll into public schools. That's.

Q

Ex, that's exactly what we're we're finding that! That's exactly what we're finding and so.

Q

When we ended uh on the 24th, of course, this number has actually changed because there's been a few.

Q

More weeks now, but on the 24th, we we actually were looking at 10 528 addresses in the county.

Q

And um so so not to not to belabor that point, but that would be a significant.

Q

Challenge that, if, if almost 10 in in 10 months, if, if in county government.

Q

We were moving 10 of our employees desks around in a 10-month period. That would that would put.

Q

A serious strain on on my department, and so so there's there's something to be said that.

Q

What the board of education is managing there with those students moving around now tell me when you.

B

Go ahead, please! I just wanted to ask you about parochial private school. I mean I go to st john's.

B

Church in hollywood I've said that before but the point is, we had a presentation about some people.

B

Wanting to build, you know, start a new high school. uh They think reichen's too high. Not that there's.

B

Anything wrong with raiken, but they just feel it's out of some people's range. So are those you know.

B

Are the little flowers and the st michaels and are those schools all part of this student so.

Q

This particular grant was specifically for public public school students. It was, it was written that.

Q

Way um and that's that's- that's how the money came down. You may you may remember, commissioners when.

Q

I was before you on the 12th and discussing some of this. You actually authorized a plan of action.

Q

That allowed authorized me to to look into the parochial and private schools operating in saint.

Q

Mary's county and I've I have reached out to them, and I have received some of that information.

Q

The numbers are very, very similar. The percentages are very, very similar and.

Q

I believe we're in very good shape and certainly if.

Q

You know if there's more opportunities to expand in the future.

Q

That plan of action allows us to incorporate incorporate the program, private schools right.

B

Well, you know, I always thought it. You know people sending their children to private school. It's a.

B

Deeply personal decision how you want to educate your child- and I understand that 100 percent.

B

But I know I when I was on the board of education years ago. They used to say that.

B

You know parochial school work fine through elementary, but once they started getting into the.

B

Technical part they usually transitioned over to public because of the availability of uh of data.

B

You know of technology that just wasn't affordable in parochial school, so it seems like we're seeing.

B

A flattening, if not a dropping of kids going into public education, I'm not sure what that means. I.

B

Have my own opinions, but maybe experts can tell us what that why that's happening, but these kids.

B

Still need to be educated and they're going to pro-kill schools kings christian academy. I have.

B

Many friends that have children there and they're very happy with it, but of course they would.

B

Like to have the same access as everybody else, thank you enough of my grandstanding. Yes, so so.

Q

Part of through the process, of course, we we received um a lot of requests for connectivity.

Q

Through this grant process, and just to be very candid with the commissioner.

Q

There were folks that were upset not happy that it was. This grant was specifically for public.

Q

Public school students and both private and parochial schools were not included.

Q

And there's a third category of homeschooling, and so so fortunately in some of the in those.

Q

Discussions because I spoke with many of those folks, any of them that that made those inquiries.

Q

Raising my children in saint mary's county, I I have I've had students in public school in.

Q

Private school and we've home schooled, and so I can certainly sympathize with those.

Q

Expressions of concern- and I believe, going forward- we can address those and and quite.

Q

Frankly, I would suggest that it's not just public school students, it's the county county, wide.

Q

And I think we have we're in a very good position and have an opportunity in the future to really.

Q

To address the the broadband access issues and get similar numbers to what I'll.

Q

When I get to the last slide, when you look at the percentage of.

Q

Public school students that are connected, I believe we can do that for.

Q

Everybody in the county- good, I think that's great and and all the concerns I ever heard were it's.

L

Not just about the private schooling, it was the fact that they still pay property taxes that go.

L

To the public schools, so they didn't understand how well I'm still paying those property taxes.

L

That go there, but trying to explain that this grant funding is different. You know that nexus of.

L

The property taxes, but I appreciate you taking a look at it and see how it can reach everybody. Yes,.

L

Sir, so when we started in on july 16th- and we you know, you may recall, we had, I think we had four or.

Q

Five days to submit the grant when the grant was announced- and we had four or five days to actually.

Q

Work with the public schools and submit the grant we identified 518 public school addresses.

Q

That didn't have connectivity and at the end of march we were down to 188.

Q

um Good job, this is the breakdown of how we how we get to those numbers. I would just say that.

Q

It's it's very gis based we have, we have an excellent gis department and we have an.

Q

Excellent relationship with our with our vendors providing the service, um but there is room for.

Q

Improvement and there's there's going to be some, you know it may not be 188. It may be.

Q

186 or it may be 192. uh and and when we identify and we find those those addresses that we missed.

