Apr 24, 2025 County Council FY26 Budget Public Hearing

ALAN, DIRECTOR , I THINK, UM, AND I AGREE BECAUSE OF PWS INVOLVED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, HE, IT BEING, UH, BETTER FOR HIM TO GIVE THIS LITTLE, UM, ELEVATOR PITCH, AS IT WERE, ELEVATOR PITCH.

I LIKE IT ON, TRY TO SUMMARIZE IN A VERY, VERY DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THEN I'LL GIVE THE NUMBERS, IF THAT'S ALRIGHT WITH YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

UH, GOOD MORNING.

UH, MY NAME IS JOE EK.

I'M DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND I'M SUPPORTED BY OUR TWO DEPUTY DIRECTORS, STEVE WALSH, WHO LEADS OUR DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY.

AND BILL BEIN, WHO WILL BE HERE SHORTLY AS PART OF HIS PRESENTATION A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS MORNING.

UH, WHO LEADS OUR WATER AND SEWER DIVISION? PUBLIC WORKS IS THE LARGEST DEPARTMENT WITHIN HARVARD COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THE COUNTY CHARTER HAS CHARGED DPW WITH THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, COUNTY ROADS, BRIDGES, AND STORM DRAINAGE, SEWAGE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT FACILITIES, WATER SUPPLY, TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND IN RECENT YEARS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, THE MS FOUR STORM WATER PERMIT PROGRAM AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS THAT ARE MANDATED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS COUNTY FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS.

AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO ALL OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL UNDERSTAND AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COUNTY, WHILE MAINTAINING A WORK ENVIRONMENT BASED ON PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BILL, STEVE AND I HAVE BUILT AND MANAGED TEAMS OF DEDICATED, QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES TO SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORT AND EXECUTE THE DIVERSE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

SO, I'D LIKE TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO BEN LLOYD TO WALK THROUGH, UH, OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.

UH, THE HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

UM, THE, UH, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF DPW BEGINS ON PAGE 360 4.

THE OFFICE HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 539,444 FUNDED THROUGH THE HIGHWAYS FUND.

THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 22,261 PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 22,261.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE COLA AND MERIT INCREASE OF 12,429.

TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE $2,000 BASED ON ACTUALS, AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 11,832.

UH, THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE, OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND HIGHWAY SHARE OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT, AND THERE'S ALSO NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, AND ENTERING GOVERNMENTAL AND INTER FUND FOR, UM, FLEET DAILY CARPOOL USAGE.

ANY QUESTIONS ON, ON THE DIRECTOR'S DIVISION? AND WE CAN MOVE RIGHT INTO, UH, DPW HIGHWAYS.

YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND THANKS, BEN.

GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS.

AGAIN, STEVE WALSH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR HIGHWAYS.

[00:05:01]

IS QUITE LARGE IN THIS COUNTY.

UM, ALMOST 1100 MILES OF ROADWAY, ASPHALT, TAR CHIP AND EARTH.

225 BRIDGES, ALMOST 3,400 PIPE CULVERTS, 280 MILES OF STORM DRAINS.

31,000 TRAFFIC SIGNS OUT THERE FOR US TO MAINTAIN.

DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS IS MADE UP OF TWO PARTS.

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERING, HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE DIVISION UNDER KENNY SEXTON'S.

LEADERSHIP'S MADE UP OF FOUR DISTRICT SHOPS SUPPORTED BY SPECIAL OPERATIONS CREWS FOR GROUND MAINTENANCE, ROAD CEILING, BRIDGE DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC SIGNS, TRAFFIC MARKING, AND UTILITY AND ACCESS.

UH, THE FUNDING REQUESTS FOR THIS DIVISION SUPPORTS THE DAILY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, UH, AND CERTAINLY INCLUDES EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING SUMMER AND WINTER STORM RESPONSE.

A HIGHWAY ENGINEERING UNDER LEADERSHIP OF GLEN HEBEL, WHO WILL BE DOING THE CAPITAL FRONT HIGHWAY TODAY, UH, HANDLES PROJECT INVESTIGATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ROADWAY STRUCTURE, TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AS WELL AS PLAN REVIEW, UH, BONDING AND PERMITTING OF PRIVATE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE COUNTY MAINTAINED AND TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY.

THE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST SUPPORTS NEEDED HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 38 180 9.

AND SO I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE NUMBERS ON THE OPERATING SIDE FOR HIGHWAYS.

SO, UH, PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS BEGINS ON PAGE 3 98.

THIS DIVISION HAS THREE COST CENTERS UNDER IT, HIGHWAY ENGINEERING, HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE, AND SNOW REMOVAL WITH A TOTAL BUDGET OF 38 MILLION 435 38, ALL OF WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE HIGHWAYS FUND.

THE BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS ENGINEERING BEGINS ON PAGE 4 0 3.

THIS BUREAU HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3 MILLION 400 5548, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 89,189.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF A DECREASE IN SALARIES OF $782 AS THE NET OF TURNOVER AND ADJUSTMENTS.

THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT INCREASE, TOTALING 90 1064, TEMPORARY SALARIES ADJUSTED 10,297 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR INTERNS, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SUPPORT, SHA LIAISON AND PROJECT COORDINATOR WITH TRANSIT AND FLEET MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN THE BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 37,610 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, DECREASE OF, UH, 50,000 DUE TO A REDUCTION IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BASED ON ACTUALS.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 1000 DUE TO REDUCTION IN TRAINING SEMINARS BY 1000 BASED ON ANTICIPATED NEED AND ACTUALS.

MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 2000 FOR MEMBERSHIP FEE TO THE BALTIMORE METROPOL METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, AND THEN THERE'S NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL FOR FLEET CARPOOL USAGE.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 0 6.

THIS BUREAU HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 32,000,060 62,000 OH 68, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1,671,861.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 7 61 521 SALARY, DECREASE 46,436 AS THE NET OF OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IN TURNOVER SAVINGS, THE FY 26 MERIT OF 495,621, AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 3 12 336 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE OF 772,500.

THAT'S DUE TO ELECTRICITY INCREASING 260,000 BASED ON ANTICIPATED ENERGY CONSORTIUM RATES.

AND THEN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE INCREASES 26,000 TO SUPPORT STUMP GRINDING AND DISPOSAL OF LARGE TREES.

UH, IN ADDITION, UH, TREE TRIMMING CONTRACT INCREASES 528,000 TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL DEAD TREE REMOVAL, DAILY TRIMMING OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY STORM CREWS.

MOWING CONTRACTS ARE ADJUSTED 52,500 TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY, MOWING AND COMMUNITY MOWING SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 78,800.

THAT'S DUE TO SAFETY EQUIPMENT, INCREASING 10,000 TO REPLACE EXPIRING EQUIPMENT, TRAFFIC SIGNS AND MARKINGS INCREASING 19,800 TO SUPPORT FED FEDERALLY MANDATED TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND UPDATES TO SIGNS, UH, PAINT INCREASES 13,000 FOR ROAD STRIPING AND CROSSWALK MARKING PIPES, CULVERTS AND FITTINGS, INCREASES 20,000 TO REPLACE DETERIORATING IN-GROUND PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND THEN TECH INCREASES 10,000 FOR THE REPAIR AND CONDITIONING OF ROADS DUE TO WEATHER IMPACTS.

BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 52,830.

UH, THAT'S DUE TO ADDITIONAL CAUSE FOR FUEL FOR THE ROAD MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES, OR EXCUSE ME, EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES.

CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASES 1 3130 9,000.

THAT'S DUE TO A ONE-TIME

[00:10:01]

EXPENSE, UM, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FOR PORTABLE RADIOS.

MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 1 45 2 10.

THAT'S FOR PRO RATA SHARES FOR HIGHWAYS ADJUSTED, UH, PER THE FORMULA.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE, UH, SNOW REMOVAL, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR 10.

THE COST CENTER HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2 MILLION 917 9 22, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF $716.

UH, THERE'S NO CHANGE OTHER THAN A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES BASED ON ACTUAL, UM, SO WE'LL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY'S OPERATING SIDE.

UM, JOE, STEVE, UM, AND GLEN, UM, THIS PAST TUESDAY, I THINK WE'VE REACHED A MILESTONE WITH THE ABERDEEN PROVEN GROUND IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY WITH THEM AGREEING TO, UH, PROVIDE AN EASEMENT FOR HARTFORD COUNTY TO MOVE THAT ROADWAY, UH, FORWARD WOODLEY ROAD.

AND FOR ME, IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THIS ROAD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD INSTANCES WHERE ONLY HAVING ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT, UH, CREATES A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE CITIZENS THERE.

SO, JOE, CAN YOU PLEASE YOU AND STEVE SPEAK TO WHERE WE'RE AT AND BRING US UP TO DATE WITH THIS PROCESS? 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, I BELIEVE ACTUALLY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR CLOSER TO 20.

TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY ON THAT ROAD, IF YOU'D LIKE.

UH, BECAUSE THAT HAS, IT'S BEEN THAT LONG THAT THE COUNTY RECOGNIZED ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU HAD BROUGHT UP.

AND WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, THE ARMY, UH, AT THE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS AND AT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT LEVEL OF URGENCY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR A LONG TIME.

AND, UH, AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU'RE CORRECT THAT, UH, THAT, UH, APPROVAL AT THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES OF THE, UH, THE AUTHORIZING THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO, UH, BEGIN TO PREPARE THE ACTUAL EASEMENT PLAT DOCUMENTS AND THE, UH, AND THE APPRAISAL FOR THE TRANSFER OR THEIR, OR THE ASSESSMENT OF THAT, UH, THAT, UH, I GUESS, UH, FEE THAT WE WILL PAY TO THEM.

UH, THEY HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO US THAT THAT WORK WILL BE COMPLETED, UH, BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

THAT IS THE END OF THE, THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR.

AND SO THEY, THEY HAVE THAT OBLIGATION, UH, SO THEY'VE GOT SOMEBODY ELSE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DONE AT THAT TIME.

UH, WHEN THAT IS COMPLETED, UH, THAT WILL BE THE, UH, ONE OF MANY MILESTONES THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR.

AND THAT THE GOAL IS THAT ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, THAT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, UH, BETWEEN 24 AND 25, IS WHEN WE WILL ASSEMBLE ALL OF THE PERMIT APPROVALS, UH, GET THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS TOGETHER AND OUT FOR BID WITH THE INTENTION OF, UH, BEING ABLE TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN CALENDAR YEAR 26.

SO THE THINGS ARE LINED UP WELL FOR THAT TO OCCUR.

AND OF COURSE, AS EACH OF THOSE MILESTONES ARE MET, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL ARE AWARE OF THOSE.

UH, AND I THINK, FORTUNATELY, I THINK IN ADDITION TO THOSE, UH, THOSE, THOSE NEEDS AND, AND WANTS OF THE COUNTY FOR THAT SECOND ACCESS OR SECOND EGRESS OFF OF THE PENINSULA, NOW, THE PROVING GROUNDS IS BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS WELL, THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO THAT BRIDGE OVER THE AMTRAK RAILROAD, UH, ON SEVEN 15, THEY WILL HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THAT, UH, EGRESS FOR THEIR OWN STAFF.

SO I, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE HIT THE COUPLE OF THE, UH, WE FOUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

WE FOUND THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND, AND WORK WITH US ON THAT.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE IT GO DOWN THIS, THIS WAY.

AND WHEN I SAID EIGHT YEARS, IT'S EIGHT YEARS WITH YOU.

AND I , UH, IN OFFICE HERE.

SO I, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THE HISTORY 20 YEARS AGO, BUT I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

AND THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF NAYSAYERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, UH, THAT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA COME TO FRUITION.

AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE IT TAKE THE NEXT STEP, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR COUNCILMAN BENNETT AND HIS, HIS DISTRICT.

SO, MR. BENNETT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? YEAH.

UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

UH, OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WORK WITH WITHIN THE COUNTY, UH, DPW IS CONTINUOUSLY, UH, ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE TO ME WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR LEVEL OF, OF SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, UH, PROFESSIONALISM, UH, FORWARD THINKING.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S JUST WORTHY OF KUDOS.

YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, BOTH FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ON THE ROADS, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE SEWERS, UM, UH, DOING ALL THE WORK, UM, TOP TO BOTTOM, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU ALL DO.

AND IT'S THE TYPE OF WORK THAT'S EASY TO NOT NOTICE UNTIL THINGS GO WRONG, .

AND SO, UH, IN THAT, IN THAT WAY, I JUST THINK IT'S GOOD TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK WITH SUSHI OR WITH, UH, WITH THE ACCESS IN THE PERMAN.

I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT CIA ROAD.

WHERE ARE WE ON GETTING THOSE EASEMENTS THAT THAT WORK CAN GET DONE AS FAR AS THE WORK

[00:15:01]

WE, WE PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE CAPITOL.

IF YOU CAN WAIT JUST A FEW MINUTES, THAT IS WHEN GLENN HEWELL, OUR CHIEF ENGINEER, GOES THROUGH ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

HE HAS INFORMATION FOR YOU ON THAT.

PERFECT.

AND THEN, UM, I DID, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENTS THERE.

MUCH APPRECIATED.

I'VE HAD A FEW TIMES, 'CAUSE WE'VE ADDED STREET CLEANING INTO AREAS THAT WARREN GANG STREET CLEANING BEFORE, WHICH IS GREAT.

UM, BUT I'VE HAD SOME, UH, CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT AND SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF STREET CLEANING? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT DOING, UH, FOR MY COMMUNITY? HOW DOES IT HELP? UH, AND THEN THEY, THEY OFTEN SAY, WE'RE CLEANING THE STREET, BUT WE'RE NOT BLANK.

AND SO I I, I TRY AND RESPOND AND EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, STREET CLEANING IS A WONDERFUL THING THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT DONE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

UM, BUT WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE TO SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, WHY ARE THEY COMING DOWN AND CLEANING MY STREET? WELL, THERE, THERE'S TWO PRIMARY VALUES TO, TO CLEANING STREETS.

ONE IS ENVIRONMENTAL.

UH, BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE STREET WHEN IT RAINS, MAKES ITS WAY INTO A STORM DRAIN THAT WE ALSO OWN AND MAINTAIN.

UH, AND, UH, THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE, THAT CAN CAUSE CLOGS, THAT CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTIES AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REPAIR.

BUT ON A LARGER SCALE, IT IS REMOVING MATERIAL THAT WOULD FIND ITS WAY INTO THE BAY.

AND EVERY STORM DRAIN, EVERY RAINDROP THAT FALLS IN THIS STATE AND IN OUR COUNTY FINDS CHESAPEAKE BAY EITHER WAY.

SO REMOVING THAT SOLID MATERIAL, THAT TRASH MATERIAL, UH, AT AS CLOSE TO THE SOURCE AS WE CAN, UH, BENEFITS NOT ONLY OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD HAVE TO CARRY IT, BUT ULTIMATELY THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND ITS NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS TO CARRY THE REST OF THE WAY.

SO THOSE ARE THE, THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY REASONS.

AND IT, WHEN IT RAINS, OUR ROADS DON'T GET CLOGGED AND, AND ALL THAT.

IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT.

BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN ON THEIR STREET BEFORE, IT'S A FOREIGN CONCEPT.

UM, AND I'M JUST GLAD TO SEE IT HAPPENING.

UM, HOW WAS THIS WINTER AS FAR AS, WITH IT BEING SO EXTREMELY COLD, HOW DID WE DO, UH, BUDGETED VERSUS ACTUALS FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL WORK ON OUR HIGHWAY CREW? DO YOU HAVE THAT, UH, CHECK? DEFINITELY WE'RE UNDER BUDGET.

THE BUDGETED AMOUNT.

UM, A LOT OF LITTLE STORMS. NO, NO BIG, BIG STORMS. BUT, UM, WE DID FINE.

I THINK THE, IT, IT WAS, THEY WERE IMPACTFUL STORMS. THERE WERE SO MANY, BUT THEY WEREN'T LONG DURATION.

THEY WEREN'T LARGE SNOWFALLS.

UH, SO, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY QUITE A CHANGE FROM THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT, OUR BUDGET THAT WE ACCOUNT FOR IS TO BE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE WORST OF THAT MARYLAND AND, AND, UH, NATURE CAN BRING US.

UH, SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, AGAIN, OUR FOLKS, UH, ARE GONNA GET THE JOB DONE AS NECESSARY, UH, REGARDLESS.

AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE UP ALL OF THAT ALLOCATED MONEY.

AND WITH THE EXTREME COLD, WAS THERE AN INCREASE IN, YOU KNOW, POTHOLES AND THE LIKE, OR, UM, DID WE DO ALL RIGHT? EVEN WITH THAT? WE, WE DID ALL RIGHT WITH THAT.

AND I, I THINK IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, AND I'M AN ENGINEER, SO I, IT'S, IT'S SECOND NATURE TO ME, COLD DOESN'T CAUSE POTHOLES.

WE'RE NOW BACK UP TO AROUND $5 MILLION A YEAR, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET $5 MILLION THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, HOWEVER, AFTER THAT, IT KIND OF GOES BACK DOWN AGAIN.

CHANGING COLD TO WARM TO COLD TO WARM TO COLD TO WARM, BUT THROW IN A FEW RAINFALLS, THROW A FEW SNOWFALLS.

IT'S THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE THAT TYPICALLY HAS A TENDENCY TO BE ABLE TO KICK THOSE THINGS IN.

SO, SO, AND I GUESS WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL IT WAS JUST 13 DEGREES FOREVER, .

EXACTLY.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE A LOT OF YOU, OF YOUR WORK IS, IS FUNDED THROUGH THE HIGHWAY FUND THROUGH, UH, THE GAS TAX FOR STATE HIGHWAY WORK, RIGHT, IS, UM, BUT IN MY HOUSE, YOU KNOW, I DRIVE A FULLY ELECTRIC CAR.

MY WIFE DRIVES A PLUGIN HYBRID.

WE SPEND $25 A MONTH ON GAS.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR FUNDING FOR HIGHWAYS WORK? UM, SO, SO THE HIGHWAYS FUND IS SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND IT IS PRIMARILY FUNDED FROM TWO REVENUE SOURCES.

THE LARGEST IS, UM, PROPERTY TAX THAT WE ONLY CHARGE ON THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES.

SO IT'S 14 CENTS PER $100.

AND IF YOU LIVE IN THE MUNICIPALITIES LIKE YOU DO, YOU DON'T PAY THAT, BUT YOU PAY, SO YOU HAVE TO GRACE TAXES AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THOSE ROADS IN ADDITION TO THAT REVENUE.

UM, THERE'S A BUNCH OF OTHER LITTLE REVENUES, BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO THE HIGHWAY USER, UM, REVENUE, WHICH DOES COME FROM, PRIMARILY FROM GAS TAX AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

UM, NOW IN THE PAST, SEVERAL ABOUT, IF YOU WERE TO GO BACK 20 YEARS AGO, WE WERE BRINGING IN AROUND $15 MILLION OR SO, AND THE COUNTIES USED TO GET ABOUT 30% OF THAT TAX DURING THE LAST ECONOMIC RECESSION.

DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, THAT WAS GREATLY REDUCED.

AND WE WERE DOWN TO ABOUT LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

THEY HAVE INCREASED IT A LITTLE BIT, AND

[00:20:01]

STATE OF MARYLAND HAS DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO TRY TO SHORE UP, UM, THAT AMOUNT.

YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, IN THE PAST THEY DID RAISE THE GAS TAX AND THIS MOST RECENT, UH, GO ROUND, THEY INCREASED THE, UM, UH, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN ELECTRIC CAR.

UM, YOU KNOW, EXTRA REGISTRATION FEE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND REGISTRATION FEES WERE, WERE ACTUALLY ALL, WERE ALSO INCREASED THIS, THIS YEAR TOO, IN ORDER TO TRY TO COMPENSATE AT SOME LEVEL FOR THAT.

IT PROBABLY DOESN'T COMPLETELY COMPENSATE FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT IS THAT THE, UM, THESE ELECTRIC CARS ARE ACTUALLY HEAVIER, RIGHT? SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MORE, UH, WEAR AND HAIR ON THE ROADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S NOT QUITE TO THE POINT OF, OF ANY TYPE OF PARODY, BUT THEY DID INCREASE THAT REVENUE SOURCE TO DO SOMEWHAT.

UM, BUT IT, YOU KNOW, MARYLAND IS, UH, YOU, OUR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE MAINTAIN MOST OF THE ROADS, MOST OF THE ROADS ARE MAINTAINED BY COUNTY, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, UM, AND FOR THE SMALL PORTION OF TAX THAT WE GET.

AND WE ALSO DON'T HAVE OUR OWN TAXING AUTHORITY, SO WE CAN'T HAVE OUR OWN GAS TAX.

IT REALLY DOES PUT A LOT OF STRAIN ON OUR, ON OUR PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.

BUT, BUT THE STATE HAS WORKED TO TRY TO INCREASE THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF, OF CONSTRUCTION AND, AND PROJECTS AND ALL.

UM, AND UH, AND JUST MY FOLLOW UP ON THAT, AND IT MIGHT BE MORE OF A ROBBIE QUESTION, BUT JUST IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE PAYING MY FAIR SHARE FOR THE IMPACT I HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY ROADS, I WAS WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY VALUE IN CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING THINGS LIKE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS IN PARKS AND REC PARKING LOTS OR, UH, OR THE LIKE, AND THEN THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THOSE CHARGING STATIONS COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK WITH OUR ROAD MAINTENANCE.

YEAH, I, I MEAN, UM, WE ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO ACROSS THE STREET, WE DO HAVE AN ELECTRIC CHARGER.

UM, THERE, I I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO NECESSARILY MOVE THE NEEDLE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I DO BELIEVE NOW THAT LIKE THEY HAVE TO HAVE CAR CHARGERS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR HOMES AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE HARD PART REALLY IS, IS THAT, UM, THESE ROADS ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE DEALING HERE WITH THIS 50, $60 MILLION BUDGET, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE, THE COST TO, UH, PAVE PER REPAY PER ROAD MILE.

AND IT'S, IT'S A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS RIGHT? PER, PER, UM, PER, PER THAT AMOUNT.

AND WE HAVE A THOUSAND MILES OF ROAD, WE HAVE 200 BRIDGES.

UM, OR JUST ABOUT.

UM, SO IT IS, IT IS DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE SOURCE.

I MEAN, THAT KIND OF STUFF MIGHT HELP A, A LITTLE BIT.

I, I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH IT, BUT I THINK ALL OF THE COUNTIES IN MARYLAND EITHER NEED THE STATE TO PROVIDE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT MORE OF THE HIGHWAY USER REVENUE, UM, WHICH THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH VERY EXPENSIVE STATE, YOU KNOW, ROAD PROJECTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUFF THAT'S HAPPENING IN 1 24 RIGHT NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S STATE FUNDED.

UM, AND THEY ALSO HAVE SOME VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE TRANSIT PRO PROJECTS.

AND THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT MAYBE THEY, THEY NEED TO REMOVE TRANSIT FROM THE HIGH FROM KIND OF THE, THAT TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND AND CREATE ITS OWN REVENUE SOURCE.

BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED IS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A, UM, WE NEED THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO, TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT REVENUE INFUSION INTO OUR, INTO OUR LOCAL ROADS, UM, IN ORDER TO MAKE AFFECT ANY REAL CHANGE.

AND THANK YOU.

I JUST HAVE TWO MORE QUICK QUESTIONS ON THE OPERATING SIDE FIRST.

UM, WE RECENTLY WALKED, UH, SIDEWALKS TOGETHER, STEVE, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN TO DO IN THE RAIN .

UM, BUT IT DID PRESENT TO US AN ISSUE THAT WAS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION, WHICH IS, UH, DEPENDING ON TIME OF YEAR, SIDEWALKS ARE PUT IN, OR, YOU KNOW, HOW WET THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUT IN, OR, UM, THE QUALITY OF THE CEMENT, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

SOMETIMES, UH, THE TOP LAYER OF 'EM SEEMS TO POP OFF THROUGH THAT FIRST WINTER.

UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY SORT OF MAINTENANCE BONDING FOR THAT FIRST WINTER OF SIDEWALKS.

SO THEN YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW COMMUNITY, BRAND NEW HOUSES, BUT THE SIDEWALKS LOOK WORSE THAN OUTSIDE OF MY, YOU KNOW, 95-YEAR-OLD HOUSE AND HAVE A GRACE.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY MORE CONVERSATIONS SINCE WE LAST, UH, MET ABOUT WHAT COULD WE DO TO HELP PROTECT THESE NEW COMMUNITIES THAT GET SIDEWALKS PUT IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T JUST TEAR UP AFTER THE FIRST WINTER? AND IF THEY DO, SOMEBODY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, UH, REPAIR? YEAH, WE'VE HAD SOME MORE DISCUSSIONS INTERNALLY.

NO, NO CLEAR RESOLUTION YET.

'CAUSE IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE IN TERMS OF TIMING FOR A DEVELOPER AND RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY TURN IT OVER TO, TO, TO RESIDENTS.

UM, SO YEAH, NO, NO RESOLUTION YET.

YEAH, I, I WAS THINKING IF IT COULD JUST BE LIKE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE IT THROUGH THAT FIRST WINTER.

'CAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, IF IT MAKES IT THROUGH THE FIRST WINTER, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE GOOD FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT IF IT GETS TORN UP THAT FIRST WINTER, IT'S TORN UP FOREVER.

UM, AND THEN ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, WHAT PROTECTIONS DO WE HAVE

[00:25:01]

IN PLACE FOR COMMUNITIES WHEN HOAS GO? MIA, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PLENTY OF COMMUNITIES THAT MAYBE STARTED OUT WITH AN HOA AND THEN THE HOA, YOU KNOW, DISAPPEARS OR, YOU KNOW, YOU LIVE IN A COMMUNITY AND NEVER EVEN KNEW IT USED TO HAVE AN HOA 20 YEARS AGO.

WHAT, WHAT DO WE DO TO ENSURE THAT YOU DON'T END UP IN A POSITION AS A HOMEOWNER WHERE YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU KNOW, YOUR SIDEWALK, YOUR ROAD, YOUR LIGHTS, UM, ALL BELONG TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT ESSENTIALLY NO LONGER EXISTS AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO GO FOR HELP.

UM, THAT IS A CHALLENGE.

AND THE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHALLENGE IS TO FIND A WAY TO EDUCATE HOMEOWNERS ABOUT WHAT THEIR RE IF THEY ARE IN AN HOA, WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GIVEN TO THEM AT.

AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, 'CAUSE WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, WE GOT THE HOA DOCUMENTS AND THEY DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT THE HOA HAD RESPONSIBILITIES FOR.

UM, AND SO SOME OF THAT EDUCATION, I GUESS, OR WOULD I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO, HOW TO DO THAT.

WE TRY TO DO OUR PART, IT USUALLY COMES AFTER THE FACT WHEN THERE IS A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT IS ON HOA PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY OWNER IS OBLIGATED TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS.

UH, AND THAT OF COURSE, THEN GETS SHARED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO IT.

AND SO WE, WE, IN OUR INSPECTIONS, WE RECOGNIZE THAT REPAIRS ARE NEEDED.

AND SO WE WIND UP BEING THE, UH, I GUESS THE, THE, THE, UH, THE EDUCATORS, UH, OF THE FOLKS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR OBLIGATIONS ARE.

THAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THEIR OBLIGATIONS FROM THE TIME THEY BOUGHT THEIR HOUSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

SO IT IS A CHALLENGE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT A, A MORE GLOBAL SOLUTION MIGHT BE, BUT THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE IT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ATTENTION, JUST AS WE, WE DO ON THE SIDEWALK SITUATION AND OTHER ONES, WE DO OUR BEST TO, TO, TO BE ABLE TO HELP TO INFORM AS BEST WE CAN.

AND DO WE KEEP ANY SORT OF DATABASE ON LIKE ACTIVE VERSUS INACTIVE HOAS TO KNOW WHAT COMMUNITIES HAVE HOAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY UP AND RUNNING VERSUS, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T HAD A BOARD IN 15 YEARS? THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DOES NOT.

THAT, THAT'S NOT OUR, THAT'S NOT OUR ROLE.

UH, WE, WE INTERACT IN, IN THE CASES WHERE WE ARE ASKED TO OR ARE FORCED TO.

SO I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU, JOE.

UH, PIGGYBACKING ON, UH, MR. BENNETT'S COMMENTS REAL QUICK.

UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WEATHER EVENTS, ONE THING HE LEFT OUT WAS THE WIND EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.

WHICH HAVE BEEN, UH, MULTIPLE MM-HMM .

AND I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS AND, AND APPRECIATE THE, UH, TEAMS, THE, THE PUBLIC WORK DIVISIONS THAT HANDLE THAT.

AND I KNOW IT'S ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT MORE SO IN THE NORTHERN END, UM, WITH THE WEATHER EVENTS AS WELL.

SO, UH, JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR US.

YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, EARLY IN THE MORNING, WHENEVER THAT TREE FALLS, THEY GET A CALL AND THEY GOTTA GO AND RESPOND.

SO JUST LIKE FIRST RESPONDERS.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

I'LL, MR. MR. THAT ON STEVE.

I, I THINK MY VOICE'S ALL, UH, JOE, GOOD MORNING, STEVE.

GOOD MORNING.

SO, UH, STEVE, YOU'RE ON MY SPEED DIAL.

UM, I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO YOU MANY TIMES, SO I I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND LIKE ON 1 52 AND 24 AND ROUTE ONE, THESE, THOSE ARE STATE ROADS PAVING CONTRACTS OR BY THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, HEY, WHY AREN'T THEY DOING THESE THINGS AT NIGHTTIME? WELL, BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE MONEY TO DO IT AT NIGHT.

THE STATE'S NOT GONNA DO THOSE ROADS AT NIGHT WHEN THEY COULD DO 'EM DURING THE DAYTIME.

SO I'VE BEEN STUCK IN 1 52 A COUPLE TIMES FOR 35, 40 MINUTES WHILE THEY'RE REPAVING THAT I'VE, I'VE HEARD FROM SOME, FROM SOME PEOPLE ON THAT.

UM, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS DO DO A GREAT JOB.

SNOW REMOVAL COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, YOU CROSS THE LINE, YOU GO INTO PENNSYLVANIA, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY.

OKAY, NIGHT AND DAY.

JUST CROSS THE BOARD THAT YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, YOU SALT I I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SALTING NOW OR YOU PUT THE, THE SLURRY DOWN OR WHAT IS THAT STUFF CALLED THAT YOU BRINE SALT B, THE BRINE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD SEE, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK, SOMETIMES IT'S THERE AND WE, WE GET STUFF AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THERE.

BUT I THINK THE IDEA IS THAT THE PREVENTION, IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, GO OUT AND DO THAT AND SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEN IT'S GONNA COST US MORE IN THE LONG, IN THE LONG RUN FOR THAT.

UM, THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY GREAT IS WE, WE, UH, YOU CLICK IT, WE FIX IT.

WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION? UM, UH, OH, I SEE THAT THERE'S A, UH, THE ONE LINE ITEM I'M LOOKING AT IS A $528,000 INCREASE FOR ADDITIONAL DEAD TREE REMOVAL, DAILY TRIMMING OPERATIONS AND EMERGENCY STORM CRUISE.

UM, THERE'S BEEN MANY TIMES THAT I'VE SEEN POTHOLES AND I'M LIKE, OH, I'M GONNA GET ON THE APP WHEN I GET TO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND DO IT, AND I'LL COME BACK THAT NEXT DAY OR SOMETHING.

AND IT'S ALREADY, IT'S ALREADY REPAIRED.

AND I'M LIKE, WOW, SOMEBODY'S, SOMEBODY'S QUICK.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH MEANS THEY GOT THERE AND, AND YOUR STAFF ACTUALLY GOT OUT THERE REALLY QUICK.

SO, UM, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, AND I THINK,

[00:30:01]

IS THAT AN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ORIGINALLY HAD BUDGETED? IS THAT AN ADDITIONAL 528,000 FROM LAST YEAR? CORRECT.

FROM LAST YEAR? YEAH.

WE'RE, WE'RE JUST SEEING, UM, TREES ARE A REALLY BIG ISSUE FOR US.

AS, AS YOU KNOW, UM, NORMAL TREE REMOVAL ALONG RIGHTS OF WAYS IS AN ISSUE.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS AN ISSUE.

LAST WEEKEND, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT YOU MENTIONED YES, THAT RELATIVELY SMALL ISOLATED STORM IN THE NORTH.

WE HAD 17 TREES DOWN THAT NIGHT, 17 ROADS CLOSED.

AND WHAT WE HAVE 70 MILE AN HOUR WINDS IN THAT, IN THAT ISOLATED AREA.

SO, UH, IT, IT COSTS MONEY.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF TREES.

AND THE EMERALD ASH BO ISSUE IS STILL AROUND, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF 'EM FELT THAT'S STILL AROUND.

SO WE'RE JUST, WHAT WAS THAT, EMERALD ASH, BOER, WHAT'S THAT? THE INSECT IN ASH, THE BUG THAT CAME AND KILLED ALL THE ASH TREES.

SO WE'RE STILL SEEING THOSE OUT THERE THAT, THAT ARE, THAT ARE DYING AND DEAD.

SO TREES ARE THE BIG ISSUE AND COST A LOT OF MONEY.

AND WE FELT THAT, UH, THE ADDITIONAL REQUEST IS WARRANTED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

HOW ARE WE ON, UM, STAFF? ARE WE, ARE YOU LOSING STAFF, STAFF STAYING ABOUT THE SAME? IS IT, IS IT HARD TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT IS, UH, IT'S CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE FOR, IS IT HARDER WITH DRIVERS GETTING THEM, BECAUSE DO THEY ALL NEED TO HAVE CDLS TO DRIVE THE, HAS THAT BEEN THE, THE DIFFICULT PART? THAT IS CORRECT.

SO WE'LL HIRE TRAINEES AND WE'LL TRAIN THEM TO GET THEIR CDL.

UM, BUT LIKE ALL, ALL, UH, FRONTLINE WORKERS, I THINK MOST JURISDICTIONS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE DO.

IT'S JUST, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE WHO WANNA, WHO WANNA WORK HARD.

SO ONCE THEY GET TO CDL LICENSE, DO THEY LEAVE OR DO THEY STAY? SOMETIMES YES, SOMETIMES NO.

IT SORT OF DEPENDS.

YOU GET PEOPLE MID, MID-CAREER WHO WANT GOOD BENEFITS AND A AND A GOOD, SOLID, SOLID PLACE TO WORK.

WE, WE GET SOME OF THOSE, WE GET SOME YOUNG GUYS WHO JUST LIKE TO WORK HERE.

MAYBE THEY, THEY GREW UP IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY, THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO WORKED FOR COUNTY HIGHWAYS AND SAW AS A GOOD CAREER AND GOOD LIFE.

SO IT, IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OKAY.

BUT THERE, THERE IS A, A TURNOVER IN THE WORKFORCE.

I MEAN, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE, I THINK 30% OF HIGHWAYS HAS TURNED OVER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

UH, LAST YEAR WAS GOOD BECAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW, BUT THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST REAL SNOW THAT THEY PUSHED MM-HMM .

IN A TRUCK.

SO, UM, THEY GOT THEIR LICENSE AND WE TRAIN 'EM A LITTLE BIT AND PUT 'EM WITH SOME EXPERIENCED FOLKS.

BUT YEAH, I THINK I MIGHT EVENTUALLY, THEY, THEY'RE IN A BIG TRUCK BY THEMSELVES PUSHING SNOW ON ONE OF HARTFORD COUNTY ROAD.

I THINK I MIGHT HAVE CALLED YOU ONCE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT, BUT THEY DO DO IT, YOU KNOW, THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

YEAH, THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES WHEN IT SNOWS AND, AND YOU COME TO OUR COUNTY, YOU REALLY SEE THE BIG DIFFERENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CROSS THE, THE, THE LINE INTO PENNSYLVANIA.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THAT AND YOU KNOW, UH, BUT I JUST WANT PEOPLE OUT THERE TO KNOW.

SO, AND, UH, DEFINITELY APPRECIATE UH, UH, EVERYBODY'S WORK EFFORTS, SO THANKS.

THANK YOU, MR. JANO.

UM, MR. ROBERT? YEAH, I JUST HAD A, UM, QUICK QUESTION AND I'VE MET WITH YOU GUYS RECENTLY AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND IT KIND OF GOES A LITTLE BIT OFF, UM, TONY AND MR. BENNETT.

UM, AND I'VE USED THE CLICK IT, YOU FIX IT.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SAY IT, BUT, UM, WITH THE SIDEWALKS AND I, THERE WAS A RESPONSE GIVEN, UM, THAT IT WAS THE HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY, UM, WHEN THE SIDEWALKS WERE ROUGH.

AND IT DID SAY THAT, UM, YOU CAN CONTACT DPW, WHICH I THINK IN THE CLICK IT THING IS WHAT I SAID, BECAUSE I NOTICED IT, I TRIPPED ON THE PERSON'S SIDEWALK.

DO YOU CONTACT THEM AND ADVISE THEM TO FIX IT? HOW DOES THAT WORK? BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF CITIZENS IN MY AREA THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN HOA, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, WHO ADVISES THEM THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE, UM, THAT'S DANGEROUS, ET CETERA.

I'M JUST CURIOUS.

SO WE'LL ACTUALLY INSPECT, IF, IF WE GET A COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIDEWALK WHERE THERE'S A, A, A PROBLEM WITH, FOR AN A DA ISSUE, A HALF INCH OR MORE OF A, OF A DEPRESSED SIDEWALK, THAT COULD CAUSE A TRIPPING PROBLEM.

WE SEND PEOPLE OUT, INSPECT, AND WE WILL SEND THE FOLKS LETTERS LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THAT A DA ISSUE.

NOW, IF THERE'S A UTILITY THERE THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THAT PROBLEM, THEN THAT WILL BE ON US.

BUT WE, THAT'S WHAT WE INSPECT AND, UH, LET PEOPLE KNOW.

IS THAT THE RES IS IF, ARE THEY GONNA SUE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA SUE THE HOMEOWNER, THEY'RE GONNA SUE THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU MR. JEN.

SO ON, UH, MS. ROBERT'S ROBERT'S, UM, STATEMENT THERE, IF IT IS THE HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE SIDEWALK, IF SOMEBODY, IF SHE TRIPPED AND FELL OR HER NEIGHBOR TRIPPED AND FELL, WHO GETS SUED? AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? BECAUSE WE COVER FROM, THERE'S AN EASEMENT TOO.

SO,

[00:35:01]

CORRECT.

THEY WOULD SUE THE COUNTY AND PROBABLY SUE THE HOMEOWNER.

BOTH.

UM, IT'S A LITTLE GRAY IN THERE.

COUNTY CODE SAYS THAT THAT SIDEWALK RESPONSIBILITY IS ON THE HOMEOWNER.

THE COUNTY CODE SAYS THAT.

MR. BENNETT, UM, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, I JUST THOUGHT OF ANOTHER QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT WAS THAT YEAR AGO, WE PASSED THE LEGISLATION THAT GAVE YOU ALL PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN VACANT AND UNSAFE PROPERTIES AND THEN PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY OWNER FOR THE COST OF THE TEAR DOWN.

UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, LIKE, IN EXPANDING YOUR ABILITY, IF, IF YOU SEND A LETTER THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, OR THIS WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE SIDEWALK AND IT, IT SITS UNDONE AFTER SO MANY NOTICES, COULD YOU THEN DO THE WORK AND PUT A LIEN ON THE THE PROPERTY OWNER'S, UH, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAXES TO COVER THE COSTS? WE, WE DO HAVE THAT ABILITY NOW FOR SIDEWALKS AND FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES WHERE THE HOAS DON'T DO THEIR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT MAINTENANCE.

SO WE HAVE THAT ABILITY IN THE CODE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT.

HOW OFTEN DOES THAT GET, UH, UTILIZED? HAPPENS FOR, FOR SIDEWALKS? NOT MUCH.

WE REALLY TRY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO GET THEM TO DO THEIR SIDEWALKS.

UM, SO NOT A LOT ON THE SIDEWALK SIDE, ON THE HOA SIDE FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE, WE'RE SEEING THAT MORE AND MORE WE'RE TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN MAKING SURE THE HOAS DO THEIR, DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND, AND INVEST IN THOSE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITIES.

THE, THE VEGETATION IS NORMALLY, LIKE THE, THE GRASS CUTTING IS THE MOST COMMON ONE THAT I SIGN OFF ON ALSO.

