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we're
good you guys

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ready my
[Music]

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agend you'll see the

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indication all right well good afternoon
ladies and gentlemen I want to welcome a

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full house here to this Tuesday January
21st public meeting of the board of gar

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County Commissioners thank everybody in
here for braving the cold and coming to

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see us today and everyone who's tuning
in online if uh you would please stand

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with me for the Pledge of Allegiance and
then commissioner TI will lead us in the

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invocation I pledge allegiance to the
flag of the United States of America to

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the Republic for it stands one nation
under God indivisible liy and justice

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for all if you would bow with me for a
word of prayer please precious and

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loving Heavenly Father Lord we just come
together today thanking you for all that

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you do for us and Lord we thank you for
the new year that we look forward to and

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we ask for your guidance and direction
we also ask your guidance and Direction

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here in this meeting and everything we
say and do would be pleasing to you and

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Lord we asked all this in th precious
holy name amen amen please be seated

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Mr null any additions deletions
corrections to public meeting agenda uh

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yes sir we're going to add one and this
is for an update on uh Garett

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Transit having said that
uh can I get a motion to approve the

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agenda as amended so have a motion have
a second second motion a second the

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agenda is approved as amended

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uh next item uh is the minutes uh
everybody got a copy the minutes in

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advance of the meeting any additions
Corrections concerns the

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minutes hearing none do we have a motion
to approve the minutes have a motion we

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have a second second Motion in a second
minutes approved by Mutual

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consent uh first item uh it will be the
amended piece um to talk about Garrett

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Transit uh I don't know if uh anyone is
here for that particular reason or not

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uh got a lot of uh publicity in the last
couple of weeks and rightfully so uh

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bottom line was uh Garrett Transit was
facing Some Cuts to their budget uh from

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the federal government and uh looking
for some help provide services to people

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that depend on those services to stay
alive in some cases uh so we had a

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conversation with Chris and thanks for
coming tonight and uh talk about the

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issues uh and and the challenges and to
see where we might be able to assist and

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what we verbally agreed to do uh which
we will formalize in the meeting here

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and just a second uh is to help fill
that Gap on the cut uh for the rest of

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the fiscal year that's why you see a uh
a discrepancy between what we've pled to

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allocate and what the actual deficit is
the reason for that Community Action

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Works off the federal fiscal uh we work
off the state we know exactly what the

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shortfall is going to be for the rest of
our budget and then anything that we

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would want to do post that uh Community
Action can make in their budget request

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to us for the next fiscal year uh to
keep everything sort of moving correctly

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in the flow of the
budget um timing was of an issue for a

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couple of reasons that's why we did it
the way that we did it uh so that uh

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Community Action wouldn't see a change
in their delivery uh and how how things

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happened through Garrett Transit I think
it's important for people to understand

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uh Garrett County does not fund Garrett
Transit Service uh that's a a function

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of Community Action that's a a flow
through from I think mostly the feds is

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that
correct in the

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State uh so they're the ones that made
the cut not Garrett County we're the

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ones trying to step in and help um and
in that

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conversation
uh internally Garett transit's looking

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at some reform that they think will make
themselves more efficient and it might

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change that in number uh so what what is
currently a

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coming from carryover money from last
year's budget so we're not cutting

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anything else uh you know to to fund
that uh we're able just to pull from

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reserves to cover that cost
um which uh shouldn't cause a budget

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difficulty for anyone else as we move
forward so having said all of that uh

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what I need from the
commission is uh a motion to fund

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Garrett Transit through the FY 24 budget
um to cover their

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shortfall uh for our fiscal year which
would allocate

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$367,000 to maintain transport uh
transportation services through

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GTS I'll make the motion we have a
motion we have a second second motion

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and a second question or
motion all those in favor say I I

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opposed motion carries um Pres I don't
know if you have anything you want to

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add to that um sure

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sure first and foremost thank you to the
Commissioners uh for making that

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decision uh we at the community action
and GPS specifically are sleeping a lot

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better at night um knowing that we can
continue to provide services so thank

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you um and for those of you who came to
the public hearing several weeks ago um

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to kind of drive this conversation
forward thank you that was um you know