Q

Or that or that we thought had service and didn't we do everything we can to get them.

Q

Connected so so, although there's a little bit of the reason that I mentioned, that is that when.

Q

When we discuss this grant, we discussed doing connectivity in saint mary's county. I specifically.

Q

Emphasized to the board that we needed flexibility, because it's construction and and until.

Q

The the individuals are out there that are actually installing the cable putting the stuff.

Q

Either in the ground or on the poles we're going by data, but until that person is out there and.

Q

Actually, on that piece of property, we really don't know what we're going to run into and we did run.

Q

Into several issues we have, we have two addresses that we're still working, even though the grant is.

Q

Closed but still there's two cleanup addresses some disturbances that need to be addressed and.

Q

Those folks are not happy with me right now, but we are working and we're going.

Q

To resolve those issues to their satisfaction and- and I think that's.

Q

Given allowing the flexibility to address those concerns and and not be, the numbers are good. The.

Q

Numbers are important, but there's there's flux in there. Mr you make a good point and.

D

I think we started this was always conjecture of how do you get the cable to whom and when.

D

And where- and you know, covet has been a wonderful opportunity as we can see through budgets, you know.

D

Massive amounts of money flowing in otherwise probably would have been available, but we.

D

Addressed it from two points, one was the school system and the ability of kids to be having.

D

Connectivity and secondarily, probably as important the parent who has to be working from home.

D

And teaching at the same time, so you can't very well be teaching from home and working.

D

From home, if you don't have the connectivity, so the program has worked really really well. I.

D

Think, as commissioner hewitt brings up, you know the parochial schools, as commissioner o'connor.

D

Further said, is you know they pay property taxes too, so we're going to have opportunities in the.

D

Future with all the extra money that we're being doled out to probably address both.

D

Things at once and simultaneously we see now these return to work programs released. I think, mr.

D

Colvin and I are seeing about how many people are expected to be going back to work when and where.

D

People working from home people wanting to move to saint mary's county from the urban areas to.

D

Get more rural and a number of people on the base expressing an interest to leave saint.

D

Mary's county because they could work from home. So why don't? I want to live in attack.

D

At a state that taxes me so high or I want to get to a more urban area at the end of the day,.

D

So I think, there's a lot of moving pieces still here that we're going to have to address on a.

D

Bigger base to try to do the best we can, as the governor point out broadband connectivity. You know.

D

Infrastructure, we call it, you know. The definition of infrastructure is anything in dc right now and.

D

I think this is a good indicator of what we're trying to be able to do to.

D

Provide enough capability and capacity to all the citizens of our county.

Q

So absolutely, commissioner, thank you, so I'm specifically talking about the bus grant.

Q

This morning, but at the same time the the commissioners of st mary's county through.

Q

Cares funding provided a significant amount of funds for what we call our middle mile project.

Q

And um I would have preferred to been drinking from this and not from the fire hose.

Q

But um what we were able to do is actually combine those two, the flexibility that you gave.

Q

Your department head allowed us to combine those efforts, so there were, there were specific.

Q

Roads in saint mary's county that we identified that had multiple students from our public schools.

Q

And we redirected the the middle mile funds to get connectivity to those to those areas. Those high.

Q

High concentrations of students were where there's obviously a disconnect, and so so I s.

Q

You know so the numbers that I provided, we connected 215. Well, the real number. That's 215 that.

Q

The bus grant paid for, but when I combine the two, the two projects together, we actually connected.

Q

330 of those 330 addresses in saint mary's, county, okay, student addresses, and so what that, what that.

Q

Really means percentage-wise is 98 of our public school students have access to wired broadband in.

Q

Saint mary's county, good move, listen, you've, you've done a wonderful job. In my opinion, you know like.

B

You said you had this water coming at you from the fire hoses funding and- and you really done a great.

B

Job uh you're never going to make everybody happy, but thank god you work for st mary's county, sir.

Q

And there's there's good people behind me right. My gis, my database folks, the the the.

Q

Collaboration is it's really good too? Thank you very much, sir. So so um uh so that's that's the.

Q

Presentation of the bus grant, I will, I will make a plug since there was there was. There was some.

Q

Some discussion about future funding um believe I believe we can get similar percentages county-wide.

J

That's excellent, so, mr kelly, I mean we've already talked about it quite a bit, but this is such a.

J

It's probably one of the better things: that's come out of kovid and just this infrastructure.

J

Investment in saint mary's county that we've been able to do with all this money is phenomenal and.

J

We're getting another large chunk of money coming down, so be thinking about how you best see that.

J

Plan going forward and continuing, I think you already have the plan in place and we just need to.