I JUST THINK SOME, LIKE THINKING ABOUT MY, MY SCHOOL TEACHER HAT, UH, IF YOU MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF THE ONE KID WHO'S TALKING WHILE YOU'RE TALKING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REST OF THE KIDS REALIZE, OH, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT.

UH, YOU KNOW, IF YOU MAKE, UH, ONE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING UNSAFE SIDEWALKS AND PUBLICIZE THAT, MAYBE OTHER COMMUNITIES GO, OH, WE NEED TO GET ON TOP OF THAT.

UM, BUT JUST A THOUGHT, MR. JAN.

ONE LAST THING.

I, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A COUPLE ISSUES WITH SOME OF THE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS HAVEN'T HAD HOAS.

THEY'VE HAD STORM WATER MANAGEMENTS.

WE'VE GONE IN COUNTIES, GONE IN REMEDY, REMEDIED THE PROBLEM, PAY THE MONEY, AND THEN PUT EVERYBODY A LOT OF, BUT A LOT OF THOSE GROUPS ALSO DID NOT WANT TO GET HOAS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SIGN UP BACK FOR HOAS, AND THEN THE, THE COST GETS PUT ON THEM.

SO, UM, IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU, YOU SHOULD LOOK TO SEE ABOUT YOUR OAI KNOW YOU DON'T, MIGHT NOT WANT HAPPEN, BUT OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA, YOU WERE GONNA PAY FOR IT AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THEIR TAXES.

LIKE WE'VE, WE'VE DONE.

AND, AND WE DID HAVE A QUITE AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ON ONE OR TWO OF THOSE BEFORE.

SO, AND, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WITH REGARD TO THE, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE THE CODE GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE SIDEWALKS AND FIX 'EM AND BILL 'EM IN THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.

IT IS NOT IN OUR BUSINESS MODEL OR OUR INTENTION TO WANT TO DO THAT.

UH, THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS THERE, THAT IS THE FALLBACK POSITION FOR, UH, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AND, AND THE COUNTY CODE.

SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY TIME WHEN WE STEP IN, UH, WE DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THE PROBLEM, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

UH, WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND IF I COULD JUST ADD YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENTS ABOUT THE CCL AND FIX, I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU, AND YOU CAN REMIND YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION HAS A VERY SIMILAR ONLINE REPORTING FEATURE FOR STATE ROADS.

AND AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT IF IT HAS A NUMBER, IT'S A STATE ROAD.

IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A NUMBER, IT'S ONE OF OUR ROADS.

SO I'LL SEND THAT LINK TO YOU AS WELL AS IF YOU HAVE, DON'T HAVE IT ALREADY, CAN YOU ADD YOU REACH OUT TO THEM? CAN YOU ADVOCATE? I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON THIS ROAD OUT HERE ON ROUTE ONE IN BEL AIR FOR FIVE YEARS, GETTING THEM TO REPAVE IT.

NOW, I WAS ALSO PROMISED THAT THEY WERE GONNA REPAVE IT.

I TALKED TO THE STATE HIGHWAY PERSON AND SHE SAYS, OH YEAH, IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE REPAVED.

AND THEN SHE GOT BACK TO ME AND SHE SAID, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO REPAVE IT.

THEY'RE GONNA EITHER MICRO RESURFACE IT OR, OR JUST PATCH IT.

WHICH I WAS, YOU KNOW, NOT HAPPY AFTER BEING TOLD FOR YEARS.

IT'S ON THE, IT'S ON THE DOCKET TO REPAVE WHERE THE REST OF ROUTE ONE IS BEING STRIPPED AND REPAVED, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING OUT HERE IN BEL AIR, IN, IN THE HEART OF BEL AIR.

UP AND DOWN.

SEEMS LIKE I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS CAN ADVOCATE, BUT I, I'M A LITTLE BIT, UM, UH, I'M A LOT UPSET ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND I, I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO DO IT NOW.

NOW THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY'RE GONNA DO IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA RIP IT UP.

THEY'RE JUST GONNA PATCH IT, WHICH WAS DONE PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO, FOUR

[00:40:01]

YEARS AGO TOO.

THAT ISSUE.

AND OTHER ISSUES WE BRING UP TO STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AT THE LEAST EVERY QUARTER, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAD SET UP WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AT, AT HIS URGING, UM, THAT WE MEET WITH DISTRICT FOUR, THEIR MAINTENANCE FOLKS, THEIR ENGINEERING FOLKS, OR TRAFFIC FOLKS EVERY QUARTER, REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE.

AND WE HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP ALONG WITH SOME OTHER, SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN LAGGING IN THE STATES WORLD.

SO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, I THINK COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS.

WE'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SEE IF WE CAN PUSH A LITTLE HARDER OR, OR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE IN THE ASK MODE.

UH, BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING IT UP.

I'LL SEND A LETTER BACK TO THE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT, THANK YOU, MR. PARRISH.

SO I HAVE A, A TWO PART QUESTION.

UH, IT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY, YOU KNOW, LEAN AND GREEN WITH, UH, 18 EMPLOYEES.

UM, SO YOUR TEMPORARY SALARIES THOUGH HAS GONE FROM 1 22 UP TO, YOU KNOW, 392,000.

SO A 270,000 INCREASE IN TWO YEARS.

IT APPEARS TO BE FOR SHA LIAISON AND A TRANSIT FLEET COORDINATOR.

SO FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION IS, ARE THOSE TEMPORARY SAL SALARIES ALSO FUNDED BY THE HIGHWAYS FUND AND NOT WHAT PAGE? UH, 4 0 5.

COST CENTER THREE OR 3, 2 10 ACTUALLY.

AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO BACK TO PAGE 4 0 1, YOU SEE THE WHOLE HIGHWAY DIVISION, I THINK YOU JUST ONE DIVISION THERE.

UM, SO BECAUSE THERE'S 157 EMPLOYEES UNDER HIGHWAYS, SO, UM, YEAH.

BUT THEN, YEAH, SO THERE'RE YOUR TEMPORARY SALARIES, WHAT, FROM 1 22 UP TO 4 81? SO EVEN QUITE A BIT MORE SIGNIFICANT, BUT YEAH, THAT, BUT THOSE, THOSE IN PARTICULAR DESCRIBED ON THE PAGE BEFORE, IT SAYS WHAT IT'S FOR, AND IT, IT APPEARS TO BE BASICALLY FOR THE SHA LIAISON AND PROJECT COORDINATOR WITH TREES TRANSIT AND FLEET MANAGEMENT.

SO THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION WAS HOW ARE THEY FUNDED? AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT WAS, UH, JUST IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE POSITIONS DO AND WHAT BENEFIT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING WITH THE QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO YES.

TO THE HIGHWAYS FUND, YES.

UM, THE, THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD, UM, AS PART OF OUR STATE HIGHWAY LIAISON STAFF IS, UH, JIM PORTS WHO RETIRED, UH, FROM THE, AS DIRECTOR OF TRANS, EXCUSE ME, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION FOR, UH, FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND, UH, A HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENT.

TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

AND HE IS GRACIOUS ENOUGH, ALTHOUGH HE'S RETIRED TO, UH, WORK WITH US 20 HOURS A WEEK, UH, TO GIVE US NOT ONLY INSIGHTS INTO HELPING US DO THE JOB THAT WE ALREADY DO, BUT HE ALSO HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH DECISION MAKERS, UH, ANNAPOLIS, UH, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND OTHERS, UH, THAT HAVE REALLY HELPED US, UH, NOT ONLY US ON THE PRODUCTION SIDE, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION ON A, UH, POLICY AND DECISION, UH, METHODOLOGY.

SO THAT, THAT VALUE HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

UH, I, I THINK FOR US.

AND THE, UH, THE OTHER LIAISON OR COORDINATOR PERSON, UH, IS A GENTLEMAN WHO ALSO, UH, UH, CAME OUT OF STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND HE'S OUR, OUR PRIMARY ASSISTANT OR PRIMARY FACILITATOR OF THOSE COORDINATION MEETINGS BECAUSE HE'S, I'LL CALL IT, HE'S THE STAFF LEVEL LIAISON, WHEREAS JIM PORTS IS MORE THE, UH, THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT LEVEL.

SO, UH, THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS WERE SET UP IN A, IN A WAY THAT, UH, GIVES US SOME REALLY GREAT ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGEABLE FOLKS THAT HELP US DO OUR JOBS, TO COORDINATE ON ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NO DIRECT CONTROL OVER THAT BEING WHAT THE STATE DOES WITH THEIR BUDGET AND THE STATE DOES WITH THEIR PROJECTS AND SO ON.

BUT BY HAVING THEIR EAR AND HAVING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE A MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE HIGHWAY, UH, AND MDTA, THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THE I 95 WIDENING AND MARYLAND 24, THEN WE HAVE, AT LEAST IN THE NINE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE THINK IT'S TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THE COUNTY.

TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT THOUGH, UM, IN OTHER WORDS, I, I'M ASSUMING, AND I'M HOPING WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING, WE HAVE MORE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEM THAN WAITING FOR QUARTERLY REPORTS OR QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.

SO MR. ANO COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THEM TO MAYBE INCLUDE HIS CONCERNS TO MR. PORTS OR WHOEVER RIGHT.

DIRECTLY SO THAT HE COULD TAKE IT TO THE STATE.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT.

WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.

UH, FROM OTHER INQUIRIES FROM CITIZENS OR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OR FROM YOU ALL.

ABSOLUTELY.

CAN WE SET UP A MEETING THEN WITH HIM? 'CAUSE I MEAN, I, I'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT THIS HASN'T GOTTEN DONE, AND, AND THE LAST TIME THEY DID IT, THEY, THEY ONLY PATCHED IT AS WELL.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS PLUS SINCE THAT ROAD HAS GOTTEN FIXED.

AND IT, IT'S AWFUL.

I, I MEAN, THEY, AND THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME FOR THE FIRST,

[00:45:01]

LET ME FINISH.

THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN I TOLD 'EM THERE WAS A PROBLEM LIKE THREE YEARS AGO, THEY KEPT SAYING, NO, NO, NO.

THEY FINALLY CAME OUT AND LOOKED, THEY FOUND THE MANHOLE COVER, UH, THE MANHOLE COVER WAS BROKEN, AND THEY HAD TO GO AND FABRICATE A WHOLE MANHOLE COVER.

AND THE ONLY REASON I KNEW IT WAS BROKE, I'D RIDE OVER IT ALL THE TIME.

BUT I HAD PEOPLE FILING CLAIMS THAT THEIR, THEIR RIMS WERE GETTING BENT FROM THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S THE WORST PATCHWORK JOB IN, IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

BUT EVERYTHING AROUND HAS BEEN REPAVED, I THINK.

I, I NOT TO BEAT A HORSE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT.

THEY'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND SET SOMETHING UP.

AND, UM, LISTENING TO MY COUNCIL ATTORNEY, SHE WANTS US TO STAY ON POINT, UH, WITH BUDGET ISSUES, , SO THEY'RE NOT HERE WORK SESSION, SO THAT WE'RE NOT HERE THREE DAYS MUCH WORK SESSION PEOPLE.

I'M JUST SAYING, MR. ETT, I WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH MR. PARISH'S COMMENT.

UM, JUST, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SITTING HERE AND READING THE BOOKLET THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME.

AND I HAD A CHANCE TO READ THAT A FEW DAYS AGO.

AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF IT, BUT IF I LOOK AT PAGE 4 0 9, HAVING THE POSITION TITLES, AND I ONLY TOOK ONLY THE ONES WITH, YOU KNOW, ONE EMPLOYEE IN EACH AREA, SAY IT WAS A SIMPLE MATH THAT I COULD DO, BUT APPEAR APPEARS TO ME FROM 2024 TO 2025 TO 26 BUDGET, EVERYONE'S GETTING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR TO 6% RACES EACH TIME.

WHAT METHODOLOGIES DO YOU USE TO DETERMINE WHAT RACES INDIVIDUAL MIGHT GETTING? AND ALSO IS THAT BASED ON THE INFLATION WHERE REVENUE INCREASES THAT YOU FORESEE HAPPENING? SO HOW, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ? YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT BECAUSE IT, IT PRETTY MUCH APPLIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, NOT JUST IN DPW HIGHWAYS.

SO, UM, WE, WE TRY TO PROVIDE COLAS EACH YEAR AND WE TO THE, TO THE, UM, ABILITY THAT WE CAN, WE'D LIKE TO TIE THAT TO THE ACTUAL CPI OR THE INFLATION RATE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR, OR FOR, FOR THIS BUDGET, FY 26, THE COUNTY'S PROVIDING A 3% COLA AND A $1,000 MERIT INCREASE TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

UM, AND I BELIEVE LAST YEAR WE DID, WAS IT A ONE PLUS ONE? YEAH, IT WAS A 1%.

IT WAS A 1% COLA AND A $1,000 MERIT INCREASE.

MS. LEDGE, GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.

SO ON PAGE 4 0 4 AND PAGE 4 0 7, UH, FOR THE COLA INCREASE OR ADJUSTMENT IN THE MERIT INCREASE, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOES THAT REPRESENT ON 4 0 4.

SO PAGE 4 0 4, OH, I'M SORRY.

IF YOU FLIP OVER ONE MORE TO 4 0 5, YOU SEE THE, UM, THE STAFF CHART THERE.

SO THE, THE COLA WOULD APPLY TO THOSE 18 EMPLOYEES.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO APPLY THE COLA, UM, JUST THE COLA ON THE TEMPORARY SALARIES AS WELL.

AND THEN IF YOU, UM, CONTINUE ON, SO THE, THE, UH, COLA AMOUNT ON PAGE 4 0 7, THAT TIES INTO THE STAFF CHART ON PAGE 4 0 9.

SO THERE'S 137, UH, PINNED EMPLOYEES THERE THAT THAT APPLIES TO.

SO I MEAN, AS A, AS A GENERAL, YEAH, THE, THE COLA WILL APPLY TO, TO ANYONE, UM, UH, EXCEPT FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIKE THEIR, THEIR SALARY SET IN LAW.

UM, SO THOSE ARE GENERALLY YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR, OR, OR THINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE MERIT INCREASE, NORMALLY YOU HAVE TO BE HERE FOR A FULL YEAR, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, UM, YOU, NOT A, UH, A SATISFACTORY REVIEW.

SO IF YOU WERE JUST HIRED TODAY, UM, YOU WOULD GET THE COLA ON JULY, BUT YOU WOULD NOT GET THE MERIT.

BUT IF YOU WERE HIRED, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO, THEN YOU WOULD GET THE COLA AND THE MERIT ASSUMING YOU HAD A GOOD REVIEW.

SO THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE ON PAGE 4 0 5 ARE ALL ELIGIBLE IS, SO WE'RE SAYING THAT ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE, IN ESSENCE, ALL EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE, AND AS, AS ROBBIE SAID, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A, UM, YOU KNOW, MEETS EXPECTATIONS, SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, THEN THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE, THE MERIT PORTION.

AND AS LONG AS THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.

AND, AND, AND WE AGREE AND, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, WE MADE THE REQUEST FOR THE ADDITIONAL ONE FULL ADDITIONAL CREW FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR FROM OUR, OUR TREE TRIMMING CONTRACTOR.

SO WE, SO THERE COULD VERY WELL BE SOMEBODY WHO'S, YOU KNOW, LEAVES TODAY AND WE, YOU KNOW, HIGHER THEY, SO IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT FLUID.

FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT IT'S A GENERAL RULE.

UH, ON YOUR TREE REMOVAL FOR I I SEE AN, UH, 528,000, I, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE ENOUGH IN THAT BUDGET.

IF YOU GET DOWN TO THESE EARTH AND ROADS AND THE, UH, ONES IN THE RURAL AREAS, I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME ASH TREES ON SOME OF THESE ROADS THAT ARE PROBABLY THREE FEET ACROSS THAT ARE DEAD AND JUST WAITING TO FALL DOWN.

AND, UH, I, I KNOW IT'LL COST MORE IF THEY FALL DOWN BEFORE YOU GET 'EM CUT DOWN.

AND, UH, THAT, THAT'S, UH,

[00:50:02]

JUST EXACTLY FOR THE PURPOSE THAT YOU MENTIONED, THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS, WE, WE CALL IT PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE KNOW THE AREAS THAT, UH, THOSE TREES ARE IN A CONDITION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FALL SOON.

THEY'RE FALL AND E EVEN WITHOUT ONE OF THE WINDSTORMS LIKE WE HAD GONE THROUGH BEFORE.

SO, UH, WE ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THOSE TREE TRIMMING CREWS IN EACH OF OUR FOUR DISTRICTS, AND THAT'S HOW THEY COVER IT.

AND IN THIS REQUEST, WE ARE ASKING FOR, UH, FOR ONE MORE CREW THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO THE, I GUESS THE, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AREAS THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO IN, IN THE PAST.

SO THA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT BECAUSE I'M GLAD YOU HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING.

'CAUSE WE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TOO.

AND, AND ALSO I, I DON'T KNOW THE TREE TRIMMING CREWS THAT YOU HAVE THERE, BUT SOMETIMES THE, THE WORK DAY'S PRETTY SHORT FOR SOME OF THOSE CREWS.

AND I JUST WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THAT PART OF IT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE A SUPERVISOR WITH THEM OR YOU JUST DEPEND UPON THEM TO DO THEIR WORK.

UM, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

YEAH, USUALLY THERE'S SUPERVISION OF, OF THE, THE ASHLAND CRUISE.

TO, AND, UM, TAKE CARE OF ISSUES.

AND JUST MR TIPS, JUST A FOLLOW UP.

SO THE 5 28 IS, IS THE INCREASE, BUT THE TOTAL FOR NEXT YEAR FOR TREE TRIMMING IS 3,168,000.

UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, UM, CULVERTS ACROSS THESE ROADS WITH, WE GET SOME STORMS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I LIVE ON OLD LEVEL ROAD AND THAT ROAD, EVERY TIME WE GET A STORM, IT'S COVERED WITH WATER AND SOMEBODY HAS TO COME DOWN AND PUT ROAD CLOSED IN FRONT OF IT.

RIGHT WHERE IT COMES ACROSS MY PROPERTY THERE.

THEY REPLACED THAT CULVERT, I'M GONNA SAY LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO.

BUT IT'S NOT LARGE ENOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE WORKS FOR THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT ROAD GETS CLOSED AND WE'VE GOT MORE TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD NOW THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

SO CROSS CULVERTS ON RURAL ROADS ARE A CHALLENGE NO MATTER WHAT, UH, THOSE ROADS WERE BUILT SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, PIPES WERE PUT IN JUST BIG ENOUGH TO KEEP 'EM FROM STAYING SOGGY AND WET.

UH, AND THE GROUND LINE OF WHERE THE ROAD IS IS NOT MUCH HIGHER THAN THE FLOOD PLANE AROUND IT.

I AGREE.

SO THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS TO TRULY BUILD A LARGE ENOUGH CULVERT TO CARRY ALL THE WATER FROM WHATEVER RAINSTORM MIGHT COME, IS NOT JUST A BIGGER CULVERT, IT'S A LONGER ROAD.

IT'S A HIGHER ROAD.

SO WHAT WE LOOK AT WHEN WE GET THE COMPLAINTS OR WE GET THE CONCERNS, WE LOOK AT THOSE ROADS THAT ARE, UH, ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT, THEY GET A LITTLE MORE PRIORITY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE FOLKS THAT MIGHT WIND UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THAT ROAD CLOSURE ARE GONNA BE A PROBLEM.

OTHERS THAT HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DETOURS TO GET TO STATE ROADS THAT HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN BUILT HIGH ENOUGH AND LARGE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE.

UH, BUT WE'RE AWARE OF THOSE PROBLEM AREAS JUST AS YOU ARE.

UH, BECAUSE OUR FOLKS ARE IN EACH OF THOSE DISTRICTS AND ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO BE ABLE TO, UH, MAKE WHATEVER IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN WITH THE, UH, THE LIMITED GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE GROUND, UH, AND HOW MUCH, UH, HOW MUCH RAINFALL COMES DOWN THAT HAS TO FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH THOSE CULVERTS.

SO WE, WE CAN, I MEAN, IT'S USUALLY TWO OR THREE, THREE TIMES A YEAR AT LEAST, YOU KNOW.

UNDERSTOOD.

SUMMER TIMES WORSE WHEN YOU GET THIS THUNDERSTORM.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. TIBS.

UH, COUNSEL, ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS? CITIZENS? I'M SORRY, MR. BENNETT.

SORRY.

JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU WERE SHARING ABOUT THAT FIFTH CREW YOU'RE GETTING FOR TREE REMOVAL, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SPECIFIC AREAS IN MIND YOU'RE HOPING TO SEE THEM GET TO IN THE NEXT, UH, BUDGET YEAR.

COULD YOU SPEAK TO MAYBE JUST SOME OF THOSE GENERAL AREAS, UH, FOR JUST PUBLIC CONSUMPTION TO KNOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT TREE REMOVAL WORK DONE, THAT PREVENTATIVE WORK? WELL, I THINK, I THINK IT'S COUNTYWIDE.

I MEAN, THERE'S, LIKE JOE SAID, THERE'S A, A CREW ASSIGNED TO EACH DISTRICT.

THERE'S A CREW ASSIGNED TO OUR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CREW, BUT THIS ADDITIONAL CREW JUST GIVES US EXTRA, EXTRA MANPOWER TO TAKE CARE OF THE BACKLOG.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC PRIORITY AREAS THOUGH? UM, CERTAINLY THE DEVELOPED AREAS WHERE, WHERE TRAFFIC'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IS A LITTLE HIGHER IN PRIORITY, BUT THE ISSUE IS COUNTYWIDE AGAIN, THE BIG TREES IN NORTH PART OF THE COUNTY, SMALL ROADS ARE STILL AN ISSUE THAT WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF.

SO, UM, BASICALLY IT JUST GIVES US MORE POWER, MORE MANPOWER

[00:55:01]

DOES ANY OF THAT WORK GO INTO INVASIVE VINE REMOVAL? 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT CAN LEAD TO TREES BASICALLY CHOKING AND THEM BECOMING DEAD TREES THAT FALL.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROACTIVE PROGRAM FOR INVASIVE VINES.

CORRECT.

THANK YOU MR. BENNETT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO CAPITAL THEN.

AND IF I, GLEN GLEN'S GONNA UH, GIVE YOU A BRIEFING ON CAPITAL REAL QUICK THOUGH, ABOUT WOODLEY.

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT WHERE WE ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FY 26 OLD PYLESVILLE ROAD, UH, BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

JUST TO JUMP ON WHAT JOE SAID, WE ARE, OH, TELL ME ANYTHING DIFFERENT BUT NEGATIVE .

WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY, CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ONLY BECAUSE THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN, UH, LIGHTLY PUT A CHALLENGE GETTING TO THIS POINT.

GLEN NOT ONLY MANAGES THE GROUP IS THE PROJECT ENGINEER FOR THAT JOB.

AND, UH, YEAH, SEE STEVE, YOU JUST BURST MY BUBBLE.

GLEN'S NOT GONNA DO THAT.

UH, GLENN, HE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS HIGHWAY ENGINEERING DIVISION AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE HIGHWAY'S CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH ENTAILS THE BRIDGES, THE ROADS, AND, UH, RESURFACING PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY.

I'LL START WITH BRIDGES.

UM, WE HAVE 227 BRIDGES AS IT WAS MENTIONED, THAT ARE COUNTY MAINTAINED IN FISCAL YEAR 26.

WE ARE PROPOSING FUNDING FOR A TOTAL OF 12 COUNTY BRIDGE PROJECTS AND FOUR ONGOING CAPITAL BRIDGE PROGRAMS. I'LL START AND GO THROUGH EACH ITEM STARTING WITH ABINGTON ROAD BRIDGE 1 69 OVER TO THE CSX RAILROAD.

THIS IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONSISTING OF A NEW 215 FOOT LONG SINGLE SPAN BRIDGE.

UH, THE COUNTY WAS AWARDED AN IIJA GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $15 MILLION, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A HUNDRED PERCENT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO MATCH, TO PROVIDE MATCH FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDING FOR THE GRANT.

UH, PREVIOUS BUDGET CYCLES WE HAD BEEN AWARDED, UH, CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS AS WELL.

MOVING ON TO AYERS CHAPEL ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT COUNTY FUNDS, UH, REQUESTING 550,000 IN FY 26 BRIDGING CULVERT REHABILITATION.

THIS CAPITAL PROGRAM ALLOWS DPW TO REPAIR MULTIPLE BRIDGE AND CULVERT STRUCTURES USING OUR HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FORCES OR OPEN-END CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.

WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 1.2 MILLION FOR THIS PROGRAM IN FY 26 RIDGE INSPECTION OVER 20 FEET.

UH, THE CAPITAL PROGRAM CONSISTS OF BRIDGES OVER 20 FEET IN LENGTH, IS A HUNDRED PERCENT FEDERALLY FUNDED.

BRIDGE INSPECTION.

HELPS THE ENGINEERING STAFF IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS ON COUNTY BRIDGE STRUCTURES AND PRIORITIZE THE BRIDGE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS.

WE'RE REQUESTING $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS IN FISCAL YEAR 26 BRIDGE AND SCOUR ROAD REPAIRS.

THIS CAPITAL PROGRAM IS USED TO REPAIR STREAM BANK EROSION ADJACENT TO ROADWAYS AND THE UNDERMINING OF BRIDGE ABUTMENTS AND FEAR CAUSED BY CUMULATIVE DAMAGE FROM SMALL STORMS AND THE SEVERE DAMAGE FROM MAJOR STORM EVENTS.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 250,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM IN FY 26 BOGGS ROAD BRIDGE.

THIS IS A COUNTY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT, WHICH WE ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FY 26 COLUMN ROAD BRIDGE.

ANOTHER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT WHERE WE ARE REQUESTING $450,000 IN FY 26 WE'RE NURSERY ROAD BRIDGE, A FEDERALLY FUNDED BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

UH, WE ARE RE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF 2.2 OR TWO $2,250,000 IN FY 26, WHICH WOULD FUND A PORTION OF CONSTRUCTION WITH THE BALANCE OF THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS FUNDED IN 2027 LAUREL BUSH ROAD CULVERT.

UH, THIS PROJECT IS TO REPLACE SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING CULVERT ON LAUREL BUSH ROAD OVER A TRIBUTARY TO NUM RUN, REQUESTING A $600,000 IN FY 26 MADONNA ROAD BRIDGE.

THIS IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED

[01:00:01]

WE ARE REQUESTING 400,000 AND FY 26 RUSH ROAD, ANOTHER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FY 26 SCARBOROUGH ROAD BRIDGE ONE 40.

THIS BRIDGE CARRYING SCARBOROUGH ROAD OVER AT TRIBUTARY TO DEER CREEK WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW STRUCTURE WITH CONSTRUCTION.

AN ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER.

WE HAVE COMPLETED LAND ACQUISITION AND INQUIRED ALL THE LAND FOR THE PROJECT.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF $1,100,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION IN FY 26 DANFORD ROAD BRIDGE 1 62, UH, REQUESTING $200,000 IN FY 26 STRUCTURAL EVALUATION.

THIS CAPITAL PROGRAM PROVIDES CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE EVALUATION AND DESIGN OF REPAIRS TO BRIDGES AND CULVERTS AND MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURES.

WE REQUEST A TOTAL OF 50,005 TOLLGATE ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT.

UH, THIS IS A CULVERT ON TOLLGATE ROAD NEAR WINTER'S RUN GOLF COURSE ON THE NORTH SECTION OF TOLLGATE ROAD.

UH, VERY OLD STRUCTURE THAT HAS HAD SOME ISSUES OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE A, UH, CAPITAL PROJECT TO REPLACE THE CULVERT REQUESTING 50,000.

ALRIGHT, WITH THAT I'LL MOVE OVER TO THE ROADS.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 1092 MILES IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE COUNTY MAINTAINED.

WE ARE PROPOSING FUNDING FOR EIGHT CAPITAL ROAD PROJECTS AND CONTINUING FUNDING FOR NINE ONGOING CAPITAL ROAD PROGRAMS. SO, GLENN, THIS IS 3 0 4.

UH, YES.

OKAY, I'LL START WITH, UH, BEL AIR SOUTH PARKWAY OF BRUCE BRUCE DRIVE.

THIS PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC AND SAFETY.

IT'S TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CAPACITY.

AT THIS INTERSECTION WE ARE REQUESTING FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,550,000.

550,000 IS TO PROVIDE AN INTERIM MEASURE AND ADVANCED DESIGN OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

UH, THE REMAINING 1 MILLION IS FOR POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPERS FOR A SOLUTION AT THIS INTERSECTION.

OKAY, LEMME FINISH.

I'LL GET HIM AT END.

HERBS, SIDEWALKS AND HANDICAP RAMPS.

THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED CURBS, SIDEWALKS, AND HANDICAP RAMPS, AS WELL AS THE INSTALLATION OF NEW SIDEWALKS TO INTERCONNECT COMMUNITIES, TOOLS AND COMMERCIAL AREAS.

WE ARE REQUESTING 700,000 IN FY 26 DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS AN ONGOING CAPITAL PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ROADWAY DRAINAGE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE THE, UH, SOME PROJECTS IN THE BOX HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING $150,000 IN FY 26 WRAPPED IN SHOP ROAD AT MARYLAND ROUTE 23 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

THE PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CAPACITY AT THIS INTERSECTION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW ROUNDABOUT, THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IS ADMINISTERING THE PROJECT, WHICH HARPER COUNTY PROVIDING 10% OF THE PROJECT COSTS.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING $50,000 IN FY 26 GUARDRAILS, A CAPITAL PROGRAM TO INSTALL GUARDRAILS WHERE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ARE WARRANTED AND TO REPAIR DAMAGED GUARDRAILS REQUESTING $150,000 IN FY 26 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS IS A CAPITAL PROGRAM TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CAPACITY AND SAFETY AT INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THIS WILL INCLUDE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF FUTURE ROUNDABOUTS ROAD WIDENING TO ADD ADDITIONAL LANES AT INTERSECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE SITE DISTANCE AT INTERSECTIONS.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING $800,000 IN FY 26 MARYLAND ROUTE 1 52 AT MARYLAND.

ROUTE 1 47 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS, UH, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION, SHA PROJECT, UH, FUNDING IS

[01:05:01]

PROVIDED.

WE ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FY 26, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED POSSIBLE COUNTY CON CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT AT THIS INTERSECTION.

NEW ROADS AND STORM DRAINS.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL REQUEST TO UPGRADE EXISTING COUNTY ROADWAYS WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DEVELOPERS.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN FY 26, WHICH WOULD BE DEVELOPER FINDING STEPNEY ROAD AT MARYLAND ROUTE SEVEN INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.

UH, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IS ADMINISTERING.

UH, ON THIS PROJECT, THE COUNTY HAS COLLECTED, UH, FUNDING FROM DEVELOPERS.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING 50,000 IN FY 26, UH, WITH DEVELOPER FUNDING STORM DRAIN REHABILITATION.

THIS IS A COUNTY PROGRAM TO ASSIST DPW IN MAKING REPAIRS TO THE 288 MILES OF STORM DRAIN PIPE THAT IS CURRENTLY MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY.

WE'RE REQUESTING $350,000 STREET STREETLIGHTS.

THIS IS AN ONGOING CAPITAL PROGRAM TO REPAIR DAMAGED STREETLIGHTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE UPGRADE OF STREETLIGHTS TO LED.

WE ARE REQUESTING 550,000 IN FY 26 COLGATE ROAD BA ROAD CORRIDOR, A PROJECT TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON THE TOLLGATE ROAD BARREL ROAD CORRIDOR, REQUESTING $450,000 IN TWO 20 IN 2026.

TRAFFIC CALMING BICYCLE AND ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE FOR ROAD SAFETY, BICYCLE LANES AND TRAFFIC COMMON DEVICES SUCH AS SPEED HUMPS AND CHOKERS, UH, REQUESTING $150,000.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS IS AN ONGOING CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE COUNTY.

REQUESTING $135,000 TRIMBLE ROAD.

UH, WE ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS SEGMENT OF THE ROADWAY WASHINGTON COURT ACCESS ROAD, WHICH IS WILL BE NAMED IVANHOE STREET.

THIS IS A NEW ACCESS ROAD FOR ATHLETIC FACILITIES OFF OF CEDAR DRIVE.

THE ROAD IS CON IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER AND WE ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARDS THAT IN FY 26 WOODLEY ROAD.

AS, AS MANY OF YOU'RE AWARE, THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF EXTENDING WOODLEY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET FROM ITS CURRENT, CURRENT TERMINUS ACROSS ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND PROPERTY AND CONNECTING TO MARYLAND ROUTE SEVEN 15 TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE ACCESS TO THE PER AND PENINSULA.

AND IN FY 26, WE ARE REQUESTING $6 MILLION, UH, TO GO TOWARDS THE NECESSARY UTILITY RELOCATIONS.

UH, THAT'S IT FOR THE ROADWAYS, BUT I WILL TOUCH BASE REALLY QUICKLY ON PCIA ROAD.

SINCE THE PROJECT WAS BROUGHT UP, WE DIDN'T REQUEST FUNDS IN FY 26 BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS FUNDED AT THIS TIME.

WE'VE HAD CHALLENGES WITH DETERMINING THE EXISTING RIGHTS OF WAY AND, UH, THERE'S BEEN SOME UTILITY WORK THAT WAS ADDED TO THE CONTRACT, WHICH HAS RESULTED SOME DIFFICULTIES, MAINLY WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT PLA DEVELOPMENT.

SO THESE HAVE CALLED SOME DELAYS TO THE PROJECT.

UH, THERE ARE ABOUT 41 PROPERTIES THAT NEED TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS AWAYS OR EASEMENTS FOR.

WE DO ANTICIPATE BEGINNING THE LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS, UH, THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY THIS SUMMER.

WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO THE ROAD RESURFACING, WHICH I GUESS IS ON PAGE THREE 30.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 700 MILES OF ROADS WITH AN ASPHALT SURFACE THAT OUR COUNTY MAINTAINED, WHICH THE ROAD COULD RESURFACING.

ROADWAY CAPITAL PROGRAM WILL HANDLE, UH, FUNDING.

ROAD RESURFACING, ASSISTS US IN THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE ROADS AND WE ARE REQUESTING A TOTAL OF $5,006,805 AND FY 26 THAT I'LL MOVE ON TO THE MISCELLANEOUS HIGHWAY BUDGET ITEM ON 3 32.

I'M JUST GONNA

[01:10:01]

TOUCH BASE ON A FEW OF THESE THAT ARE RELATED TO THE HIGHWAY'S DIVISION.

UH, FOR ABINGTON HIGHWAY'S FACILITY, SALT DOME, WE'RE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 IN FY 26 FOR HIGHWAYS FACILITY REPAIR PROGRAM.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL REQUEST TO REPAIR HIGHWAY FACILITIES AND WE'RE REQUESTING $400,000 AND 26 LAND ACQUISITION FOR HIGHWAYS PROJECTS, UH, ARE REQUESTING A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FY 26, UH, VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEM.

WE REQUEST 250,000 IN FY 26.

THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER FOR A POTENTIAL PROJECT AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO STUDY.

SOLUTIONS CONCLUDES.

THANKS GLENN.

UH, BEFORE MR. JANDER DOWN SPEAKS, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR, UM, DUE DILIGENCE AND BRINGING SOME OF THESE RIGHT AWAY AND EASEMENTS TO THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES.

AND I'M AMAZED AT SOMETIMES HOW SMALL THEY ARE, BUT HOW CRITICAL THEY ARE, UH, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO LAYING A BRIDGE OR A ROADWAY, GETTING IT THE RIGHT ANGLE.

I MEAN, SOMETIMES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SQUARE FEET, UH, SOMETIMES WE'RE TALKING AN ACRE OR TWO, BUT MOSTLY THEY'RE VERY SMALL AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO I'M SURE THAT, UH, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL AT PASSA ROAD IN DEW TIME.

MR. JAN, SO GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANKS CLAY.

UM, COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

BEL OR SOUTH PARKWAY BLUE SPRUCE, IS THAT A, UH, CIRCLE? UH, WE ARE STUDYING DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES THAT VERY WELL.

SO HOW LONG OUT ARE WE ON THAT? IS THAT, IS THAT TO ACCOMMODATE IF THEY PUT THAT CHICK-FIL-A THERE? WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER, THE CHICK-FIL-A.

THEY HAVE, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AT THAT INTERSECTION.

WELL THAT ALSO, UM, HELP IF COSTCO GOES IN OR DOES THAT NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT IF COSTCO DOES GO IN RIGHT BETWEEN 9 24 AND, AND 24 OFF OF BLUE SPRUCE, IF THERE'S A, ARE THEY GONNA HAVE AN ENTRANCE IN ON THERE AND THEY'RE GONNA MOVE THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT POT? MAYBE THAT'S TOO MUCH AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.

THE, THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR FOR THE COSTCO DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT CONNECTION DOWN TO BLUE SPURS.

UM, THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT GLEN IS REFERENCING IS WE'RE DOING THOSE REGARDLESS.

WE'RE DOING THOSE BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS OR IMPROVED, UM, OR THE TRAFFIC THAT'S ALREADY THERE NOW.

AND SO THE, UH, WE ARE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, A, A SOLUTION THAT IMPROVES THE INTERSECTION IN THE SHORT RUN AND THEN ONCE THOSE OTHER DETAILS ABOUT DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS BASED ON THEIR TRAFFIC STUDIES OR THEIR REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN, THEN WE WILL MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT MOVING FORWARD.

BUT WE WANTED THE FUNDING TO, TO GET THE BALL ROLLING TO, ON A PROJECT THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO.

SO THIS IS LARGELY ABOUT APPROPRIATION AUTHORITIES.

WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS OF DEVELOPER MONEY, WHICH ISN'T A KNOWN NUMBER, BUT IT'S AGAIN, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE US TO BE ABLE TO START THE WORK AND ALL.

AND HOW FAR OUT IS BEFORE ANYTHING GETS DONE? IS IT TWO YEARS OR A YEAR? IS IT, IS THERE, THERE'S NO TIMEFRAME I GUESS YET AT THIS POINT.

'CAUSE IT'S STILL A STUDY, CORRECT? YES.

WE'RE KIND OF PRELIMINARY AT THIS STAGE AND IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO DESIGN A, AN IMPROVEMENT AT THE INTERSECTION.

AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS WASHINGTON COURT ACCESS ROAD, WHERE IS THAT? THAT'S IN THE EDGEWOOD AREA.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

IS THAT, IS THAT THE ONE THAT GOES INTO COPPER MINE? YEAH.

IT, IT CONNECTS CEDAR DRIVE, WHICH LOOPS AROUND THROUGH THE SCHOOL, UH, AND THE BOYS CLUB.

IT'S A CONNECTOR ROAD FROM CEDAR DRIVE DOWN TO WILLOUGHBY BEACH ROAD.

SO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE IN, IMPROVE THE CIRCULATION TO THAT ENTIRE AREA, NOT JUST SIMPLY WHERE THE COPPER MINE DEVELOPMENT IS.

WE, WE CALLED IT WASHINGTON COURT BECAUSE THAT WAS, IT WAS THE ONLY LANDMARK AROUND THERE, BUT THAT ROAD WHEN IT'S COMPLETED, WILL IMPROVE THE CIRCULATION THROUGHOUT THAT AREA.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

IT'S PROBABLY JUST CONFUSING THAT TWO OF OUR BIG, UH, SPORTS, UH, ATTRACTION AREAS HAVE CEDAR IN THE .

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A TON OF PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY WORKING ON.

I AM CURIOUS IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT 1 47 HARTFORD ROAD.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE INVESTMENT IN THE TRAILS AND A LOT MORE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

UM, BUT THE ONLY THING TO PROTECT THE BICYCLISTS AND THE WALKERS FROM BEING HIT AROUND THAT BEND IS I THINK TWO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING SIGNS.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION OF ADDING A PEDESTRIAN PATH OR EXPANDING THAT BRIDGE? WELL, YOU STUMPED THEM.

[01:15:01]

I'M SORRY.

SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, 1 52 COMING INTO HARTFORD COUNTY.

SO IT'S IT'S HARTFORD ROAD.

SO IT IS COMING INTO HARTFORD COUNTY AND THERE IS A PEDESTRIAN TURNAROUND ON ONE SIDE AND ON BALTIMORE COUNTY.

SO THAT WOULD BE A STATE HIGHWAY PROJECT.

AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ANY IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

BUT WE CAN ASK CERTAINLY IN OUR UPCOMING MEETING IF THERE'S SOME LONG RANGE PROJECT, BUT NOTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD OF.