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it matters to the Commissioners it
matters to the whole process when people

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show up so you showed up and and that
really made a difference it made a

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difference to hear personal stories made
a difference to have our partners in the

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room um that was all wonderful um I do
want to introduce our new director Cody

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where yes hiding on the back row could
you stand please just I won't make you

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come up here but uh Cody croll is our
new director at GTS and uh so he will be

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um making some of those changes already
made changes he and I were in Annapolis

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together last week at the at the
transportation Association of Maryland's

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uh annual uh legislative um reception
and um met a lot of people talked to a

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lot of people he's got some great ideas
uh both for how to uh bring new

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resources uh and to change some things
internally that will really help our

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service so um thanks to him for for
taking a taking a a leap to come to to

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GTS and Community Action thanks to all
of you uh for making this happen we're

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we're really really U thrilled and I
think that by the end of this fiscal

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year uh we'll be in a much different
situation than we were at the beginning

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of the fisal year so thank you thank
you all right uh moving right along next

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item on our agenda we have a couple of
uh very important

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recognitions um first recognition we

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have is for Lou Bella uh for his service
on the Garrick County Emergency Services

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Board and I know Lou is here and Lou
I'll ask you to come forward

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please um we got Lou a plaque uh I'll
read it presented to Lou Bella

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recognizing Lou for 16 years of
dedicated service on the gar County

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Emergency Services Board to the citizens
of v and visitors of G County presented

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2025 by the Garett County Emergency
Management team Lou you've dedicated a

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lot of time to this County Emergency
Services uh greatly appreciated um I

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know you've benefited so many people and
uh just thank you for your service and

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uh best of luck to you thank

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and uh I know want some

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pictures L why you're coming up anything
you want to say I just want to say some

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of the people that I served with for
these many

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years I've I'm I'm not from here I'm
from Greensburg but I've been here for

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70 years I came here with my grandfather
back Pittsburgh area Greensburg and I've

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summered here and I uh I I brought my
family here and my son's back there uh

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and his sister and we've been living
here since uh 19 uh what was it

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1970
1978 uh you folks all see the blood

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hounds here in the springtime I'm
partially responsible for that so uh

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that's how I get involved I'm an
assistant chief at this uh Greensburg

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fire department but I can't tell you how
wonderful it is to have made so many

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great friends over my tenure with the
ESB and I was proud to serve that's

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thank

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[Applause]

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you and if I could I know there are
several members of the Emergency

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Services Board here if I could have you
guys come up and uh join in this

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picture yeah you should get the middle
all right we're going to unretire

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thank
[Applause]

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you 83 oh1
[Laughter]

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all right and uh the next recognition we
have is uh through our econ Economic

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Development Department and uh Connor I
ask you to come on

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up thank you so much Paul and
Commissioners ladies and gentlemen thank

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you so much for coming out my name is
Conor Norman I'm your business

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development specialist with Garrett
County Business Development and it's one

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of my distinct Pleasures to do our
Milestone program our Milestone program

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is capturing our businesses and their
big deal moments celebrating and r in

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behind them for their contributions to
our community whether it be length of

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service or their big deal moments if
it's a big deal to them it's a big deal

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to us today I'm excited to talk about a
great institution that has served long

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in our communities but today we're
specifically narrowing down their

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Grantsville Branch it is my pleasure to
say that today we are celebrating 10

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years of a huge mil stone for Mount
Laurel Medical Center in their

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Grantsville office ladies and gentlemen
whoever is representing Laur please come

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up here guys we would love to present
you with a proclamation I'm going to

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turn it over to Mr Paul Edwards who will
read it

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now come on up

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guys so this one actually is uh pretty
special to

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me uh Mount Laurel Medical Center has
become an excellent business in Garrett

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County my uncle uh a long time ago was
one of the founders of Mountain Laurel

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Medical Center Center Dr Donald RoR some
of you guys probably remember him um and

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I was mayor of Grantsville when uh my
Council and I approached Mount Laurel

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Medical uh about a possible expansion to
Grantville I think it was their first

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expansion and uh they they were very
intrigued by that and we were able to