J

Keep pushing forward with it, because I I would support dedicating another large chunk of the.

J

American restoration funds to it sure good, okay. Well, thank you very much.

A

Anything else come here. Thank you, mr thank you very much, sir.

P

Thank you, commissioners and item 6c is from the office of the county attorney with the.

P

Circuit court, memorandum of understanding and the continuity of operations plan. Mr weiss call.

O

Thank you weiskopf again welcome again morning again uh talking about two memorandums.

O

Of understanding with the courthouse saint mary's county circuit court, uh the first one.

O

Regarding the courthouse property front, lawn and parking lot.

O

We really did a thorough job with this. We chatted with county administrator, arthur shepard of parks.

O

And recreation john dietrich of dpw and t basically, the museum division was taking.

O

Back over the um old jail and as a result, since we were going to staff it more and be there more.

O

You know the court wanted. You know some parameters like you know. What were we going to have functions.

O

During courthouse hours, you know and no we're not unless everybody agrees, um if we're going to.

O

Place things on the courthouse property, then they want to be aware and assured that.

O

It's not blocking some of their cameras or other security devices that they have there. So we and.

O

Also, the town we wanted to involve the town as well, so you'll see that this mou is signed by.

O

Administrative judge, michael j stomp and by the town of leonardtown's mayor mr daniel burris,.

O

And also because we are possibly going to use the underground bunker for emergency services.

O

We wanted to carve out some specific parking lot state parking spaces as well, and the judge agreed.

O

To that as well for the ambulances and workers that might work in the bunker.

O

So that's what we did with the first mou. I don't know if there's are courthouses opened up again.

B

Yeah, are they back to open? Yes, yes, they are, and they've started, uh jury trials. As my understanding.

O

Full service, good yep, so they've got quite the backlog to work through no layers. Neil murphy is.

O

uh Going every wednesday to you know, knock out our backlog of civil citations over at district court.

O

So we'll see my move to approve the memorandum of understanding with the circuit court in the town.

L

Of intertime regarding the courthouse property and the continuity of operations plan mou with.

L

The circuit court until authorized, commissioner president, to sign in any related documents.

A

Second, second, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye aye. Many opposed guys have. Thank you.

O

Commissioners and the second one is the circuit court uh for saint mary's county's uh coop plan.

O

He just approved- I just approved that oh, you did both yeah all right. It was one motion, so all right.

L

But no that's a good thing, but you're still up anyway. So and it's so what we you know, what that.

O

Is is just that in case of emergency, where the circuit court could not be utilized? We agree that.

O

They would go to the building formerly known as carver, and you know it's an agreement between us.

O

And I.t, and you know of how we would help them and ensure the continuity of the courthouse. Okay, yeah.

P

So then, item d is also from the office of county attorney with the airport runway expansion, land.

P

Acquisition, yes, and thank you, commissioners, for all your help with this, and mr dietrich is here.

O

There's always room at the table when something works out right.

O

I'm teasing now everybody everybody did a great job with this honestly, um you know, I know the.

O

County commissioners are hesitant, you know to do eminent domain and things like that. We always.

O

Want to work things out, and this was another case- you know that we were able to. You know obviously.

O

The airport, expansion and fdr necessitates that there are going to be some pieces of property that.

O

Are in private hands that the county needs to move forward, and this is one that was 170 acre parcel.

O

That was located right at the tip of the um runway expansion and we didn't need it.

O

To actually place the runway there, but, as you know, there was going to be a height restriction on what.

O

Could be built there and navigation easement as they call it, and the county commissioners made a.

O

Decision to purchase it for the appraised price 200, you know it's 35.55 acres.

O

um For two hundred and thirteen thousand and four hundred dollars, which was the.

O

Appraised price, I think, of about 6 000, an acre, if I recall correctly and also you know,.

O

We're going to give them the tdrs off of it, which are approximately seven right for 35.

O

5 times seven is 35, so there will be about seven tdrs, which obviously the county. You.

O

Know has no need need for, and the county, certainly you know, doesn't want to get in the.

O

You know market of selling them and it visits. You know it's made to help the farmers and and people.

O

Like that, so that's where we are with with that. I don't know if mr dietrich has anything to add. Oh.

O

And we I'm sorry, we are going to get some money back from the faa and yeah. I really appreciate.

R

David's work on that, because we kind of hit a stone wall with dpw's efforts in working with.

R

The property owner and he was able to bring the deal home. We will have another one to bring to you.

R

That came in on the appraised price, uh probably within the next few weeks,.

R

And we'll just have one left that we're working with faa on on this particular one.

R

We'll only get the value of the actual wooded area out of the parcel that we had to buy.