APPRECIATE IT, MR. BENNETT.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ACCIDENTS THERE AND WHENEVER PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE, IT MAKES EVERYONE VERY NERVOUS.

UNDERSTOOD.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT QUARTERLY MEETING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT AGAIN, WE'RE THE PURPOSE OF THOSE MEETINGS, GET THINGS LIKE THIS ON THEIR RADAR SCREEN THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S OF INTEREST TO US.

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW.

HELLO AGAIN.

UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ALL MY QUESTIONS.

I PROMISE HIGHWAYS IS THIS AND ROADS ARE THE THINGS I HAVE THE MOST QUESTIONS ABOUT.

UM, SO YOU SPOKE SOME TO PASSA ROAD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT ANOTHER QUARTER OF THE YEAR BEHIND WHAT MY LAST UPDATE WAS, WHICH WAS AROUND THIS TIME THINGS WOULD BE GOING OUT.

UM, I THINK THAT'S FOR ME PERSONALLY, UH, AS THE COUNCILMAN WHO REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THAT ROAD, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR ME TO EXPLAIN TO THEM, UH, WHEN I REACH OUT TO FOLLOW UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR, TO SHARE THAT UPDATE.

UM, JUST BECAUSE THEN I'VE SHARED IT WITH YOU BEFORE, THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST AND DISTRUST, UH, AMONGST THE COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY THAT LIVES ON THAT ROAD WHERE THEY SAY IT'S JUST NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

WOULD YOU ALL BE WILLING TO WORK WITH ME TO, UH, TO MEET AND EXPLAIN WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE WITH THE RESIDENTS ON THAT ROAD? UM, JUST TO HELP GIVE THEM, UH, THE, THE GOOD FEELING TO, TO KEEP BEING PATIENT? YES.

WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE WILLING TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PROJECT.

UM, THANK YOU.

AND THEN I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF 1 36 AND SEVEN WHERE, UM, BUSH MILL TAVERN IS, UM, IT'S NOT ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PRIORITY LIST FOR THE STATE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT INTERSECTION AS FAR AS PUTTING IN A LIGHT AND, UM, THE TURN LANE.

UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY STATE HIGHWAY AS NEEDING THE LIGHT IN THE TURN LANE.

UM, AND I DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF TIMELINE OF WHEN WE COULD SEE THAT WORK GET DONE? I DON'T, I COULD JUST GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE.

UH, THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A PROJECT AT THAT INTERSECTION, AS YOU MENTIONED.

THEY'RE DOING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THEY'RE GONNA DO SOME WIDENING.

I THINK IT'S IN THE DESIGN STAGE.

AND THE COUNTY HAS COLLECTED FUNDING FROM DEVELOPERS MM-HMM .

OF JAMES RON AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WHICH WE ARE GONNA PROVIDE TO SHA TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT.

SO WE ARE CONTRIBUTING THE DEVELOPER FUNDING THAT WE'VE COLLECTED TO SHA AND WE HAVE, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF IT, OF ENTERING INTO A LETTER OF AGREEMENT WITH SHA TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THOSE FUNDS.

AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULE FOR THEIR PROJECT, I, I'M NOT AWARE, BUT I CAN BRING IT UP AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING.

UM, THIS IS GONNA SOUND A LITTLE BACKWARDS 'CAUSE NORMALLY I'D BE PUSHING FOR THINGS TO MOVE FASTER, BUT I I REALLY DON'T THINK THE HOOKERS MILL ROAD BRIDGE SHOULD BE REPLACED UNTIL THAT INTERSECTION'S FIXED.

'CAUSE I KNOW PART OF THAT ROAD REPLA OR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON HOOKERS MILL ROAD IS REROUTING PEOPLE TO THAT INTERSECTION.

AND I'VE JUST, I'VE PERSONALLY SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD A LOVED ONE DIE IN A CAR ACCIDENT AT THAT INTERSECTION.

I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE HAD ACCIDENTS AT, AT THAT INTERSECTION.

AND THE IDEA OF REROUTING THAT TRAFFIC FROM HOOKER'S MILL ROAD TO THAT INTERSECTION WITHOUT IT FIRST BEING MADE TO BE SAFE IS VERY, UH, CONCERNING TO ME.

SO I ALMOST THINK IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO EXPEDITE THE WORK TO GET THAT INTERSECTION FIXED, HOOKERS MILL ROAD, UH, BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE PUSHED OUT TO KEEP THAT ROAD FROM BECOMING MORE DANGEROUS.

SO RIGHT NOW THE HOOKERS MILL ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS IS JUST IN THE MIDDLE STAGES OF DESIGN.

UH, AND IT'S A FEDERALLY FUNDED DESIGN PROJECT, WHICH HAS LOT OF SUBVERT, SO IT'S NOT NEAR TO WHERE WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION WITH IT.

WE'D STILL HAVE TO ACQUIRE SOME LAND FOR IT AS WELL.

SO, UH, IT'S NOT FUNDED FOR CONSTRUCTION YET.

AND CERTAINLY WE CAN, AS THE PROJECT ADVANCES, COORDINATE WITH SHA AND SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR PROJECT IS.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, WE HAD MET, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WROTE DOWN THE LANGUAGE YOU USED TO MAKE SURE I GOT THE WORDING RIGHT, BUT YOU SAID FOR THE VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEM, THE $250,000 IS A PLACEHOLDER

[01:20:01]

FOR A POTENTIAL PROJECT.

THE LAST I HAD HEARD IN MEETING WITH YOU ALL WAS THAT, UH, THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION WAS THAT A VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEM IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR US TO PUT INTO PLACE, EVEN THOUGH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET HAD $500,000 SET ASIDE.

SO WHAT IS THE $250,000 IN THIS FY 26 BUDGET FOR, UH, OTHER THAN TO JUST HAVE IT LISTED? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP IT LISTED BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM THERE.

THE DIFFICULTY IS, IS WHAT'S THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND MOST REASONABLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THAT THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

SO WHAT WE, WE WOULD RATHER HAVE THE, THE, THE EYES ON IT, THE, THE VIEW ON IT, THE RECOGNITION THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT TO US.

WE JUST QUITE HONESTLY DON'T KNOW YET WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO.

SO FAR, WE, AS, AS YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD WITH THE, WITH THE GROUP ON, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES AND A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES, MANY OF WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE AND NOT EFFECTIVE.

UH, FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD REACH OUT AND ASK ME AND SAY, SHOW DOES THIS MEAN WE SHOULD SEE VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS IN THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR? WOULD THE ANSWER BE PROBABLY NOT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY NOT.

SEE ANYTHING.

NO, I, I THINK THAT'S A, THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

UM, ARE WE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THE BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT? ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, WHEN WE MET ABOUT VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS, IT HAD BEEN SHARED ABOUT NEW SIGNAGE BEING PUT UP IN THE AREA.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THOSE SIGNS? UH, WE, WE ARE COORDINATING WITH THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ON THE SIGNING.

WE HAD PROVIDED THEM WITH A SIGNING PLAN AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING IT AND WORKING TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

I DON'T, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN ME A A TIMEFRAME FOR THAT AT THIS TIME.

AND THE REASON THAT IT'S IN STATE HIGHWAY'S COURT IS IT'S PRIMARILY TO, TO INFORM THE TRAFFIC THAT'S ON ALREADY ON ROUTE 40.

SO WERE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GLENN AND HIS TEAM PUT TOGETHER WERE SOME MUCH LARGER SIGNS, MUCH MORE COLORFUL SIGNS, MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE ONES TO BE ABLE TO HELP TO DEFLECT, UH, I'LL CALL IT THE ROUTINE, UH, ILLEGAL TRAFFIC THAT'S FINDING ITS WAY ONTO SUHA ROAD.

MEGAN, I'M SORRY, I AM ASKING ABOUT IS AN ISSUE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET? OH, NO, NO.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

NO, NO, NO.

UM, NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

I WOULD'VE STOPPED YOU THERE WAS THE COMMENT FROM MEGAN EARLIER ABOUT STAYING ON TOPIC? NO, NO, NO, NO.

I WOULD'VE STOPPED YOU.

THAT WAS A BUDGET QUESTION.

YOU'RE GOOD.

THIS IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

JUST A NUMBER TO SAY IT EXISTS, COULD, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT NUMBER BE TURNED INTO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS AND THEN THAT $150,000 ACTUALLY BE USED FOR DRAINAGE AND CULVERTS AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMMEDIATE IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES.

250,000 HEIGHT MONITORING, THAT'S A BUDGET .

UM, I, I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE LAUREL BUSH ROAD CULVERT PROJECT AND THE EMPHASIS ON THE BOX HILL COMMUNITY TO TRY AND DO WHAT WE CAN IN OUR, IN OUR ROLE TO HELP WITH THAT FLOODING.

I NOTICED THAT THE BRIDGE ANDRO ROAD CULVERT REHABILITATION FUND IS FLAT YEAR TO YEAR WITH NO SORT OF ACCELERATION.

UM, WHAT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND NOT HAVING A BUILT IN, YOU KNOW, INCREASE EACH YEAR FOR, FOR THAT? JUST BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, LARGER STORMS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF WATER REALLY QUICKLY AND IT STRESSES AND STRAINS OUR CULVERTS ON JUST, UM, NOT HAVING A BUILT-IN ACCELERATOR FOR THAT.

UM, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE JUST KIND OF LOOK AT IT YEAR TO YEAR.

UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING OKAY IN THAT ACCOUNT.

UH, OUR BRIDGE INSPECTION REPORTS COME IN AND THEY DEFINE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO THE BRIDGES.

UH, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE AN A PORTION OF THAT SET ASIDE FOR CULVERT REPAIRS, WHICH IS, IS STEADY AT THE MOMENT.

YOU WANNA ADD SOMETHING? YEAH, I CAN JUST ADD, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO ROBBIE'S POINT ABOUT FUNDING OVERALL.

I MEAN, THERE YOU COULD SEE THE, THE, THE SIZE AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM'S HUGE, RIGHT? SO IF WE ADDED STUFF TO THAT, IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.

SO IT'S JUST A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY NEEDS AND SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE.

SO, YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW, THE HIGHWAYS FUND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN THEIR OWN FUND BALANCE AND THEY HAVE NOT.

UM, WHEREAS THE, THE GENERAL FUND SOMETIMES GETS THESE CRAZY INCOME TAX DISTRIBUTIONS THAT, THAT HELP US ALL OUT.

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF REVENUE VOLATILITY.

IT'S PROPERTY TAX, YOU KNOW, WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET THE, THE HIGHWAY USER.

WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET, BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW A LOT OF TIMES ARE LIKE THE WEIRD WEATHER THINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S A, THERE'S ALMOST NO GOOD VOLATILITY ON THE REVENUE SIDE AND LOTS OF VOLATILITY POTENTIALLY ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE.

WOULD THE $250,000 AT A SIDE TO UM, KEEP, UH, VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS LISTED IN THE BUDGET, IS THAT COMING FROM THE HIGHWAY WASTE FUND? YES.

SO IF IT'S, IF IT'S

[01:25:01]

AND YOU CAN KEEP VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS LISTED AS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET, BUT OPEN UP SOME MONEY TO GO TOWARDS THE THINGS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, FLOODING PEOPLE'S BASEMENTS AND, UH, AND MAKING THEIR CARS FLOAT AWAY AND, AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I THINK FROM A CASH FLOW PERSPECTIVE, THEN WE'RE, WE'RE PROBABLY MOVING FROM SOMETHING THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY BEING SPENT.

IT IS EARMARKED TO ONE THAT THAT IS BEING SPENT.

UM, SO THAT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE THESE, THESE THESE BUDGETS WHERE WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS MORE OR LESS A CONTINGENCY OR WE, WE DON'T PLAN ON, ON SPENDING IT FROM A BUDGET AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S, IT'S ALL THE SAME, BUT FROM CASH.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS ONE IS GOING OUT THE DOOR AND THIS MONEY'S NOT, WE STILL HAVE A, WE STILL HAVE AN ISSUE THERE NOW IS A HUNDRED AND THOUSAND DOLLARS GONNA, YOU KNOW, BREAK THE BANK.

NO, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE I, I JUST KNOW SPECIFICALLY IN THE PERMAN AREA, THERE ARE ROADS RIGHT NOW WHERE EVERY TIME IT RAINS, THEIR LAWNS ARE UNDERWATER.

AND ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY LOOK AT IT, THEY THINK THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THEIR CULVERT.

UH, SO I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN SHIFT MONEY ELSEWHERE, THAT COULD BE A WAY OF SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS ONE THING THAT IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING YOU WON'T, YOU WON'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN FOR IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE MOVED MONEY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

JUST THE THOUGHT TO CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET.

APPRECIATE THAT THOUGHT.

THING, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HEY, YOU, IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE CAN START SOME OF THESE DESIGNS.

UM, AND YEAH, MY SAME QUESTION FOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AT $150,000 A YEAR.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT FOR TO, TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORK THAT WE HEAR ABOUT AND NEED TO GET DONE? I THINK THAT IT IS, AND UH, AND IT'S SAME, IT'S SAME TRUE FOR REALLY FOR THE CULVERT, UH, ALLOWANCE, LET'S CALL IT.

WHEN WE DO HAVE A, A UNIQUE SITUATION, A VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED AS IN THE BOX HILL ISSUE AT, UH, LAUREL BUSH ROAD, UH, BY, BY WHICH IS $600,000 BY ITSELF.

UH, SO RATHER THAN TRYING TO, I GUESS ESTIMATOR PROJECT X NUMBER OF CATASTROPHIC IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WE TAKE THE APPROACH THAT WE DO TO TAKE CARE OF THE ROUTINE ONES AND WHEN, AND IF THERE IS A MAJOR REPAIR THAT'S NECESSARY, THEN WE KNOW AS WE DO IN THIS CASE, ON, ON UH, LAUREL BUSH ROAD, WE KNOW THE, THE, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOLUTION.

WE KNOW THE FUNDING, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND, AND ADD THAT BUDGET ITEM TO KEEP IT AGAIN, TRANSPARENT THAT IT'S ABOUT THAT REPAIR AND NOT JUST A PLACEHOLDER MUCH, MUCH LARGER THAN WOULD HAVE TO BE OTHERWISE.

UM, AND LAST QUESTION IS MOSTLY FOR ROBBIE.

AND JUST THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS BUDGET WE LIST $250,000 FOR SOMETHING THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW IS NOT HAPPENING.

HOW MUCH IS BUILT INTO THE BUDGET SIMILAR TO THAT AS WIGGLE ROOM LINE ITEMS? UM, AND IS THAT JUST CONSIDERED LIKE A NORMAL BUDGETARY PRACTICE OR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY TO GIVE A DIFFERENT EXAMPLE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND IT'S NOT THE SAME FUND, BUT I KNOW THAT, BUT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE LIBRARY COULD MAKE IT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THE EXTRA INCREASE ON TUITION COSTS, BUT JUST LIKE PHANTOM LINE ITEMS WHERE IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, A LISTED AMOUNT, BUT WE, WE KNOW IN OUR HEADS WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEND IT.

LIKE HOW OFTEN IS THAT THE CASE? I, I, I WOULDN'T, I, I WOULD SAY THAT, THAT THERE'S NOT, UM, UH, MUCH OF, OF ANY IN THE WAY OF TRUE PARKING REVENUES IN A PLACE WHERE WE KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA BE EXPENDED.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, THE NEED FOR CONTINGENCIES AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETIMES BUDGET AUTHORITY BECAUSE IN ORDER TO GET, LIKE, IF, IF THE OPPORTUNITIES DO ARISE, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO, TO MOVE ON 'EM, YOU KNOW, SO THE BIGGEST EXAMPLE OF THIS IS LIKE IN THE LAND ACQUISITION BUDGET IN THE CAPITAL THING WHERE WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT HEY, IF, IF LAND COMES AVAILABLE FOR THAT, THAT SCHOOL IN ABERDEEN THAT WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO GO.

THAT'S ONE A REALLY BIG, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER THERE.

UM, BECAUSE IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW, WE, YEAH, YOU, YOU COULD CUT TRY TO COME BACK.

I'D HAVE TO AMEND THE BOND BILL.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS HERE AT THE SMALLER LEVEL.

THINGS LIKE THINGS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME WITHIN ANY BUDGET, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SOME CONTINGENCY THINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE I, I HAVE SOME MONIES IN, IN MY BUDGET.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET, THIS IDEA WITH THE, THE LEGAL FEES, THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS TOO, WHERE IT'S LIKE, HEY, LET'S PUT THIS ASIDE.

THAT'S A BAD SUBJECT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.

YEAH, NO, NO.

SO SOONER THAN LATER, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

NOT TODAY COMING BACK FROM WORK , BUT YOU, SO THERE'S JUST, THERE'S, THERE'S PLACES WITHIN, WITHIN A BUDGET TO JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SO YOU HAVE THAT BUDGETARY AUTHORITY, BUT WE REALLY DON'T PARK LOTS OF, LOTS OF FUNDS WITH WITHIN, UH, WITH, WITHIN AREAS.

BUT YOU DO NEED TO HAVE THAT BUDGETARY APPROVAL SO THAT WE CAN MOVE.

IT'S KINDA LIKE WHEN THAT, UM, UH, BLUE SPRUCE, SAME

[01:30:01]

WE CAN, WE CAN UNDERGO WITH THIS.

BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY HIDING LIKE LARGE SCALE AMOUNTS OF, OF, OF, OF FUNDS.

I WOULD, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

SO, AND, AND JUST TO ADD ON THE VEHICLE HEIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT PROJECT AND IT'S IN THE BUDGET COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND I WENT DOWN THE CITY A MONTH AND A HALF AGO TO LOOK AT THEIR SYSTEM SO IT'S NOT DEAD.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING HAPPENS THIS YEAR, IT'S HARD TO TELL, BUT WE ARE AGAIN, ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING A REASONABLE SOLUTION.

AND COUNTY THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT, THAT MONEY AND THAT ITEM IN THERE.

I, YEAH, AND I APPRECIATE, I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE OPEN AND CLEAR WITH THE COMMUNITY.

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT OUR BUDGET TO COME OFF AS A LIE OR A PROMISE NOT KEPT TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY, THEY SEE SOMETHING LISTED AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR WITH THEM ABOUT THAT.

I WAS JUST GONNA ADD SOMETHING ALONG, BUT STEVE PRETTY MUCH SUMMED IT UP.

BUT, AND, AND THAT'S PART OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OPERATING, WHICH IS JULY ONE TO JUNE 30TH AND THE CAPITAL, WHICH A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE PUT MONEY IN, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE A SHOVEL SHOVEL IN THE GROUND NEXT YEAR BECAUSE CAPITAL IS IN, IN MOST CASES ARE PROJECTS THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GO ON MORE THAN THE FISCAL YEAR.

UM, AND THEN I THINK ON THE VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING CASE, AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE LOOKING AT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS THERE.

UM, A KEY PIECE WITH THAT IS ALWAYS GONNA BE THE ENFORCEMENT OF IT AND, AND ALIGNING WHAT ULTIMATELY GOES IN THERE WITH AN ABILITY TO SORT OF BACK IT UP WITH ENFORCEMENT OR WHATEVER THAT THE CASE MAY BE.

SO I KNOW THAT DPW IS LOOKING AT OPTIONS THERE.

YEAH, BECAUSE I DO THINK WITH THE VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERS TO BE AN IMPORTANT THING.

SO THAT'S NOT A CONTINGENCY IN THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, HEY, I, YOU KNOW, I MAY NEED TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT TO HELP WITH THIS PROJECT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, HE UNDERSTANDS THERE'S A LOT OF TRUCKS IN THAT AREA THAT THEY'RE ON.

THEY'RE ON SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL ROADS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BEST, BEST DO IT? SO THE CONCEPT THOUGH, IS VERY MUCH COMMITTED.

SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THEN TO SHOW THOSE, THOSE THINGS IN THE BUDGET.

MR. TIBS, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

UM, ON PAGE 2 66.

GLENVILLE ROAD BRIDGE.

I SEE HE PUSHED IT OUT AGAIN ANOTHER YEAR.

UH, AND THEY WERE DOING SOME DRILLING THERE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I, I DON'T KNOW, WERE THEY CHECKING ON THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE OR LOOKING HOW TO BE REPLACED? NO, THAT'S JUST PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS.

THEY WERE DOING, UH, SOIL BORINGS TO DETERMINE THE SUB FOUNDATION CONDITIONS OF THE SITE TO DETERMINE, UH, HOW TO DESIGN A SUB, UH, A FOUNDATION FOR THE BRIDGE.

SO, SO IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA BE IN, IN 90, UH, I MEAN IN 28, OR WE'RE GONNA SAVE 2030, OR WE'RE GONNA GET THIS BRIDGE DONE.

THIS IS A ONE WAY BRIDGE AND IT, I, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THIS ROAD.

UH, YES, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THE PROJECT.

SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UH, WHERE WE HAVE IT AND THE BUDGET IS WHERE WE ANTICIPATE DOING THE PROJECT.

BUT I MEAN, YOU MOVED IT THREE YEARS AGO ON OUT FURTHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

SOMETIMES WITH THESE FEDERAL AID PROJECTS, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, DELAYS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

IS THIS A FEDERAL AID PROJECT? THIS IS A FEDERAL AID PROJECT.

WELL, THAT'S MAKES IT EVEN BETTER THAN FOR THE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN GET IT DONE MAYBE SOONER.

THE, THE MONEY MAKES IT GOOD FOR THE COUNTY, SO IT'S GREAT.

SO WE'RE GONNA USE THE, THE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO GET THE PROJECT DONE.

THAT PROCESS HAS A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS.

SO YOU GO THROUGH A, A NEPA PROCESS, UH, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO FOR A COUNTY FUNDED PROJECT.

SO SOMETIMES THESE PROCESSES CAUSE SOME DELAYS.

PROBABLY WHY WE DECIDED TO, UH, MOVE, HAD TO MOVE THE CONSTRUCTION BACK.

THANK NOTHING AT THE, NOTHING THAT INVOLVES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NORMALLY EVER MOVES VERY ROAD.

I KNOW THAT, I KNOW THAT ROAD OF THE OTHER, I DIDN'T REALIZE AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS A FEDERALLY FUNDED, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE COUNTY DURING ALL OF THE, NO, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT AS A FEDERALLY FUNDED BRIDGE.

GET ALL MCCADA ROADS? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO PROGRAM TO CONVERT TAR AND CHIP ROADS TO NORMAL ASPHALT.

MOST BRIDGES THAT ARE OVER 20 FEET IN LENGTH, WE QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.

SO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THERE'S A PRIORITIZATION ISSUE TOO WITH, WITH GLEN'S TEAM.

I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES WITH PROJECT MANAGERS IN, IN ENGINEERING, SO WE REALLY GOTTA PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT'S THE WORST PROJECTS TO WE WORK ON FIRST.

AND THAT'S ONE WE HAVE TO PUSH OUT A LITTLE BIT, UH, ON YOUR TARN CHIP ROADS.

AND I SEE YOU HAVE A, A BIG BUDGET HERE FOR, UH, MCCADA ROADS.

I ASSUME THAT THEY ARE, UH, ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING ANY MCCADA OVER THESE TARN CHIP ROADS? I KNOW WHEN YOU COME IN BEFORE YOU DO THE, UH, THE TARN CHIP, YOU TRY TO LEVEL 'EM UP WITH MCCADA AND THEN PUT THE TORN CHIP ON, THEN THE SNOWPLOW COMES ALONG AND PUSHES ALL THE CHIPS OFF .

SO IS IT, UH, MORE ECONOMICAL TO DO THIS? MAYBE NOT AS QUICKLY, BUT

[01:35:01]

IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, BUT THERE IS NO BUDGET FOR THAT SORT OF GLOBAL CONVERSION OR EVEN A PROGRAM TO CONVERT THEM.

WELL, YOU DID ON GLENVILLE ROAD.

WE, WE DO CONVERT OCCASIONALLY EARTH ROADS TO TAR AND CHIP WHEN THERE'S A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

SMALL, SMALL LENGTHS AT OF TIME, DIDN'T WE? GLENVILLE ROAD FROM, UH, WHERE IT MAKES A TURN ON OLD LEVEL ROAD BACK TO OR GLENVILLE, THAT WAS TAR, THAT WAS A TAR AND SHIP ROAD, AND THEN IT WAS REDONE TO ASPHALT.

LIKE RECENTLY, TWO YEARS AGO.

WE, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT, BUT, BUT GLOBALLY, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PROGRAM TO DO THAT.

IF THERE WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE, WE, UH, OBVIOUSLY TOOK CARE OF THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE FOCUS ON.

SO, NO, NO GLOBAL.

I'M JUST THINKING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TIRE AND CHIP THESE ROADS EVERY YEAR OR EVERY TWO YEARS, AND THEN WE PUSH IT OFF, THEN WE HAVE TO TIRE AND CHIP 'EM AGAIN, AND THAT RAISES THE ROAD UP.

EACH TIME YOU DO THIS PART OF, PART OF THE, THE, THE INVENTORY OF TAR AND SHIP ROADS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE 40 MILES OF EARTH DIRT.

ABOUT A THIRD, A LITTLE LESS THAN A THIRD OF TAR AND CHIP AND TWO THIRDS LITTLE ASPHALT.

SO IT'S JUST PART OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE TAR AND CHIP.

WELL, I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I, I SAW THAT, THAT THE CLINTONVILLE ROAD PART OF IT WAS FROM OLD LEVEL ROAD DOWN WAS WAS THAT IS IN THE MOST ROYAL AREA, BUT ACTUALLY FUN.

RIGHT? SO THAT PROBABLY WAS THE, THE EARTH, EARTH ROAD CONVERSION THAT WASN'T, IT STARTED AS A TARN SHIP A AGAIN, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

THANK MR. TIBS.

MS. LYNCH, HOW ARE THESE PROJECTS SELECTED AND PRIORITIZED? I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S LIMITED RESOURCES.

SO WHAT'S THE METHODOLOGY BEHIND IT? SO WE MENTIONED EARLIER BRIDGE INSPECTION.

SO ALL BRIDGES ARE INSPECTED EVERY TWO YEARS.

AND, UH, ONE THING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES PRETTY WELL, THERE'S A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR BRIDGE INSPECTION.

SO EVERY BRIDGE IS LOOKED AT THE SAME WAY.

AND AS THE BRIDGE APPROACHES THE END OF ITS LIFE, DEFICIENCIES ARE NOTED.

UM, AIR, AIR FOLKS REVIEW THOSE INSPECTION REPORTS AND IDENTIFY BRIDGES THAT, UH, WE NEED TO START WORKING ON.

OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANNA WAIT TILL A BRIDGE FAILS TO, UH, TO GET FIX IT.

SO WE GET AHEAD OF THAT AND, UH, TRY TO PRIORITIZE THOSE BRIDGES AS YOU KNOW THAT THAT DATA COMES AVAILABLE TO US.

IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WAS, WAS ASKED, HOW IT TAKES SOME EFFORT ON THE ENGINEER OR THE DEVELOPER'S PART IN THE BEGINNING OF THE JOB TO BE ABLE TO LAY THEIR JOB OUT OR LAY THEIR BONDING OUT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.

THANK YOU MS. LYNCH.

UM, SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, JOE, BEFORE YOU AND GLEN STEPPED DOWN, OR BEFORE GLEN STEPPED DOWN, UH, EARLIER YOU TALKED ABOUT BONDS THAT YOU HAVE IN HAND FROM DEVELOPERS FOR DIFFERENT PROJECTS, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT.

UH, JOE, A FEW MONTHS AGO, UH, MISS ALLEG AND I MET WITH YOU AND MR. OVER BAY IN REFERENCE TO SOME STORM WATER AND WATER QUALITY BONDS ISSUES.

MM-HMM.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND BRING THEM UP TO DATE WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT? SURE.

THE, THE REQUEST WAS, UM, HOW TO, UH, WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT WATER QUALITY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THE WAY THAT THE, I'LL CALL IT WATER QUANTITY IS LOOKED AT.

AND, AND TRYING TO KEEP THIS IN SIMPLEST TERMS, UM, WAY THE CODE WAS WRITTEN AND D DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WAS HISTORICALLY GOING BACK 30 YEARS.

ONE BIG POND, BOTTOM OF THE HILL TAKE CARE OF A HUNDRED HOUSES.

AND SO IT WAS EASY TO THEN BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE RELEASE OF THE BOND FOR WHEN THE BOND WAS COMPLETED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.

AND THAT'S THE WAY THE CODE WAS WRITTEN.

NOW, IN CURRENT DESIGN, THERE IS STILL A POND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, BUT IT'S SMALLER AND THERE ARE MUCH SMALLER INDIVIDUAL PONDS THAT ARE PROVIDING WATER QUALITY TREATMENT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE QUESTION WAS ASKED IS, WELL, THE CODE TALKS ABOUT HOW THE BOND CAN BE RELEASED FOR THIS BIG POND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, BUT IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE POND THAT MIGHT BE FINISHED SOONER.

HMM.

SO WE LOOKED INTO THAT ISSUE AND LOOKED INTO WHAT MIGHT BE A SOLUTION.

AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE ARE DEVELOPERS AND ENGINEERS THAT ARE WORKING IN A WAY TO PHASE THEIR PROJECTS SO THAT THEIR BONDING REQUESTS AND REQUESTS FOR RELIEF AND NOT RELIEF, BUT FOR, UH, CONVERSION OF THOSE BONDS, THEY WERE DONE IN A WAY THAT THE SMALLER PONDS WERE LOOP, WERE GROUPED TOGETHER AND THERE WAS A ONE BOND FOR THEM.

THERE WAS A, A BOND SEPARATE FOR THE REAL BIG ONE.

AND SO BY LOOKING AT THE CODE AND LOOKING AT HOW WE ENFORCE IT, THERE

[01:40:01]

SO WE PUT TOGETHER A, A TEAM WITHIN THE, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, UH, TO SORT OF WRITE SOME GUIDANCE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT BASICALLY IS A, IS A PROCESS AND A PROCEDURE THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE COMMUNITY, SOME OF THE, THE, THE, THE FOLKS WITHIN THAT ORGANIZATION.

BUT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HEARD THE SAME UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN, THAN WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING, BUT FULLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UH, EXISTING CODE AND ITS DEFINITIONS AND ITS PROCESS.

AND SO THAT GUIDANCE, I THINK IT WAS, WAS SCHEDULED TO GO OUT VERY SHORTLY IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.

AND WE DO THAT TIME TO TIME PROBABLY EVERY SIX, EIGHT MONTHS OR MAYBE ONCE A YEAR, SOME OF THESE TYPES OF ISSUES COME UP AND WE PROVIDE, WE, IT, IT'S NOT REGULATION, IT'S NOT NEW CODE, BUT IT'S SORT OF A, AN UNDERSTANDING FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTANT AND CONTRACTING COMMUNITY ABOUT SOME STEPS THAT CAN HELP TO MOVE THAT PROCESS ALONG.

SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING AND THOSE IDEAS I UNDERSTAND WERE CONSIDERED TO BE, UM, BEST PRACTICES TODAY, CORRECT? YES.

SO, UH, AND MD AGREED WITH THAT, SO YES.

PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 50,309.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS, STEVE, YOURS AS WELL.

APPRECIATE THAT MOVING THAT FORWARD.

UM, WITH THAT, UM, WANNA MOVE ON TO ORDER AND SILVER NEXT WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, EPW ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE, UH, 360 8.

UH, I CAN INTRODUCE YOU REAL QUICK.

SO, UH, THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY, UM, THINK ABOUT WATER AND SEWER, YOU THINK ABOUT HIGHWAYS.

EVERYTHING ELSE IN DPW IS IN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY.

UH, SIX DISTINCT PROGRAMS. SOME WORK TOGETHER, SOME DON'T.

UH, WE HAVE A CAPITAL PROJECTS TEAM THAT MANAGES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY BUILDING AND FACILITY PROJECTS, FACILITIES AND OPERATION MANAGES THOSE BUILDINGS ONCE THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED, UH, AND THAT, AND THEY PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FOR 1.8 MILLION SQUARE FOOT IN 182 COUNTY BUILDINGS.

CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION IS ANOTHER GROUP WHEN GLEN'S TEAM DESIGNS A A BRIDGE PROJECT, THE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION TEAM WILL HANDLE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT WHEN THAT PROJECT IS BEING BUILT.

THAT TEAM ALSO, UH, INSPECTS DEVELOPER PROJECTS WHEN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE'S BEING TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT GROUP.

SMALL GROUP UPSTAIRS OVERSEES STORMWATER PLAN REVIEW FOR EVERY PROJECT IN THE COUNTY.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY INSPECTION AND DAM SAFETY ON THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT TEAM.

ANOTHER SEPARATE GROUP HANDLES OUR THE COUNTY'S MS FOUR PERMIT, WHICH REQUIRES WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WATER QUALITY SAMPLING, WATERSHED PLANNING, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH.

AND THEN THE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GROUP, WHICH IS JEFF SCHOENBERGER, UH, OVERSEES WASTE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND RECYCLING PROGRAMS THROUGH THE COUNTY'S CONTRACT WITH MES AND THE DISPOSAL CONTRACT WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY.

AND THE SOLID WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES THE HARTFORD WASTE DISPOSAL CENTER, UH, TOLL GATE YARD DROP OFF TRIM SITE, AND SEVEN CLOSED LANDFILLS.

THANKS, BEN.

SO I'LL RUN YOU THROUGH THE NUMBERS THERE.

UM, AS I SAID, IT BEGINS ON PAGE 360 8.

UH, THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY HAS 10 COST CENTERS UNDER IT, FUNDED BY VARIOUS FUNDS, WHICH I WILL SPECIFY BY DIVISION.

UM, SO CAPITAL PROJECTS BEGINS ON PAGE 360 9.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 774 884, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 51,123 AND IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT OF 8,157, THE FY 26 MERIT TOTALING 50,816 TRANSFER OF ONE VACANT POSITION TO FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 133,277.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 23,995.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASE OF $600 DUE DUE TO A REDUCTION IN THE COST OF COMPUTER HARDWARE.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES $214

[01:45:01]

DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN PER RATA SHARES PER FORMULA.

NEXT IS FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS, WHICH BEGINS ON 3 72.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 7 MILLION 812 226 FOR AN INCREASE OF 668,933 AND IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 307,443 SALARIES DECREASED 14,682, WHICH IS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER SAVINGS.

THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT OF 138,315.

TEMPORARY TEMPORARY SALARIES ADJUSTED 3,750 BASED ON ACTUALS.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE TRANSFER IN OF ONE POSITION, UH, FROM CAPITAL PROJECTS, UM, WHICH, UM, AT A COST OF 1 28 8 62.

NOTE THAT THE, THE POSITION ITSELF WAS TRANSFERRED FROM CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT THE PERSON, UH, WAS TRANSFERRED, UH, OR I SHOULD SAY REASSIGNED FROM ADMINISTRATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

UM, WHICH, WHICH APPEARS ON PAGE 1 47.

UH, AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 51,198 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 3 52 900 ELECTRICITY.

THAT'S A RESULT OF ELECTRICITY INCREASE OF 1 9 190 8,900 BASED ON, UH, CONSORTIUM RATES, COUNTY FACILITY REPAIR AND SECURITY SYSTEMS INCREASE OF 50,000 BASED ON ACTUALS.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR FACILITIES REPAIR INCREASED 50,000 BASED ON ACTUALS.

UM, FUNDING OF 10,000 FOR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS, UH, TRANSFERRED IN FROM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

AGAIN.

ON PAGE 1 47 APPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES $3,000.

THAT'S DUE, DUE TO TRANSFER IN OF SUSTAINABILITY ACT ACTIVITIES, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 2,500 AGAIN DUE TO THE TRANSFER IN OF SUSTAINABILITY.

SUSTAINABILITY, PROJECT COORDINATOR, ELECTRIC VEHICLE FROM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 3090 DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN PRO RATA SHARES.

AND THEN NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL FOR, UM, CARPOOL RENTAL.

NEXT DIVISION IS LEASE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 76.

THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 475 2 17, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 140,985 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 6,032.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 COLA OF 4,696.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS OF 1,336 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 130,653.

THAT'S DUE TO INCREASES IN ELECTRICITY RATES, SPACE AND REAL ESTATE RENTALS AND BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 4,300 BASED ON ACTUALS.

AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL FOR, UH, CARPOOL.

NEXT IS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 79.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 5 72 2 29, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 49,434 AND IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 31,155.

UH, THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARY DECREASE OF $4,072 DUE TO TURNOVER.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 26,224.

TEMPORARY SALARIES ADJUSTED $440.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 8,563.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 80,000 BASED ON ACTUALS AND ANTICIPATED NEEDS FOR, UM, OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 300 DUE TO REDUCTION IN OFFICE SUPPLIES, FOOD SUPPLIES, HARDWARE COMPONENTS, UM, OFFSET BY SLIGHTLY INCREASE IN MAILING BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

NO CHANGE THERE.

UM, MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 289 DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN PRO RATA SHARES, AND THEN NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

NEXT WE HAVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

UM, THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENGINEERING PIECE, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE, UH, 3 82, HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 219,004 60, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 8,291 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 8,000 1 95.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE P TOTALING NINE, UM, EXCUSE ME, 6,691.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 1,504.

UH, MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES $96 DUE TO ADJUSTMENT OF PRO RATA SHARES.

THE NEXT DIVISION IS SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT TRANSFER STATION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 86.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 19,400,000, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 1.2 MILLION IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 1.2 MILLION BASED ON ESTIMATED CHARGES TO BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AGREEMENT.

NEXT IS SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 87, HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 7,067,331, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 907,305 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

[01:50:01]

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 197,695.

THAT'S A RESULT OF INCREASING THE ANNUAL OPERATIONS CONTRACT WITH MES BY 235,275.

ALSO, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 4,420 FOR ELECTRICITY, AND THEN A DECREASE OF 42,000 FOR COMMUNITY CLEANUP.

EVENTS BASED ON PAST SPENDING, THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 5,000 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.

AND THEN CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASES 1.1 MILLION, AND THAT'S DUE TO MOVING FUNDS FOR EQUIPMENT TO A NEW CAPITAL PROJECT, UH, FOR SOLID WASTE FLEET REPLACEMENT.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT POST CLOSURE BEGINS ON PAGE 3 89.

HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 316,168, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 59,000 200 0 1 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 59,000 2 0 1.

THAT'S DUE TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PAS MONITORING.

UH, FUNDING ALSO PROVIDES FOR ELECTRICITY, TELEPHONE, MES MONITORING AND REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES AT TOLLGATE AND SPENCER'S LANDFILLS.

CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS BEGINS ON PAGE 3 91.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,836,858, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1 54 2 18 FUNDED BY THE HIGHWAYS FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 1 56 1 18.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF, UH, SALARIES INCREASING 26,687 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 66,487.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 62,944.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASE 1000, UH, DUE TO REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT BASED ON ANTICIPATED NEEDS IN ACTUAL SPENDING.

BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 900 DUE TO REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR LODGING AND TRAINING BASED ON ANTICIPATED NEEDS AND ACTUAL SPENDING.

AND THEN NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL FOR, UM, CARPOOL USAGE.

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 3 94.

HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3 MILLION 968 986, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 38,984, FUNDED BY THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 66,138.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES INCREASING 16,846 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT AND TURNOVER.

THE FY 26 COLA COSTING 41,129.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 8,163.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 100,000 DUE TO REDUCING ENGINEERING SERVICES, UH, BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASED 200 BASED ON ACTUALS.

NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 2003 26 DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN PRO RATA SHARES.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL OF THEM.

SO QUESTIONS ON THAT DIVISION? I HAVE NONE.

ANY, ANY COUNCILS MEMBERS? MS. LYNCH, REALLY QUICK.

UM, WHAT'S BEING DONE TO LOWER OUR WATER BILL COSTS? I'M SORRY, OUR WHAT? WHAT COSTS OUR WATER BILL? COSTS? WATER BILL.

UH, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE WATER, SEWER, WATER AND SEWER UP NEXT.

IF, IF WE WE COVER THAT, THEN THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ALL.

ANYONE ELSE? WHAT'S OUR TOTAL OUTLAY TO, UM, MES SEVEN.

7,067,000.

OH, NO, THAT'S FOR THEM.

RUNNING THE LANDFILL AS WELL.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ALL THE CONTRACT SERVICES.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PAID FOR FROM CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

UM, THERE IS AN OVERALL INCREASE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OF 1 97, 6 95, BUT IT'S, THAT'S NOT ALL, UM, THE INCREASE FOR MES.