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make it happen it's hard to believe that
was 10 years ago now and uh so

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successful in fact that they've outgrown
their current facility and are I guess

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current moving into a new one uh in
progress in progress so it it is a great

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honor uh to prevent present this
Commendation on January 21st 2025 to

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Mount Laurel Medical Center on their
10th anniversary in Grantville we the

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board of County commissioners of Garett
County Maryland along with the proud

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residents of Garett County are delighted
to extend our heartfelt congratulations

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to Mount Laural Medical Center on its
10th anniversary at Grantville location

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since its expansion in 2014 Mount Laurel
Medical Center has served the res

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resents of Grantville and surrounding
communities with exceptional care and

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dedication it has established a
reputation for delivering top quality

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care and professionalism embodying the
principles of responsible and

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compassionate care that the overall
organization has made its business to

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achieve congratulations to Mount Laurel
Medical Center not only on this

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Milestone but also on the exemplary work
the past 10 years May these years of

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accomplishment serve as a foundation for
continued success and inspiration in the

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years to come some by myself
commissioner Savage and commissioner

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titel Brian congratulations to all you
guys and looking forward to many more

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thank you guys appreciate

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[Applause]

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it just real quick just want to thank
everybody for the support of Matt Laurel

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it's it's because of you guys that we've
been able to grow um the support of the

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team that we have up here quite a
cross-section up here we got providers

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nurses Mas we got everybody up here
today to demonstrate the level of

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service that we do and the uh commitment
that we have to the community is there

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and wanted to thank everybody for that
continued growth and Chris for giving us

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a new building so we can expand so thank
you guys appreciate it it's our

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privilege thank you

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[Applause]

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guys we're good yeah I think so all
right

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[Applause]

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all right the next uh item on the agenda
we have a couple of uh bid Awards uh

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through the purchasing division Mr null
what do you have for us yes sir we have

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uh two bid awards today the first one is
for proposal

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24129 at the design build service for
the Kaiser's Ridge Business Park SPEC

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Building we received two proposals dayar
builders in the amount of $

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4,817 th000 and Carl belt Incorporated
in the amount of 5,

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9625 um based on a overall evaluation of
the proposals the recommendation is to

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award the bid to dayar builders for $
4,817 th000 and this project is within

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our budget all right uh we'll take these
as a slate but uh before we go to the

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next one any questions from Mr n in the
SPEC Building in K's

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Ridge all right the second one is Bid
number

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24131 McKenry Lions Club uh Pavilion
project there was five bids received MSY

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horn Construction in the amount of

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$62,500
dayar builders in the amount of76

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,400 FL will Excavating and Paving in
the amount of

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$15,600

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$473 in Deep Creek Ready Mix uh for the
concrete only was

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$1,871
120 this project is funded by uh program

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Open Space uh and so due to the
available funding we had uh we're

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recommending
um warding the bid to Mossy horn

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Construction in the amount of $

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62,5 now this will just be for the
actual construction of the Pavilion

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there and not the concrete uh slab and
we'll try to get additional funding uh

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for that at a later
time questions on

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that okay hearing none uh I'll entertain
a

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00:18:27,360 --> 00:18:33,600
motion uh to accept the purchasing
Department's

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recommendations uh for the design build
at Kaiser's Ridge today star Builders

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and for the McKenry lons Club Pavilion
project to Mossy horn construction I'll

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make a motion to accept all right we
have a motion we have a second second

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00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:52,159
motion and second question motion all
those in favor say I I opposed motion

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carries thank you
sir um next item uh on the agenda

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actually very exciting
uh I thank for all of us um Garr County

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Department of Community Development uh
Steve you want to say anything or you

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00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:17,400
just want me to Rattle off the
resolution I'll say something real quick

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just U here first of all thank you all
uh Commissioners for for allowing us to

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have the tools we need in our department
uh Kim and Conor and myself uh and along

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with our a development blissa bolar
we're we got some big news coming up and

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Kevin's asked me to share next month
more details but I will just say today

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it looks like we're going to have three
uh resolutions to sell properties and in

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00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:45,880
the days to come you all will hopefully
get to see some public announcements