R

That you know at some point that could have been uh full of trees. Well, it isn't it's only six.

R

Acres, roughly the 30 some and uh so we're going to do an aerial survey.

R

Faa agreed they'll pay for uh that portion of it. uh The force is unfortunate uh that that's their.

R

Rules, I'm sorry, sir, just the forested portion, if it's, if it's already uh being used for farming,.

O

It's about forty thousand dollars, if I recall minus uh the ten percent right, the faa right.

O

Ninety percent, so roughly about thirty five thirty, you know six thousand dollars if the.

O

County will get back for it, so yeah the rest of that area has been stripped and gravel mined. So.

R

There's no trees on that now. How close are we to finally being done with these land acquisitions.

B

And easements out there. I know we started five years ago, how, many years ago, with a whole bunch of.

B

Them sounds like we needed two more right. There's just two left one you'll see soon the other one.

R

Where we finally got a offer from uh the owner and we're we've sent it up to faa.

R

For their concurrence before we can bring it back to you because, actually.

R

The dollar value is lower than the appraised value which is sort of unusual yeah are any.

B

Of these game, stoppers game changers is the terminal used. Are they going to keep us from.

B

Moving forward out there, I don't believe so: we've uh having our pre-construction meeting.

R

Out there, so the actual runway extension will be underway. There's uh they've already.

R

Staged equipment on site and begun some of the clearing that could be done uh with.

R

uh That's on our property so that we're underway, but the goal is that project. Finally,.

R

Sorry, the goal is to finish this 5200 foot runway, to provide for all the accessibility.

D

That we need to continue to develop the area out there. That's correct yeah.

D

Yeah, I don't have a date when they're you having a date when they'll get that 5200 feet done.

D

The weight the lengthening: when will the lengthening of the runway, be completed.

R

At the end of uh conceivably, the end of next year into 22, correct.

R

We may be able to accelerate that a little bit. We've got two contractors we that are.

R

Going to be working in the same area and it's a question of how much.

R

Concurrent work we can have done by the two contractors. So, okay, I think we have a lot.

D

Of projects out there that we have to look at with the code is delayed. A lot of stuff.

D

But there's a lot of things. I think we can do concurrently and we have money in our budget, so we have to hire consultants to help us that would probably you know, speed a.

D

Lot of things along that people are waiting for patiently as patient as they can be understand.

L

Thank you. I move to approve the settlement agreement with windward land development, llc.

L

Until authorized, commission president sign any related documents, second got a first and.

A

Second, all in favor aye any opposed nice have it. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you, mr dietrich.

O

Thank you. Thank you, commissioners and item e is from the department of finance to realign funds to.

P

uh Department of agriculture for gypsy moth pest management, ms cudmore cfo, presenting.

A

Fight them gypsy, moss.

M

Now you know, I love talking about gypsy moths, no, I'm sure not sure, okay, mosquito.

M

Control and related costs removed from the health department to the department of agriculture in.

M

The 2021 budget, so periodically additional funds are needed for the gypsy moth spring.

M

And health department was able to pay normally with their unspent mosquito, but periodically they.

M

Would come if they didn't have funds available to pay the gypsy moth bill so based on the.

M

Letter received from the maryland department of agriculture on june 22 last year, they indicated.

M

That they would be conducting approximately 175 surveys with an estimated cost of 2 625.

M

This is a cost share of 50 percent to perform these surveys on non-state land.

M

So we're requesting funds from your commissioner's emergency reserve to help pay for this cost.

L

Move to approve the budget amendment using the commissioner's emergency reserve to increase.

L

The department of agriculture's fy21 budget for the gypsy moth pest management survey.

L

And authorize the commissioner president to sign the related documents. Second,.

A

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

P

And item f is from the department of finance, with the cares grant reconciliation. Ms cudmore, yes,.

M

And this is continuation of the care um updates that we provided this entire year. um So we'll.

M

Go right to the health department. The county has received roughly over 2 million dollars from the.

M

Health department cares for expenditures through january 2021.. 249 000 has just been submitted for.

M

Additional reimbursement and the remaining balance to submit to them is a hundred and eleven thousand.

M

Dollars for the paramedics, the health department lab and corrections health community center so.

M

We're hoping those projects will be completed in the next month, um update on the spending for.

M

The county cares as of april 26th, uh 9.8 million dollars has been spent, um which includes um the.

M

2.8 million dollars of small for small business grants, 1.9 million for payroll cost and to follow.

M

Up to what bob was saying, mr kelly was saying this morning: 2.2 million dollars for the middle mile.

M

We still have purchase orders that have a balance of roughly forty two hundred dollars.