SO THE, THE INCREASE IS, UM, 235,275.

UM, REGARDING THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SO THE, THE COST CENTER, UM, ON PAGE 3 87 IS BASICALLY WHERE WE CONSOLIDATE, UH, ALL OF OUR EXPENSES RELATED TO MES.

UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS IN THERE THAT I THINK WE, UM, DIRECTLY PAY OURSELVES.

SO IT DON'T, IT DOESN'T ALL NECESSARILY GO TO MES, BUT IT'S ALL,

[01:55:01]

APPRECIATE IT.

UM, WHERE DO YOU WANNA GO NEXT? WE HAVE JUST A FEW CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT FALL UNDER HERE.

UM, SO CAPITAL POSITION IS GONNA START IN CAPITAL BUDGET BOOK ON PAGE 56 WITH A FEW GENERAL PROJECTS FOR .

AND, AND I'LL TRY TO LUMP THEM TOGETHER SO IT, IT MAKES SOME LOGICAL SENSE.

'CAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE SORT OF SCATTERED IN THERE.

SO THE FIRST PAGE, UH, WELL IDENTIFIES PAGE 58.

AND THE FIRST CLUSTER OF PROJECTS WE'LL TALK ABOUT IS REALLY BUILDING RELATED PAGE 58, BANK BUILDING RENOVATIONS.

PROJECT, UH, RENOVATES, FORMAL FORMER M AND T BANK, ONE 12 OFFICE STREET.

UH, ULTIMATELY BE FOR THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND WE'RE REQUESTING 3.5 MILLION IN FISCAL 26.

UH, THE NEXT PROJECT IS ON PAGE 63, FACILITY REPAIR LIFECYCLE PROGRAM.

THE REQUEST IS $2.5 MILLION AND THIS FUNDING GOES TOWARDS END OF LIFE, UH, MECHANICAL, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN COUNTY BUILDINGS.

THE NEXT PROJECT IS TO PICK ON PAGE 67, MAINTENANCE OF FACILITY STUDY.

WE'RE REQUESTING $50,000 IN THIS FISCAL YEAR TO, UH, SUPPLEMENT COSTS FOR A, A NEED STUDY, UM, WITH THE SUCCESS OF THE FLEET, BUILDING THE CO-LOCATED BOARD OF ED AND, AND COUNTY MM-HMM .

FACILITY DOWN THERE.

THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE TO CO-LOCATE A MAINTENANCE FACILITY.

SO THIS STUDY WILL LOOK AT THAT.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A LONG-TERM THING, BUT THIS STUDY GETS THE BALL ROLLING.

PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT WHETHER THAT MAKES SENSE OR NOT.

AND THEN THE, THE LAST ONE ON THE BUILDINGS WILL BE ON PAGE 69, PAGE OF RENOVATIONS, CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY FACILITIES.

UH, AGAIN, WE'RE REQUESTING TH 3,750,000, AND THIS IS FOR, UH, SORT OF A CATCHALL ACCOUNT FOR RENOVATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY FACILITIES.

AS, AS NEEDS COME UP DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.

STUDIES, ROOF REPLACEMENTS, MISCELLANEOUS KIND OF PROJECTS, GENERATOR REPLACEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S ALL THE BUILDING RELATED PROJECTS.

WE'LL GO TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT NEXT, AND THAT WILL BE ON PAGE 60.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, STEVE, ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THESE? ALRIGHT, THANKS.

MS. SO, UH, WITH THE RENOVATION OF THE M AND T BUILDING TO MAKE THE NEW STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE OLD BUILDING? IS THERE A PLAN? DOES THE COUNTY OWN IT OR IS IT RENTED? SO THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S DISCUSSIONS OF LONG-TERM MOVEMENTS OF STAFF IN THE COURTS BUILDING.

I'LL GOES BACK TO THE COURTS BUILDING.

SO THERE'S, THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE THERE.

WE, WE CAN GIVE YOU A SEPARATE BRIEFING ON SORT OF THE LONGER TERM VISION, BUT I THINK IT, THIS IS THE FIRST DOMINO IT'LL FALL.

AND, UH, IT, IT CREATES SOME SPACE OVER THERE.

SO, UNDERSTANDABLE.

IT ULTIMATELY THAT THE, THE COURTS THEMSELVES NEED, NEED THE SPACE FOR, UH, THE MAGISTRATES AND THINGS LIKE, UH, UH, LA SO THIS WOULD ENABLE THE, UH, THE COURT FUNCTION TO USE MORE OF THE COURTHOUSE AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY TO MOVE ACROSS THE STREET.

YEP, YEP.

THE STATE'S ATTORNEY CURRENTLY IN A NUMBER DIFFERENTLY.

YEAH, I'M FAMILIAR.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU, MR. JAMES.

YOU'RE DONE.

SO THESE ARE JUST EXPECTED COSTS THAT YOU COULD COME UP WITH THIS FISCAL YEAR? THAT YES, SIR.

MR. TIPS? I, I STILL DIDN'T HEAR THE ANSWER.

IS THE COUNTY OWNED THE BUILDING OR RELEASING THE BANK BUILDING? WE, WE, WE OWE IT OUT.

I, I WASN'T SURE OF THAT.

PURCHASED IT A FEW, FEW, FEW YEARS AGO AND, UM, YES.

ASSOCIATION HAS GONE A, A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAS GONE DEFUNCT AND THEIR STORMWATER FACILITIES ARE IN DISREPAIR, THE COUNTY CAN GO IN AND MAKE THOSE REPAIRS AND ASSESS THE BENEFICIAL USERS OR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

PAGE 60.

SO, COUNTY OWNED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, REHAB AND REPAIR.

UH, THIS PROJECT IS FOR REPAIRS TO COUNTY OWNED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITIES.

WE'RE ASKING FOR $450,000 AND FISCAL 26.

NEXT ONE IS PAGE 68, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR STORM WATER FACILITIES.

THIS PROJECT IS FOR, WE CALL 'EM THE ASSESSMENT PONDS.

SO WHEN

[02:00:01]

SO THIS REQUEST IS FOR A MILLION DOLLARS OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FUNDING.

THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ASSESS THOSE BENEFICIAL USERS.

UM, LET'S WAIT TILL THE END.

GO AHEAD.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THE STORMWATER SIDE.

MR. JAN, ON THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FUND FOR THE STORM PLANNER, HOW LONG DO WE COLLECT? UH, OR DO WE PUT A CHARGE ON THEIR, I GUESS THEIR, UH, IT'LL, IT'LL, NORMALLY IT'S ONLY YEAH.

FOR, FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT WE'LL LOOK AT THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE COST, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AND, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S TO NOT MAKE IT TOO BURDENSOME ON, ON THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME TO NOT DRAG IT OUT OVER.

SO IT'S NORMALLY, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A FEW YEARS, FIVE YEARS.

I THINK AS A TYPICAL RULE, IT'S, IT'S IN THAT, IN, IN THAT RANGE.

UM, NOW THE WATER AND SEWER ONES THAT WE DO ARE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, LIKE WHEN WE LIKE RISE ROAD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IF THEY SELL THE PROPERTY, THEN THAT, UH, IT, IT TRANSFERS, IT'S TO, IT'S TO THE PROPERTY.

AND IF, AND IF THEY WEREN'T TO PAY IT, IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE SAME THING.

AND NOT PAYING YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S NOT ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.

WE SAID IT AS A SEPARATE BILL, BUT YES.

THANK YOU, MS. LYNCH.

THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

ALRIGHT.

SO THAT, THAT ENDS UP MY PORTION OF THE GENERAL CAPITAL.

UM, WE'LL JUMP TO THE SOLID WASTE AND THAT WILL BE ON PAGE AGE 1 66 RESIDENTIAL YARD TRIM ACCEPTANCE FACILITY.

COUNTY'S ASKING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, FOR A SOUTH COUNTY, UH, RESIDENTIAL YARD TRIM ACCEPTANCE FACILITY.

AND THEN ON PAGE 1 67, SOLID WASTE FLEET REPLACEMENT QUEST IS FOR $750,000 OF PAYGO.

THIS IS A NEW PROJECT.

I KNOW THEY MOVED, UH, EQUIPMENT, LANDFILL EQUIPMENT FROM OPERATING THE CAPITAL.

STEVE, HAVE WE IDENTIFIED A LOCATION FOR THIS, UM, UM, YARD? THAT WAS GOOD.

, WHAT'S THAT? WE ALL THAT THE SAME QUESTION FOR YOUR YARD TRIM EXEMPT FACILITY.

HAVE WE IDENTIFIED A LOCATION? YEAH, THERE IS A LOCATION WHERE IT SEVEN THE COUNTY CURRENTLY OWNS.

IS THAT THE OLD, UH, WHAT IS THAT WHERE THE, WHERE THE DRIVING RANGE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR GOLF COURSE WERE? THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

CASE CURIOUS MINDS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MM-HMM .

I WAS GONNA ASK , COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT PROJECT? UM, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY BENEFIT USE? SURE.

UM, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UH, YARD TRIM DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN WHITE.

UH, IT'S NOT WHITEFORD IN, IN DUBLIN.

THE BOTTOM AND THE, UH, THE AREAS THAT ARE GONNA BE SET FORTH TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE, AND THE TRANSFER OF THOSE, UH, FACILITIES FROM THE FOLKS DUMPING AND THEN OUR, OUR TRUCKS AND, AND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE GONNA LOAD IT AND THEN TAKE IT, UH, BACK UP TO SCARBOROUGH FOR PROCESSING.

UH, WHERE THE SCARBOROUGH LANDFILL IS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE, UH, RIGHT HERE ON TOLLGATE ROAD IN BEL AIR.

THERE IS NOT A SIMILAR FACILITY ANY FARTHER SOUTH THAN THAT.

AND SO WHEN WE HAD ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WINDSTORMS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND WE, THERE WAS A LOT OF DEBRIS, A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, DOWN TREES AND SUCH THAT FOLKS NEEDED A PLACE TO DISPOSE OF THEM.

WE SET UP SOME TEMPORARY DUMPSTERS AND SO ON.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A, A NEED, UH, TO SORT OF SAVE THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

THE NEED TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO TOLLGATE OR ALL THE WAY TO, UH, UH, TO SCARBOROUGH.

SO WE LOOKED AT AVAILABLE COUNTY PROPERTY.

UH, THAT ONE IS ON A, UH, STATE ROAD.

IT HAS ACCESS.

UH, IT HAS, UH, IT'S UNDEVELOPED AT THIS POINT AND HAS SEEMED TO BE A REASONABLE AND LOGICAL PLACE FOR A, UH, AGAIN, A YARD TRIM FACILITY.

AND, AND AS FAR AS LIKE, DESIGN WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS, WHAT, WHAT SHOULD THAT SPACE LOOK LIKE FOR SOMEBODY WHO GOES TO USE IT? UM, WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT NOW IS THAT THE, THE AC IT'LL BE DOWN AT THE, I'LL CALL IT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, DOWN WHERE THE DRIVING RANGE WAS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE LEVEL AREA WHERE THE, THE, UH, THE DEBRIS CAN BE, CAN NOT ONLY BE DEPOSITED, BUT ALSO CAN BE TAKEN OUT.

UH, AND SO THAT EXISTING ACCESS ROAD THAT GOES DOWN THERE WILL BE IMPROVED AND MADE A PERMANENT ROAD TO GET DOWN TO THE TURNAROUND AND BACK ONE OUT PER, SO IT'S MOSTLY GOING TO THE ROAD, THE, THE MILLION DOLLARS COR? CORRECT.

BECAUSE IT WILL BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF GRADING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT ROAD, UH, MORE PERMANENT.

BUT ALSO THE, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PAVED AREA AT

[02:05:01]

I WAS JUST TRYING TO PICTURE IT IN MY MIND WHEN YOU DESCRIBED IT.

THAT'S 20 ACRES WE OWE THERE IN THERE.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

IS IT? I THINK AND, AND REFRESH MY MEMORY, WHAT, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT PROPERTY? WHO OWNED THAT PROPERTY? COLEMAN.

CHER.

I COULD NOT REMEMBER THAT.

TWO CHER, EVERYBODY.

GOLF PRO, MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

GOTCHA.

AND I, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED TIME DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'LL BE DONE? LIKE READY FOR USE SCHEDULE, NOW DESIGN? WELL GOTTA GET INTO DESIGN, GO THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCESS AND, UM, GO THROUGH CONSTRUCTION.

SO NEXT YEAR, I WOULD THINK.

NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

OFFICER, MINE, .

ANYONE ELSE? THANKS, STEVE.

WELL, MR. TIP, I'M SORRY, MR. TIPS.

WELL, THEY HAVE THE SAME FACILITIES TYPE OF THING WHERE YOU CAN BRING IT IN, UH, IT'LL BE, UH, MADE INTO MULCH AND YOU CAN TAKE IT BACK OUT.

OR IS THIS JUST GONNA BE A DROP OFF AND PICK UP? WE'VE NOT MADE THAT DECISION YET.

THAT'S PART OF THE DESIGN AND SEEING HOW MUCH SPACE WE HAVE AND HOW MANY FACILITIES AND HOW MANY OPERATIONAL PEOPLE WE WANT TO HAVE AT THAT LOCATION.

SO RIGHT NOW THE PROGRAM IS TO BE A DROP OFF, AND THEN WE PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT AWAY AND NOT DO ANY PROCESSING AT THAT SITE.

COULD THAT CHANGE OVER TIME? WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT ANOTHER TIME, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE FOCUSING ON SORT OF INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS IF IT BECOMES A DESTINATION AND FOLKS ARE GONNA BE USING IT, THEN WE MAY FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES TO DO MORE THERE.

BUT THAT'S, THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW IS DROP OFF AND THEN WE TAKE IT TO THE MAIN PROCESSING FOR, THAT'S WHERE THE EFFICIENT, UH, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS ARE SET UP RIGHT NOW.

I I'M JUST THINKING IT'S NOT TOO EFFICIENT TO DROP IT OFF, THEN YOU HAVE TO HAUL IT ALL THE WAY UP THERE AGAIN.

I UNDERSTOOD.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE DESIGNING IT TO SEE WHICH, WHICH ONE OF THOSE COMBINATIONS IS BEST.

SO THE FINAL GROUP OF PROJECTS HERE IS ARE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND I POINT YOU TO PAGE 2 45, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMMATIC PROGRAMMATICALLY FIRST.

UM, SO IN THE LATE NINE OR LATE EIGHTIES, NINETIES, IT WAS DE DETERMINED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOLKS THAT RUNOFF FROM UNTREATED IMPERVIOUS AREAS INTO STORM DRAINS, WHICH MAKES ITS WAY TO STREAMS, IS NOT GOOD FOR WATER QUALITY.

AND AS SUCH, THE, THE FEDS IN THE STATE STARTED, UH, A PROGRAM OR A, A PERMANENT REQUIREMENT FOR, FOR, SORRY, FOR, UH, JURISDICTIONS OF A CERTAIN SIZE TO PRO, UH, TO PROVIDE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.

SO BACK IN 1994 WAS THE FIRST PERMIT THE COUNTY HAD.

UH, WE ARE IN OUR FIFTH GENERATION PERMIT NOW.

IT RUNS FROM DECEMBER 22 TO DECEMBER OF 2027.

SO THE END OF THE LAST PERMIT, WE WERE IN COMPLIANCE.

UM, BUT WE, WE DID A, UH, TRADE WITH THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT, THAT THE STATE GAVE US THE ABILITY TO TRADE THERE.

SO THERE WERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CREDITS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE UP IN THIS PERMIT.

SO, UH, CERTAINLY A, A ROBUST CAPITAL PROGRAM THAT, UH, HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS IN THE HOPPER.

AND, UM, IT'S NOT JUST STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WE DO.

THERE'S AN, THERE'S AN ACCOUNTING DOCUMENT THAT MD PUBLISHES THAT PROVIDES AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW MUCH A PROJECT IS WORTH FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT.

STREAM RESTORATIONS, STORM WATER RETROFITS, UM, TREE PLANNING, AND THEN A LIVING SHORELINE PROJECT, WHICH WE'RE DOING ONE OF THOSE THIS YEAR.

ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CREDITING AND, UM, ALL GO UP INTO THE COUNTY'S PLAN TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS.

MS FOUR PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES PUBLIC OUTREACH, UH, WATER QUALITY TESTING, SOMETHING CALLED AN AN IDDE PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN ILLICIT DISCHARGE DETECTION ELIMINATION PROGRAM, WHICH WE NEED TO DO WATER QUALITY SAMPLING OF STORM DRAIN OUTFALLS TO MAKE SURE NOBODY'S DUMPING ANY BAD THINGS IN THOSE STORM DRAINS AND FOLLOW UP ON THEM IF WE DO.

SO, THERE'S A LOT EMBEDDED IN THIS PROGRAM, UM, NOT JUST FROM THE CAPITAL SIDE, BUT FROM AN OPERATIONAL SIDE AS WELL.

AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE GETTING BIGGER, NOT SMALLER OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.

WE LIVE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

AND JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND THEN ALSO TIED TO THIS

[02:10:01]

IS A MANDATE.

IF WE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN DELIVERING THE PROJECTS WE NEED TO DO TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PROGRAM, THE STATE COULD COME DOWN ON THE COUNTY AND ISSUE FINES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO NOT WANNA DO.

SO, AND IT'S JUST A TAG ONTO ALL THIS, AND THIS IS ALL THE STUFF THAT WAS FROM THE STATE'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, TO BE FUNDED WITH THE RAIN TAX SEVERAL YEARS AGO NOW, WE AS A COUNTY DECIDED NOT TO HAVE A RAIN TAX.

UM, AND, BUT THAT DOES NOT, UM, GET YOU OUT OF THE OBLIGATION.

SO YOU HAVE TO SET UP A SEPARATE FUND.

THIS IS A SEPARATE FUND IN THE WAY THAT THE HIGHWAYS FUND AND ALL IS A SEPARATE FUND.

UM, AND WE ALSO HAD TO COME TO A MOU WITH THE TOWNS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, MEET THEIR, THEIR OBLIGATIONS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THOSE, THOSE WELL, AND WE FUND THIS, UM, THIS ENDEAVOR WITH A DEDICATED PORTION OF OUR RECORDATION TAX, UM, REALLY ONE SIXTH OF OUR RECORDATION TAX.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE LONG TERM THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY WAS NOT GOING TO BE, UM, SUFFICIENT.

AND, UM, IN ORDER TO MEET THESE OBLIGATIONS, 'CAUSE EACH YEAR WE KNOW WE'RE DOING $6 MILLION OR $7 MILLION OF PROJECTS, WE'RE PAYING PEOPLE, WE'RE NOW SHARING MONEY WITH THE TOWNS, AND WE BUILT UP A FUND BALANCE OF THAT RECORDATION, BUT IT IS NOW BEEN DEPLETED.

SO WITHIN THIS BUDGET IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE, UM, ARE NEEDING TO TRANSFER A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO, UM, TO THIS FUND.

NOW WE'VE HAD THAT IN AN ASSIGNMENT WITHIN OUR FUND BALANCE FOR, UM, FOR SEVERAL YEARS, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

SO WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.

UM, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, THE LONG TERM SOLUTION HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO FIND A, UM, UH, A BETTER REVENUE SOURCE OR AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCE OTHER THAN RECREATION.

NOW WE DO HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS SET ASIDE IN THE GENERAL FUND IN ORDER TO, UM, MAKE THIS TRANSFER AND NOT NECESSARILY IMPACT ANY OF OUR OTHER OPERATIONS.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL NEED TO DO THAT.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE ARE IN ESSENCE, YOU KNOW, TAPPING INTO A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT GENERAL FUND DOLLARS IN ORDER TO BRING OVER INTO THIS FUND.

SO THAT'S SORT OF THE, THE HOLISTIC VIEW OF THEM.

E EACH OF THESE PROJECTS IS A BUCKET, MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN EACH BUCKET.

I CAN RUN THROUGH EACH ONE, UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT I, I THINK THAT MAYBE THE BEST THING IS WE CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU A MAP THROUGH BEN, UH, OF ALL THE PROJECTS, MANY PROJECTS COUNTYWIDE.

UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR ANNUAL REPORT IS PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE.

THERE'S A HECK OF A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE IN THIS, IN THIS SEGMENT.

I CAN RUN THROUGH 'EM IF YOU'D LIKE, OR NO, I THINK FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, IF BEN CAN PRODUCE THAT MAP THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MANDATED TO DO.

UM, IT'S NOT UP FOR QUESTIONS, SO, UH, IF COUNSEL AGREES, WE'LL JUST, WE'LL MOVE ON.

GALLONS OF WASTEWATER PRODUCED EACH DAY IS THEN TREATED DISINFECTED AND RETURNED TO THE BUSH AND THE GUNPOWDER RIVERS.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO WATER AND SEWER NEXT.

THAT BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR 14.

AND WE'RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE NOW.

YOU'RE GONNA, I'M GONNA REMIND YOU, YOU SAID THAT YOU START ASKING QUESTIONS, .

YES, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI.

UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UH, MY NAME IS BILL BETINE.

I SERVE AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE DIVISION OF WATER AND SEWER.

UH, THIS PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FUNDS HARTFORD COUNTY'S PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER UTILITY.

THE UTILITY PROVIDES CONTINUOUS AND HIGH QUALITY WATER AND SEWER SERVICES TO ABOUT 47,000 CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS.

LARGELY WITHIN THE COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE.

UH, THE UTILITY SERVES A POPULATION OF ABOUT 130,000 RESIDENT CITIZENS.

THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF THE COUNTY'S POPULATION.

167.

WATER AND SEWER EMPLOYEES OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND MANAGE THE UTILITY.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SYSTEM ITSELF.

THE WATER SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THREE HIGH TECH TREATMENT PLANTS.

THOSE PLANTS PRODUCE 12.6 MILLION GALLONS OF HIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER EVERY DAY TO CONSIDER THAT VOLUME FOR A MONTH, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

UH, CONSIDER THE WATER TANK JUST OVER YOUR LEFT RIGHT SHOULDER, OR YOUR REAR RIGHT SHOULDER, THE ONE THAT'S DOWNTOWN, THE ONE THAT YOU'D SEE OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING.

THAT'S ABOUT 250,000 GALLONS.

SO THE AMOUNT OF WATER OUR SYSTEM PRODUCES EVERY DAY COULD FILL THAT TANK 50 TIMES, 50 TIMES EVERY DAY.

NOW YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT 12.6 MILLION GALLONS LOOK LIKE, .

SO THIS WATER IS THEN DISTRIBUTED TO OUR CUSTOMERS THROUGH OUR 12 STORAGE TANKS AND OVER 700 MILES OF UNDERGROUND WATER PIPE.

AFTER OUR CUSTOMERS USE THE WATER, THEN THE SEWER SYSTEM COLLECTS THAT WASTEWATER THROUGH ABOUT 750 MILES OF PIPE, 55 PUMPING STATIONS.

AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S CONVEYED TO OUR TWO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

SO THAT SAME APPROXIMATELY 12.6 MILLION

[02:15:01]

OUR RETURNED WATER IS SAFE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, AND MEETS ALL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

BILL, IF I MAY, CAN I HAVE YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC? THEY'RE TELLING ME THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU.

I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

NO, YOU DON'T , JUST CONTINUE.

WE DON'T WANNA, SO THE PART YOU DIDN'T HEAR WAS BRILLIANT AND ILLUMINATING.

THERE YOU GO, .

SO, AND THAT CONCLUDES THE, SO IN THE FINANCIAL NOTES OF THE BUDGET PAGES WE ARE ABOUT TO REVIEW, YOU'LL SEE IN A NOTABLE AND RECURRING MANNER THAT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, NUMBER ONE COVERS THE RISING COST OF ELECTRICITY, CHEMICALS, AND PERSONNEL.

AND NUMBER TWO, IT FUNDS OUR COMMITMENT TO A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND SYSTEM UPKEEP THROUGH CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, REPAIR AND SPARE PARTS AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADES.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND PRESENT THIS BUDGET.

PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 95,222.

SO I'LL GO THE NUMBERS.

UM, AS I SAID, UH, WATER AND SEWER DIVISION BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR 14.

THIS DIVISION HAS SIX FUNCTIONAL AREAS UNDER IT ALL FUNDED BY THE WATER AND SEWER OPERATING FUND.

THE FIRST FUNCTIONAL AREA IS THE BUREAU OF WATER AND SEWER ADMINISTRATION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR 20.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 5,000,960, UH, ONE FOUR, UM, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1 25 964.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF A TRANSFER OF ONE POSITION FROM WATER AND SEWER ADMINISTRATION TO WATER AND SEWER ENGINEERING, UH, AT A SAVINGS OF TO THIS DIVISION OF 1 27, 1 65, THE FY 26 COLA OF 37,594.

AND THEN OTHER RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR DECREASE OF 5,651 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

INCREASE IS 9,680 DUE TO AN INCREASE IN, UM, THAT'S DUE TO AN INCREASED ELECTRICITY OF 4,680.

AND THEN AN INCREASE OF 5,000 IN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES $995.

THAT'S DUE TO AN ADJUSTMENT IN COMPUTER SOFTWARE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES $748 BASED ON ACTUALS.

MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 211,753 DUE TO ADJUSTMENT IN PRO RATA SHARES PER FORMULA.

UH, THE NEXT AREA IS DEPRECIATION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 23.

THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET HERE OF 15,100,000, WHICH IS NO CHANGE FROM FY 25.

AND THIS IS WHERE WATER AND SEWER, UH, BOOKED ASSETS ARE FUNDED BY CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL CAPITAL.

THE NEXT AREA IS BUREAU OF WATER AND SEWER ENGINEERING, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 24, HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,432,119, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 297,683.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 2 59 353.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 2001 40 AS THE NET OF, UH, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER SAVINGS.

AND THEN THE TRANSFER IN OF ONE POSITION FROM WATER AND SEWER ADMINISTRATION AT A COST OF 1 29 314.

THE FY 26 COLA TOTALING 66,325.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 65,854 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 3,220.

THAT'S DUE TO REDUCTION IN, IN, UH, SOFTWARE LICENSES, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY BASED ON CONSORTIUM RATES.

UM, ALSO INCREASES IN, UH, EQUIPMENT SERVICE AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE.

THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 1,550 DUE TO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRI ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

AND MISCELLANEOUS FUNDING INCREASES 40,000 FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO, TO THE HIGHWAYS FUND FOR WATER AND SEWER INSPECTIONS.

THE NEXT AREA IS THE BUREAU OF WATER AND SEWER MAINTENANCE, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 27.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 11 MILLION 253 300, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1 0 4 584.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 27,874.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 217,196 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 188,059.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 57,011 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 2007 90.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS IN FACILITY REPAIR, METER READING SOFTWARE AND UTILITY LINE MAINTENANCE.

[02:20:02]

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 41,800 DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, TRAFFIC SIGNS AND MARKINGS, PIPES AND GRATES AND FUEL BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 10,700 DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE EXPENSE OF CDL RENEWALS AND MDE LICENSING FEES, AS WELL AS TRAINING ON NEW METER READING SOFTWARE.

CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASES 23,000, AND THAT'S DUE TO A ONE TIME FY 25 PURCHASE OF A PUMP, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A SMALL INCREASE FOR SHELVING.

MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 50,000 FOR PAYMENTS TO THE HIGHWAY'S FUND FOR WATER AND SEWER INSPECTIONS.

NEXT IS BUREAU OF WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS WATER PRODUCTION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 4 31.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 15 MILLION 5 49 0 7 0 0 70, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1 MILLION 2 99, 3 47.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 99 6 72.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARIES INCREASING 4,944, WHICH IS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 123,356.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 71,372 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 924,575.

THAT'S DUE TO AN INCREASE OF 135,226 FOR ELECTRICITY BASED ON PROJECTED CONSORTIUM RATES.

UM, INCREASE OF 81,000 FOR FACILITY RENOVATION AND REPAIR BASED ON A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND AN INCREASE OF 521,900 FOR NECESSARY PIPE REPLACEMENT.

THERE WERE OTHER SMALLER FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS HERE, UM, MADE FOR UNIFORM RENTAL, OPERATING EQUIPMENT SERVICE SOFTWARE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES.

SALARIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 67,007 50.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS IN EQUIPMENT REPAIR PARTS, SMALL TOOLS, CHEMICALS AND COMPUTER SUPPLIES.

BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 13,050.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS FOR TRAINING AND ASSOCIATED COSTS, AS WELL AS FUNDS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND OUTREACH EQUIPMENT INCREASES 94,300.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS IN LAB EQUIPMENT, ELECTRONIC PROCESS CONTROL EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR PFAS TESTING.

AND THEN THE BUREAU OF WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS.

WASTEWATER PROCESSING BEGINS ON PAGE 4 35 AND HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 23, OR EXCUSE ME, 23 MILLION 5 66 9 10, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 960 2064.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 146,073.

THAT'S A RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 132,554 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.

THE COLA OF 222,459.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 56,168.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 337,140.

THAT'S DUE TO AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTRICITY RATE OF 251,890 INCREASE OF 40,000 FOR OPERATING EQUIPMENT.

AND THEN SMALLER FUNDING INCREASES FOR ITEMS SUCH AS FACILITY REPAIR, RENOVATION GENERATOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, UNIFORM RENTAL SOFTWARE AND BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES.

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 266,575.

THAT'S DUE TO AN INCREASE OF 10,000 FOR DELIVERY CHARGES.

92,500 FOR EQUIPMENT REPAIR.

PARTS 119,550 FOR CHEMICALS AND 11,700 FOR LABORATORY SUPPLIES.

SMALLER FUNDING INCREASES TO ITEMS SUCH AS PRINTING, BUILDING SUPPLIES, SAFETY EQUIPMENT, AND CRUSHED AGGREGATE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES.

6,975.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS FOR VEHICLES, FUEL AND TRAINING.

CAPITAL OUTLAY INCREASES 205,301 THAT'S DUE TO INCREASES OF 186,800 FOR VARIOUS LAB AND OTHER WASTEWATER PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.

9,500 FOR ELECTRONIC PROCESS CONTROL EQUIPMENT, 5,000 FOR BLOWERS AND GENERATORS.

AND THEN THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FOR PAYMENTS TO MDE FOR SEWAGE SLUDGE GENERATED FEES.

AND THAT'S ALL THE NUMBERS AND HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS MR. JAMES? SO, BILL, THANKS.

I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING YOU TALK.

I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR VOICE, BUT, UH, SO WHAT, AND SEWER LINES, WHEN THEY GO FROM THE HOME TO THE STREET, ARE THE, UM, HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY ONCE IT GETS TO THE STREET OR I GUESS CLOSE TO THAT, IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

SO I GUESS WITH THE AGING OF A LOT OF THE PIPES, BOTH WATER AND SEWER LINES, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE FAILURES OF THOSE IN, IN MY BUSINESS.

BUT THERE IS COVERAGE.

A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS,

[02:25:01]

UH, POLICIES WILL COVER THAT.

BUT, UM, I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL UNDER, UM, THAT THEY THINK THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE PIPES BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THE STREET.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

BUT MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IF THERE'S A WATER MAIN BREAK AND IT FLOODS THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, NUMBER ONE THAT'S CONSIDERED A FLOOD, NUMBER TWO, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY WOULD IT FALL UNDER IF THAT WATER MAIN DOES BREAK, FLOODS, UH, FLOODS THROUGH THE STREET AND FLOODS THE PEOPLE'S BASEMENT? IS THAT GONNA BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOMEOWNER OR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY? BECAUSE THEY, THE, UH, THE WATER MAIN BROKE, THE DEPART, UH, THE, THE RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW WOULD ENGAGE IN A CASE LIKE THAT AND MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.

THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, THEY WOULD COLLECT INFORMATION AND, AND REALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION SO THAT, THAT HAPPENS.

NOTHING DEFINITE.

LIKE THE WATER MAIN BREAK BROKE AND IT RAN DOWNHILL AND FLOODED PEOPLE'S BASEMENTS.

THEY'RE, THEY'LL MAKE THE DETERMINATION AT THAT TIME.

THEY'LL MAKE, AND, AND THE GOOD NEWS I'LL ADD, BECAUSE I LIKE TO PUT A POSITIVE SPIN THAT BECAUSE WE MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE DO RENOVATION, WE DO UPKEEP, WE REPLACE MAINS AS THEY AGE OUT.

UM, WE REALLY SEE A VERY LOW INCIDENCE OF THAT.

THAT RARELY HAPPENS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.

YES, IN, IN THE NEWS LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, YOU'LL SEE MANY INSTANCES OF THAT HAPPENING, THAT KIND OF CATASTROPHIC FLOODING.

WE JUST, WE, WE DON'T SEE THAT HERE YET.

AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO PREVENT THAT.

SECOND QUESTION.

UM, ARE, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, ANYTHING FOR, I GUESS MAYBE IF ANYBODY CYBER ATTACKS OUR, OUR WATER FACILITY? I, I THINK THAT'S OUR BIGGEST THING IS SABOTAGING OR, OR DOING SOMETHING TO OUR WATER FACILITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PRECAUTIONS WE HAVE FOR THAT, BUT I, I THINK THAT IS A BIG, UH, CONCERN JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY CAN GET INTO OUR WATER SUPPLY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND DO ANYTHING, NOT ONLY CYBER, BUT ALSO CHEMICAL, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT CONCERN.

AND AS YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET AND EVEN IN THE CAPITAL SIDE, WE, WE SPEND A LOT OF EFFORT AND MONEY IN, IN PROTECTING AGAINST THAT VERY THING.

WE TRY TO INCREASE OUR CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS.

UM, OUR CHIEF OF OPERATIONS IS REALLY WELL READ IN THIS, I'LL CALL HIM A ROLE MODEL IN, IN THE REGION AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTING, UH, GOOD CYBERSECURITY MEASURES.

OUR SCADA, OUR SCADA SYSTEM IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ISOLATED, UM, FROM OUTSIDE ATTACK.

A LOT OF, AGAIN, MONEY AND EFFORT HAS BEEN SPENT IN MANAGING THOSE, THOSE SERVERS AND THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THE PLC AND THEN THE CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD, HAVING WHAT YOU CALL A, A, A HARD BREAK BETWEEN THOSE.

SO THAT'S JUST NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE FOR AN INTRUDER, AN ADVERSARY TO, TO GET INTO OUR OPERATING SYSTEMS. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.

GOOD TO BE WITH Y'ALL.

UM, WHEN A COMMUNITY DECIDES TO GO FROM, UH, WELL AND SEPTIC TO WATER AND SEWER, IS THAT TRANSITION FOR THE COUNTY, UM, POSITIVE, NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL FINANCIALLY? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IF I, SO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE.

YEAH, I MEAN, AND, AND AGAIN, REMEMBER TOO THAT THIS IS ALWAYS JUST WITHIN THE WATER AND SOURCE SYSTEM.

IT IS SEPARATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THIS IS NOT SUBSIDIZED IN WAY FROM, FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT WHEN SOMEONE WOULD COME INTO THE SYSTEM, UM, IT, WE, AND IF WE HAD TO, YOU KNOW, INCUR ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, COST THAT'S BORNE BY WHEREVER THE EXTENSION IS.

SO THAT'S LIKE THOSE ASSESSMENT PROJECTS, THE, THE PHRASE PRIZE ROAD KIND OF PROJECT.

THOSE PEOPLE WOULD PAY FOR IT OVER OVER TIME.

I WOULD SAY FROM A SYSTEM PERSPECTIVE, AND YOU, THIS IS CERTAINLY, UH, BILL CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ECONOMIES OF SCALE.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE, THE MORE CUSTOMERS WE, WE HAVE WITHIN, WITHIN REASON UP UNTIL THE POINT WHERE IT BECOMES, HEY, NOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER, AND NOW WE'VE GOT, SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LEVELING THING.

YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF FIXED COSTS, BY BRINGING IN MORE, MORE USERS INTO IT, IT IS BENEFICIAL UNTIL YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU NEED TO DO, DEVELOP MORE WATER.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH A LOT OF, SOME OF THE URBAN SYSTEMS AND, YOU KNOW, BALTIMORE CITY AND, AND THE LIKE, WHERE THEY, THEY, THEY HAD A SYSTEM BUILT FOR A MILLION PEOPLE AND NOW IT'S 600,000, BUT YOU STILL HAVE ALL THOSE SAME COSTS.

SO MORE PEOPLE GENERALLY UP UNTIL YOU GET TO THAT, YOU NEED MORE WATER, YOU NEED MORE, UH, PROCESSING CAPACITY.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE NOT.

A FULL BUILD OUT THROUGHOUT THAT DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE.

IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE

[02:30:01]

SO THE, THE DIFFERENCE, AS YOU SAID IS, IS I WOULD CONSIDER IT TO BE NEUTRAL BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE CONNECTING ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY CONNECTION FEES TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR THAT MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ALSO TO PAY FOR WHATEVER LOCAL EXTENSIONS OF WATER AND SEWER MAINS ARE REQUIRED.

UM, OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUSINESS MODEL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THOSE, THOSE LINES.

SO THAT IF THERE WERE SOME AREAS OR RESIDENTS OR, UH, SITUATIONS WHERE THAT WAS IN, SOMEONE HAD INTEREST IN THAT, IT'D BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ANALYSIS AND FACILITIES, UH, EXAMINATION TO SEE NOT ONLY WHAT FACILITIES ARE NECESSARY TO SERVE, WHATEVER THAT AREA MIGHT BE, BUT ALSO WHAT UPGRADES AND EXPANSIONS OR NEW MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES, ALL OF WHICH THE WAY THAT OUR ENTERPRISE FUND IS SET UP WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY THE EXPANDED ENTITY.

NOT AS, NOT TO BURDEN THE FOLKS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE.

DOES THAT, YES, THAT MAKES SENSE.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, LIKE WHAT'S THE FINANCIAL IMPACT ON US IF A COMMUNITY JOINS, UH, AND DECIDES TO, AND WOULD YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF LIKE, HOW MUCH MORE COULD WE TAKE ON AS FAR AS WITH THE, OUR EXISTING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE OR HOMES COULD, COULD BE, I KNOW LIKE IN HAV GRACE FOR INSTANCE, THEY'RE KIND OF HITTING THE POINT WHERE, OR ON THE EDGE OF THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WE CAN HAVE HOOKED UP.

UM, OFF THE, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE ANSWER CAN BE FOUND IN THE WATER AND SEWER MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE UPDATE TWICE A YEAR.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE IS A DOCUMENTATION TABLE AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN THAT INDICATES THE, THE, THE SORT OF PROJECTED SCHEDULE AT WHICH ALL OF THOSE APPROVED OR CONSTRUCTED, UH, UH, IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE REACHED.

AND I BELIEVE THE LATEST IS 2035 OR 2038 SOMETHING OKAY.

IN THAT RANGE.

BUT THE EXACT ANSWER CAN BE FOUND.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY SO FIND THAT PAGE.

SO WE PLENTY OF, PLENTY OF SPACE FOR THIS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE, WE NEVER HAVE PLENTY OF TIME BECAUSE IN OUR BUSINESS TIME GOES BY VERY QUICKLY.

BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT FOR THE, FOR THE BUILD OUT THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE THAT IS ADEQUATE TO SERVE THOSE ON WHATEVER TIMETABLE THEY DO.

UM, I JUST HAVE A, A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT PERSONNEL.

UM, IT SEEMS LIKE IN WATER AND SEWER, YOU'RE VERY UNIQUE IN, YOU KNOW, 0.5 IS PRETTY TRADITIONAL, BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE POINT THREES, POINT SEVENS, POINT NINES AS FAR AS POSITIONS, YOU KNOW, LIKE NOT BEING A, A FULL POSITION, BUT A A POINT, UH, YOU KNOW, POINT 0.7, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT THE, THE REASONING IS AND WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT WATER AND SEWER THAT CAUSES THOSE TYPES OF POSITIONS? I THINK IT'S JUST THE STRUCTURE OF THE FUND INDEXES.

SO WE HAVE A PERSON WHO SERVES AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY MAY HAVE FUNCTIONS THAT INCREASE TO ALL THREE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

AND EACH OF THOSE HAVE THEIR OWN FUND INDEX.

SO THERE'S AN ESTIMATION OF THAT PARTICULAR OPERATOR.

WHAT FRACTION OF HIS TIME IS THAT PERSON AT EACH OF THE THREE PLANTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO I MEAN, SPLIT UP LIKE THAT PROJECT COST, COST ACCOUNTING.

SO IT'S NOT AS IF THERE IS A, A PERSON WHO JUST COMES IN FOR FIVE HOURS, YOU KNOW, HE'S RIGHT.