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that are going to Le to some good
developments and new jobs so uh thank

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you all for all you do thank you public
for allowing us to work for you and if

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uh there anything you need feel free to
contact any anyone of our staff here in

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economic and Community Development
all right

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00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:10,080
thank so
uh again uh I think we can take all of

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00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:16,039
these as a slate uh as we go through
these but I I do want to make uh a

218
00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:22,880
statement um for those in attendance and
and those online and and anyone that

219
00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:28,360
hopefully reads the paper this week um
2025 is going to be an excellent year

220
00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:33,240
for gar count uh this is the beginning
of that there there's three I think

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relatively major announcements to be
made today at least in the property

222
00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:45,280
sales the the true impact of that and
and what job uh growth that will create

223
00:20:42,919 --> 00:20:52,320
and what specific companies go with this
will be announcements for another day uh

224
00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:58,120
but last meeting we had here uh we
announced the an agreement uh on the

225
00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:03,600
Medco building in McKenry industrial
park with with a company called canab

226
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:12,159
Barons uh canab Barons looks like it's
going to make a significant impact uh in

227
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:21,480
employment in the McKenry area um in in
the uh medicinal and uh retail cannabis

228
00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:29,520
space uh that could bring uh significant
income and and good paying jobs to

229
00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:33,159
Garrett County um these three companies
uh two are in the southern end and one

230
00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:36,240
is at kaers Ridge industrial park we
just made the announcement we're going

231
00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:41,279
to build a shell building in the
industrial park just approv that funding

232
00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:45,880
just a second ago we've had uh several
conversations with interested parties in

233
00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:51,600
that particular building already before
it's even been built uh so that is

234
00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:56,120
exciting Kaiser's Ridge has spun its
wheels for a long time because the

235
00:21:53,440 --> 00:22:01,200
infrastructure was not in place to be
able to build it out we've spent a lot

236
00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:08,679
of time and a lot of energy and grant
money in getting that Park in a position

237
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to move and uh today we're going to
approve uh the sale of some property

238
00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:26,679
uh that will be a big announcement
coming on that in in addition to uh the

239
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SPEC Building there's also uh I think
currently on on top of the job potential

240
00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:40,880
uh job availability and economic growth
to these businesses and the ones

241
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:48,720
previously mentioned we all know that
affordable housing attainable housing is

242
00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:54,760
a big deal um there are currently two
three housing projects in Q one of which

243
00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:59,520
we are involved with we've talked about
a lot very familiar with it the grvi

244
00:22:57,159 --> 00:23:05,080
obtainable housing project there's also
a proposed project in accident uh and a

245
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:11,679
second project going on in Grantville
that's geared more towards seniors uh

246
00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:17,240
we're looking at a potential project uh
Our Hope in phase two of our attainable

247
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:24,480
housing program is to look at in McKenry
and then also here in Oakland so there

248
00:23:20,679 --> 00:23:29,000
are uh projects moving different phases
of

249
00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:32,720
Readiness uh to to
put housing availability in to hopefully

250
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:37,320
fill these jobs these companies are
going to bring in and when we're looking

251
00:23:34,799 --> 00:23:42,640
at these announcements today coupled
with the announcements previously we're

252
00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:48,520
looking at hundreds of new jobs not five
or six these would be

253
00:23:44,679 --> 00:23:52,720
hundreds uh at the end of the day uh
again not just these three comprehensive

254
00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:58,640
of these three can of Barons and some
other ones that we're cautiously

255
00:23:55,919 --> 00:24:04,600
optimistic are going to happen if Ed
wants to keep his job

256
00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:09,640
um so uh you know Mountain Laurel's
expanding in in

257
00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:15,120
Grantsville uh that that's big news uh
there's some other announcements uh

258
00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:20,120
going on up here uh on the southern end
as well and some some different things

259
00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:23,960
still going on in the McKenry area so I
think 2025 is going to be I know we're

260
00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:29,640
all the three of us are very excited
about it um and I I'm just you know

261
00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:35,919
we've waited a long time to make some
really positive announcements and this

262
00:24:32,679 --> 00:24:43,200
is the start of hopefully many so with
that drama to introduce all of that um