M

And this leaves approximately fifty nine thousand dollars of unspent funds and.

M

Obligated so we need to identify where how we would spend these additional 59 000.

M

um This funding, then, when added to other grants and fema funding, received this past.

M

Year currently totals over 22 million dollars. More funding is still coming for the care such.

M

As 4.5 million for the housing assistance and 2 million for the round two of the sts funding.

M

I updated another spreadsheet, which I kind of did for the upcoming bond sale and I'm sure.

M

You have this sheet here that shows where the 22 million dollars is coming from and you can see the.

M

Majority of it yes was from the county, cares and the health department cares. But if you look above.

M

All the big grants that have come forward and the clues and, of course it includes the cares.

M

um The broadband and campbell that mr kelly talked about the 1.584 and then another spreadsheet. That.

M

Shows where we actually spent this 22 million dollars, and I was pretty impressed when I saw this.

M

And kind of compiled all the different areas, so in total, roughly information technology has received.

M

4.8, almost 5 million dollars in funding from all these fun. All this funds, um economic development.

M

4.4, a lot of that are the small business grants and relief funds for hotels and restaurants.

M

Emergency services, roughly over 5 million dollars- and that was all for- like ppe, for.

M

Paramedics and any other cost that might have been related or we could have submitted that.

M

Was related to emergency services, human resources is over two million dollars a.

M

Lot of that was emergency pay and nurses and the health. The department call center detention center.

M

In infrastructure that was over 3.4 million, that was the lab. That was the community correction.

M

Center, that was, with the health department, monies aging in human services for food.

M

Relief with over a million dollars and then of course, fema was over six hundred thousand.

M

um So yes a lot of money and then of course you know, discussion of the upcoming american.

M

Rescue funds um that was another as another 22 million that we're putting into our fy 22 budget.

M

And yes, a lot of that probably can go towards um infrastructure and for broadband, so we're looking.

M

Forward to, I think, we're getting the final list or the um guidance in may, I think, may 11th for.

M

Dr bridget and so more to come and more money is coming so when we use it we're using it for good.

M

Things so, like I think, was said previously. Yes, we we've all gone through this past year. This.

M

Pandemic, the closures, but there's been a lot of good on monies that we've been able to use.

M

And help the community with it also I'll move to accept the cares funding update as presented.

A

Every first, second, second, all in favor aye aye any opposed nice ever. Thank you. Thank you, mr.

A

Moon, thank you, commissioners, and this completes county administrator time. Okay, well, we'll go.

A

Right into commissioner time, starting with commissioner hewitt well, thank you this time.

B

Well, the session ended in annapolis. Lots yet to be figured out. I say the dust is.

B

Not really settled yet until the governor signs or not signs or vetoes or whatever happens there.

B

But it does give us an understanding of some of the challenges we look at as we finish.

B

Up our budget, you know, will we be having to do additional early voting centers, where we have to.

B

You know change the way we vote. There was a lot of controversy up there, so we got some clarity.

B

On that last night, which signed up hopefully with the governor's actions coming next and there.

B

Won't be a special session, at least we'll have a probably eight nine months, ten months to figure.

B

Out uh you know what's going to happen next, but congratulations, uh senator bailey delegates, morgan.

B

And um crosby and clark for I'm sure you guys are tired. I'm sure you were up late last night and.

B

Glad you're glad you got it done um planning commission last night. They held off on that.

B

Hearing on the uh what used to be the thyacol plants, what term I used for I served on the.

B

Board of appeals back from 2001 to 2006., and we that case came before the board of appeals.

B

And it was about munitions that back in the 50s, instead of disposing of them properly or whatever.

B

Properly meant back, then they just dug big holes and buried them and figured well they're out in.

B

The middle of nowhere, no one ever find them well back in about 2005. When we looked at this, we.

B

We came up with a way to maybe try to find uh image. Residencing was a term whatever. That means.

B

Bottom line was: it was a technology that could maybe look into the ground and find out what.

B

Was down there, uh I went to the applicant appealed it to the circuit court judge, come.

B

Back and said, hey, look. uh You guys, gonna have to find something else out. I remember we ended.

B

Up giving the approval for them to build homes there, but they were never built. 2008 came along.

B

That all changed, don't know where this I thought it was a proposal from the property owner.

B

To look at a change in zoning: hey anybody who owns property, they can ask for changes if they own it.

B

And as property rights advocate, they should, if they think they should doesn't mean you'll.

B

Get it, but you should be able to ask, but I'm concerned that it came out of the county and.

B

I'm surprised that something that controversial wouldn't be run past the commissioners first, so.

B

I'll be interested to hear from the land use and growth management director and how that worked out.