THAT'S, I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, ALL WHOLE PEOPLE.

AS A WHOLE, UM, WATER AND SEWER ABSENT THE, I GUESS THE SPECIAL CASE OF THE EARLY RETIREMENT, UM, HAS A RELATIVELY LOWER TURNOVER THAN HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE, FOR EXAMPLE.

THEY'RE ALL WHOLE PEOPLE AND, AND IT'S NOT SOMEBODY WHO WORKS MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS.

NO, NO.

AND AN EXAMPLE TOO IS JUST ON A VERY LARGE SCALE, WATER AND SEWER.

OUR, OUR, UH, SUPERINTENDENT IN CHARGE OF WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS IS ONE PERSON, AND HE SPLITS HIS TIME OR HIS MANAGEMENT TIME AND HIS EFFORTS BETWEEN THE TWO.

SO THAT WAS THE, THE, UH, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ASSIGN THE COST ACCURATELY BETWEEN THOSE TWO COST INDEX INDICES, THEN THAT'S THE WAY WE DID IT.

AND, AND JUST LAST PERSONNEL QUESTION, IS THE AMOUNT OF TURNOVER THIS YEAR TYPICAL OR ATYPICAL? AND IF IT'S ATYPICAL, IS IT HIGH OR LOW JUST SEEING THE LARGE FINANCIAL SAVINGS FROM TURNOVER? WELL, AT THE START OF THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS, UM, THE COUNTY HAD A RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND WE, UM, WE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, I THINK OUR NUMBER WAS 10 OR 11, WHO TOOK, TOOK THAT INCENTIVE.

AND THEY WERE GENERALLY SENIOR PEOPLE LEAVING WITH A LOT OF YEARS.

AND WE'VE WORKED HARD ALL YEAR TO LARGELY REPLACE THEM WITH ENTRY LEVEL PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR BENCH OR OUR, UH, PERSONNEL TREE.

UM, SO, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE, IN THE LOWERING OF OVERALL COST AND TURNOVER.

THAT WAS THE SINGLE BIGGEST DRIVER THIS YEAR.

AND THEN LOOKING AT DPW

[02:35:01]

I'M SURE THERE'S REASONS FOR IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, SITTING IN MY CHAIR, I LOOK AT THOSE, THOSE TRENDS AND THOSE, THOSE THINGS.

SO OPERATIONALLY, GENERALLY WATER AND SEWER IS MORE STABLE THAN, UH, THAN THE, UH, WATER AND SEWER MAINTENANCE WOULD BE.

AND THEN IN OTHER PARTS OF DPW AND THE ENGINEERING UNITS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TURNOVER IS RELATIVELY SMALL.

SO IT'S, IT'S HIGHLY VARIABLE ACROSS ALL OF ALL OF DPW.

ANYONE ELSE? MS. LYNCH? IT'S THE SAME QUESTION.

I TRIED TO SLIDE IN THERE , NO ONE ELSE HAD A QUESTION.

PUT THE MIC QUESTION CLOSER.

IT'S BETTER.

A, THERE'S A NEW ONE, UH, THAT'S NOW PART OF THE PROCESS, AND BILL TOUCHED ON IT, UH, OR I GUESS WAS TOUCHED ON, ON THE SOLID WASTE.

IT'S THE SAME QUESTION THAT I TRIED TO SLIDE IN THERE EARLIER.

UH, WHEN WE WERE UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL, SO OUR WATER BILL IN DISTRICT A, A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS HAVE COME TO ME THAT THEIR, UH, WATER BILL HAS QUADRUPLED IN RECENT YEARS.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS BEING DONE? SO THEY'RE EITHER, THEY'RE EITHER USING THE SAME AMOUNT OF UNITS THEY WERE USING BEFORE OR USING LESS UNITS, AND THEIR WATER BILL KEEPS INCREASING.

SO HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COST SAVINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR HOMEOWNERS? AND I KEEP HEARING PEOPLE SAY, BECAUSE HARTFORD COUNTY DIDN'T GET THE RAIN TAX, OR THEY DID, OR THEY DIDN'T, THEY ENDED UP TRANSFERRING IT TO OUR WATER BILLS.

UM, I, I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS NOT CORRECT IN BALTIMORE, LIKE BALTIMORE CITY DOES RUN AND A COUPLE OTHER, AGAIN, RUN TO AS WELL, THEY RUN, THEY, THEY DO HAVE THE RAIN TAX ON THE WATER AND SOR BILL, AND THEY KIND OF RUN THOSE SYSTEMS CONCURRENTLY.

UM, AGAIN, WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, OUR RAIN TAX IS THAT RECORDATION, AND THAT IS, UM, A SEPARATE FEE.

IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO, UM, WATER.

UM, WE WORK ON KEEPING OUR COST DOWN EVERY DAY.

THAT IS, THAT IS PART OF THE MISSION OF WATER AND SEWER IN THE WAY THAT WE DO IT.

AND AS ROBBIE SAID, UH, IT IS TRULY ALL, ALL THE COSTS ARE CONTROLLED BY US.

THERE IS NOT ADDITIONAL, UH, BURDENS OR ADDITIONAL SCOPE WITHIN, UH, THE, THE FUNDS THAT ARE COLLECTED FOR WATER AND SEWER FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER AND SEWER.

UM, I'M A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TO HEAR IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A QUADRUPLING OF THEIR, THEIR WATER BILL.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THAT INFORMATION IF YOU CAN DOCUMENT IT TO MR. BETINE AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT HE GIVES YOU, UH, THE NUMBER BECAUSE WE GET THOSE TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS FROM FOLKS, UH, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY OFTEN TO SAY, OH MY GOSH, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, OUT OF OUT WHACK.

AND SO WE ACTUALLY SEND A CREW TO THE HOME TO THEN ANALYZE WHAT'S GOING ON EITHER AT THE SERVICE, OUR SIDE OR WITHIN THE HOUSE, AND ACTUALLY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE LEAKS.

AND IF IT'S ON OUR SIDE, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GONNA FIX IT RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND IS SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A RUNNING TOILET THAT IS RUNNING ALL THE TIME THAT YOU, THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS HEAR IT.

SOMETIMES YOU DO CAN, OVER THE COURSE OF THE 90 DAYS THAT IT TAKES TO GET A A AN INVOICE CAN ADD UP TO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

UM, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO SEES OR NOTICES AS PART OF THEIR BILL, ONE THAT IS OUT OF THE NORM.

AND, AND I I, I DID THE SAME THING I DID TWO QUARTERS AGO.

I, I RAN INTO IT AT MY HOUSE AND, UH, I DIDN'T CALL BILL.

I DID THE, THE, THE NUMBER ON THE LINE AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT HERE.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE WAS I HAD JUST REDONE MY LAWN AND I WAS WATERING A LOT.

SO IT WAS, THERE'S A REASON MOST OF THE TIME AND, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT AND ASK THOSE FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO, TO THE FOLKS IN WATER AND SEWER.

BUT I DO WANT TO, TO SAY THAT, AND I THINK BILL POINTED IT OUT, UM, WE TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN, IN THE WAY WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SYSTEM AND THE WAY THAT WE, UM, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MAINTAINED AND THE EQUIPMENT IS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE DRIVERS OF COSTS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

UH, ELECTRICITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS GOING TO BE WAY HIGHER FOR US THAN ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS MAJOR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.

AND WE DO, UM, CHEMICALS, UH, A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO THAT, AGAIN, IN THE, IN THE SCHEME OF WHAT COSTS A LOT.

AND, AND THE OTHER THING QUITE HONESTLY IS REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS.

THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND EPA, UH, ARE, ARE ALWAYS, UH, BEING CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR REGULATIONS ARE FOLLOWED.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO.

UM, BUT THERE'S

[02:40:01]

IT WAS PFAS, UH, WHICH IS A, A, A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN FOR MANY, MANY JURISDICTIONS THAT DO WHAT WE DO.

FORTUNATELY FOR US, IT IS NOT YET, IT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR US, UH, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE TYPE OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT POSSIBILITY OF BEING THINGS THAT ARE UNKNOWN.

SO I, IT'S A LONG ANSWER TO A, A SHORT QUESTION, BUT I HOPE I WAS ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION THAT I'LL HELP YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

COOL.

AND I'LL JUST CHECK ON, ON A COUPLE THINGS WITH THE LEAKS TOO.

SO IF YOU WERE TO SHOW THAT YOU, THAT YOU DID HAVE A LEAK WITHIN YOUR, YOUR AREA, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHIN YOUR HOME AND IT WAS, AND YOU CORRECTED IT, YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING IN RECEIPT TOO.

WE DO HAVE A MECHANISM TO PROVIDE A CREDIT.

UM, YOU GENERALLY, IF THE BILL EXCEEDS THREE TIMES NORMAL USAGE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE A CREDIT FOR THAT AMOUNT.

UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, YOU KNOW, I, UM, I WOULD LIKE US AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, UM, TO, TO GO TO A MONTHLY BILLING BECAUSE WE DO THINK THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS, UH, FOR, UH, RATE PAYERS TO SAY, HEY, MY, MY USAGE IS UP THIS MONTH, AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR, FOR THE QUARTERLY BASIS.

UM, AND THEN ALSO JUST WOULD BE REMISS WITHOUT SAYING, YOU KNOW, WAS A DECISION, UM, IN CONJUNCTION, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, SUPPORT BY COUNTY COUNCIL TO, UM, NOT INCREASE THE WATER AND SOAR RATES FOR THIS UPCOMING, YOU KNOW, YEAR.

NO, IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.

I THINK THE COUNTY COUNCIL PROVED THAT.

I THINK IT WAS A WRONG TIME TO DO THAT.

AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AGREED, AND, AND WE CAN SAY THAT THE, SO THE BILL WAS, WAS, WAS WITHDRAWN, UM, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

UM, AND SO TO THAT END, THERE WILL NOT BE A, THE, UM, BE AN INCREASE THERE.

BUT YOU, WE DID HAVE TO 10 YEARS AGO, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE WATER AND SEWER REVENUES.

UM, AND WE WERE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS A DECISION BECAUSE THE RATES HADN'T BEEN, IT HADN'T BEEN REALLY INCREASED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

UM, SO TO SOME EXTENT SOME PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK ON THAT AND SAY, OH YEAH, NO, IT IS, YOU KNOW, HIGHER THAN IT WAS 10 YEARS AGO.

UM, BUT REALLY IN THE, UM, INTERVENING YEARS, THE INCREASES HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, MUCH, MUCH MORE LIMITED.

ANOTHER THING TOO THAT A LOT OF TIMES COMES UP, UM, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH IN, IN, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY, IS THAT THEY DO, UH, THE WAY THAT THEY DO THEIR, SAY THEIR WATER.

AND SO BILLING, THEY PUT THE WHOLE SWORD CHARGE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A FOUR OR $500 CHARGE ON THEIR, ON THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL.

SO IT'S SOMETIMES THAT'S ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN MAKING COMPARISONS GO, I'LL HEAR THAT A LOT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

I PAY THIS.

IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU'RE JUST PAYING IT IN A DIFFERENT, IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO CAPITAL.

SO CAPITAL MEETINGS ON PAGE 3 46.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS DAN KY.

I'M CHIEF ENGINEER IN THE DIVISION OF WATER AND SEWER.

I APOLOGIZE RIGHT UP FRONT, MY VOICE IS NOWHERE NEAR AS ODIOUS AS MR. PETIN .

WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

UM, I, I GUESS I'D OFFER, UH, TWO OPTIONS TO THE COUNCIL.

I COULD, UH, KINDA HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

GO OR GO PAGE BY PAGE? NO, I THINK THE HIGHLIGHTS WOULD BE JUST FINE.

BECOMES CHALLENGING WHEN WE HAVE TO GO OFF THE GRID TO RUN ON OUR OWN GENERATOR.

SO, UH, AS, AS MR. LLOYD MENTIONED, OUR, OUR MR WELL START OFF WITH, WE HAVE, UH, THREE CATEGORIES IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, NOT TOO CLEVER, WATER, SEWER AND, AND BASICALLY OTHER.

UH, SO STARTING ON PAGE 3 46, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 12 PROJECTS, UH, REQUESTING AN FY 26, UM, OR $15.7 MILLION.

UM, YOU'VE TURNED OVER TO PAGE 3 48.

I'LL START WITH TALKING ABOUT THE AVENUE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

UH, IT'S OUR LARGEST WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

IT PROVIDES ABOUT 70% OF OUR TOTAL, UH, PRODUCTION.

IT IS LOCATED, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, ON ABINGDON ROAD, JUST ADJACENT TO I 95, AND THAT MAY STRIKE YOU A LITTLE ODD BECAUSE THERE'S NO WATER SOURCE THERE, BUT THERE'S A LARGE PIPELINE THAT RUNS FROM THE SULAN RIVER ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BALTIMORE THAT BELONGS TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

SO IT'S A LITTLE FUN FACT THERE.

UM, WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED, BUT THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE SAME FACILITY.

SO I'LL TOUCH ON BOTH OF THOSE.

UH, THE ONE ON PAGE 3 48 IS A, UH, ADJUSTMENT, THE PH ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM FOR THE PLANTS.

UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF, OF FINALIZING DESIGN, EXPECTED TO GO OUT TO, TO BID IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR $2 MILLION IN, UH, FY 26.

AND JUST TO IT FLIP OVER QUICKLY TO THE NEXT PAGE.

IT'S THE SAME PLANTS, UH, THE PLANT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT IN THE EARLY, LATE EIGHTIES, EARLY NINETIES, AND THEN, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE LATE TWO THOUSANDS UP TO AROUND 2012.

UM, SO THIS SORT OF TWO HALVES, BUT TWO, TWO PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS, IS RATHER COMPLEX AND

[02:45:01]

SO, UH, THIS PROJECT IS A, IS A SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE TO THAT.

WE WOULD REPLACE THE ORIGINAL STANDBY GENERATOR, WHICH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IS VERY LARGE, AND GET ALL THE SWITCH GEAR, UH, PROPERLY SITUATED SO IT CAN OPERATE MORE SMOOTHLY AND, AND, AND, UH, PROTECT THAT CRITICAL RESOURCE.

SO THAT PROJECT, WE'RE ASKING FOR $5.5 MILLION THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE PREPARING, PREPARING TO GO OUT TO A DESIGN BID CONTRACT.

WITH THAT, WE DECIDED THAT'S THE BEST APPROACH FOR THAT.

NEXT ONE I'D HIGHLIGHT, JUST, UH, FOR A LITTLE VARIETY IS ON PAGE 3 52, UH, RENEWAL AND RESTRICT REPLACEMENT OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS OUR, OUR, OUR PIPELINE.

SO OUR WATER MAINS, AS MR. PETIN MENTIONED, WE HAVE 700 MILES PLUS I SAID THAT, RIGHT? YES.

UM, UH, THIS PARTICULAR LINE WAS, WAS BUILT IN THE, IN THE LATE EIGHTIES AS I RECALL.

AND IT HAS SOME, JUST SOME, SOME DEFICIENCIES THAT WE WANNA CORRECT.

SO THAT'S THE BREYER HILL ESTATES PROJECT, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR ABOUT $1.6 MILLION.

WE'RE ASKING FOR $1.6 MILLION, UH, IN FY 26.

AND THE LAST ONE I'LL, I'LL MENTION IS SORT OF A HIGHLIGHT IS, UM, ON PAGE 3 53, MR. YOU, I'M SORRY, HAVE A PARDON? NAME TOO.

GGG, JUST G, TONY G.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S THE WAY YOU INTRODUCED YOURSELF.

YES, SIR.

UM, YEAH, IS OUR SCADA PROJECT.

UM, AS MR. PATINE MENTIONED, WE, UM, OUR SYSTEMS ARE ALL CONNECTED WITH A, A NETWORK OF, OF RATHER HIGH TECH, UM, MONITORS.

AND THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS US TO REMOTELY, UH, MONITOR AND CONTROL TO SOME EXTENT ALL THOSE SYSTEMS AT THOSE 55, UH, SEWER PUMP STATIONS, THE 13 BOOSTER STATIONS AND, AND THE VARIOUS PLANTS.

SO IT'S, UH, AND PART OF THIS IS, IS THAT SECURITY THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING.

UM, WE'RE FORTUNATE AS, AS, AS MR. PATINE MENTIONED, TO HAVE A CHIEF OF OF OUR OPERATIONS WHO'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, AND ALSO A, A REALLY WELL QUALIFIED, UH, SPECIALIST IN, IN SCADA SYSTEMS. SO WE'RE MAKING GREAT HEADWAY ON THAT PROJECT AND WE'RE JUST DELIGHTED WITH THAT.

UM, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS I'LL MOVE ON TO OR QUESTIONS I CAN MOVE ON TO SEWER.

I THINK THAT'D BE, OH, EXCUSE ME, MR. MR. BENNETT, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE? I HAD NEVER KNOWN THAT WE HAVE PIPE COMING ALL THE WAY FROM BALTIMORE CITY TO ABINGDON.

DO WE LIKE PAY THE CITY OF BALTIMORE LIKE A, SOME SORT OF RATE YEARLY TO HAVE THAT OR, UH, SO THE PIPE IS ACTUALLY WAS BUILT BY THE CITY, FOR THE CITY BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.

THE BIG INCH.

IT'S THE BIG INCH IT'S CALLED, IT'S ACTUALLY 108 INCH DIAMETER PIPE THAT GOES FROM A, A RATHER LARGES PUMP STATION UP AT, IN, UH, ADJACENT TO SUSQUEHANNA, DEER CREEK CREEK PARK, DEER CREEK PUMP STATION, UM, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LOCK RAVEN SO THEY CAN PUMP A, A TON OF WATER THROUGH THAT PIPE WHEN THEY WANT TO.

UM, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT INTO THAT BACK IN THE EIGHTIES WHEN THE COUNTY RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR WATER.

THAT WAS, UM, LET'S FACE IT TO PEOPLE IN BALTIMORE IN, IN THE 1950S AND PLANT THAT WERE BRILLIANT AND TO DEVELOP THEIR WHOLE SYSTEM.

UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE A BENEFIT OF THAT.

WE PAY FOR THAT, WE PAY FOR THE WATER, WE TAKE OFF OF THAT SYSTEM, AND YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE IN, IN THE, IN THE PROJECTS, IF YOU GO THROUGH, THERE ARE SOME, SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE ADDRESSING SOME REVISIONS TO THAT SYSTEM THAT WILL BENEFIT US.

SO WE CAN STAY IN LINE SMALL WATER, RAW WATER.

IF I COULD ADD, YEAH, THAT'S THE WATER.

SO IT'S DIFFERENT THAN LIKE HAV GRACE SELLING THEIR WATER TO ABERDEEN WHERE WE'RE SELLING TREATED WATER.

UH, THAT IS CORRECT.

WE ARE, WE ARE BUYING RAW WATER FROM LOCK RAVEN RESERVOIR THAT FLOWS THROUGH THAT SERIES OF PIPES DOWN AND AROUND AND COMES TO US.

THEN WE DO OUR TREATING AND OUR DISTRIBUTION SO THAT WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT WATER MAIN BREAKS OR ISSUES OR CONTAMINATIONS IN EITHER BALTIMORE CITY OR BALTIMORE COUNTY SYSTEM, THERE IS NO CROSS CONNECTION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM AND US IN THEIR TREATED SYSTEM AND OUR TREATED SYSTEM.

IT'S ALWAYS COOL WHEN YOU FIND OUT THE COOL THINGS PEOPLE WERE DOING 40 YEARS AGO THAT SET US UP TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

SO I I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE LEARNING THAT LITTLE TIDBIT OF HISTORY.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION.

THE CITY OF H GRACE BELOW THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD BRIDGE HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT THEY CAN DRAW AS MUCH WATER OUTTA THE SUSQUEHANNA AS THEY WANT.

THE BIG INCH IS UP ABOVE IN CONTROLLED BY THE SUSSNA RIVER AUTHORITY, AND THEY'RE CONTROLLED HOW MUCH THEY CAN DRAW.

MM.

SO IT, IT, UM, DOESN'T ALLOW TO HAVE MUCH EXPANSION IN FUTURE.

WITH AN OPTION TO GET UP TO 25 MILLION.

OVERALL THAT'S, YES.

FOR THE BALTIMORE CITY, OUR, OUR CURRENT, UH, AGREEMENT IS WE CAN TAKE 20 MILLION GALLONS A DAY

[02:50:01]

AND WE'RE DESIGNING THAT INTO OUR, OUR PROCESSES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

HMM.

HOW MUCH DO WE COLLECT NOW? AND NORMALLY THAT'S MR. MCCORD POINTS OUT.

IT NORMALLY COMES FROM LOCK RAVEN.

AND ANOTHER FUN FACT THAT DRAINS BY GRAVITY ALL THE WAY BACK.

WOW.

UM, WHEN THEY HAVE TO TURN ON THE RIVER, THERE'S SOME BIG PUMP STATIONS THAT COME ON.

WE HAVE NUMBER ONE WATER, SO IT'S, YES, WE HAVE TO PROCESS THE WATER WE GET.

SO WHEN WE GET RIVER WATER, IT'S A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGE TO OUR OPERATORS, BUT WE'RE SET TO ABLE.

AND THEN ONE MORE PIECE, MR. BENNETT, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE AVINGTON WATER PLANT, THEY HAVE A SECTION OF THAT PIPE SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE HOW BIG THAT PIPE IS.

THAT'S COOL.

STAND , LIFT THE WATER OFF , NO WATER YOUR PERMISSION.

I'LL MOVE ON TO SEWER PROJECTS.

YES, SIR.

UH, THE, THE OVERVIEW STARTS ON PAGE 3 72.

UH, YOU'LL NOTE THAT WE HAVE EIGHT PROJECTS IDENTIFIED FOR $15.4 MILLION REQUESTED IN FY 26.

THE FIRST PROJECT I'M GOING TO DISCUSS IS ACTUALLY ON 3 75.

UM, AND IT'S THE BUSH CREEK SEWER PUMP STATION.

AND I'LL NOTICE I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WE, AS WE'VE SAID, WE HAVE 55 SEWER PUMP STATIONS.

AND IF YOU CAN'T PICTURE WHAT THAT IS, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WATER HAS TO GET FROM ONE END OF THE COUNTY TO THE OTHER, WE'D LOVE IT TO DRAIN BY GRAVITY.

THAT'S THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A HILL IN THE MIDDLE.

SO IT'S LIKE RIDING A BIKE.

YOU CAN COAST FOR A WAYS, BUT THEN YOU GOTTA PEDAL BACK UP THE HILL.

SO THESE PUMP STATIONS DO THAT.

THE BUSH CREEK ONE IS, IS THE ONE I'M WANNA TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW, UH, IS OUR LARGEST, THEY CAN, THEY CAN PUMP UP THE 28 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

UM, AND LIKE ANY OTHER, UH, SYSTEM, IT REQUIRES PERIODIC UPDATES.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING, UH, RATHER COMPLEX, UH, REPLACEMENT OF PUMPS, UH, MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEMS, ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SUPPORTING THAT AND PIPING IN THE YARD.

UH, IT TAKES MOST OF THE FLOW FROM BEL AIR SOUTH.

SO IT'S, IT, IT HANDLES WELL MORE THAN HALF OF THE WASTEWATER THAT COMES THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR OPERATION.

SO, UM, THAT PROJECT IS PARTIALLY FUNDED ALREADY, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR $2 MILLION IN FY 26 TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

NEXT ONE I'LL, I'LL JUMP TO IS ON PAGE 3 77.

UH, IT'S KIND OF THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SCALE IN TERMS OF SCOPE, BUT, UH, JUST ABOUT AS IMPORTANT, UM, THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM, UH, THERE'S A, THERE'S THIS CONCEPT OF INFLOW AND INFILTRATION.

IF WATER IS GETTING INTO THE PIPES FROM THE GROUND OR FROM STORM WATER GETTING IN THROUGH SOME IMPROPER CONNECTION OR OTHER MEANS, UH, THAT IS JUST TAKING UP CAPACITY AND IT, IT, IT'S AFFECTING THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF OUR SYSTEM.

UM, SO THIS IS ONE OF A COUPLE OF PROJECTS WHERE WE'RE WORKING TO, TO ELIMINATE THAT.

AND, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.

OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO LINE A SECTION OF OLD CLAY, CLAY SEWER GOING BACK TO THE 1960S THAT WILL BOTH CLEAN THAT UP SO IT DOESN'T HAVE, UH, PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF OPERATION, BUT ALSO REDUCE INFILTRATION AND INFLOW.

SO, UH, FOR THIS YEAR WE'RE ASKING FOR $300,000 AND THAT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT.

UM, ON THESE PROJECTS.

TURN TO PAGE THREE 80.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT FOR SORUN FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS IS ONE OF SEVERAL DEALING WITH OUR LARGEST WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS AT, UH, AT THE END OF CHELSEA ROAD IN, IN, IN PERRYMAN, SOUTH END OF PERRYMAN.

UM, WE HAVE A LARGE PROJECT ONGOING RIGHT NOW, $30 MILLION PLUS TO, UM, MAKE SOME MAJOR UPGRADES TO THE SYSTEMS. I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS BECAUSE IT'S CAN GET PRETTY WRAPPED UP.

UH, BUT WE HAVE ONGOING PROJECTS FOR THIS AS WELL.

UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE ASKING FOR $2.75 MILLION AND, UH, WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL, UH, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE.

SO THOSE, THIS, THERE'S MONEY, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OTHER THINGS, IT GOES INTO THE POT FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF, OF FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ONGOING.

NOW THOSE WERE THE PROJECTS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE OR ANY OTHERS, I CAN SKIP OVER TO MISCELLANEOUS, BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH IN THERE THAT IS A DIRECT WATER AND SEWER KIND OF ACTIVITY.

UH, IT'S REALLY IN SUPPORT OF, UM, OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT SUPPORT WATER AND SEWER.

WE DON'T REALLY MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS PER SE.

AND THAT'S ON PAGE THREE NINE FOR I CT.

THEIR SHARE OF THE COST OF P PROJECTS.

[02:55:01]

MR. TIBBS? YES.

ON, ON PAGE THREE 80 THERE, UH, YOU HAVE A NINE A MILLION, 900,000 FOR INSPECTION FEES.

THAT, IS THAT THE CORRECT TERM? OR IS THAT YES.

YES, SIR.

UM, WE ENGAGE OUR, OUR COUNTY INSPECTORS REALLY AREN'T OF THE RIGHT ILK TO, TO LOOK AT THESE BIG CAPITAL PROJECTS.

UM, SO WE HAVE FULL-TIME INSPECTIONS FROM A SPECIALIZED FIRM.

UH, IT IS NOT JUST INSPECTIONS, BUT THEY MANAGE THE SHOP DRAWING SUBMITTALS, UH, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.

THEY COORDINATE THE DESIGN ACTIVITIES.

UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S A, A FAIRLY TYPICAL VALUE FOR THESE KIND OF PROJECTS IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE.

THAT JUST SEEMED ASTRONOMICAL TO ME, HUH? IT, IT, WELL, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AGREED.

UH, BUT IT'S ALSO, UH, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL NATURE OF THE, THE TYPE OF EXPERTISE THAT WE NEED AND WANT TO HAVE TO HELP TO MANAGE THESE PROJECTS ON OUR BEHALF.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE RETAIN THE SERVICES OF FULL-TIME PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE HANDLING THAT.

AND THE REASON WE, ANOTHER REASON WHY WE DON'T DO IT WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES IS THIS IS GONNA BE A HIGH INTENSITY, VERY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT LASTING PROBABLY TWO YEARS.

AT THE END OF THAT TWO YEARS, THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING FOR A, B, C, OR WHOEVER THE CONSULTANT IS, THEY GO ONTO THEIR NEXT JOB.

AND WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT BURDENING OUR, OUR FOLKS.

SO IT'S, IT IS, IT IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT, AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORKLOAD ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS THAT ARE OUT THERE BUILDING ABOUT WHAT, $40 MILLION WORTH OF, UH, WORTH OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLANT.

ANYONE ELSE? UM, WE'RE DONE WITH CAPITAL TWO THEN.

RIGHT? OKAY.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST TAKE A MINUTE BEFORE WE CLOSE, IS TO THANK, UH, BILL, YOU AND YOUR TEAM AT BOTH, UH, ENTITIES, WATER AND SEWER.

AND, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE MEETING THAT WE HAD PRIOR TO THE WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASE, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, THE POSITION THAT MOST COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PREPARED TO TAKE WAS STRICTLY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS.

NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR DEPARTMENTS, NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY INDIVIDUALS THERE.

UM, AND I'M SURE THAT, UM, IN A TIMELY MANNER, AS THINGS ALLOW, WE'LL BE COMING BACK AND CAN CONSIDER YOUR INTEREST AS FAR AS A MONTHLY BILL AS WELL.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND LISTEN TO OUR CITIZENS.

UM, AND, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT YOU ADDRESSED MS. LYNCH'S CONCERN, UH, FOR THE WATER CUSTOMERS IN, IN THEIR DISTRICT.

UH, AND I THINK THAT OUR CITIZENS SEE THAT AND HEAR THAT EVERY DAY FROM YOU FOLKS, UH, INVESTIGATING ANY ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE.

SO, ON BEHALF OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

AND, UM, WE'LL, UH, GO AHEAD AND TAKE A RECESS FOR LUNCH.

UM, IF WE COULD GET EVERYBODY SQUARED AWAY HERE, WE'RE GONNA START OUR AFTERNOON SESSION, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA START WITH, UH, ROBBIE SANDIS AND TREASURY.

UM, BUT FIRST, UH, AS MR. BENNETT ALLUDED TO EARLIER TODAY, I'D LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, NOW THAT WE'RE A FULL STAFF HERE WITH OUR CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS.

IF YOU WOULD, UH, EACH TAKE JUST A MINUTE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND LET EVERYONE KNOW WHICH DISTRICT YOU'RE REPRESENTING, MS. LYNCH, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

I'M TORI LYNCH.

I REPRESENT DISTRICT A.

I'VE BEEN RESIDING IN DISTRICT A FOR OVER 15 YEARS NOW.

I'M ERIC, ROBERT, AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT B.

I'VE BEEN RESIDING AT DISTRICT B FOR CLOSE TO 40 YEARS NOW.

THAT'S TOO LONG.

MY NAME IS RANDY ETT, UH, REPRESENTED BY, UH, TONY G'S, UH, DISTRICT C I'VE BEEN IN HARTFORD COUNTY FOR 36 YEARS, HIS DISTRICT D LAND PARISH, I SUPPOSE.

I'M REPRESENTING ALL THE DISTRICTS, AS PAT'S, UH, REPRESENTATIVE.

AND I'VE LIVED IN HARTFORD COUNTY ALL MY LIFE.

SO I GUESS THAT'S 46 YEARS OR SO, OF COURSE.

SO, OR SO HOW LONG ARE YOU NOW, ? WE'RE THE SAME AGE BOBS.

I DON'T WANNA TELL YOU HOW LONG I'VE BEEN HERE.

, YOU AND BOBBY.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 7,487.

UH, STACY STOVER,

[03:00:01]

I REPRESENT DISTRICT E.

I'VE LIVED IN HARTFORD COUNTY FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS.

I'M KEVIN MCKINNEY, REPRESENTING DISTRICT F WITH COUNCILMAN BENNETT.

UH, BEEN IN THE COUNTY FOR, UH, ABOUT 13 YEARS NOW.

WELL, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING YOUR DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE.

SO, UH, YOU GUYS ARE PERFORMING A, A MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE ON THIS BUDGET.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT, UH, IT'S A VERY STRONG CHALLENGE TO RECEIVE A BUDGET AND SEVEN OR EIGHT DAYS LATER, SIT DOWN, START WORK SESSIONS.

SO, AND, AND AGAIN, THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR IS NEARLY $1.4 BILLION.

SO, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. SANDLES.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, I'LL LET, UH, I'LL RUN THROUGH THE NUMBERS.

SO, UH, TREASURY BEGINS ON PAGE ONE 70.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 6,197,834, WITH, UH, THREE DIVISIONS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND, AND ONE DIVISION FUNDED BY THE WATER AND SEWER OPERATING FUND.

THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER BEGINS ON PAGE 1 76, HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 779,731, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 40,518, AND IS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES.

INCREASE IS 40,518.

UH, SALARIES INCREASE 7,999, THE FY 26 COLA, TOTALING 22,495.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 10,024.

THERE'S NO CHANGE TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

UH, NEXT IS THE BUREAU OF ACCOUNTING, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 1 79.

THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,329,920, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 349,194, FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 333,394, SALARIES INCREASE 67,008, WHICH IS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, TURNOVER AND PARTIAL YEAR, PARTIAL YEAR FUNDING IN FY 25 FOR VACANT POSITIONS.

THE FY 26 COLA TOTALING 67,606, THERE WAS A TRANSFER OF TWO POSITIONS IN FROM REVENUE COLLECTIONS AND A TRANSFER, UM, OF ONE POSITION, TWO REVENUE COLLECTIONS FOR A NET INCREASE TO THIS DIVISION OF 145,932.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 52,848 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 20,000.

THAT'S FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR THE FINANCIAL AUDIT OFFICE, EQUIPMENT SERVICE, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING PAYROLL TAX PROCESSING PROVIDED BY A DP, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 4,200.

THAT'S DUE TO ADJUSTMENTS IN MAILING AND OFFICE SUPPLIES BASED ON ACTUALS, AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

NEXT IS REVENUE COLLECTIONS, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 180 2.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 599 568, WHICH IS, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 12,943 AND FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

UH, THERE'S SALARY ADJUSTMENTS THERE OF, UH, 28,398 DUE TO PARTIAL YEAR FUNDING IN FY 25 OF VACANT POSITIONS.

THE FY 26 COLA TOTALING 44,445, AND THE TRANSFER OUT OF TWO POSITIONS TO BUREAU OF ACCOUNTING AND THE TRANSFER IN OF ONE POSITION FROM BUREAU OF ACCOUNTING FOR A NET DECREASE OF 99,714.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 34,358.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 13,000.

THAT'S DUE TO A REDUCTION IN LEGAL NOTICE AND LEGAL SERVICES OF 8,000 BASED ON ACTUALS.

AND THEN A REDUCTION IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OF 5,000.

IT APPLIES IN MATERIALS, DECREASES 7,430.

THAT'S DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN PRINTING AND OFFICE MAILING BASED ON ACTUALS, AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

AND FINALLY, WE HAVE, UH, WATER AND SEWER ACCOUNTING, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 180 5, HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 4 88 615, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 29,676, AND IS FUNDED BY THE WATER AND SEWER OPERATING FUND.

PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 13,676.

THAT'S A RESULT OF A DECREASE IN SALARIES OF 45,298 AS A NET OF, UH, SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER SAVINGS.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 29,000 6 0 9.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 2013.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 16,000 DUE TO REDUCTION TO THE, FOR THE FINANCIAL AUDIT BASED ON ACTUALS OF 10,000, AND THEN

[03:05:01]

A REDUCTION OF 6,000 IN SOFTWARE.

NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL OR, OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TREASURER SANDS.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY IN ALMOST ANY OTHER COUNTY WOULD JUST BE CALLED, UM, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, AND I WOULD BE THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.

BUT HERE, WE CALL IT, UH, UH, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.

AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE, THE MONEY MANAGERS FOR THE COUNTY.

WE ARE, UH, THE ONES WHO ARE, UM, BILLING AND COLLECTING THE, THE PROPERTY TAXES, THE WATER AND SEWER BILLS, ANY OTHER TYPES OF, UM, SMALLER BILLS.

UM, WE'RE KEEPING THE BOOKS.

WE ARE, UM, PAYING, UM, ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH PAYROLL.

WE'RE PAYING, UM, UM, SOME OF OUR PENSIONERS THAT ARE UNDER THE COUNTY SYSTEMS. WE ARE, UH, PAYING VENDORS.

UH, WE, WE ARE SELLING THE BONDS, MAKING INVESTMENTS, BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.

UH, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT DOES DEAL WITH, UM, WITH FINANCE.

NOW, BUDGET IS A, UM, IS UNDER DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE DO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH BUDGET.

AND I WOULD SAY MOST NOTABLY, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THE REVENUE FORECAST IS, IS, UH, IS A TREASURY FUNCTION.

SO A COUPLE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS YEAR.

UM, WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SIGNIFICANT, UM, NEW, UH, ICT SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THAT HAVE A TREASURY FOCUS.

UM, THE COUNTY, UH, COUNTY'S PAYROLL AS WELL AS OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, UM, ARE IMPLEMENTING THE, UH, HR SLASH PAYROLL COMPONENT OF WORKDAY.

WE WENT TO WORKDAY FOR OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND NOW WE'LL BE, UH, MAKING THAT UPGRADE.

WE HAVE BE GOING LIVE FOR THAT, UM, IN ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF, HOPEFULLY .

UM, AND WE ARE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF UPDATING OUR, UM, OUR PROPERTY TAX BILLING SOFTWARE.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS KIND OF, UH, A LOT OF OUR SYSTEMS WE'RE KIND OF COBBLED TOGETHER, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS.

AND LIKE WITH, WITH MANY OF OUR SYSTEMS, NOW, WE'RE MOVING TO A KIND OF CLOUD-BASED SYSTEMS. UM, SO WE ARE MOVING TO A TYLER TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT, UM, THAT SHOULD GIVE US SOME MORE FUNCTIONALITY AND ALSO, UM, ENABLE US TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET OFF THE SERVERS AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WE PLAN ON GOING LIVE FOR NEXT PROPERTY, UM, TAX BUILDING SEASON.

SO NOT THIS JULY, BUT NEXT, NEXT JULY.

UM, JUST A COUPLE OF, UM, SMALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALL THAT WE'VE HAD.

UM, AND WE DO PUT OUT THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL REPORT EACH YEAR.

WE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT WE DID WIN THE, UH, G FOAS, UH, DISTINGUISHED, UM, FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THAT, FOR OUR 2024 NUMBER.

UH, AND WE ALSO, UH, CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THE ACCOUNT'S AAA BOND RATING, WHICH HELPS US, UH, LOWER OUR, OUR BORROWING COST.

SO I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS.

SO ROBBIE, UH, WE APPRECIATE, UM, WHAT YOU DO FOR US AS FAR AS TREASURY.

UM, WE, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR ABILITY TO WORK WITH, UM, EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE BEST BOND RATING THAT WE CAN GET.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE A SMALL PART IN THAT, BUT YOU ARE THE LEAD ON THAT.

UH, I REMEMBER THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE BOTH HAD YOU MORE THAN ME WAS STEVE WINTER OVER THE YEARS.

UH, JUST AN OUTSTANDING GENTLEMAN.

SORRY THAT HE HAS LEFT US.

UH, BUT HE HAD GREAT CONFIDENCE IN YOU, UM, AND EXPRESSED THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS.

UM, I GOT A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

ONE, UH, WHAT IS TODAY OUR FUND BALANCE? 'CAUSE I, I HEAR SO MANY DIFFERENT NUMBERS.

WHAT IS OUR ACTUAL FUND BALANCE? WELL, AND ONE OF THE, THE, THE CHALLENGES REALLY WITH THE FUND BALANCE IS IT'S KIND OF A SNAPSHOT IN TIME.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE THINK THAT AT THE, UM, AT, AT THIS POINT, BASED ON WHAT WE THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA SPEND AND COLLECT, UM, THROUGHOUT, UH, THE, UM, THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH ENDS JUNE 30TH, AND EVEN MAKE IT EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, WE GO TO AUGUST BECAUSE WE ACCRUE THINGS BACK.

UM, WE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, AROUND 155, UH, MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR, BUT OF THAT 155 MILLION, UM, AND I MIGHT BE OFF BY A MILLION OR, OR OR TWO, UM, OF THAT, WE'RE USING 50 MILLION OF IT FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THIS UPCOMING BUDGET THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WE WILL MAINTAIN.

UM, SO THEN WHEN IT COMES TO MORE OR LESS, THE OTHER A HUNDRED MILLION, UH, THE TWO BIGGEST COMPONENTS, THERE ARE 5% RAINY DAY FUND.

WE'VE NEVER HAD TO BREAK INTO THAT, NOT THROUGH PANDEMICS OR THROUGH, UM, GREAT RECESSIONS.

SO THAT, IS THAT, THAT'S MORE OR LESS THERE AS A REASSURANCE TO THE BONDHOLDERS? IS IT HOW, UM, IT IS, DID YOU HAVE THE, THE FUND BALANCE ON THAT PAGE? ON, ON THIS PAST, I HAVE THIS SHARE.

LET'S JUST CALL IT 41 MILLION.