263
00:24:39,559 --> 00:24:43,200
we have resolution

264
00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:46,240
2025-the

265
00:24:54,399 --> 00:24:59,919
incorporate and a political subdivision
the state of Maryland authorizing the

266
00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:06,000
sale of real property known and
identified as a portion of the kaer

267
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:06,000
ridge Business Park containing

268
00:25:23,070 --> 00:25:26,180
[Music]

269
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,320
15.27%

270
00:25:31,039 --> 00:25:41,120
$335,000 and are there any questions
about that per acre yes thank

271
00:25:37,039 --> 00:25:47,039
you per acre $35,000 per
acre

272
00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:53,120
and well we'll we'll uh yeah thanks for
clarifying that $35,000 per acre are

273
00:25:50,840 --> 00:26:00,880
there any
questions the second

274
00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:05,559
one uh resolution 2025 -2 uh is for
Sunrise

275
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:08,440
uh sanitation a resolution of the board
of County commissioners of Garrett

276
00:26:06,919 --> 00:26:12,000
County Maryland a body politic and
corporate political subdivision the

277
00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:16,080
state of Maryland authorizing the sale
real property known as Lot number nine

278
00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:21,559
of Southern Garrett Business Park
consisting of 4.2 Acres more or less

279
00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:26,200
situated in election District number 16
Garrett County Maryland to Sunrise

280
00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:29,200
Sanitation Services Incorporated a West
Virginia Corporation authorized to

281
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:34,520
conduct business in the state of
Maryland for the sum of

282
00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:38,919
$63,000 no and authorizing the county to
enter into a contract of sale and right

283
00:26:36,399 --> 00:26:45,760
of Entry agreement with Sunrise with
respect to the sale of real

284
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:51,919
property uh this will be the last lot in
Southern Industrial

285
00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:56,760
uh and te technolog Business and techn
Technology Park I'm struggling today

286
00:26:54,120 --> 00:27:03,960
sorry um so this will be the last lot
there that Park will be full once this

287
00:26:59,799 --> 00:27:10,240
project is completed any questions on
that and finally if I can stutter

288
00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:15,279
through this resolution number
25-3 um a resolution of the board of

289
00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:18,960
County commissioners of gar County
Maryland ody politic and corporate and

290
00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:22,600
political subdivision of the state of
Maryland authorizing the sale real

291
00:27:20,679 --> 00:27:25,840
property consisting of two acres more or
less situated in the south side of

292
00:27:24,159 --> 00:27:31,559
Francis Sanders Drive in election
District number 16 gar County May to

293
00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:37,120
chips Properties LLC a Maryland limited
liability company having a principal

294
00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:42,720
place of business in gar County chips
for the sum of $115,000 and no C per

295
00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:46,559
acre and authorizing the county to enter
into a contract of sale and the rate of

296
00:27:44,399 --> 00:27:51,399
Entry agreement with chips with respect
to the sale of real property any

297
00:27:49,679 --> 00:27:57,519
questions on
that hearing none I will entertain a

298
00:27:54,039 --> 00:28:03,760
motion to approve as a slate resolution
number 20 25-1 for sale of property to

299
00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:09,320
suncap Property Group LLC neazer Ridge
Industrial Park resolution 2025 D2 sale

300
00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:13,799
of property to Sunrise Sanitation
Services Incorporated in the southern

301
00:28:11,559 --> 00:28:20,480
Garrett Business and Technology Park and
resolution 20253 sell property to chips

302
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:28,440
Properties LLC property we own on
Francis Sanders Drive um do we have a

303
00:28:24,679 --> 00:28:32,480
motion make a motion that we accept sale
of all these all right we have a motion

304
00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:39,760
we have a second second a motion and
second question or motion all those in

305
00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:46,640
favor say I I opposed motion carries and
again exciting day for Garrett County

306
00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,640
today

307
00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:08,159
so that concludes the business portion
of our meeting uh before we go to public

308
00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:14,360
comment questions just one announcement
our next uh meeting will be Monday

309
00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:19,960
February 3rd 4:00 here at the court
housee so with that uh now is the time