B

Lastly, the critical areas: commission, last week we had a meeting and st mary's county.

B

Town of leonardtown had their plan approved good for them, and we got an extension on this.

B

Critical area of change that we're talking about doing got till may 18th to approve it not long.

B

But if people want to get something done and want to be able to be grandfathered under the old.

B

Rules now is the time to get it in we've had two years to do this. There was a little trepidation.

B

From some of the members, but I think what they did, they gave us local courtesy. I made.

B

The motion for the request- and it's not about me but usually when the representative from that area.

B

Makes that request the other members will grant it, because it's local courtesy, so, let's hope.

B

Anybody who has any plans for property in the critical area, if you're planning about.

B

Thinking about doing it, get it in now, it's very important easter was great got to visit with.

B

All my grandchildren, children, some in-laws and outlaws. I shouldn't call them that, but family.

B

It was good family time tell me time for everybody, and hopefully you had a great easter too. Thank you.

C

Derek very good: well, I want to echo the other commissioner's comments and just thank you to.

J

Our state delegation to senator bailey our delegates. It was a lot of hard work. It was.

J

Definitely a difficult session this year and uh different from any other session before and.

J

A lot's come out of it and we'll see at the end of the day, what it all looks like and what it all.

J

Means for us, um life is getting busier again, just uh as we're getting through this covid.

J

Stuff, more events are happening. More things are taking place, there's a lot more going on.

J

A couple of things to be on the lookout for this thursday april 15 7 p.m. St mary city is doing a.

J

Lecture it'll be online through facebook, where you can learn more about the discovery of the.

J

Fort there'll be a question and answer session. It's going to be a great event. So definitely.

J

Tune in to that, if you're available, 7 pm on thursday next tuesday, we have a public forum.

J

At 6 30 p.m. You can come and talk to us about anything. You'd like following tuesday we'll have.

J

A public hearing about the budget, so you've got two weeks to talk to us about anything. You like.

J

Regarding the budget, this sunday happy earth day this sunday leonardtown is doing their.

J

Annual earth day celebration, it's always a great event, but it's virtual again. This year.

J

Unfortunately, but at least they're holding the event so tune in to that for their virtual event,.

J

um Take note of that finally last thing: boards and commissions, if you are interested in getting.

J

Involved in local government, if you're interested in being able to share your input with us.

J

Join one of our boards and commissions sign up for that. There's an application process and then.

J

We make selections twice a year, there's about a month left in the current application process.

J

So there's a bunch of different boards that need members from the community to just be able to sit.

J

On them provide input, share your experiences and your thoughts, and we would love to have you apply.

J

For that, thank you all have a great week, john. Thank you. I want to recognize our dispatchers.

L

They're the the link to the emergency services that are out there. It can be a stressful job.

L

um Hearing the the calls that come in they're actually connecting with the victims before the.

L

Police and fire get there, so I think it's a very important job and a key portion of our our system.

L

Our animal control officers, thank you for what you do. You do have an important job in our county and.

L

I recognize that, and you know we we all know that um animals touch people's hearts a different way.

L

Because I I can tell you that somebody will stop for an injured animal on the side of the road. Most.

L

Of the time before, they'll stop for an injured human, it's just the way it is. You know, and you.

L

Could see that over the conversations we had with the animal shelter, so it's a very passionate thing.

L

And I appreciate what you do and interfacing with all of our community groups as well and.

L

Involving them in the process warm weather is upon us. Obviously, we've had a nice streak, so you know.

L

There's tons of motorcycles out, I say all the time be careful of the motorcycles and I know we had.

L

Spring forward with our clocks- and I didn't mention it then, but I'll mention it now-.

L

You know it was a while ago, obviously at this point, but if you didn't check your fire.

L

On smoke, detectors make sure you check your smoke detectors, go out there and check them.

L

um This is your. I forgot to go ahead and do it so now, if you see commissioner's time, maybe hopefully.

L

It'll remind you, and you won't get reminded by something else that could be catastrophic.

L

So I was not able to attend sheriff somerville seniors services. I know other commissioners were.

L

Able to attend the viewing. Unfortunately, I was not feeling well, this weather, that is so beautiful.

L

Is uh also lots of pollen, and that day it was a uh one of the bad days for allergies. For me and.

L

The one thing you don't want to do during cover to show up someplace, coughing, sneezing and.

L

Looking like you're sweating, so I was not there. I did acknowledge um you know on facebook and.

L

And, and from there, however, I do agree with some of the sentiments of our community and I'm hoping.

L

That what we can do is recognize his service and legacy in another mat in another form and by doing.