UM, THIS PAST YEAR, UM, IT WAS 39 MILLION, BUT IT'S 5% OF THE BUDGET.

SO AS THE BUDGET WENT UP, IT'S PROBABLY 41 OR 40, PROBABLY AROUND 41 MILLION OR SO.

SO YEAH, OUR TOTAL ESTIMATE AT THE END IS, I'M SORRY, IT WAS ACTUALLY 159, UM, AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS 159 MILLION.

AND SO WE HAVE, UH, THE RAINY DAY FUND, UM, COMPONENT THERE.

ACTUALLY, I HAVE ONE, OH, NO, I DID 40,

[03:10:01]

IT'S 40, 40.9.

AND THAT'S ON PAGE 53 OF THE BOOK.

AND THEN THE OTHER PART, WHICH IS NOT LISTED IN HERE THAT I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS THIS MORNING, IS WE SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR THE STORMWATER OBLIGATION.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD 30 MILLION.

WE ACTUALLY, UM, HAD THAT IN THERE FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

'CAUSE WE, WE KNEW, PRIOR ADMINISTRATION KNEW, CURRENT ADMINISTRATION KNEW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECAUSE THE RECORDATION THAT WE HAD ALLOCATED WAS ONLY GONNA BE ABLE TO GO SO FAR.

UM, THAT WAS 30 MILLION.

NOW THAT'S GONNA BE DOWN TO 29 BECAUSE WE ARE USING, IN FACT, UM, 1 MILLION OF IT.

UM, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER SMALLER THINGS THAT ARE IN, WITHIN, WITHIN FUND BALANCE AS WELL.

SO, AS WE SPOKE ABOUT YESTERDAY, IF THERE'S ANY LEFTOVER FROM TOURISM, UM, EXPENDITURES, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT ALWAYS HAS A LINE WITHIN FUND BALANCE.

UM, SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE BOND PROCEEDS, BOND PREMIUMS, UH, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

UH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY, UM, INDIVIDUAL, UM, ASSIGNMENTS.

I WOULD SAY THE, THE, THE LARGEST ARE EITHER, ARE THOSE, UH, APPROPRIATION OR THE, I'M SORRY, THE RAINY DAY FUND AND THAT WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FUND.

OH, AND I'M ALSO, SORRY.

AND ALSO THE LANDFILL CLOSURE COSTS, WHICH IS ANOTHER IDEA THAT, UM, AS WE FILL UP THE LANDFILL, WE KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL HAVE TO, UM, MITIGATE, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF MITIGATE MONITOR, UM, A CLOSED LANDFILL.

AND SO WE SET MONEY ASIDE SO THAT WE DON'T BURDEN FUTURE TAXPAYERS MORE OR LESS WITH MONITORING, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S TRASH, IF YOU WILL.

HOW MUCH IS THAT? THAT WAS, UH, 12.6.

AND THAT, AND WE DO THAT FROM A, FROM A STUDY WITH THE, I MEAN, AUDITORS WHERE WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE LANDFILL HAS BEEN USED AND, AND, AND THE LIKE.

SO IT'S A, THAT'S NOT A NUMBER THAT WE JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, COME UP WITH.

AND ANYTHING THAT'S LEFT IN TOURISM IS USUALLY SPENT OR MANDATED TO BE SPENT ON TOURISM.

RIGHT? WELL, CORRECT.

BUT IF WE HAVE MONIES LEFT OVER, UM, WE, WE, WE CAN USE IT FOR, UM, LIKE A ONE TIME EVENT IN THE FUTURE, OR, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER WE WOULD, WE WOULD SO CHOOSE TO USE IT, BUT A TOURISM RELATED EVENT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TOURISM RELATED.

SO IF, REMEMBER UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WE USED, UM, ACTUALLY SOME TOURISM DOLLARS FOR, UM, UM, FOR CEDAR LANE.

UM, SO THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THERE.

OR IF WE EVER WERE TO HAVE A VISITOR CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER POTENTIAL USE.

UM, BECAUSE ANY OF THE MONIES AT THE, WE, WE ESTIMATE HOW MUCH WE THINK WE'RE GONNA BRING IN FOR TOURISM, 2.7 MILLION, THEN WE BUILD, BUILD THE BUDGET, UM, UH, BUILD THE BUDGET.

BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED VERSUS WHATEVER WE ACTUALLY SPENT.

AND IF THERE IS MONEY, IF, IF THERE'S MONEY TO THE GOOD, WE PUT IT ASIDE.

SO AT THE END OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE HAD $600,000, YOU KNOW, LEFT OVER FOR A WHILE.

THAT NUMBER WAS ZERO BECAUSE DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, WE WERE STILL TRYING TO SUPPORT, UM, A LOT OF OUR NONPROFITS THAT, THAT OUR TOURISM DEPENDENT, BUT WE WEREN'T BRINGING IN ANY REVENUES BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T STAYING IN HOTELS FOR A YEAR OR SO.

THAT INCOME TAX WAS, UM, WAS LOWER THAN IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR.

AND, UM, I'M STILL AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TOURISM, DO NOT REALIZE THAT THAT TOURISM MONEY DID NOT COME FROM HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS AS PEOPLE VISITING AND STAYING AT HOTELS.

THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY'S COMING FROM.

I MEAN, I'M SURE THERE'S THE OCCASIONAL PERSON WHO STAYS IN A HOTEL, BUT YEAH, OVERWHELMINGLY THAT'S FROM, FROM TOURISTS.

GOT IT.

UM, AND THEN YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT REVENUE PROJECTIONS WHEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS HERE.

SO CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMED LIKE WE WERE ANTICIPATING ONE THING AND WE GET SOMETHING ELSE? WELL, WE ARE, OUR REVENUES ON A BUDGET BASIS THIS YEAR ARE GROWING BY 6%.

UM, I WOULD SAY ABOUT HALF OF THAT GROWTH THOUGH, IS, UH, GROWTH THAT WE'VE KIND OF SEEN FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, LAST YEAR'S NUMBER WAS, UM, WAS UNDERESTIMATED AND BECAUSE OF INCOME TAX.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS IF YOU GO BACK TO LAST YEAR, WE'VE RECEIVED OUR NOVEMBER INCOME TAX DISTRIBUTION, AND IT WAS DOWN, IT WASN'T JUST DOWN BECAUSE OF THE RECONCILING.

IT WAS DOWN FROM THE, WITH WITHHOLDING ACROSS.

THE STATE WAS DOWN.

AND WE'RE LIKE, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE FLUKE.

AND I TALKED TO THE, TO THE COMPTROLLER'S STAFF, AND THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, WE THINK IT WAS A CALENDAR ISSUE.

THEN WE GOT INTO FEBRUARY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

SO WE'RE LIKE, HMM, SOMETHING'S, SOMETHING'S HAPPENING HERE.

AND WE ACTUALLY LAST YEAR FINISHED WITH LESS INCOME TAX IN FISCAL YEAR 24 THAN WE DID IN FISCAL YEAR 23.

UM, AND, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK WE BUILT A MORE, A MORE CONSERVATIVE, UM, BUDGET OFF OF THAT.

NOW, IT ENDED UP, WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS, UM, THE, BOTH THE QUARTERLY DISBURSEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT REFLECT THE WITHHOLDING, THE LIKE, KIND OF, UM, UH, REGROUPED AND, AND, UH, KIND OF CAME BACK IN A LITTLE BIT OF STRENGTH, BUT WE ALSO JUST GOT SOME SIGNIFICANT ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES FROM WHEN THE COMPTROLLERS DO THEIR RECONCILIATION.

THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, WE, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY HERE.

IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT WAS AROUND PROBABLY ABOUT 25 MILLION OR SO, UM, THAT THEY THEN DISPERSED TO US IN, UH, SEPTEMBER AND LARGELY IN NOVEMBER.

UM, NOW WE DO NOT NECESSARILY THINK THAT THAT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE AN ONGOING THING.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW WITH, WITH INCOME TAX.

UM, BUT I DO THINK

[03:15:01]

BUT THAT WAS BASED UPON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD JUST BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE NOW, I'VE NEVER SEEN WITHHOLDING GO DOWN FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS.

I'VE SEEN ESTIMATED PAYMENTS GO DOWN.

MAYBE THERE WAS SOME ISSUES THERE, UM, THAT CREATED SOME NOISE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.

UH, AND THIS KINDA GETS TO HOW WE, WE TRY TO DO INCOME TAX, YOU KNOW, PROJECTIONS, YOU LARGELY, YOU, YOU SAY, OKAY, WELL WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW? AND AT THIS POINT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE HAVE COLLECTED THOSE BIG RECONCILING PAYMENTS, BUT WE'VE ONLY COLLECTED ABOUT HALF OF THE, UH, NORMAL DISTRIBUTIONS, AND WE WON'T COLLECT THE THIRD OF THE FOUR, UM, QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS UNTIL MAY 31ST.

SO PRETTY MUCH ONCE ALL OF THE DECISIONS ARE, ARE MADE, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE IN FOR THE MOST, WELL, JUNE 30TH, BUT ALSO JULY AND AND AUGUST, THAT KIND OF GOES BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPROVED TWO MONTHS BACK.

UM, AND THAT'S WHERE, UH, THE, THE REAL CHALLENGE IS ON INCOME TAX.

BUT WE, WE DO THINK THAT WHILE WE, WE HAVE A, A LOT OF, OF, UH, STRENGTH HERE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY, THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS HERE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, GOOD PAYING JOBS AND, YOU KNOW, STRONG BUSINESSES AND ALL THAT.

THIS STATE IS CHALLENGED.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE, UM, I, I KNOW I'VE SHARED WITH SOME OF YOU THE, THE REPORT FROM MOODY'S, UM, BRIAN KELLY FROM SPENDING AFFORDABILITY, UH, ALLUDED TO IT YESTERDAY.

YOU KNOW, NO OTHER STATE IS AS DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS, AS WE ARE.

UM, AND EVEN IF DOD DOESN'T TAKE THE SAME HITS THAT SAY FDA AND SOCIAL SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TAKE, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE STATE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ALLOCATES THE, THE INCOME TAX, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT TAKE A, A BIGGER HIT AND THEN IT MIGHT TAKE TWO YEARS FOR THEM TO SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DROPPED YOUR INCOME TAX BY 5%.

WE SHOULD HAVE ONLY DROPPED IT BY 3%.

UM, SO A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.

YOU KNOW, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS NOW ABOUT, UM, UM, ABOUT WHERE INCOME TAX IS GOING.

I THINK THAT WE TOOK A VERY, UM, CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, AND BRIAN SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY.

UM, WE DID TWO KIND OF METHODOLOGIES.

ONE IS WE KIND OF BACKED OUT ALL THOSE ONE-TIME RECONCILIATION COSTS AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT DO WE, WHAT DO WE NORMALLY GET IN A, IN A RECONCILING, UM, FOR, FOR THE YEAR? LET'S USE THAT AS THE AVERAGE.

LET'S NOT, YOU KNOW, BASE IT OFF OF THAT.

AND THEN WE, WE TOOK THE QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS AND WE GREW THOSE, UM, BY ABOUT THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT, UM, WHICH SEEMED LIKE A REASONABLE NUMBER.

AND THEN BRIAN'S ANALYST, UM, ISAIAH KIND OF TOOK, GOING BACK 40 YEARS AND KINDA CAME UP WITH BANDS USING A REGRESSION ANALYSIS.

AND THEY BOTH KIND OF CAME UP, UM, WHEN WE TOOK HIS, HIS MORE CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.

UM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU, YOU CAN GET, YOU FIGURE OUT REGRESSION ANALYSIS, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIT THINGS INTO A LINE, BUT YOU HAVE BANDS NORTH AND SOUTH, YOU KNOW, OVER, YOU KNOW, MORE OPTIMISTIC, LESS OPTIMISTIC.

WE TOOK THE LESS OPTIMISTIC ONE.

UM, AND ALL TOLD WHAT THAT'S SAYING IS THAT WE THINK THAT INCOME TAX ON AN ACTUAL BASIS IS ONLY GONNA BE, IS, IS PRETTY MUCH GONNA BE FLAT.

SO WHAT WE COLLECT THIS YEAR WITH THAT ONE TIME RECONCILING, UH, PAYMENT THAT WE'LL COLLECT AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT, UM, MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, NEXT YEAR.

'CAUSE THE RECONCILING WILL GO DOWN, BUT THE QUARTERLIES WILL GO UP A LITTLE BIT AND IT, IT WILL ALL BE EVEN.

SO KIND OF GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, YOU KNOW, QUESTION IS, WE ARE, FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, WE THINK THAT BUDGET TO BUDGET WE'RE GROWING BY 6%, BUT ACTUAL TO ACTUAL, WE THINK THAT, UM, WE, WE, WE, WE UPGRADED OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTION, UH, BY ABOUT, UM, 3%.

AND THEN WE THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA GROW 3% OFF OF THAT.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO THE 6%.

NOW WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT, UM, FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, THAT'S JUST ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THE BUDGET ITSELF IS GROWING BY 4.5, 4.6.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WENT FROM USING $58 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE TO USING 50 $51 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE.

SO WE KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, UM, BECAUSE WE, WE, WE HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN OUR FUND BALANCE IN A MORE REASONABLE AND SUSTAINABLE WAY.

SAYS BEFORE, WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE SOME KIND OF A FUND BALANCE.

WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE SOME POSITION VACANCIES.

I, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY BECAUSE WE SERVE, WE, WE BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY ON REVENUES, WE ALWAYS HOPE WE'RE GONNA BE TO THE GOOD ON REVENUES.

UM, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE SOME FORM OF A FUND BALANCE, BUT IDEALLY YOU SHOULD BE USING THAT FUND BALANCE FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES.

UM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE TURNING A BATTLESHIP.

IT'S TAKE IT'S TAKE, YOU KNOW, YOU GO FROM 90 TO 75 TO 60 TO 50, UM, IT STILL TAKES A WHILE TO, TO KIND OF TURN THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, TURN THAT TIDE.

WE WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER OFF HAD THE STATE NOT COME THROUGH WITH THAT EXTRA FIVE OR $6 MILLION OF, OF, UH, LARGELY FUTURE PENSION COSTS, BUT ALSO OF SA COST.

UM, YOU KNOW, HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE WOULD'VE, YOU KNOW, ONLY HAD TO USE SAY, $45 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE.

AND YOU, IT'S PROBABLY REALISTIC TO ASSUME THAT THAT'S GONNA BE AN ONGOING PART OF OUR, OF OUR THINGS.

YOU KNOW, BACK, BACK IN 2010, THE STATE, UM, HIT HARTFORD COUNTY WITH ABOUT, UH, 12, I WANNA SAY 12, MAYBE $15 MILLION, SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE OF TEACHER PENSION COSTS.

BUT WE GAVE THE FUNDS DIRECTLY TO THE

[03:20:01]

SCHOOLS.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR IS THE STATE WAS LOOKING AT THEIR BUDGET.

SO I ALSO SERVE, I'M ALSO A TRUSTEE ON THE STATE PENSION SYSTEM.

SO WHEN WE WERE, UM, DOING THE ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS FOR HOW MUCH WE NEED FOR THE PENSION THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE ASSUMPTIONS AND, AND WE COULD SEE THAT YEP.

STATE'S BEEN GIVEN A LOT OF RAISES.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GIVING RAISES TO TEACHERS.

UM, YOU KNOW, GETTING 'EM UP TO THAT 60,000 MARK.

WE'VE ALSO HAD A LOT OF INFLATION.

SO WHEN THE ACTUARIAL NUMBER CAME BACK, IT SAID, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO BE PAYING MORE FOR THE PENSION.

UM, AND I THINK WHEN THE STATE, THEY LOOKED AT THEIR BIG NUMBER AND THEY'RE LIKE, HMM, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER.

HOW ABOUT WE GIVE COUNTIES HALF OF IT? HMM.

UM, AND SO THAT'S SOUND, YOU KNOW, NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE PAYING THE BULK OF, OF TEACHER PENSION COSTS EITHER, YOU KNOW, INDIRECTLY BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS ARE PAYING IT, OR NOW IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STRIKE A CHECK.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, BUDGET WISE ABOUT A FOUR POINT A HALF PERCENT, YOU KNOW, INCREASE.

IT PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT LESS HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO NOT HAVE THOSE COSTS.

BUT, UM, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE.

SO, UM, I GUESS ESSENTIALLY AS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TODAY TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE COMING IN NEW COUNTY? YEAH, AND I KNOW WE, WE, WE TALK ABOUT SOMETIMES WITH, WITH ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND I THINK WITH ALL, REALLY WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IS THAT YOU ARE OFTENTIMES KIND OF PLANTING A, A TREE THAT YOU MAY NOT SIT UNDER OR YOU MAY NOT SIT UNDER ANYTIME SOON.

YOU KNOW? UM, WE HAVE A VERY COMPETITIVE TAX RATE HERE.

I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT HOW, HOW EASY IT IS TO WORK WITH PLANNING AND DI VERSUS, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER COUNTIES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GENERALLY FAST TRACK THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.

UM, SO WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE ALL THAT, BUT THERE ARE LIMITS ON OUR ECONOMIC, ON OUR, ON OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I MEAN, WE HAVE THE, WE HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS AT THIS POINT, AND YOU PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS, WITH, WITH SHANE, IS LARGELY, LARGELY BUILT OUT.

THE CHALLENGE WITH ANY TYPE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A LOT OF IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL CAN BE SOMEWHAT OF A MIXED BLESSING, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL COST.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU DO ADD, UM, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL HOMES AND WHICH ARE IMPORTANT, PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, UM, THE, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A NATIONAL HOUSING SITUATION OF NOT ENOUGH HOMES AT, AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'LL CHANGE IT'S DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE, BUT, UM, BUT WHEN YOU DO BRING IN ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, NOW YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COST.

UM, SO YES, YOU MIGHT, WE VERY WELL BRING IN, UM, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, OUR PROPERTY TAXES IS ABOUT 1%.

SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVED IN A $300,000 HOME, THAT'S ABOUT $3,000 A YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES.

UM, AND OUR INCOME TAX IS ALSO AROUND 3%.

SO SAME THING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU MAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

OKAY, THAT'S, THAT'S THREE, THAT'S, THAT'S, UH, $3,000.

SO THAT'S $6,000 MAYBE SAY COMING FROM, COMING FROM THAT HOUSEHOLD.

WE SPEND SEVEN, $8,000, I BELIEVE, KIND OF PER PUPIL.

SO, YOU KNOW, NOW IF YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS, THEN WE'RE PROBABLY MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT.

IF WE DO, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT.

IT JUST ALL GOES TO SHOW AGAIN THAT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE DEALING WITH, UM, WITH THE CHALLENGE.

'CAUSE THERE'S ON, THERE'S BOTH INCREASED REVENUE.

WE WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, BUT WE WOULD ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT, AND, AND THE CHALLENGE AT IS, IS THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT ARE GONNA MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, WE DO, YOU KNOW, THIS, THE STATE OF MARYLAND OPTED TO, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE, UM, TAXES.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT, THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY ON THE ENERGY FRONT.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY IN ORDER TO REALLY, UM, TAP INTO A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

AND THE COUNTY IS, YOU KNOW, TO A LARGE PART, DEPENDENT UPON THE STATE.

I THINK THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO, UM, TO TRY TO MAKE THAT BETTER.

UM, AND, AND I THINK WE LARGELY HAVE BY, YOU KNOW, HAVING, YOU KNOW, GOOD QUALITY SCHOOLS AND GOOD QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURES AND HAVING A REASONABLE TAX RATE.

UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY JUST EASILY, YOU KNOW, GET, UM, GET AROUND, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE, THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, FROM, FROM STATE GOVERNMENT AND ALSO REALLY JUST THE, THE HIGH COST OF LIVING WITHIN THE, THE NORTHEAST AREA.

I MAY HAVE MISSED IT.

IS THAT A YES OR A NO? ? I, I THINK, YEAH.

AND YEAH, I, I, I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY IS, IS, IS BALANCING ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH, UM, WITH, WITH THE REALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, COULD WE, COULD WE INCREASE REVENUES BY, BY HAVING MORE ECONOMIC, BY HAVING MORE DEVELOPMENT? YES.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD COME AT EXTRA COST.

UH, LARGE DEMAND FOR A NEW SCHOOL IN THE ABERDEEN HAVE GRACE AREA.

AND THEN YOU MENTIONED YESTERDAY, I THINK WAS YESTERDAY.

I'VE KIND OF LOST TRACK.

UM, I MEAN, WE HAVING THIS MUCH FUN AS FAR I KNOW WE ARE, WE ARE, I KNOW, AND I'M SURE IT'S GONNA GET MORE FUN BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY.

OH, THAT'S A GIVEN.

BUT, UM, UH, SITE ACQUISITION FOR, UH, NEW SCHOOLS.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, LAST YEAR, UH, BECAUSE OF CERTAIN THINGS THAT, THAT MONEY GOT KNOCKED OUT OF THE BUDGET.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT, UM, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO DO THAT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE,

[03:25:01]

WE KNOW THAT'S COMING.

SO WITH THAT SAID, ARE WE PURCHASING ANY LARGE BUILDINGS OR REAL ESTATE OUTSIDE OF A SCHOOL SITE? DO YOU KNOW? WELL, I MEAN, I, I MEAN, I HAVE TO DEFER TO, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE WE DEALING WITH RECORD, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE, THE, UH, COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUILDING.

NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

ARE WE, ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORKS FOR LARGE REAL ESTATE PURCHASE? NOT THAT I AWARE.

NO, NOT THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF.

OTHER THAN WHERE, WHERE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SO, OKAY.

ALRIGHT, COOL.

UM, AND OF COURSE, LIKE, LIKE WITH ANY, WITH ANY LAND PURCHASE TOO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE THE APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY HERE THROUGH, THROUGH, THROUGH COUNTY COUNCIL IN ORDER TO PURCHASE BOTH, YOU KNOW, A LARGE, UM, BLOCK OF LAND, BUT ALSO IF LIKE A SMALL AREA WAS NEEDED FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, FOR WHATEVER.

I MEAN, JUST, YOU KNOW, SOME, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE SMALL PURCHASES THAT SOMETIMES HAVE TO BE MADE OUTTA LAND ACQUISITION FOR, UH, ROAD PROJECTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, NO, NO, NO.

I'M TALKING ABOUT BIG PRO YEAH.

PIECE OF REAL ESTATE BUILDING TO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ONLY, THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT ONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE IS, IS WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

MR. BLOMQUIST, I KNOW YOU'RE UP NEXT, I'M GONNA BE ASKING YOU THAT SAME QUESTION.

UM, YES, SIR.

UM, WITH THAT COUNSEL, ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO? UM, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

UH, I APP, OH, AND WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER ALL DAY AND YESTERDAY, UM, I WAS GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT, UH, WHAT WE EXPECTED OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE TO BE ENTERING FY 26, UH, LA IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND IT WAS $2.3 MILLION AND WE'RE CLEARLY WELL ABOVE $2.3 MILLION UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, UH, IN OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

UM, WHAT IS THE, UH, UH, IT'S LIKE 50 50.

MORE OR LESS.

AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S ALMOST ENTIRELY, YOU KNOW, FROM, AND THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO THE INCOME TAX ASK IS HOW MUCH OF THAT DRASTIC DIFFERENCE IS DUE TO INCOME TAX COMING IN HIGHER THAN WE BUDGETED, AND HOW MUCH IS OUR SPENDING BEING LESS THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED? THE DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR YEAH, WELL THE, THE, THE INCOME TAX IS AT THIS POINT, I THINK PROBABLY RUNNING AT LEAST 30 MILLION OF, OF, OF IT.

SO THE INCOME TAX ALONE IS FAR AND AWAY THE BIGGEST, THE BIGGEST COMPONENT.

THERE'S SOME OTHER REVENUES TOO THAT ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, REVENUE COMING IN FROM, YOU KNOW, INTEREST HAS BEEN A TOUGH ONE TO, TO, UM, TO BUDGET THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.

IT SPIKED A WHOLE LOT WHEN THE INTEREST RATES WENT UP AND NOW IT'S COMING BACK DOWN, BUT WE'RE STILL MAKING MORE THAN WE WERE BEFORE.

UM, AND THEN ON THE SALARY SAVING SIDE, I WOULD SAY LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, I THINK THE COUNTY WAS TAKING A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH WITH TRYING TO, UM, HOLD THE LINE ON SPENDING.

AND I KNOW DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAD ALL OF THE, ALL OF US DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, UM, YOU KNOW, PUT, COME UP WITH TARGETS ON, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU, IN ORDER TO NOT SPEND, BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE OF THE INCOME TAX COMING IN A LOT LOWER AND THE LIKE.

UM, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF LEVELS THIS YEAR.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, FILL THESE, YOU KNOW, OPEN POSITIONS TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN.

UM, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT, THAT EXPECTATION, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M, I'M ALWAYS, I'M, WE'RE ALWAYS, I'M, I'M ALWAYS HOPING THAT I'M, THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE AT THE END, BUT OVERWHELMINGLY INCOME TAX, I THINK THE INCOME TAX, THE, THE, THE, THE RECONCILING, YOU KNOW, PAYMENTS FOR YEARS, I DON'T THINK WE GOT ANYTHING IN SEPTEMBER.

OH, I, I APOLOGIZE ROBBIE, BUT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF BREVITY, UM, UH, SO HOW MUCH, IN YOUR CALCULATIONS FOR THIS TO YOUR BUDGET, THAT INCREASE IN EXPECTED FUND BALANCE, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS IN US UNDER SPENDING COMPARED TO THE BUDGETED AMOUNT? YEAH, I THINK I'D HAVE TO GET YOU THE, BUT YOU JUST NEED TO GET BACK TO ME ON THAT.

WE NORMALLY, AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, NORMALLY WHAT WE JUST DO IS WE TAKE, UM, 98% OF THE, OF THE BUDGET AND JUST ASSUME THAT KIND OF BASED UPON HISTORICAL ACTUALS, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T SAY GONE THROUGH ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS AND BE LIKE, AH, THERE'S AN OPEN POSITION, THERE'S AN OPEN, WE KIND OF JUST TAKE A TREND ANALYSIS.

SO IT'S, IT'S 98% OF THE BUDGETS THAT WOULD GENERATE A FUND BALANCE.

SO NOT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT GENERALLY NOT DEBT SERVICE, BUT YOU KNOW, TREASURY, UM, LAW, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU.

UM, SO IT IS, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST HOW WE WOULD COME UP WITH THAT PROJECTION.

A NEW CHAIR? WHO WANTS, WHO WANTS THIS? UM, AND THEN I HAVE ONE, UH, QUESTION ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.

NOW WOULD COME IN A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S THE LONG TERM AVERAGE IS NINE IS IS THAT WE SPEND 98% OF IT, UM, INCOME TAX OVERWHELMINGLY THE, THE, THE, THE REAL DRIVER, THE, THE, THE REAL DRIVER OF, OF, OF THIS.

BUT AS SAID BEFORE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT WE, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT USER TO LOSE IT MENTALITY HERE IN HAR, RIGHT.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE IT UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

WE DIDN'T HAVE IT UNDER THIS ONE.

UM, 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT THAT IS LIKE WHERE YOU GET TO JUNE, YOU'RE LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I GOTTA SPEND THIS MONEY, JUST WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS

[03:30:01]

AND IT'S KIND OF AN EXAMPLE AS TO WHY I REALLY LIKE BEING ABLE TO GET PAGE NUMBERS WHEN POSITIONS TRANSFER FROM HERE TO THERE, UH, TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE NET CHANGE? UH, 'CAUSE YOU HAD TWO POSITIONS FROM REVENUES AND COLLECTIONS, UH, GO, UH, UH, FROM REVENUES COLLECTIONS TO ACCOUNTING AND ONE GO FROM ACCOUNTING TO REVENUES AND COLLECTIONS, OR IS THAT RIGHT? OR IS THAT I I WILL, AND IT'S PROBABLY WITH, UM, I HAVE, I, I BROUGHT SOMEONE UP FROM REVENUE COLLECTIONS, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S SOME WORK IN REVENUE COLLECTIONS, UM, THAT, UH, SOME OF THE WORK HAS, HAS GONE DOWN, NAMELY BECAUSE THE, UM, THE HOUSING MARKET HAS NOT BEEN AS HOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH OF THE NEEDS SOMETIMES FOR, UH, DEEDS AND LIENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO BE, TO BE PROCESSED.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME DURING THE BOOM YEARS WHERE, WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST INUNDATED, BUT BECAUSE I'M DOING THE WORKDAY PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT IN ADDITIONAL STAFF, UH, IN, INTO OUR PAYROLL.

AND THAT, THAT PART, THAT PART, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN MOVE PEOPLE AS YOU NEED.

BUT WHAT I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY ON THE MATH OF IT IS THAT THE TWO BEING MOVED TO ACCOUNTING, UH, MINUS THE ONE LEAVING BRINGS A INCREASE TO THE SALARY COST OF $145,000 PLUS OR MINUS A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEN ON THE OTHER END, UH, WHEN YOU TRANSFER THE TWO AWAY AND ADD THE POSITION, IT ONLY BRINGS A NET DECREASE OF 99,714.

SO I GUESS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS, IN THOSE TWO POSITIONS BEING TRANSFERRED, WAS THERE A PROMOTION OR WAS THERE LIKE A NEW JOB TITLE? BECAUSE IT'S NOT A NET ZERO SHIFT WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE IN THE DECREASE.

SO I THINK IN THAT CASE, UM, AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

UM, AND WHENEVER YOU DO THAT, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF, IF, IF A SALARY IS 60,000 FOR A FULL YEAR, WE MAY HAVE PUT IT IN THIS YEAR AS 30,000, AND THEN WE HAVE TO FULLY FUND IT THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

SO THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE DELTA THERE.

AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, EXACTLY, WE, WE, UH, A COUPLE OF THE BUDGETS IN ORDER TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORK, WE, UM, YOU KNOW, I AGREED TO, UM, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE TWO POSITIONS WHERE I SAID, UM, JUST FUND THAT FOR HALF A YEAR.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, I WON'T PUT OUT THE JOB POSTING UNTIL, YOU KNOW, UNTIL UH, JANUARY, UM, IN ORDER, BECAUSE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS SO TIGHT.

UM, AND THE, THE PROBLEM IS, ANYTIME YOU DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR YOU, WHENEVER YOU GO TO, YOU KNOW, REBALANCE IT OR RECORRECT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS LIKE A BIG INCREASE.

UM, BUT YEAH, LIKE THERE WASN'T ANY, NOBODY GOT, UH, $50,000, YOU KNOW, RAISE, RAISE AN INCREASE OR, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT OF TIMES YOU DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING OUT AND, AND MOVING IN, BUT IN THIS CASE ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT I JUST SHARE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL WHEN THINGS POP FROM THIS PAGE TO THAT PAGE TO FIGURE OUT, WE SAID WHERE IT WENT, WHERE IT WENT FROM AND WHERE IT WENT TO.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT THE PAGE NUMBER BECAUSE LITERALLY THE PAGE NUMBERS ARE THE LAST THING WE PUT IN THE, IN THE .

BUT I, BUT I MEAN, JUST TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THE NET DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TRANSFERS, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, ISN'T IT? WELL, BUT IF YOU JUST LOOK AT A GLANCE, YOU, YOU ASSUME, RIGHT? YOU ASSUME THAT IT WAS IN THAT CHANGE OF ZERO WHEN THINGS BOUNCE FROM HERE TO THERE, BUT THEN WHEN IT'S A $46,000 DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, GETTING AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IS HELPFUL.

I WILL SAY THE, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, WE DID NOT, UM, HAVE FUND ANY, ANY POSITION.

THAT THEY CAN HAVE AN, AN ACADEMY AT ONE TIME.

SO, UM, YEAH, THAT'S, WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE FUND SOME POSITIONS.

THERE'S SORT OF MAYBE LIKE THREE REASONS WHY YOU WOULD DO THAT.

YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT SORT OF REGULARLY.

SO YOU WOULD DO THAT MAYBE IF THERE'S LIKE MANY VACANCIES THAT NEED TO BE FILLED AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA FILL THEM ALL JULY 1ST.

I KNOW THAT IN THE CASE OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE.

SO A NUMBER OF THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE KNEW WOULD BE VACANT.

WE ALSO KNEW WE WOULD MAYBE BE ABLE TO GET BY WITH SOME OF THEM, UM, FOR, WITHOUT THEM FOR HALF A YEAR.

BUT WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO FILL THEM AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR.

UM, WE MIGHT ALSO DO THAT, LIKE IF WE HAVE SOME PHYSICIANS WITH HIGH SORT OF STARTUP COSTS.

SO WHENEVER WE'VE CREATED NEW PHYSICIANS, MAYBE IN SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR EMS OR OTHERS IN, UM, DES, UM, IT'S HELPFUL TO SOMETIMES HAVE FUND THE FIRST YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S SIGNIFICANT EQUIPMENT COSTS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT AND ALLOWS IT TO, TO SORT OF BE SMOOTHED OUT OVER TIME, UM, FOR THAT SECOND YEAR FOR IT TO BE FULLY FUNDED AND NOT BE A HUGE INCREASE ON THE BUDGET.

UM, AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

UM, WE'VE DONE THAT A, A GOOD BIT IN DISPATCH IN POSITIONS WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS WE CAN FILL AT ONCE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, DISPATCH, WHENEVER THEY HAVE VACANCIES, THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER AN ACADEMY, BUT THEY SORT OF MAX OUT AT SEVEN OR EIGHT IN

[03:35:01]

SO I KNOW IN THE CURRENT YEAR, I BELIEVE THERE WERE 14 OR 15 VACANCIES IN DISPATCH, HALF OF 'EM WE FUNDED FOR THREE QUARTERS OF THE YEAR, AND HALF OF 'EM WE FUNDED FOR HALF OF A YEAR BECAUSE WE KNEW WE COULDN'T DO AN ACADEMY WITH ALL 14 OR 15 VACANCIES AT ONCE.

BUT AS ROBBIE SAID, IT SORT OF COMES BACK TO BITE YOU THE NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU'RE FUNDING IT FOR THAT FULL YEAR.

SO WE DON'T, WE TRY NOT TO DO THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I, I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION.

UM, AND YEAH, IT'S JUST, IT'S WHEN THINGS, I, I HATE THINGS MOVING POTS 'CAUSE IT MAKES IT SO COMPLICATED TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW THINGS COME OUT IN THE WASH.

UM, BUT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, ROBBIE, IS IF YOU COULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US, OBVIOUSLY NOT TODAY, BUT ARE, YOU SAID THE AVERAGE BUDGET VERSUS ACTUALS IS 98%, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE WHAT THAT'S WORKED OUT TO BE OVER THE PAST FEW BUDGETS OF YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN, YEAH, JUST, JUST DO A, UM, DO A HISTORY OF, OF THAT AND IF, AND IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH MAYBE BY, YOU KNOW, BIG SWATHS OF, YOU KNOW, DP W'S BUDGETED VERSUS ACTUAL, UH, TREASURIES BUDGETED VERSUS ACTUAL, JUST TO GIVE A SENSE OF LIKE A HEAT MAP, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT THERE'S A, AND YEAH, AND EVEN WITHIN, YEAH, WITHIN THE, UM, THERE'S ALWAYS LIKE A VARIANCE REPORT ACTUALLY WITHIN THE BACK OF THE, UM, THE ACT FOR AS WELL THAT WE'RE LIKE LOOKING IN EACH, IN EACH AREA.

UM, SO, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, ALL BUDGETS HAVE TO BE UNDERST SPEC YOU WITHIN AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S, SO THAT SURE.

YOU, SO TO THAT EXTENT, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERSPEND ANY MONEY.

THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. JAN? HEY ROBBIE.

UM, IN ORDER TO GET THEIR, UM, APPEAL, UH, THEIR, THEIR, THEIR ASSESSMENT REDUCED.

SO IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN, UM, TAX BASE ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES LIKE A MILLION SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE VERSUS FOUR 250,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSES? SO, SO THE WAY THAT THE, SO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATIONS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO THE, UM, ASSESSMENTS OF ALL, OF ALL THE PROPERTIES.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL, THEY'RE JUST DOING COMPS, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS HOUSE DOWN THE STREET, IT'S KIND OF SIMILAR, IT SOLD FOR THIS.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA ASSESS YOURS.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMERCIAL DEAL, THEY KIND OF USE THIS INCOME BASED APPROACH AND THEY ARE THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, OKAY, HOW MUCH INCOME IS GENERATED.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE TRICKY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE, ONE LARGE BUILDING ISN'T NECESSARILY THE SAME AS ANOTHER LARGE BUILDING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING MUCH MORE HIGH VALUE, YOU KNOW, MANUFACTURING IN ONE VERSUS ONE'S JUST A WAREHOUSE.

UM, BUT ULTIMATELY IT IS KIND OF DERIVED FROM THAT KIND OF THAT INCOME BASED, UM, APPROACH.

SO IF IT'S A, IF IT'S INCOME, IF IT'S MANUFACTURING, WE'RE GONNA GET MORE FOR TAXES THAN WE ARE IF IT'S JUST A WAREHOUSE YES.

BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT, AT IT FROM AN INCOME AT AN INCOME BASED LEVEL.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO? YEAH.

BE, BECAUSE IT'S, THAT'S HOW THE ASSESSMENTS ARE.

WHAT'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNT? OH, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I JUST KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT IT'S, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING, I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING BACK AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH INCOME IS GENERATED FROM THIS, YOU KNOW, UM, FROM THIS TYPE OF BUILDING.

AND IT'S, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, I, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF PLACES IN OTHER STATES HAVE KIND OF GONE BACK AND, AND TRIED TO SUE, UM, ASSESSMENT OFFICES BY, BY STATING THAT, OH YEAH, THIS IS JUST A SHELL OF A BUILDING.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE TAXING ANY, THIS, YOU KNOW, MARYLAND'S GOT A, GENERALLY A PRETTY GOOD SYSTEM IN THAT WE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITHSTAND SOME OF THOSE, THOSE ONSLAUGHTS, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF THESE SMALLER MIDWESTERN, UM, AREAS HAVE, HAVE NOT, IT'S ONE OF MY, MY GREAT FEARS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SAW ABOUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION, UM, MOVING IN MORE OF THEIR COSTS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE UP 90% OF THEIR COSTS.

WHILE I DON'T WANT THE COST, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE DON'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE LOCAL PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF HAVE TO DO THE ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE WE'RE OFTENTIMES NOT AS WELL PREPARED AND EQUIPPED TO DO THESE ASSESSMENTS IN THE SAME WAY THAT A, THAT A LARGE STATE AGENCY WOULD WITH ALL OF THEIR LEVELS OF EXPERTISE.

UM, BECAUSE YOU, WE ARE, I AM SEEING A LOT OF TIMES THOSE PLACES, THOSE ASSESSMENTS BEING SIGNIFICANTLY CHALLENGED AND THE TAX BASE, UH, BEING, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES SIGNIFICANTLY UN UNDERMINED IN THESE, UM, UM, OTHER STATES.

IS THERE DIFFERENT TAX BASES FOR LIGHT MANUFACTURING OR FOR INDUSTRIAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S ALL THE SAME TAX RATE, IT'S ALL THE SAME, JUST REVENUE.

SO, NO, SO LIKE THE, THE TAX RATE THAT WE CHARGE, WE CHARGE APPROXIMATELY 98 CENTS ON ALL PROPERTY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S COMMERCIAL OR WHETHER IT'S IT'S RESIDENTIAL.

BUT THE ASSESSMENT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE CHARGING IT OFF OF.

WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU, THIS PIECE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MIGHT BE A MILLION DOLLARS AND THIS PIECE MIGHT BE A HUNDRED THOUSAND, AND YOU MIGHT LOOK AT 'EM AND IT MIGHT BE LIKE, WELL, AS OPPOSED TO, SAY, LOOKING AT A MILLION DOLLAR HOME VERSUS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS HOME.

UM, AND IT IS, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, A CHALLENGE I THINK AT THE, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR US TO TRULY UNDERSTAND ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF HOW THE, UM, OF HOW THE ASSESSMENTS GO.

NOW, THERE IS AN APPEALS PROCESS, SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF A, IF A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY THOUGH DOES FEEL THAT THEY WERE, UM, UH, UH, ASSESSED TOO HIGH, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL LEVELS THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH EVENTUALLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AS WELL, IN ORDER TO GET THEIR,

[03:40:01]

SO THE TAX RATE'S THE SAME, BUT THE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE BUILDING IS DIFFERENT.

WHAT DRIVES THE RATE BECAUSE OF INCOME? WELL, WELL, WHAT DRIVES THE ASSESSMENT.

DRIVES THE ASSESSMENT.

SO, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION THEN STILL COMES TO, IS THERE A DIFFERENT IN ASSESSMENT VALUES FOR LIGHT MANUFACTURING VERSUS INDUSTRIAL OR, OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT? IS THERE DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT VALUES? I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW A HUNDRED PERCENT THE, THE ANSWER, BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S BASED UPON, YOU KNOW, THE, THE INCOME THAT'S GENERATED.

SO EVEN WITHIN MANUFACTURING, YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENTIALS DEPENDING ON WHAT'S BEING MANUFACTURED AND YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW ALL OF THAT GOES.

BUT YOU TAKE THE WAY PROPERTY TAXES WORK IS YOU TAKE THE ASSESSMENT.

SO LET'S JUST SAY THE ASSESSMENT IS A MILLION DOLLARS.

YOU DIVIDE IT BY 100, AND THEN FROM THAT 100, YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 98 CENTS.

NOW TO FURTHER COMPLICATED, THERE IS PERSONAL PROPERTY, UH, WHICH IS EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S, UM, THAT, THAT IS, UM, UH, AT A, AT A HIGHER RATE, IT'S TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE, THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

UM, BUT THAT'S HOW THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MATH ULTIMATELY WORKS, BUT THAT BASE NUMBER, THAT ASSESSED VALUE IS DETERMINED BY THE, BY THE STATE.

AND FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS KIND OF THE INCOME GENERATED BY THAT USAGE BY BY, BY THAT, BY THAT USE.

SO DO, DO PRIVATE INDUSTRIES GONNA GIVE US THE AMOUNT OF INCOME THAT THEY'RE MAKING OUTTA THAT BUILDING, OR IS IT A GUESS OR TAX? WELL, IT'S AN ASSESSED, IT'S AN ASSESSED VALUE.

AND I WILL SAY ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY, IT'S ALL SELF-REPORTED.

THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE, UM, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, LEN BROUGHT THAT UP YESTERDAY, UM, THAT, THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE, YOU KNOW, LARGELY SELF-REPORTED.

THERE, THERE, THERE'S NEVER REALLY BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF AUDITING OF THE, OF THOSE, UM, OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL ONES.

BUT AS FAR AS OF THE ASSESSED VALUES, YEAH, LIKE WHEN, IF, IF A COMPANY THINKS THEY'RE BEING, THEY'RE BEING OVER ASSESSED, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY BRING IN A WHOLE LOT OF FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION TO THESE APPEALS STATING LIKE, NOPE, THIS IS HOW MUCH INCOME IS BEING GENERATED HERE.

AND THEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSOCIATION AND TAXATION SAYS, YOU KNOW, OKAY, WELL THIS IS HOW WE CAME UP WITH IT.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY IT'S KIND OF HASHED OUT IN THAT WAY.

NOW, YOU KNOW, MOST PROPERTIES ARE NOT ALWAYS APPEALED.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY THERE IS A CONSENSUS THAT'S REACHED, YOU KNOW, AS TO HOW MUCH, YOU KNOW, MONEY COULD POTENTIALLY BE BEING LABELED.

UM, YOU KNOW, UNDER ASSESSED BOTH FROM COMMERCIAL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.

IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

THE NUMBERS I'VE SEEN GENERALLY FROM S STAT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT THEY, THEY GENERALLY BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CAPTURING, YOU KNOW, 99% OF, OF, OF THE, THE MARKET VALUE, IF YOU WILL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S ALWAYS GONNA, IT'S ALWAYS GONNA VARY.

UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT MIGHT, MIGHT BE A, A GOOD THING TO HAVE AT SOME POINT.

THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTOR OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LOCAL, YOU KNOW, STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT, TAXATION, YOU KNOW, COME AND, AND PRESENT, YOU KNOW, ON SOME OF THIS, THIS PROCESS AS WELL.

UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LARGELY DE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDENT ON THEM FOR IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE TO WHAT EXTENT, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT OF IT, BUT IT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY, AGAIN, THEIR ASSESSMENTS.

AND THAT'S HOW THE, THE, THE LAW WORKS IN MARYLAND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PROVIDE THOSE ASSESSMENTS.

ANYONE ELSE COUNSEL, MR. TIBBS? ROBBIE, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO, UH, ASSESS THESE SOLAR FORMS? SOLAR HAS BEEN ANOTHER, YEAH.

ISSUE.

THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF A, OF A PILOT, WHICH WAS WHAT, LIKE A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXATION TO SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU GET, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE NUMBERS I SAW THAT WAS COMING OUT LIKE IN A PROPOSAL WAS SOMETHING LIKE $8,500 PER GIGAWATT OR SOMETHING, WHICH I THINK IS AROUND LIKE A 10 ACRE FARM, UM, OR 10 ACRES OF, OF SOLAR PANEL.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S GONNA BE A, A, A REAL ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMES IN TO TALK ABOUT IT FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE BIG FIGHTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IS GOING TO BE, UM, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE, THE USAGE OF SOLAR FARMS AND THEN ALSO THE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW THEY'LL BE, HOW THEY'LL BE EFFECTIVELY TAXED.

BECAUSE THERE'S CERTAINLY PEOPLE IN, IN THE, AT THE, AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY ONEROUS TAXES ON 'EM.

YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO, THEY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THOSE SOLAR FARMS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THESE PANELS ARE BASICALLY EQUIPMENT MM-HMM .

AND IF I HAVE A BUSINESS, I HAVE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

SAY SU GRANDE ELECTRIC COMPANY HAS TO PAY A HIGHER RATE BECAUSE OF THE USE TAX.

SO I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULDN'T BE, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE, WELL, ONE, MARYLAND HAS AN ENERGY ISSUE.

UH, IT'S AN ENERGY DESERT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE CALLED.

AND I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, AND WITHIN, WITHIN MARYLAND, BECAUSE OF TRYING TO, TO, UM, GET RID OF THE, THE, THE LESS CLEAN, THE DIRTIER FORMS OF ENERGY AND TO ENCOURAGE RENEWABLES, UM, I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PRESSURE TO, TO, TO NOT OVERLY TAX, UM, TO NOT OVERLY TAX SOLAR AND TO NOT OVERLY REGULATE THEM WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL LAND USE.

BUT THEN ON THE OTHER HAND,

[03:45:01]

I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICITY THEY GET AND THE INCOME THAT'S COMING FROM IT.

SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE HOLLERING ABOUT IT? YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME THING.

THERE'S TWO GENERATION PLANTS.

AND WE, AND WE GET INTO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU, UH, PRODUCERS VERSUS, VERSUS DISTRIBUTORS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT I, I'M, AND I'M NOT HERE TO NECESSARILY SAY THAT.

I MEAN, I MEAN, I GENERALLY TEND TO THINK THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO REGULATE THEIR OWN LAND USE AND, AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN TAX STRUCTURES FOR, FOR ALL THIS.

BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING INCREASINGLY IS THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS, UM, IS KIND OF TAKING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THAT AUTHORITY AWAY FROM, FROM THE LOCAL LEVELS, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ENERGY.

THANK YOU, MR. TIBS.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE ELSE, ROBBIE? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

APPRECIATE YOU.

LAW IS NEXT, AND THAT BEGINS ON PAGE 180 8.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 2 36 60.

SO, UH, THE LAW DEPARTMENT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3 MILLION 5 65, 2 82.

UH, THEY HAVE FOUR BUDGETARY DIVISIONS ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.

LEGAL SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 1 93.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,482,813, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $261,060.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 1,486, THE FY 26 COLA, TOTALING 66,117.

SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR ONE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, ONE OF 149,479, TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE OF 10,000.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 28,978.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 25,000.

THAT'S DUE TO INCREASES FOR CONTRACTUAL LEGAL SERVICES OF 24,000.

AND TELEPHONE SERVICE INCREASE OF 1000 BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES.

AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, MISCELLANEOUS OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL.

NEXT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 1 96.

THERE'S A TOTAL BUDGET OF 200,000, WHICH IS NO, WHICH IS NO CHANGE FROM FY 25.

PERSONAL SERVICES.

INCREASE IS 17,079, AND THAT'S DUE TO REALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS CHARACTER FOR TEMPORARY SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 80,000.

THAT'S DUE TO REALLOCATING.

80,000 FOR MISCELLANEOUS FOR ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE PAYMENTS, SUPPLIES, AND MATERIALS INCREASES 500 BASED ON ACTUALS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 2,421 BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES FOR MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT FOR BOARD MEMBERS.

AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 100,000.

UH, THAT'S DUE TO THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO VARIOUS OTHER CHARACTERS IN THIS DIVISION FOR BETTER ACCOUNTING PURPOSES.

NEXT IS, IS RISK MANAGEMENT, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 1 99.

HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 556,709, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 9,752.

PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES, UM, 15,748.

UM, THAT IS THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF 24,500.

THERE'S A SALARY OFFSET OF $81,800, UM, FOR RISK AND SAFETY OFFICER INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS.

THE FY 26 COLA OF 18,723.

AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 22,829.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 22,500 BASED ON ACTUAL AND ANTICIPATED COSTS FOR OUT-OF-STATE MVA RECORDS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 1,500 FOR PRINTING BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 1,500 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS, COURSES, MILEAGE, TRANSPORTATION AND LODGING.

AND THEN FINALLY IS PROPERTY ACQUISITION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 2 0 2.

IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 323,760, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 2,691.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1,691.

THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 COLA OF 9,635 BENEFIT AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR DECREASE OF 7,944.

THERE'S

[03:50:01]

NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AND BUSINESS AND TRAVEL 1001 75 FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS, COURSES, AND MEETINGS BASED ON ACTUALS.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

PRESIDENT DEE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

IF I MAY, I'LL APPROACH AND I HAVE A HANDOUT FOR YOU.

UH, ON, ON, ON, ON WHAT THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS PAYOUTS ARE.

WE PAUSE ALONG THE LINES OF THE HANDOUT THAT I HAD LAST YEAR, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEW MEMBERS ALSO MAY HELP, AS I EXPLAINED, TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW OUR BUDGET HAS SHIFTED BASED ON KIND OF THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND PAGE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SEE THAT, ALRIGHT, OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL EXPENSE HAS DECREASED.

AND IN LARGE PART, OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL, UH, COUNSEL BUDGET HAS DECREASED BECAUSE WE'VE ADDED ATTORNEYS SINCE I CAME IN.

AND, AND, AND THOSE ADDITIONS, I THINK HAVE, HAVE KIND OF MATCHED AND BEEN OFFSET BY WHAT OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL BUDGET HAS BEEN.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN A, A GOOD BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE ALL THE TIME.

THEY DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS, UH, THEIR DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, UTILIZE THEIR SERVICES, I THINK MORE EFFECTIVELY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE SEEN.

THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'VE SEEN, UH, WE USED TO HAVE FOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS THAT JUST WORKED WITH LAW.

WE'VE REALLY REPLACED THOSE FOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS.

NOW.

WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO IS WORKING EXCLUSIVELY WITH, UH, THE RISK MANAGEMENT DOING CLAIMS INVESTIGATION WORK.

SO SHE'S REALLY ACTING IN THE CAPACITY OF A CLAIMS ADJUSTER.

THEN WE HAVE, UH, ONE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO IS WORKING WITH OUR WORKERS' COMP.

IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL, WE HAVE ANOTHER LEGAL ASSISTANT WHO IS DOING A LOT OF PARALEGAL WORK AND, AND WORKING HEAVILY WITH OUR LITIGATION.

AND WE BROUGHT A, A, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR LITIGATION IN-HOUSE, UH, WHICH IS I THINK REALLY GOOD, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO PERSONAL INJURY, AND PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE RUN OF THE MILL, UH, TORT LITIGATION, AUTO ACCIDENTS, VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AS WELL AS YOU CAN'T HEAR.

CAN YOU PULL THAT, UH, MIC TO YOU? I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T CATCH THAT.

I APOLOGIZE.

IS THAT, IS THAT BETTER? THAT'S BETTER, YES.

YEAH, I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING ON MY PHONE.

NORMALLY THEY HIT ME UP ON MY PHONE.

I, I, GO AHEAD.

I APOLOGIZE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I'M PAYING ATTENTION, THE, THE CORRECTIONAL LITIGATION, WHICH IS A LOT OF REPEAT TYPES OF CLAIM, UH, YOU KNOW, IN CERTAIN OF, OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVIL LIABILITY CLAIMS ARE, ARE, ARE A LOT OF REPEAT TYPES OF CLAIMS. AND, AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE ALSO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.

SO IT'S, IT, IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO BRING THAT IN.

THE OTHER THING THAT IT'S BEEN HELPFUL, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER, THE OTHER COST INCREASES.

WE'VE REALLY REINSTATED OUR RISK MANAGEMENT DIVISION.

AND I HAVE MATT ZER BEHIND ME WHO IS OUR NEW RISK MANAGEMENT AND HAS REPLACED CHRIS BEAL.

I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MR. VIS, WHO'S COME ON AND IN, IN, IN, IN REPLACEMENT OF MR. BEAL, SO THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH HIS FACE.

UH, HE HAS, I THINK, A LITTLE BIT MORE INSURANCE BACKGROUND, WHICH HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK OUT THE BID ON OUR INSURANCE, I THINK THIS COMING YEAR.

SO HIS EXPERIENCE, AND THAT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.

HE, HE'S GOT, UH, GOOD WORKERS' COMPENSATION EXPERIENCE.

AND, AND IN FACT, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER HE CAME IN, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF KIND OF HOW WE WORK, HE NOTICED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES HAD AN EXPERIENCE RATING OF OVER THREE MM-HMM .

THREE TO ONE.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S VERY HIGH.

IT, IT'S, IF, IF YOU LOOK AT MOST EMPLOYERS, YOU'RE SHOOTING FOR AN EXPERIENCE RATING OF UNDER ONE.

NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UH, FIRE AND EMS, BECAUSE THEY HAD, THERE'S, THEY'RE WHAT YOU CALL SECOND TIER.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR PAYOUTS ARE TWICE WHAT THE, WHAT THE PAYOUTS WOULD BE FOR TIER ONE EMPLOYEES, WHICH WOULD BE YOUR, YOUR AVERAGE COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

UH, AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S WHAT THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW PROVIDES.

THEY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SHOOTING FOR AN EXPERIENCED RATIO OF UNDER TWO.

HE NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER HE CAME ON, AND WHICH THAT, WHAT THAT HAS CAUSED IS WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AND, AND WE'RE WORKING, TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO BRING THAT RATING DOWN.

WE PAY THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION INSURANCE, THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE.

SO WE'RE PUTTING MONEY BACK IN OUR POCKET TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN GET SAVINGS,

[03:55:01]

CAN I STOP YOU RIGHT THERE? WHAT WAS YOUR NAME AGAIN? UH, MATTHEW VIS MATTHEW.

YOU KNOW, SO AGAIN, THAT'S AN, THAT'S AN OVERALL EXAMPLE.

RISK MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN, YOU KNOW, RISK MANAGEMENT HAS GOTTEN MUCH MORE INVOLVED IN TERMS OF TRYING TO, UH, PUT TOGETHER NUMBERS AND LOOK AT TRENDS.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN THAT TO YOU YET BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH, WITH THE COUNCILS, UH, AUDITORS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH RESPECT TO LOOKING AT TRENDS AND, AND, AND COMPILING DATA SO WE CAN MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW WE IDENTIFY AREAS OF WEAKNESS AND HOW WE ADDRESS AREAS OF WEAKNESS, UH, THROUGH ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT YOU DESIRE TO GET FROM YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT BUREAU, AND, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY HEADING IN THAT DIRECTION, UH, AND, AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THAT DIRECTION.

YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THE CLAIMS AND, AND THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS THAT WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW, RISK MANAGEMENT HAD 391 NEW CLAIMS THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION 194.

THERE IS SOMETIMES SOME OVERLAP IN THOSE BECAUSE A WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM WILL ALSO BE AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT TURNS INTO, UH, A GENERAL LIABILITY CLAIM.

BUT THAT, THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT REGARD.

WE'RE REALLY INVOLVED WITH EACH DEPARTMENT SIGNIFICANTLY ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IN, IN, IN TERMS OF ADVICE AND COUNSEL AND, AND, AND WHAT THE DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS ASSIGNED TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ADVISE.

YOU KNOW, AND BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, AND I, AND I HAVEN'T PUT IT ON HERE, BUT YOU LOOK AT EMPLOYMENT ISSUES.

AND SO WE HAVE AN EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY, AND WE HAVE OUR LITIGATORS, ALL OF WHOM WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SUPERVISORS WHEN WE GET AN EMPLOYMENT ISSUE.

BECAUSE THERE ANY, ANY EMPLOYMENT DISCIPLINE, UH, OR EVEN, UH, GUIDANCE DOC HAS TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN WAY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS, RETALIATION CLAIMS, UH, AND, AND, AND WE DEAL WITH THOSE FIRST ON AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.

SO WE GET, YOU KNOW, BOTH OUR LITIGATORS AND OUR EMPLOYMENT LAW ATTORNEY AND MYSELF SOMETIMES INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WRITING THOSE UP CORRECTLY.

WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING, UH, CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS, BOTH WITH THE MARYLAND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION AND WITH THE, UH, EEOC.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT SINCE WE HAVE, SINCE, SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THOSE THAT HAVE ADVANCED TO ANYTHING BEYOND THE NOTICE OF WRITE TO SUE LETTER.

SO THE, THE, YOU KNOW, TO DATE WE'VE BEEN GETTING THOSE RESOLVED AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.

AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT A NOTICE OR WRITE TO SUE LETTER IS, BUT THAT'S SAYING, UNFORTUNATELY, I DO.

THE, THE AGENCY'S NOT GONNA MOVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, THE INDIVIDUAL STILL HAS THE RIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, SO WE COULD FIND OURSELVES IN LITIGATION.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND OURSELVES IN A LOT OF LITIGATION, BUT I LIKE TO THINK IT'S, IT'S A REFLECTION THAT WE ARE PROVIDING GOOD GUIDANCE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE CATCHING THINGS AND, AND WE HAVE CAUGHT SOME THINGS.

IN FACT, WE HAD A CASE IN PROGRESS WHEN I FIRST CAME ON A DIS A DISCRIMINATION CLAIM, YOU KNOW, WHERE OUR INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE INVOLVED IN, UH, DISPARATE TREATMENT, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE BASIS OF ONE OF THE PROTECTED CLASS CATEGORIES.

AND, AND WE ADDRESS THAT AND, AND WE GET TO ADDRESS THAT INTERNALLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE WORKFORCE IN TERMS OF THEM HAVING CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE ISSUES.

AND IF WE FIND A, YOU KNOW, A TRUE ISSUE, THEN WE ADDRESS IT, UH, AND MOVE FORWARD AT, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE A LEVEL OF FAIRNESS WITH THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THOSE MATTERS MUCH MORE CLOSELY.

WE HAVE TWO INVESTIGATORS, UH, THAT WORK WITH RISK MANAGEMENT.

THOSE ARE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S PART OF WHY OUR BUDGET HAS INCREASED.

AS YOU SEE INTERNALLY, THOSE, THOSE INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF ASSESSING OUR AUTO TORT LIABILITY, BECAUSE THEY GO OUT, THEY INVESTIGATE THE MATTER.

SO WE HAVE OUR CLAIMS ADJUSTER WHO'S ASKING, WHO HAS, JUST BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET DASH CAM FOOTAGE FROM, FROM PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN DASH CAM CAM FOOTAGE FROM, FROM VEHICLES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT.

BUT SEE THE ACCIDENT REALIZED THAT IT, IT INVOLVES A COUNTY VEHICLE OR, OR A SHERIFF'S OFFICE VEHICLE AND, AND HAVE SENT FOOTAGE TO US.

IT ALLOWS US TO MORE ACCURATELY ASSESS, MAKE A LIABILITY ASSESSMENT, WHICH ALLOWS US TO THEN MAKE A DETERMINATION, IS THIS A CLAIM THAT WE WANT, WANNA RESOLVE? OR IS THIS A CLAIM THAT WE'RE WILLING TO LITIGATE? THEY'VE GOTTEN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S

[04:00:01]

A LOT OF, UH, FOOTAGE ON BUILDINGS AND THINGS.

NOW, OUR INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME OF THAT FOOTAGE, WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE IN TERMS OF ASSESSING CLAIMS. SO I THINK THE BUILDING THAT WE'VE DONE HAS ALL SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED US, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS AND TRY TO CONTROL AND MANAGE MORE EFFECTIVELY OUR LIABILITY EXPOSURES.

AND AS YOU, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SEE FROM OTHER 91 CLAIMS, AND THAT'S JUST THIS YEAR, 150 RESOLVED OR CLOSED, UH, SO SOME OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, CARRY ON IT, IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S MONEY.

IT'S MONEY THAT CAN WALK OUT THE DOOR AND IT'S MONEY.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE WALKING OUT THE DOOR IF WE DIDN'T HAVE AND HADN'T BUILT THE TEAMS THAT WE BUILT THROUGH RISK MANAGEMENT AND THROUGH, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A REORGANIZATION OF, OF THE LAW LAW DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT DOES IN TERMS OF, UH, CLAIMS. YOU CAN SEE JUST FROM COLLECTIONS, OUR COLLECTIONS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN OVER 75% OF WHAT OUR, OUR BUDGET IS.

AND OUR BUDGET IS BETWEEN TWO ONE THOUSANDTHS AND THREE ONE THOUSANDTHS OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.

THREE ONE THOUSANDTHS OF THE COUNTY OPERATING BUDGET.

TWO, ONE THOUSANDTHS OF THE TOTAL COUNTY BUDGET.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR AN OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, WHICH IS A FULL, FULL SERVICE OFFICE COMPARED TO WHAT YOUR BUDGET IS, IT'S, YOU'RE REALLY NOT PAYING MUCH AT ALL FOR YOUR GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES.

NOW THAT IN, IN FAIRNESS, THAT WOULD CHANGE A LITTLE BIT IF WE PULLED OUT, UH, SCHOOLS AND IF WE PULLED OUT, UH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MAYBE BY, YOU KNOW, ONE DECIMAL POINT THAT WOULD CHANGE IS, IS, IS ABOUT WHAT THAT WORKS OUT TO.

BUT WE DO A LOT FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND WE DO A LOT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE PURCHASING PROPERTY, WE'RE DOING DEMOLITION WORK, WE'RE DOING SCHOOL, SCHOOL BUILDING PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON.

EV AVAMAR IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TAKEN ON THE DEMOLITION, WE'RE TAKING ON IN TRYING TO WORK OUT THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING, UH, PARTIALLY CONSTRUCTED ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, WHICH DOES POSE A LIABILITY CONCERN AS A CONCERN THAT WE'VE RAISED.

WE'RE HOPE, WE'RE HOPEFUL TO, TO GET THAT MOVED FORWARD.

SO WE, WE WERE INVOLVED WITH THE NEGOTIATION OF THAT PURCHASE, AS WELL AS NOW WITH SOME OF THE FOLLOWUP WORK BEFORE WE GET INTO CONSTRUCTION WORK, THAT WILL BE, UH, JOINTLY FUNDED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH EDGEWOOD FOR A SKATE PARK COUNT.

UH, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD A LOT OF CONCERN FROM A LIABILITY STANDPOINT ABOUT THEIR EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY ON THE SKATE PARK SINCE IT'S ON THEIR PROPERTY.

SO WE SPEND TIME NEGOTIATING WITH THEM TO GET A RECREATION FACILITY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, UH, SATISFYING THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING AN ADDITIONAL LIABILITY EXPOSURE ON THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT COMES IN, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T PRIMARILY REPRESENT THOSE AGENCIES, BUT THAT INVOLVES THOSE AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, FINALLY, I WANTED, UH, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER FOR, FOR SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MARGARET HARKER, WHO DIDN'T ACCOMPANY ME LAST YEAR.

SHE IS THE DEPUTY COUNTY ATTORNEY.

TO MY GREAT CHAGRIN, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHE MAY BE RETIRING, UH, THIS YEAR.

AND SO I WANTED TO HAVE A CHANCE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE ASSISTANT TO ME, AND INVALUABLE TO, TO, TO THE SERVICES THAT THE LAW DEPARTMENT PROVIDES.

FIRST OF ALL, SHE CAN SLAP ME UPSIDE THE HEAD SOMETIMES WHEN I'M IN MOLEST DIPLOMATIC MINDSET AND GET ME BACK IN.

IT'S PROBABLY A LOT, ISN'T IT, MARK TOUGH JOB, MARK.

THAT'S PROBABLY EVERY DAY ISN'T, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE.

I WAS WAITING FOR A COMMENT.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S ALSO, YOU, SHE'S BEEN IN THE COUNTY FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND SHE KNOWS EVERYONE, AND EVERYONE HAS A VERY HIGH REGARD FOR MARGARET.

UH, AND SHE'S BEEN INVALUABLE IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF, UH, IDENTIFYING EMPLOYEES THAT THAT CAN PROVIDE US WITH, YOU KNOW, COACHING INFORMATION, UH, TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ON.

SO WHEN SHE DOES RETIRE, SHE'S GONNA BE SORELY MISSED.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER REASON WHY I BRING YOU TO THAT IS SHE'S TALKING ABOUT A, A, A MIDYEAR RETIREMENT IN THE FY 26 BUDGET.

UH, ONE OF THE, I THINK ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE WAS, UH, REDUCING THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE ADVISORY BOARD AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE.

I THINK I, I, I THINK THE FISCAL NOTE THAT YOU WERE PROVIDED SUGGESTED A $100,000 CUT TO THAT BUDGET.

I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT TWO THINGS.

ONE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HIRE A FULL-TIME ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY SO FAR WITHOUT DOING THAT.

I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE NEW MEMBERSHIP ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE HAD, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN MORE ACTIVE ABOUT ASKING CERTAIN

[04:05:01]

QUESTIONS AND GOING AFTER CERTAIN INFORMATION.

AND, AND WE REALLY, THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW CANNOT PROVIDE ANY COUNSEL TO THEM, UH, AND SHOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY COUNSEL TO THEM GIVEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND I CAN, AND, AND, AND, AND PLAN TO BRING THAT TO YOU SHORTLY, I, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO GET SOMEONE WHO'S AVAILABLE ON A, YOU KNOW, ON A AS NEEDED BASIS.

UH, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT'S WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THE COST OF THAT'S GONNA BE, BUT THERE'LL BE SOME COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THE OTHER THING I HOPE TO DO IF I CAN'T CONVINCE MARGARET NOT TO RETIRE IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, IS I WANNA BRING, I, I WOULD LIKE TO HIRE AND BRING SOMEONE ON TO MENTOR WITH HER FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS BEFORE SHE DOES RETIRE, SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO, UM, BRING HER, YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT GONNA BE REPLACED, BUT, BUT, BUT TO BRING THE PERSON THAT COMES ON TO REPLACE HER TO, TO ACQUAINT THEM WITH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS YOU WOULD RECONSIDER REDUCING THAT AMOUNT BY 50,000, BUT NOT BY A 400,000, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO ADDRESS THOSE TWO CONCERNS.

AND, AND, AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE, UH, NEXT YEAR WHEN THE BUDGET COMES BACK AS, AS TO WHETHER, YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S 50 MORE THOUSAND THERE THAT CAN GO OR NOT.

SO I, I WANTED TO, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT POINT AS WELL.

UH, ALSO, I THINK THERE WAS ONE OTHER ISSUE IN THE FISCAL NOTES THAT I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY COMMENT, COMMENT ON, WHICH WAS ON PAGE NINE OF 29, IT SAID, YOU KNOW, FISCAL YOUR BUDGET FROM 5,000 TO 27,500 TO OBTAIN OUT OF STATE MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE, UH, ADMINISTRATION RECORDS.

NO, IT, IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T FOR MOTOR VEHICLE RECORDS.

WE'RE GOING TO, AND, AND MATT'S, UH, LEADING THAT CHARGE TO A DEGREE, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA DO MORE TRAINING FOR OUR, UH, RISK MANAGEMENT PEOPLE IN THE COMING YEAR.

AND SO I WAS HOPING TO UP THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME TRAINING AND SOME WORK TOWARDS SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING MO, OSHA, CER CERTIFICATIONS, A A AS WELL AS SOME MOTOR VEHICLE CERTIFICATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO, AND, AND ALSO HE, HE'S A MEMBER OF PRIMA.

AND, AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE OF MATT'S, MATT'S BACKGROUND, I PROVIDE, I, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT DOING THAT.

HE WAS THE DEPUTY RISK MANAGER FOR HOWARD COUNTY.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LURE HIM HERE TO BECOME OUR RISK MANAGER.

UH, HE IS A MEMBER OF PRIMA, AND HE, HE'S GOT, HE'S GOT A, SOME HISTORY AND BACKGROUND IN RISK MANAGEMENT.

SO HE'S GOT SOME GOOD, GOOD TRAINING IDEAS.

WE HAVE STRESS TRAINING WITH OUR ATTORNEYS.

WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE NOW GOING ANNUALLY FOR EMPLOYMENT, UH, LAW TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATES, AS WELL AS LITIGATION TRAINING AND LITIGATION UPDATES, UH, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS SOME, SOME OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAINING.

AND WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THOSE SAME OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN RISK MANAGEMENT.

AND, AND, AND, UH, ALSO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE PULLED INTO RISK MANAGEMENT CAME FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

INITIALLY, THAT PERSON CAME FROM WATER AND SEWER, AND THEY WEREN'T ON OUR BOOKS.

THERE AREN'T OUR BOOKS NOW.

THAT'S PART OF, YOU KNOW, WHY OUR, OUR BUDGET HAS INCREASED.

UH, AND WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PROVIDE HIM TRAINING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE WORK THAT HE DOES FOR THE DIVISIONAL WATER AND SEWERS.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO GET HIM SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING BECAUSE HE'S GOT, HE'S GOT TIME TO MOVE AND HELP US WITH OTHER THINGS.

SO, UH, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR, TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE TRAINED AND UPDATED AND, AND, AND TO GET THE UPDATES.

THERE ARE UPDATES.

YOU, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS, JUST FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE OS NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A, A, A, A WEATHER POLICY FOR YOUR, YOUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF HEAT AND HEAT, HEAT STROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION, ALL THOSE, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS.

THERE'S REGULAR UPDATE, UPDATE TRAINING ON THOSE THAT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES PUT OUT AND THE DIFFERENT, UH, TRAINING FACILITIES PUT OUT.

AND WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY ABREAST OF THOSE ISSUES.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER.

QUESTIONS AFTERNOON, MARGARET.

UM, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? NO.

, HAVE YOU SMACKED HIM IN THE HEAD YET TODAY? NO, I'VE AVOIDED HER TODAY.

UM, I GOT, I GOT SEVERAL THINGS THAT I, I WANT TO ADDRESS.

UM, YOU MENTIONED RISK MANAGEMENT, UH, MATTHEW'S PLEASURE MEETING YOU.

YOU TALKED ABOUT TWO INSPECTORS.

WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES? I'M SORRY.

UH, JOHN DUBACK AND ERIC TROUTMAN.

AND ERIC DOES MORE THAN J THAN JUST INSPECTION.

'CAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DID NOTICE

[04:10:01]

AN INCREASE IN RISK MA RISK MANAGEMENT.

SO WE WERE WONDERING WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM.

WELL, I, I BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE JOHN TROUTMAN LAST YEAR WAS, HE CAME TO US LAST YEAR, AND I DON'T THINK HE CAME RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT HE WAS, HE CAME TO US FROM THE DIVISION OF WATER SEWERS.

AND, AND I THINK IT WAS A, A GOOD MOVE IN TERMS OF, I THINK IT'S HEALTHY NOT TO HAVE THE INSPECTOR THAT'S INSPECTING A DIVISION.

I THINK IT'S HEALTHY FROM A, FROM, PARTICULARLY FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF OUTSIDE REGULATORS, THAT THAT PERSON IS WORKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION, NOT IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

SO I I, I DON'T SAY THAT TO IN ANY WAY DISPARAGE THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SEWER SAY THAT THEY WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, PAYING ATTENTION TO HIS ADVICE AND COUNSEL.

BUT I THINK FROM AN OPTIC STANDPOINT, IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THAT PERSON IN A DIFFERENT CHAIN OF COMMAND BECAUSE IT, IT CONVEYS THE INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGMENT AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION.

YOU KNOW, THE REGULATORY AGENCIES ARE LOOKING.

AND SO HE CAME OVER TO US, BUT HIS SALARY STAYED WITH WATER AND SEWER LAST FISCAL YEAR.

THIS YEAR HE'S IN, UH, OUR BUDGET.

I ALSO, UH, SO WE'RE UP TO A TOTAL OF NINE ATTORNEYS COUNT COUNTING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

AND I BELIEVE FOR SOME REASON, ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT WE HAD HIRED LAST YEAR DIDN'T SHOW UP IN OUR BUDGET.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND, BUT THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED THIS YEAR.

SO ALONG THOSE LINES WITH NINE ATTORNEYS IN THE DEPARTMENT, CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH ATTORNEY IS, UM, AFFILIATED WITH WHICH DEPARTMENT THEY'RE REPRESENTING? YY YES.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW? OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SEND US? I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT.

I'M HAPPY TO SEND IT TO YOU.

SO BY THE, BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, LITIGATION IS PRIMARILY ME.

NO, I, I, I GET ALL THAT.

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S FREE ATTORNEYS, BUT WE WORK COLLECTIVELY.

SO, SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE WEEKLY, SOMETIMES BIWEEKLY, NEVER MORE THAN MONTHLY CLAIMS MEETINGS TO DISCUSS CLAIMS WHERE WE ARE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I GET ALL THAT RATHER THAN, RATHER THAN GET INTO THAT NOW, JUST SEND ME A LIST OF THE ATTORNEYS AND WHO THEY'RE REPRESENTING OR WHO THEY'RE WORKING WITH.

I, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

AND, AND, AND NOTE IT, IT IT'S PRINCIPLE BECAUSE WE VALUE COLLABORATION.

WE, WE WORK TOGETHER.

SO I WILL SEND YOU THAT LIST.

IT'LL BE PRINCIPLE.

OFTENTIMES MORE THAN ONE ATTORNEY IS WORKING ON IT, ON A SITUATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, AMY KELLER IS OUR EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY, BUT EMPLOYMENT ISSUES ARISE IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.

SO THE, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEPARTMENT MAY ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH SUPERVISORS TO HELP THEM WITH MANAGING AN EMPLOYEE, BUT THEY ALWAYS GO TO AMY KELLER OR TO ME, BECAUSE OF OUR EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE CONSULT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND THAT.

'CAUSE THERE'S, WHEN I GET THE LIST, I'LL CALL YOU AND WE CAN GO THROUGH IT.

SO LET'S DO THAT RATHER THAN TRY TO DO IT NOW.

FAIR ENOUGH.

UM, I ASKED YOU A QUESTION ABOUT REAL PROPERTY PURCHASE.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANYTHING? I, I KNOW THERE ARE REAL PROPERTY PUR PURCHASES WITH RESPECT TO ANYTHING OVER $3 MILLION.

I DON'T, BEL I'M NOT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT'S OVER $3 MILLION.

MR. MCCORD, YOU'RE NOT EITHER.

I, I, I KNOW THERE ARE, UH, I MEAN, WE HAVE AN NUMBER OF WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

NO, NO, NO.

AND, AND SO A BUILDING A BUILDING BUILDING, YES.

I'M NOT AWARE OF.

I'M NOT A, I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING AT THIS POINT IN TIME OKAY.

WHERE I'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AND AGAIN, I HAVEN'T HAD, I HAVE NOT HAD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

UM, BUT I THINK I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR.

I AND YOU, I'M, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE COP CENTER.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S FROM YEAH, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T THINK YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT.

NO, NO, NO.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ALREADY.

UM, SO, AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING OUT WAS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IS GOING TO BE COMING TO US FAIRLY SOON IN REFERENCE TO THE, THE POSITIONS THAT WERE MOVED.

IT, IT WAS DRAFTED AND I THINK IT, I THINK IT WAS, I, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OVERSIGHT OCCURRED, BUT IT'S ALREADY, IT WAS DRAFTED MONTHS AGO.

SO IT'S, IT'S COMING TO US.

I BELIEVE IT'S ON ITS WAY.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

I, PERFECT, PERFECT.

WE, WE PRODUCED THAT YESTERDAY, SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL QUESTION WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE I THOUGHT, I, I THOUGHT IT'D BEEN A FADE OF COMP PLEA.

MM-HMM.

NOPE.

UM, AND THEN, UM, I NOTICED, UH, KRAMON AND GRAHAM IN HERE, UH, YOU AND I HAD HEATED DISCUSSIONS, UH, MORE THAN ONCE, AND MARGARET DID SLAP ME OVER THE HEAD AFTER THE FIRST DISCUSSION.

WELL, I'M JUST SAYING, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DID THOSE FUNDS COME FROM TO PAY THAT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND LE CONTRACTUAL AND LEGAL SERVICES.

AND AS, AS YOU KNOW, FROM WHERE YOU SIT WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL THAT HAD TO COME IN AND AND ASSIST THE COUNCIL, THAT CAN DISAPPEAR VERY RAPIDLY.

AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, THAT'S A LOW FIGURE.

[04:15:01]

I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT.

AND AS YOU KNOW, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE COURT SAID, I, I, I, I, I, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR WHEN WE HAVE UNEXPECTED ISSUES OR CONFLICT ISSUES.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I DON'T THINK THE, I WASN'T CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT WAS THE ENTIRE BASIS OF THE ISSUE THAT I HAD ISSUES WITH.

UM, SO THEN THE LAST THING, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS REPRESENTATION FOR THE SHERIFF AND THE WARDEN.

YOU, AND HAD BACK AND FORTH DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT.

WE'VE HAD CORRESPONDENCE BACK AND FORTH.

I'VE GOTTEN LETTERS FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, I MEAN FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN REFERENCE TO THIS.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A CONTRACT THAT YOU HAVE MODIFIED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION THAT YOU ARE EXPECTING THE WARDEN AND THE SHERIFF TO SIGN IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REPRESENT 'EM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL.

WELL, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PUBLIC FORM IS, IS WE'RE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO COME OVER AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU AND WITH ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TO, TO GO INTO THAT MORE FULLY.

BUT I MEAN, WE'RE IN A BUDGET CYCLE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE LAW FIRM FOR THE COUNTY REPRESENT, REPRESENTING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

AND, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO.

AND, AND, AND WE DON'T CONTROL THEM.

WE DON'T CONTROL THEIR POLICY.

SO IF YOU WANNA GET INTO THIS, I'M READY TO DIVE INTO THIS AND I'M READY TO HIT HEAD ON.

I SUGGEST THAT THIS IS NOT .

WELL, LET'S DO THAT JUST FOR A MINUTE.

LET'S DO THAT FOR JUST A MINUTE.

ALRIGHT.

I, I THINK LET'S DO IT.

I THINK PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE REPRESENTING THEM WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF, OF, UH, REQUIREMENTS OUTSIDE OF WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS.

WELL, WHAT, WHAT, AND JUST LET WHAT, WHAT, WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS? 'CAUSE WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS, I NEED FINISH, MR. BLOMQUIST, I'M NOT GONNA INTERRUPT YOU AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO INTERRUPT ME.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF I HAVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, I EXPECT MY ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME THE WAY HE WOULD ANYONE ELSE.

THE, IF I LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE HERE, IT'S GOT LARGE CHALLENGES IN IT.

YOU'RE IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT.

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

IF YOU'RE IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, YOU HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY.

THAT INSURANCE POLICY SPELLS OUT THE TERMS OF THE REPRESENTATION THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE PROVIDED AND THE COOPERATION THAT YOU HAVE TO PASS.

BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT INSURANCE POLICY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY, PLEASE DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME.

DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME.

THAT'S EXACTLY, DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE IN ME.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE, YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO UNDER THEIR 9 1 0 8 IS PROVIDE INSURANCE.

MR. BLUM, DO YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU? PROVIDE POLICY.

WE PROVIDE, DO YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU? I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO ME, SIR, DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE.

YES SIR.

I'M NOT RAISING MY VOICE AT YOU.

AND I THINK THIS IS NOT THE FORM FOR THE CONVERSATION, BUT YOU WANT TO INSIST ON GOING FORWARD WITH THE CONVERSATION.

I'LL GO FORWARD WITH THE CONVERSATION UNDER 9 1 0 8.

WE PROVIDE INSURANCE.

THAT'S WHAT WE PROVIDE.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S, THAT, THAT'S THE LANGUAGE THAT'S USED IN THE PROVISION.