L

That I'm hoping that we can look and the community can come forward and see if there's a roadway.

L

That we could rename, in behalf of sheriff's somerville senior, you know that type of service.

L

Is very important to our community: this community loves our law enforcement, so I think that it.

L

Is very fitting for the legacy that he left behind that we go ahead and remember that so.

L

Hopefully, the community groups can come forward and they can support this and and figure out where.

L

They would like to do it and you know I I have one roadway in mind which is fdr, because that.

L

Name is synonymous with things that are just not getting completed and taking forever so, hopefully,.

L

We can give it a facelift with a new name, but I don't know what the community has in mind.

L

So I'd like to hear from them, so I appreciate your time. Thank you.

D

Todd you're next president, um a couple of things we're still discussing monies, so those folks out.

D

There recognize the fact that we have a hotel and restaurant relief fund is open. The portal.

D

Is open again for opportunities to apply for the grants? I would encourage you to please do that.

D

I think people have listened to me for 11 years here talking about sports, complex.

D

So I want to thank the delegation for getting 150 thousand dollars.

D

To move forward that sports complex, but that's important, to thank this board for.

D

Turf fields, we finally got turf fields, and one of the results of that is the maryland state soccer.

D

Is coming down this weekend and it's going to be used in our turf fields for statewide tournament.

D

So not only do people need to come down and see saint mary's county they get to play in our turf.

D

Fields they get to sleep in our hotels, they get to use our restaurants and things like that. So that's.

D

What this big picture has been all about, and now we're signed to see some fruits from our labors.

D

Along the way, so thanks our shepherd and everybody for helping us out to get those turf fields.

D

April 20th we heard from mde about this foot insurance forum. We know that we discussed.

D

These maps that we've had and we discussed the storm that came in last spring. I think it's.

D

Important for anybody who is in critical areas or recognizes what flood insurance is all about now,.

D

To take advantage of this tutorial, you're going to be getting, I have infinite experience with floods.

D

In fema- and I know how important is to have flood insurance, whether you not have whether.

D

You have a mortgage or don't have a mortgage if you have a mortgage they're there. For you I mean.

D

They're going to make you have flood insurance on those properties. If you have already paid things.

D

Off watch these flood insurance things, because your homeowners association doesn't touch floods.

D

Lastly, we've been talking about annapolis, so let me call this tale of two cities: let's start with.

D

The dickens perspective on this and let's look and see what happened to the urban agenda and.

D

The rural agenda, we have discussed house bill, 670 fadering what I will refer to the neutering.

D

Of the sheriff and the police department passed, you know there was a lot of objection. Urbans.

D

Wanted to neuter rules for the most part were against it. It happened, went forward. There is.

D

Legislation up there now to create what governor hogan has called a sanctuary state. I mean we got.

D

A lot of grief here for supporting two ways of sanctuary county. But now with immigration and.

D

Things like that make maryland another sanctuary state, obviously it'll be very controversial, but.

D

I want to thank the delegation for getting some things through. First, the decoupling of metcomp.

D

I've sat here for three years and that's decoupled metcon was a bad mistake. Going in we've cleaned it.

D

Up it's going to go forward. We've taken care of our salary compensation program that we've.

D

Discussed here to make the commissioner positions more competitive, more rewarding, etc and I'll be.

D

Gone so it's not going to affect me whatsoever, but it would encourage. I hope, people to want to.

D

Run for office, we have our bond bills approved, so we can move forward with what we want to do.

D

To build a bigger and better saint mary's county along the way, but then I'm going to go and switch.

D

To shakespeare and macbeth and if remember in macbeth things that always they appear.

D

When mr weiskopf comes in, he has a big packet of documents, and these are all the bills.

D

And these are the laws, so what I encourage people to do is before you decide to go on.

D

Facebook and believe what you read or go to the editorial pages of some newspapers who have a.

D

Slightly different left-wing liberal agenda, such as the tale of two cities, you just talked about.

S

Please take time to read the bills, see what they bills say, see how these bills affect you.

S

And then go back and see how your delegates voted on those bills and did they vote in a manner.

D

That respects you and what the citizenry of saint mary's county wants, or do they just.

D

Go up the road and fall tale of two cities, because that was the political way to go.

D

So at that, it's homework time for everybody, as we discussed before, there's a lot of devil in the.

D

Details of these bills that has to be worked out and figured out along the way, and it's going to be.

D

Up to us to sit there and study and just see where the monies move, what the effects are not just for.

D

This budget bill, but budget bills going down the road so that we know that we have a clear.

D

Path of what's going on and aren't enamored by all the money, that's just keeps flowing.

D

In right now, because of all these relief bills, so with that, um I want to thank everybody and.