AND WE PROVIDE THAT.

AND THERE ARE TERMS THAT GO WITH THAT INSURANCE AND THOSE TERMS ARE SPELLED OUT IN THE STATE CODE.

AND WE FALL WITH TERMS AS THEY ARE SPELLED OUT IN THE STATE CODE.

AND BECAUSE THE SHERIFF FILED AN ATTORNEY GRIEVANCE AGAINST ME, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE BASELESS AND ATTACK MY PERSONAL LICENSE.

YOU'RE DAMN STRAIGHT.

I'M GONNA MAKE SURE I HAVE IN WRITING, WHICH IS ONE OF MY ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ALL YOU'RE RAISING YOUR VOICE AGAIN, YOU'RE RAISING YOUR VOICE AGAIN.

AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

THAT IS NOT NECESSARY, SIR.

LETTER THAT I GOT HERE IN FRONT OF ME? I DON'T KNOW WHICH, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LETTER.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID.

THAT'S FINE.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'M NOT BRINGING ANY OF THAT UP.

I'M JUST SPECIFICALLY ASKING YOU A QUESTION.

THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GETTING ALL WORKED UP AND, AND, AND REALLY OUTTA LINE, THIS IS NOT THE VENUE FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD, WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU NOW WHILE WE'RE TALKING, THIS IS NOT THE VENUE.

I I AND I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT YOU WANNA BE RAISING YOUR VOICE AT TODAY.

I, IN MY TODAY DEPART, I AND MY DEPARTMENT PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO THE SHERIFF AS WE ARE REQUIRED TO UNDER STATE LAW AND IN PRECISE ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF STATE LAW AND FOLLOWING THE STATE ETHICAL CODE.

I MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT SO THAT HE KNOWS, HE'S BEEN ADVISED IN WRITING WHAT OUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT HIS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.

AND IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN ONE LAST QUESTION.

AN AUTO ACCIDENT.

AND THE AUTO ONE LAST QUESTION GAVE YOU, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU SPEAK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S

[04:20:01]

YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT LETTER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU DID YOU GET MORE THAN ONE ON THIS? YOU'RE SAYING THIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SIR.

YOU OKAY? THAT'S ENOUGH.

I HAVE NO LETTER IN FRONT OF.

ANYONE ELSE WITH QUESTIONS? MR. JANNO? MR. QUIST? GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, MATTHEW, IT'S, UH, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE A RISK, UH, MANAGEMENT PERSON THAT'S GOT EXPERIENCE.

UM, MY, SOME OF MY QUESTIONS DO RELATE TO THAT.

UM, NUMBER ONE, I UNDERSTAND THAT FROM WHAT MR. BLUMKINS SAID, WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS FOR AUTO ACCIDENTS, CORRECT? YES.

DO WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS FOR WORKERS' COMP CLAIMS? YES.

AND WHO ARE THOSE INVESTIGATORS? SAME INVESTIGATORS.

UM, SEC AND ACTUALLY ANOTHER ONE ON THAT, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AVAMAR AND THE DEMOLITION AND THE LIABILITY, BUT IF WE HIRE AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR AND THEY PROVIDE US WITH PROPER INSURANCE, WHERE WOULD OUR LIABILITY BE IF, IF THEY'RE PROPERLY INSURED TO DEMOLISH THAT? OH, AGREED.

BUT I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HIRE THE CONTRACTOR, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HASN'T HIRED THE CONTRACTOR, SHOULD THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AGREED TO INDEMNIFY THEM AND HOLD THEM HARMLESS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OWNER.

AND SO IF THERE WAS A LAWSUIT TO ARISE OUT OF SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED DURING THE DEMOLITION PROCESS OR AS A RESULT OF THE DEMOLITION PROCESS, THE, THE LANDOWNER GENERALLY IS SUED BECAUSE THAT'S WHO HAS TITLE TO THE PROPERTY AND, AND, AND IS DEEMED TO BE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE.

SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WHEN I SAY WHAT WE DO, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE GOTTA MAKE, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE, IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T ALLOW SOMEONE TO GO ON AND DO DEMOLITION WORK ON PROPERTY THAT WE AS THE COUNTY DON'T OWN.

SO WE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE, THE, THE APPROPRIATE PERMISSION, WHICH WE DO.

AND, AND PART OF THAT APPROPRIATE PERMISSION IS THE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TYPES OF INDEMNIFICATION AND HOLD HARMLESS RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, WHICH IS TYPICAL, YOU KNOW, THROUGH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

WE TRANSFER THAT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE CERTAINLY ONE OF THE NAMED DEFENDANTS SHOULD A LAWSUIT ARISE AS A RESULT OF WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED.

EVERY YEAR, WHO'S DRIVING A COUNTY VEHICLE TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF RECORDS THEY HAVE AND IF THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS? DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PLAN IF THEY'VE INVOL BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS? IF THEY'RE NOT DRIVING COUNTY VEHICLES ANYMORE? SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE'S PROBABLY DOING IN, IN, IN RISK MANAGEMENT.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE MATT CAN, UH, ANSWER THIS OR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE NOW, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WAS BEFORE THE COUNTY DID NOT REQUIRE SUBCONTRACTORS TO, UH, THE CARRIERS THEY WERE USING WERE, WERE NOT A, A RATED OR, OR BETTER, THEY'VE HAD B RATED AND C.

SO THAT, THAT'S BEEN A CONTENTION OF MINE ALL ALONG.

AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU'VE COME, THEY'VE COME BACK BEFORE WITH, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE THESE UMBRELLAS FOR, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN TYPES OF JOB, WHICH, WHICH I THOUGHT DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE EITHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MATT'S LOOKING INTO OR NOT, BUT IT'S BEEN A CONCERN THAT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT, UM, ARE WITH CARRIERS THAT ARE B PLUS OR SOMETHING.

AND IT'S BEEN A, I'M I'M GLAD YOU RAISED THAT BECAUSE I MISSPOKE LAST YEAR.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID, I DON'T KNOW AND GOT BACK TO YOU BECAUSE, UH, CHRIS BEAL SPECIFICALLY REMINDED THAT HE HAD HAD THAT CONVERSATION THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR WITH YOU, AND HE HAD ACTUALLY ADDRESSED IT AND CORRECTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE USING A RATED CARRIERS.

WHAT ABOUT THE UMBRELLA PART? I MEAN, NOW WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU COME TO SOME OF THESE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE DOING THINGS THAT SOMETIMES I'VE SEEN IT COME ACROSS ON MY OTHER WORLD WHERE THESE GUYS HAVE TO COME UP AND PICK UP A TWO OR $3 MILLION UMBRELLA, WHICH PRETTY MUCH IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE THAT THEY CAN DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY.

AND I'M GONNA LET, I'M GONNA LET MATT ADDRESS THAT MORE SPECIFICALLY.

BUT ONE OF THE NICE THINGS THAT MATT HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IS THAT HE'S LOOKING AT EXACTLY WHAT THE WORK IS.

SO IF WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT'S WORKING REMOTELY, HE'S NOT COMING ONTO OUR PROPERTY, HE'S NOT DRIVING TO US, THEY DON'T NEED THE SAME COVERAGE THAT, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SOMEONE WHO'S COMING TO OUR PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, WHO, WHO, WHO'S ON OUR PROPERTY, THAT TYPE OF THING.

I'LL LET HIM ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECTLY.

PLEASE.

UM, ANOTHER QUESTION.

UM, AND IT PROBABLY GOES BACK TO THE WORKERS' COMP AND I THAT I'VE BEEN ASKED IN THAT A COUPLE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

I, I SAW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S WORKERS' COMP RATES GO UP.

SO HOPEFULLY, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I'M SURE HE KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

EITHER A DIVIDEND POLICY, RETROSPECTIVELY RATED WORKERS' COMP POLICY OR SOMEWHERE WHERE THE COUNTY, UH, HAS A LARGE DIVIDEND, I'M SORRY, LARGE DEDUCTIBLE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR MORE.

AND THEN WE, WE, YOU KNOW, WORK OFF OF THAT.

I DUNNO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THOSE, ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

UM, AND THEN THIRD, I, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF WE'RE RUNNING DRIVING RECORDS ON EVERYBODY

[04:25:01]

BUT, BUT I KNOW PREVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T RUN DRIVING RECORDS.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD DWIS AND EVERYTHING THAT ARE DRIVING, YOU KNOW, AND IF THEY GET IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S COSTING US MONEY.

I BELIEVE WE RUN DRIVING RECORDS AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR.

MATT KNOWS EXACTLY.

WE, WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NEW VEHICLE USE POLICY SO THAT IF YOU HAVE A, AND I FORGET WHETHER IT'S TWO OR THREE POINTS, BUT IF YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE POINTS, YOU ARE NO LONGER ENTITLED TO DRIVE A COUNTY VEHICLE.

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO DRIVE YOUR OWN VEHICLE FOR COUNTY WORK AND TO GET REIMBURSED A MILEAGE RATE.

SO, SO INSTEAD OF POINTS, I'D RATHER LOOK AT MAYBE VIOLATION, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT TWO SPEEDING TICKETS, THAT'S TWO POINTS.

BUT IF YOU GOT ONE SPEEDING TICKET AND YOU GOT TWO OR THREE POINTS, WELL, AND, AND AGAIN, SO MATT WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND ADDRESS THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE WOULD FIRST APPRECIATE ANY WISDOM THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE US WITH.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT OUR INSURANCE BECAUSE AS I SAID, WE CAN'T, WE DON'T AUTOMATICALLY RENEW THIS YEAR.

SO WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID.

MATT'S ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS.

HE'S, HE'S, HE'S LOOKING AT DIFFERENT THINGS AND, AND WE CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE NO PROBLEM SITTING DOWN AND DISCUSSING THOSE THINGS.

I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

'CAUSE I, IF, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT COST AND EVERYTHING, WE KNOW THAT THAT COULD BE A, A DRIVER ON COST, ESPECIALLY ON WORKERS' COMP BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, IT'S REALLY FUN TO LISTEN TO TONY SPEAK ABOUT HIS EXPERTISE.

UH, AND IF YOU EVER NEED ANYBODY TO GIVE YOU ADVICE ON PHONICS, JUST EMAIL MY OFFICE.

, UM, OOH, TOUCHE .

BUT, UM, AND THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE CORRECT TO RECOGNIZING YOUR REMARKS ABOUT HOW THE LAW DEPARTMENT REALLY HAS ITS TENTACLES IN MANY REALLY ALL DEPARTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU IMPACT THE WORK OF EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY.

UM, AND I GUESS ALONG THOSE LINES, AS YOUR DEPARTMENT GROWS IN SIZE, UM, AND SCALE, UH, HOW IS THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT GOING, I, I HOPE IT'S GOING WELL.

UH, YOU HOPE? WELL, IN, IN OTHER WORDS, I KNOW WHAT I'M TOLD , I KNOW PEOPLE TALK TO MARGARET VERY CANDIDLY, , AND THAT'S WHY I VALUE HER INPUT SO, SO MUCH.

I, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GONE WELL.

WE, WE, WE CERTAINLY, IN ESSENCE, WE'RE AN INTERNAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, OUR SUCCESS, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK OF OUR SERVICE AND, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY TAKE THAT TO HEART, UH, RIGHT, BECAUSE I JUST THINK IT'S, IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN ANY DEPARTMENT THAT IS INTERDISCIPLINARY LIKE THAT IN THE SENSE OF, YOU MIGHT BE IN DPW, YOU MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, WORKING WITH THE TREASURY, YOU MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, BE IN A REFERENCE FOR THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY IMPACT MORALE WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL AS IMPORTANT.

UH, JUST HAVE THE TRAINING AND THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT MINDSET THAT PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WHEN YOU SHOW UP AND SAD WHEN YOU LEAVE, NOT THE REVERSE.

UM, SO I, I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT.

MS. S THANK YOU.

YOU SPOKE ABOUT A LOT, BUT, UM, SO BEAR WITH ME.

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

BACK TO TONY'S QUESTION OF THE DEMO OF EVA.

MARK.

CAN YOU GIVE ANY SORT OF TIMEFRAME ON THAT? WELL, SO, YOU KNOW, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION LAST WEEK AND I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MS. NEAL, KIMBERLY NEAL AS GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MS BECAUSE THE BOARD OF, AND THIS WAS A THURSDAY, BUT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, OR I SHOULD SAY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS OUT BETWEEN THURSDAY AND YESTERDAY.

MS. NEAL ACTUALLY EMAILED ME TODAY, UH, AND, AND YOU KNOW, AND WE EXCHANGED EMAILS AND, AND, AND NOTED I'VE BEEN OUT, SHE'S GONNA GET BACK TO ME TOMORROW.

I, I, I'D MADE A PROPOSAL TO HER.

SO I EXPECT TO HEAR TOMORROW.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT MOVING.

UH, THE, IT'S THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.

I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT NAME AND I DON'T, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD KEEP ME LOOPED IN ON AS THAT'S I I IN MY DISTRICT? I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, WHAT, WHAT'S CAUSING THAT OR WHY IS THIS COST INCREASE SO MUCH? WELL, SO SEVERAL THINGS.

IN ON, UM, ALSO, I TOOK SOME NOTES.

IT LOOKS LIKE RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO GROW FROM ABOUT 193,000 IN 23 TO ABOUT 556,026.

[04:30:04]

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I CAME IN, SO FOR THE FY 23 BUDGET, IT WAS A ONE PERSON DIVISION.

OKAY? IT, IT, IT'S NOW A FOUR PERSON DIVISION.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF, I, I THINK THAT'S THE BIG PART OF WHAT'S CAUSING THE INCREASE.

AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, MR. DUBAK, WHO'S NOT ON OUR RULES LAST YEAR, HE'S ON OUR RULES THIS YEAR.

'CAUSE HE CAME FROM THE DIVISION OF WATER AND SEWER AND, AND SO NOW HE'S SHOWN ON RULES.

SO I THINK PRIMARILY IT'S THE GROWTH AND, AND, AND INITIALLY HE ADDED ONE INSPECTOR.

SO NOW WE HAVE THE TWO INSPECTORS.

BOTH OF THEM NOW ARE ON OUR, ARE ON OUR PAYROLL ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, CANDIDLY, UH, TO REPLACE CHRIS.

UH, AND, AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING INTERNALLY TO GET, UH, CHRIS RAISE.

WE, WE NEEDED TO MAKE, WE NEEDED TO MAKE AND MADE AN OFFER THAT WAS ABOVE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT MR. BEALS WAS BEING PAID.

UH, AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE DID BECAUSE I THINK WE ATTRACTED A GOOD CANDIDATE.

AND I HOPE IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH MR. GERVIS, THAT YOU TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ALONG THE RISK MANAGEMENT LINE, UH, BECAUSE HE IS KNOWLEDGEABLE AND I THINK HE, HE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME GOOD INSIGHTS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT HE'S DOING AND, AND WHAT HE'S LEADING.

OVERALL, WE ARE TRYING TO BECOME MORE OF A, UH, A DATA-DRIVEN OPERATION.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO, WE, WE'VE GOTTEN IN A NEW RISK MANAGEMENT APPLICATION.

UH, MR. BEAL STARTED THAT MR. ZER HAS FINISHED UP WITH THAT.

WE'RE HOPE, WE'RE HOPEFUL TO DEVELOP MORE MEANINGFUL DATA THAT WE CAN USE TO TARGET AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND AREAS OF TRAINING WHERE HOPEFULLY IF WE IMP IMPLEMENT THAT TRAINING AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR LOSS, OUR, OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR LOSSES THROUGH ACCIDENTS AND THROUGH PREVENTABLE EVENTS.

AND, AND SO THAT CERTAINLY IS THE OBJECTIVE, THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE OF, OF RISK MANAGEMENT, AND I THINK WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND THEN ONE LAST THING, UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW MUCH WAS SPENT ON THE LAWSUIT AGAINST MR. PENMAN AND WHERE I COULD FIND THAT INFORMATION? YEAH.

UH, THAT IS ON, THAT IS ON ONE OF THE, THE HANDOUTS.

AND SO WHEN YOU SAY, CAN I SPEAK TO HOW MUCH WAS SPENT ON THE LAWSUIT OF, UH, MR. PENNOCK? SO YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE THE REMAN AND GRANT AT THE BOTTOM OF, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SECOND PAGE OF THE HANDOUT.

YES, THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHAT WAS SPENT ON THE BOARD OF ETHICS MATTER, WHERE WE HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC NUMBER BECAUSE MR. PENMAN SUED THE COUNTY AND, AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE HANDLED THAT THROUGH OUR LITIGATION.

SO THAT WAS HANDLED SEPARATELY.

NO, THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE EXPENSE THAT WAS HANDLED, THAT WAS AND IS BEING HANDLED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

AND, AND WE GENERALLY DO NOT KEEP TIME RECORDS ON SPECIFIC CASES.

SO I CAN'T TELL YOU SPECIFICALLY HOW MUCH TIME, SO LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR LIKE 50,000.

ANY BALLPARK NUMBER.

UH, I DON'T WANNA GIVE YOU A BALLPARK NUMBER.

I MEAN, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? UM, CITIZENS.

SO MR. BLOMQUIST TO TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER TO PUT THIS TO REST WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE WARDEN, I'M GONNA HAVE MISS ALLEG, MARY KATE, UH, CONTACT YOU AND MARGARET AND SET UP A MEETING SO THAT WE CAN BRING ALL THE PRINCIPALS IN THE ROOM AND IRON THIS OUT.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

ALRIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I, TOWARD YOU, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I'M SORRY.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

YES, I DO TOO.

UM, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD PRODUCTIVELY A HUNDRED PERCENT AND THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA OF BRINGING IT UP.

UM, I BELIEVE I DID EXPRESS THAT PREVIOUSLY.

MAYBE, I'M NOT SURE.

, UM, WITH NOTHING ELSE THEN I GUESS THAT WILL FINALIZE YOUR PART.

THANK YOU, MARGARET.

COUNCIL NEXT WE HAVE EX, UH, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.

OH, AND THEY BEGIN ON PAGE 5 46.

[04:35:11]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAN I HAVE AN EXTRA ONE OF THOSE PLEASE FOR MR. RILEY? THANK YOU.

PERFECT.

WHILE, WHILE THERE'S BEING HANDED OUT, I'LL JUST GET INTO THE NUMBERS, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

UM, SO COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, AS I SAID, BEGINS ON PAGE 5 46.

IT HAS A TOTAL COUNTY ALLOCATION OF 350,557, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $6,048.

THE ONLY CHANGE BEING UNDER MISCELLANEOUS WHERE THERE'S AN INCREASE IN GRANTS OF 18,548 TO PROVIDE FOR ESTIMATED STATE INCREASE OF 6%.

AND THAT'S PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE OF 12,500 FOR A ONETIME FY 25 4 H SUMMER CAMP CONTRIBUTION.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANDY.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COUNCIL.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AGAIN.

UM, MY NAME IS ANDREW NESS AND I'M THE ACTING DIRECTOR FOR OUR HARFORD COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE.

UM, MY PRIMARY DAY JOB IS TO BE THE AG AGENT AND WORK WITH FOLKS LIKE MR. TIBS, UH, THE AG PRODUCERS OF OUR COUNTY.

UM, BUT RIGHT NOW I AM FILLING IN AS OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR STILL , UM, AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, CAROLINE, OUR ADMIN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, HANDED OUT OUR 2024 ANNUAL REPORT FOR YOU, UH, WHICH SUMMARIZES THE WORK THAT WE DID IN TWO, UH, 2024.

UH, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAM AREAS AND JUST FOR SOME, UM, CLARIFICATION AND FOR FOLKS THAT MAYBE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXTENSION IS AND WHAT WE DO.

SO EXTENSION IS A, IS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

UM, OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE OF EXTENSION IS TO BE THE OUTREACH ARM OF THE UNIVERSITY.

SO WE DELIVER PROGRAMS THAT ARE RESEARCH BASED, UH, OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON THAT.

WE HAVE MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS IN AG AND FOOD SYSTEMS, WHICH IS WHERE I, I WORK THROUGH, UH, FOUR H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, UH, SNAP EDUCATION, UH, UH, ENR, WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH INCLUDES THE, THE HOME, UH, AND GARDEN PROGRAM, MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM AS WELL.

UH, OUR OFFICE IS LARGELY STAFFED THE SAME.

WE DO HAVE ONE CHANGE.

MANY OF YOU KNEW, UM, JOYCE BROWNING, WHO WAS OUR HOME HORTICULTURE EXTENSION AGENT, SHE RETIRED AFTER A, A NICE LONG CAREER WITH EXTENSION.

SHE RETIRED IN, UM, DECEMBER, AND WE HAVE SINCE HIRED HER REPLACEMENT, WHO IS ISABEL MOONEY.

AND SHE'S, SHE'S JUMPED RIGHT IN AND HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR, OUR, OUR MASTER GARDENERS AND HOME HORTICULTURE PROGRAM.

SO, UM, IN RESPECT TO OUR BUDGET HAS ALREADY BEEN SUMMARIZED.

UM, OVERALL THE INCREASE COMES OUT TO BE A NET OF 6,000, ABOUT $6,000.

UM, THE DECREASE OF 12 FIVE WAS, UM, THE DIFFERENCE FROM LAST YEAR THAT, THAT, UH, TEMPORARY PAYMENT WAS USED TO, UH, OFFSET, UH, INCREASE CHARGES FOR OUR SUMMER FOUR H CAMP.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY TO, TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS AS WELL AS, UM, CAMPING PROGRAMS FOR OUR FOUR H ROUTE LAST YEAR.

SO, UM, I WANNA BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.

I DON'T WANNA TAKE UP TOO MUCH, SO I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OR COMMENTS.

SO, ANDY, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, UH, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH US.

UM, MR. PAR ASKED A QUESTION THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE GROVE.

ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, SIR? THE GROVE? YOUR OFFICE IS RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? YEAH, OUR OFFICE IS RIGHT THERE, SIR.

THE GROVE, UH, IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS TO RENT, TO USE AS A SPACE FOR EVENTS, UH, AND PERIODICALLY HAVE, WE HAVE SOME APPLICATIONS FOR, FOR FOLKS TO RESERVE THAT SPACE.

RIGHT NOW, COMING UP THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE USING IT, UM, AS AN EARTH DAY VENUE.

SO THERE'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING EXTENSION AS WELL AS SOME OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PUTTING TOGETHER ACTIVITIES FOR FOLKS FOR EARTH DAY.

AWESOME.

ED PROGRAM THE SAME AS THE MARYLAND FRESH FRUITS AND VEGGIES PROGRAM THAT GIVES FRI UH, FRUITS AND VEGGIES TO SCHOOLS TO HAVE KIDS TRY? SO I, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT FAMILIAR WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM, SO, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT SNAP ED IS.

COUNSEL.

ANYBODY WITH ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

AND, UM, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHENEVER I CAN COME OUT, WHETHER IT WAS FOR THE GREEN, UH, WHAT WAS IT CALLED, UM, THE GREEN LIKE INFRASTRUCTURE TOUR, WHERE WE GOT TO SEE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS AND, AND HOW THINGS CAN BE DESIGNED TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE FARMER AND FOR THE ANIMAL AND THE COMMUNITY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.

OR WHEN I GOT TO COME OUT AND SEE YOUR CLASSROOM.

UM, IS THE SNAP

[04:40:01]

SO SNAP ED IS FUNDED THROUGH THE FARM BILL AT USDA.

SO OUR EDUCATORS IN THE SNAP PROGRAM, SHERAY HARRIS IS OUR EDUCATOR.

UM, THEY WORK WITH, UM, LOW INCOME OR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, UM, SCHOOLS.

SO PRIMARILY IN OUR ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR WHERE THEY'RE DOING NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

UH, AND SHE DOES DO COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AND SAMPLES, SO THEY GET THE SAMPLE, UH, AND GET FRESH FRUITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THEIR PROGRAM HAS, UM, UH, A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT BECAUSE KIDS, WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL, THEY BRING BACK TO THEIR HOUSE AND THEN THEIR PARENTS GET INVOLVED, AND OVERALL THEY'RE EATING HEALTHIER.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I, YOU KNOW, I, I TEACH THAT TITLE ONE SCHOOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY, AND I'VE HAD KINDERGARTNERS WHO I'VE ONLY EVER SEEN EAT A HONEY BUN, EAT A BLOOD ORANGE OR A PIECE OF ASPARAGUS, OR JUST, UH, REALLY STRETCH THEM.

WHEN I SEND HOME PICTURES TO THE FAMILIES, THEY GO, WHAT ? UM, SO THEN I'M ABLE TO SHOW THEM PROOF, BUT I JUST THINK THAT'S, THAT'S SO AWESOME AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

UH, I ALWAYS EAT THANKSGIVING LUNCH WITH MY STUDENTS.

I COOK THANKSGIVING AND BRING IT IN THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE JUST BECAUSE FOR A LOT OF KIDS, THEY NEED THE CHANCE TO TRY SOMETHING ONCE TO LEARN THAT IT'S SOMETHING THEY VALUE AND THAT GOES FOR FOOD, BUT IT ALSO GOES FOR EXPERIENCES.

SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES YOU PROVIDE FOR KIDS IN HARTFORD COUNTY, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, TO, TO BE CONNECTED WITH THAT, UH, AG CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.

MUCH APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIBS? I WANTED TO SAY ONE THING, ANDY, UH, LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET, THE 12,501 TIME, IS THAT, DID YOU GET A GRANT TO DO THAT? I MEAN, THAT WAS THROUGH THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UM, LAST YEAR.

I KNEW THAT WAS THAT WAY, BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF, IF THOSE FUNDS ARE GONNA BE THERE FOR CAMPING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THAT'S, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

SO THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING DOWN TO A ONE WEEK CAMP VERSUS TWO WEEKS.

UM, AND WE WERE ALSO, MARY LISA WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A LITTLE BIT BETTER RATE WITH, WITH THE CAMP TO, TO TRY TO PULL DOWN SOME OF THOSE, THOSE PRICES.

UM, SO THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO A ONE, A ONE WEEK CAMP, AND WE, WE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE INCREASED REGISTRATION COST FOR THE CAMPERS, BUT UM, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

WE CAN COVER IT WITH ONE WEEK AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY CAMPERS AS THEY HISTORICALLY HAVE.

IT SEEMS LIKE AFTER COVID, THE CAMPING OVERNIGHT CAMP TWO WEEK TYPE PROGRAM HAS KIND OF REALLY BEEN REDUCED, BUT THE TWO WEEK PROGRAM IS NOT COMPLETELY OUT FOR NEXT YEAR, MAYBE, OR THE YEAR AFTER, OR IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER WITH THE NEED AND WITH, IF WE HAD THE NEED AND WE HAD OBVIOUSLY THE FUNDING TO DO IT WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

I MEAN, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT DISAPPEAR OUTTA THE BUDGET AND THEN KIDS COME IN AND WANT TO, WANT TO GET BACK INTO CAMP.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR 'EM.

YEAH, THERE'S, UM, MARY LISA WOULD, WOULD BE THE, THE BETTER CONTACT FOR THAT IS HOW MUCH NEED THERE IS FOR THAT RIGHT NOW? UH, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DON'T KNOW.

AS FAR AS THE DEMAND FOR THE, THE TWO, I MEAN TWO, I THINK THIS CAMP IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO KIDS.

I MEAN, TO GET OUT AND DO THIS.

SO THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ASKING ABOUT THAT.

I APPRECIATE IT, BOB.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU ANDY.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, CAROL.

UM, SO, UH, LAST UP TODAY WE HAVE SOIL CONSERVATION.

UM, WHILE MR. CORNWELL'S HANDING THOSE OUT, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE NUMBERS.

UM, NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS, WHICH PROVIDE FOR BOARD MEMBER STIPENDS AND AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENON, AS WELL AS THE COUNTYWIDE URBAN CONSERVATION PLANNING INITIATIVE.

UM, SO SOIL CONSERVATION BEGINS ON PAGE 5 49.

THERE'S A TOTAL COUNTY ALLOCATION OF 690 2006 27, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 5,000 5 0 7.

PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 4,000 7 0 7, AND THAT'S DUE TO SALARIES DECREASING 16,403 DUE TO TURNOVER SAVINGS.

THE FFY 26 COLA COSTING 20,477 AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 633,

[04:45:02]

SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO QUENTIN.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, QUENTIN.

ALRIGHT, WELL, UM, BEFORE I GET INTO IT, I, I DID WANT TO TRY TO INTRODUCE THERE ARE NEW MEMBERS YES.

ON THE COUNCIL.

UM, A LITTLE BRIEF HISTORY.

THE SOLE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN AROUND ESSENTIALLY SINCE THE DUST BOWL, WHICH GOES BACK TO THE 1930S.

UM, BENNETT WAS LIKE A PIONEER IN THE SENSE OF CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND HE WAS THE, UH, SECRETARY OF THINK U UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

AND, UH, HE REALLY, UH, CHAMPIONED THE, THE FACT THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE LOCAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE FARMERS TO PROMOTE CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

AND SO EACH DISTRICT, THE FIRST, VERY FIRST ONE WAS FORMED IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WAS HIS HOME STATE.

AND IT WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH, UM, HARTFORD ACTUALLY WAS CREATED WITH COM, UH, COMBINATION WITH, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND THEY, THEY SPLIT OFF IN 1944.

UM, BASICALLY, UM, THE DISTRICTS AS IT IS TODAY, IS LY GEARED TOWARD AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES, AGRICULTURAL EFFORTS.

UM, AND SO WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH INDIVIDUAL FARMERS, UM, PROMOTING WHAT WE SAY CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ONES THAT WE HAVE IS, UH, GRASS WATERWAYS.

AND THOSE BASICALLY TO CUT DOWN ON EROSIVE, UM, WATER FLOW, UH, DURING STORM EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOPOGRAPHY OF A CROP FIELD, THERE'S ALWAYS USUALLY A LOW POINT.

SO EVERYTHING'S GRAVITATING THROUGH THAT WATER FLOW.

AND SO THAT'S THE MOST VULNERABLE, UH, BASED ON SOIL TYPES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO OUR JOB IS TO GO OUT THERE IF WE ASSESS THAT, UH, THAT, AND USUALLY SOMETIMES IT'S, THE GUT FARM ITSELF BRINGS IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TRY TO ADDRESS THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

AND USUALLY SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES A DESIGN.

UM, AND THEN OVER TIME, UH, THE, THE DISTRICTS, UM, WE, WE GOT INVOLVED WITH SMALL POND DESIGNS AND THAT LED TO US GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE EROSION SEMI CONTROL MOVEMENT.

UH, THERE WAS A, UM, AMENDMENT, I THINK IN 1968 THAT CREATED THIS EROSION SUN CONTROL REQUIREMENTS AND IT LINKED IT WITH A GRADING PERMIT.

SO ANYTHING, ANY DISTURBANCE OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, HAD TO HAVE A GRADING PERMIT AND THEY, THEY ASSOCIATED A, A EROSION SETTLEMENT CONTROL PLAN FOR THAT.

AND THEN LATER ON, THE ADDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.

SO THE DISTRICTS WERE, THEY JUST ASSUMED THAT WE'D BE THE PERFECT GROUP TO HANDLE IT BECAUSE WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THESE, WITH PRACTICES 'CAUSE THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR PRACTICES USED FOR CONTROL AS WELL AS FOR AGRICULTURE USE.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN, UM, KIND OF INVOLVED WITH THAT AS WELL.

UM, AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY KIND OF LIKE OUR NICHE, UM, AS AN ORGANIZATION.

UM, I DO THANK YOU.

A, A GUIDANCE FOR THE FARMERS.

AND AS, UH, PRESIDENT VINCENTI MENTIONED, I'M QUENTIN CUOMO.

I'M THE SOIL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE HARFORD SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

UM, I AM, I WOULD THANK YOU, UH, PRESIDENT, UH, PATRICK VICINI AND DISTRIBUTION MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION.

UM, WHAT I'VE GIVEN YOU, UM, YOU'LL SEE, UM, IS KIND OF LIKE A OVERVIEW OF, OR JUST THIS PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR, UH, BUT ALSO I DID HAVE INCLUDE THE SOLE CONSERVATION PROPOSED FISCAL 26 BUDGET OUTLINE, UH, THAT BEN MENTIONED.

UM, I ALSO INCLUDED THE, UM, OUR DISTRICT'S DIRECT FUNDING SOURCES FROM OUR PREVIOUS, UH, CALENDAR OR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25.

AND THEN IT BASICALLY INCLUDES SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE HAD.

UM, FIRST IS THE, UH, PULLING OUR WEIGHT, KIND OF AN OVERVIEW, THE 24 CALENDAR YEAR.

AND ALSO, UM, SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

WE HAD ACTIVITIES, UM, AND BMPS THAT WE ACTUALLY, OR BEST MANAGED PRACTICES THAT WE INSTALLED DURING THE COURSE OF, OF 2024 OR, AND GOT TO, UM, DOCUMENT, UM, AS WELL AS THE, UM, OUR, BASICALLY OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

UM, THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL REPORT BUT ALSO INCLUDES ONE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.

SO I INCLUDED THAT ONE FOR HARTFORD AS WELL AS THE OVERALL FOR THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THEN ALSO AS A FYI.

UM, WE RECENTLY UPDATED AND ENHANCED OUR WEBSITE, SO I INCLUDE A LITTLE BLURB IN THAT FOR YOU.

AND THEN ALSO THE LINK TO THEIR WEBSITE AND ALSO OUR LATEST EDITION OF OUR HARTFORD RESOURCE NEWSLETTER.

UM, AS I PROBABLY ALLUDED TO, OBVIOUSLY TO MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION WORK, YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE SKILLED TECHNICIANS, SKILLED PLANNERS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.

UH, WE CONTINUE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS, ADDRESSING EROSION AND SETTLEMENT CONTROL AND, AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES.

UM, WE BEGIN THAT WITH WHAT WE CALL THE SOIL CONSERVATION WATER QUALITY PLANS.

AND THAT'S USUALLY

[04:50:01]

IT USUALLY ENCOMPASSES WHAT THEIR, THEIR PRACTICES ARE FOR A CULTIVATION, UM, WHAT THEY PLANT THE ROTATION.

BUT THEN IT GOES INTO ADDRESSING RESOURCE NEEDS.

AS I MENTIONED.

IT COULD BE ISSUES OF WATERWAY, IT COULD BE, UH, WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR ANIMAL, FOR LIVESTOCK.

UM, AND OF COURSE THAT MAY NECESSITATE, UM, ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH WOULD BE ENGINEERING DESIGNS, WHICH WE DO IN-HOUSE.

UM, SO WE CONDUCT THOSE AND ALSO WE USUALLY OVERSEE THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE AS-BUILT, IN OTHER WORDS, POST CONSTRUCTION THAT MAKE SURE IT MEETS THE STANDARDS AND SPECS.

UM, IN OUR URBAN SECTOR, UM, WE HAVE A CIVIL ENGINEER HANDLES, UM, THE EROSION SEMI CONTROL REVIEWS FOR THE COUNTY.

UM, HE ALSO HANDLES THE REVIEW AND THE PROCESSING OF FOREST HARVEST APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS ADMINISTERING SOME DEGREE THE STORM MANAGEMENT.

UM, HE PROCESSES ALL THE STORM MANAGEMENT PONDS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT HE ALSO PROVIDES US CONSULTING TO THE COUNTY FOR STORM MANAGEMENT ISSUES.

UM, WE HAVE TWO, UM, OBJECTIVES FOR TWO, UH, 2025 THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL.

AND UM, I KNOW OUR CHAIRMAN LEE MCD, HE WAS ABLE TO COME LAST YEAR, BUT THE WEATHER'S TOO GOOD FOR HIM TO BE HERE TODAY.

, HE'S OUT IN THE FIELD.

UM, BUT HE WANTED ME TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT OBVIOUSLY AS I MENTIONED, I ALMOST SHARED YOU THE ROOTS OF, UM, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

THE HEART OF IT IS WORKING WITH FARMERS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSE, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, UM, LEE WOULD HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO SEE THAT WE NEED TO START REACHING OUT, EVEN THOUGH WITH US INDIVIDUAL CAPABILITY, WE CAN'T TECHNICALLY WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH EVERY HOMEOWNER OR ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, RESIDENT.

BUT WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS WE ARE, WE'RE CREATING AN ONLINE WEBSITE OR WEB LIKE TOOL THAT WILL PROVIDE CONSERVATION PLANNING PRINCIPLES AND EDUCATION.

AND IT'S GONNA BE GEARED FOR SMALL FARM OR OPERATIONS AS WELL AS SMALL, UH, LANDOWNERS.

UM, ONE ACRE OR MORE.

BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR ANYONE FOR ANY ACRES REALLY, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA PROMOTE SOIL HEALTH, SOIL TESTING, AND THE SOIL TESTING EMPHASIS IS TRYING TO HELP CURB THE USAGE OVER USAGE OF FERTILIZER AND LIME.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE DRIVING FORCE BETWEEN THAT.

THAT'S REALLY OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH.

I THINK IF YOU IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO APPLY AS MUCH NUTRIENTS TO IT.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PAYER GONE.

AND HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL IS AWARE THAT ON, UH, JUNE 25TH, UH, WE PLANNED JOINTLY, UH, WITH THE HARTFORD COUNTY, UM, BUREAU OF, UM, OF FARM BUREAU AND, UH, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, EXTENSIVE SERVICE AS WELL AS ALSO KIMMY DOEN, I IF YOU GUYS KNOW HER, UH, SHE WORKS WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

UM, SHE IS HELPING US TOO.

AND WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING IT TOGETHER AN AG TOUR FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

AND OBVIOUSLY PRESIDENT VINCENT IS THE MAIN ONE.

HE WAS MY TARGET, UM, BECAUSE OF LAST YEAR HE ASKED, REQUESTED IT.

SO WE NEVER, WE DID NOT FORGET IT.

WE JUST HAD TO, HAD TO BE THE RIGHT TIMING I GUESS.

UM, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND WE HOPE YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO COME OUT.

I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN RE UM, REPLIES FOR MOST OF YOU, UH, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

UM, AND THAT'S GONNA BE JUNE 25TH.

IT IS GONNA BE BEGIN AT THE AG CENTER, WHICH IS IN STREET, MARYLAND, AND IT'LL BEGIN ABOUT EIGHT O'CLOCK ROUGHLY.

AND WE PLAN TO BE BACK AROUND 2, 2 30.

THAT'S ALL ESTIMATE.

AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT I HAVE.

SO QUENTIN, THAT'S JUNE 25TH.

JUNE 25TH.

AND I, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN ON ONE TO GO.

UM, IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE.

DID YOU, UM, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD ONE.

I THINK YOU'VE DONE SECOND.

IT WILL BE MY SECOND.

I THINK WE DID ONE IN LIKE 2017 OR 18.

THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME.

ARE YOU WELCOME? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, YEAH.

AFTER TWO DAYS OF BUDGET HEARINGS, WE FINALLY UNCOVERED THE DIRT IN THE BUDGET.

SO , UM, AS YOU'RE THINKING THROUGH YOUR WEBSITE, ARE YOU MOSTLY THINKING FOR LIKE PERSONAL LAWN CARE, LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR PROPERTIES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE SOIL IN OUR LAWNS? EXACTLY.

NOW THIS ONLINE TOOL IS GEARED TOWARD, THAT'S ONE OF THE PRINCIPLE THINGS THAT, UH, LEAD OUR CHAIRMAN WANTED TO TACKLE WAS LAWN CARE.

AND WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TO, UM, TO BASICALLY TO CURB THE USE OF OVERUSE OF FERTILIZER AND LIME.

AND OF COURSE ANYONE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS PUT A FERTILIZER ON, BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE EXTRA STEP TO DO IT CAREFULLY.

AND IT'S JUST LIKE GARDENING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANNA DO IT RIGHT, THIS, THE TIMING IS EVERYTHING AND HOW TO APPLY WHAT RATE TO APPLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO.

UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, JUST, AND SOMETHING I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT AND I'D LOVE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT, UH, AT SOME POINT IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT POLLEN COUNT, UM, WELL WE'RE GONNA PROMOTE POLLINATORS, BUT THAT, I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT SUBJECT, BUT, BUT YEAH, JUST THINKING ABOUT, BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO PERSONALLY THAT REDUCE THE POLLEN COUNT IN THE COMMUNITY JUST BY DIVERSIFYING WHAT'S IN OUR LAWN.

HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, THE STUFF ABOVE THE SOIL , I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.

UM, BUT, SO IF YOU

[04:55:01]

I MIGHT HAVE TO PULL IN ANDY FOR THAT ONE.

, THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, QUENTIN.