D

I do want to condemn my condolences to the summary of a family. I did attend the viewing.

D

Up in mechanics for the other evening and um to the somerville family, our condolences.

D

Thank you. Thank you, mr morgan. Yeah, my condolences to the to the summerville family also, I would like.

A

To say that believe it or not in 1970 and 71, I was in the sheriff's department. I served with.

A

At that time, deputy somerville and I was a fine man and he did a great job in law enforcement and.

A

I'm sorry I couldn't attend had other commitments that day and I regret that uh going on to what.

A

Commissioner, morgan has just explained a lot of these things. We don't know yet.

A

Exactly what's going to cost us in the end here, for example, just to put in another.

A

Voting center for early voting is about 190 000. Now nobody thinks about it. They think okay, well,.

A

We need this for for people to show up for voting. Okay, fine, but you gotta understand.

A

That's a cost that the county we pay for you and the taxpayers pay for these things.

A

It's not something that comes out of a special fund somewhere and it's passed down from the state.

A

The state passes laws, but unfortunately we call them unfunded mandates and you and I pay for it. So.

A

That has to be all of a sudden incorporated into our total budget at the end of this budget session.

A

We've got to look at this say, or we have enough money next year to pay for this one or maybe two.

A

Additional centers, it costs 190 000 percent. So that's something we got to think about and.

A

And we're not sure about all the law enforcement costs. That's going to come down from this 670 bill.

A

There could be costs involved in that that's the county's going to have to pay for, and that's just.

A

The way it is and we're hitting pretty hard right now with a lot of new ftes coming out, we expanded.

A

Our correctional center, more people there we're getting ready to we've already started clearing.

A

A lot for our animal control center that's going to be more budgeted personnel. We have to pay for.

A

And the list goes on and on we're looking at a lot of, we have to look at right now. We have.

A

The emergency medical service that, because they're not able to meet their commitment with volunteers,.

A

We're having to put in some paid staff or contract, where you might call it, but still there's.

A

Hundreds and maybe millions of dollars involved here that we have to look at.

A

And for all those who have sent me, hundreds literally hundreds of letters about fully funding.

A

The schools, of course, I'm sort of curious about what fully funding the school means.

A

To me, if I meet mou, I have fully funded the school moe, I'm sorry moe start moe. I have fully funded.

A

The school, if I give it a dollar or more, I have given additional money and that's the way that.

A

The law reads on that so, but I can tell you that the last six years that I've been here.

A

We have not only done moe, we have funded millions of dollars, millions more every year to fund our.

A

Schools, because I believe in education is one of the primary things you've got to do in st mary's.

A

County and even with this new, as you saw some right, I asked you to read this law about the.

A

Blueprint for maryland's education, or some of us have known for years going to annapolis. The.

A

Kerwin commission, saint mary's county, is one of the few small handful of counties that is meeting.

A

This blueprint for maryland or the kerwin commission, as we all know it, so you need to.

A

Look at that and understand that we have already kept in step and pretty much have funded and.

A

Meeting the blueprint, so I want you to understand for all those you get this form letter you've been.

A

Sending it to me to understand what you're I don't know, who's put you up to the forum letter.

A

I'm not going to read point fingers to anybody, but there are certain things that you have to look at.

A

Not just the school funding, we have all the other departments in our county. We have to fund it's a.

A

Total effort to provide for all the citizens of saint mary's county in every way, and we have to.

A

Support our law enforcement we're growing county. The dentist center had to be rebuilt.

A

To accommodate more and more, unfortunately, it takes people to demand all these things. Our.

A

Emergency services need to be funded more because we're not meeting all of our goals, and we have to.

A

Supplement that and that's something we've got to deal with. It's all part of this covet thing. I know.

A

And uh we're hopefully, after about another six months or so things will settle down a little bit.

A

People get vaccinated, maybe many people are returned back to their normal.

A

Pace with volunteers and everything, so we don't know that though, so it takes uh extra effort.

A

To look at all this funding that we're getting ready to go through here in the next few months.

A

To make sure that all of this maybe will happen and maybe won't it'll happen and a lot of this.

A

Great carriage brand just heard about the fun, and everything is great, that we had all.

A

This extra money- or I should save money coming in and we rebuilt some of our structure here.

A

And you know my gosh there's no doubt that the communications effort for broadband everything.

A

Has been a tremendous help, not just for education but for our entire county and building this up, but.

A

But there takes additional spending to take care of all this. It's going to cost more money. That's.

A

Just the way, it is what that said is I need a motion to go into a closed session. I move to enter.

J

Into closed session to discuss, personnel second have a first, second, all in favor aye. So many.