310
00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:25,720
in our meeting for public comment and
questions does anybody have any

311
00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:31,320
questions or comments yes Mr
Shin yeah I think um it was a great

312
00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:36,919
thing that the uh commission did to uh
continue GPS service I was at the

313
00:29:33,919 --> 00:29:44,440
hearing and heard how much of a hardship
on that was for people to lose

314
00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:50,240
transportation to out of County um we
know transportation is only one of the

315
00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:56,440
problems facing Working Families that's
my opinion Tom do just address a couple

316
00:29:53,320 --> 00:30:02,000
things one is this is not a political
issue legal issue because it affects all

317
00:29:59,039 --> 00:30:07,360
voters so was the one man from the vot
right the second thing is that this

318
00:30:04,279 --> 00:30:11,519
particular proposition um was taken up
by

319
00:30:09,399 --> 00:30:16,120
um
representative

320
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:25,000
EXC St Mary
County and in 19 or 2018 he got it as

321
00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:29,720
far as the third reader in the pass but
it never made it

322
00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:34,840
to Second did it he never got past first
reader I don't know what happened and I

323
00:30:32,679 --> 00:30:39,360
tried to catch up with it to find out
the reason we were contact is not to

324
00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:44,159
change us but to show the situation that
existed in the state and it's all in

325
00:30:41,519 --> 00:30:47,919
rural counties it's not older City it
doesn't affect any of that we're the

326
00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:53,720
only
ones being that it's a legal issue okay

327
00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:59,799
you have an oblation to make sure that
all the voters are represented and have

328
00:30:55,720 --> 00:31:03,760
an equal right to vote from district one
district and you those people that

329
00:31:02,159 --> 00:31:07,200
should be able to depend on that so
where their votes going to be down

330
00:31:05,279 --> 00:31:12,000
because this is the person I know best
who know the most about their particular

331
00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:16,760
area and you have to agree three is
different than two and different than

332
00:31:13,799 --> 00:31:24,519
one in terms of the makeup of of the
individual District most of those are

333
00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:29,799
agricultural three is a mix a very bigx
so to that extent you're not properly

334
00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:35,799
representing people to be represented by
the vote you're you're minimizing their

335
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:41,120
vote by forcing them to run candidates
to run for the three districts if oneid

336
00:31:38,799 --> 00:31:44,559
has to run he should run for the
district that he's in he doesn't have to

337
00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:49,679
drive all the way to
F he gets his V right here Oakland he

338
00:31:47,919 --> 00:31:55,559
doesn't have to drive all the way from
Swan up to Grand school to get he just

339
00:31:53,200 --> 00:32:03,799
concentrates in Swan so what we're doing
is we're putting an undo pressure and

340
00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:09,200
and requirements on candidates which is
not necessary

341
00:32:06,399 --> 00:32:15,399
particularly 1890s one the first change
occur with regard

342
00:32:10,919 --> 00:32:19,840
TOS okay in the 1940s that this
particular concept was introduced and it

343
00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:23,799
got swallowed up on the and a whole
bunch of other stuff but it's been

344
00:32:21,399 --> 00:32:23,799
correct

345
00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:33,480
right do you have a copy of the the
document you're referencing sure if you

346
00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:37,279
can get me a copy of that I would be
interested in that you're talking about

347
00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:42,639
yeah
okay but this has been this has been

348
00:32:39,799 --> 00:32:47,000
continued since then and it's been
brought up several times in the

349
00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:51,399
legislature I don't know why but it's
probably traditional problem that we run

350
00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:58,080
into being a rural to that they don't
pay much attention to us because we're

351
00:32:53,200 --> 00:33:02,480
not vable we're not we're just
in a lot of other legislation too but I

352
00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:07,600
think it's particularly
important you may have a green candidate

353
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:11,480
who might attract a lot of people the
way based on way this thing set up they

354
00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:15,679
swallowed
up so we're not

355
00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:24,639
getting well I think I I I would
respectfully disagree with that I

356
00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:29,799
understand your point of view I disagree
with it I think that's a philosophical

357
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:33,960
discussion leg discussion well the legal
discussion is are we doing it the way

358
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:37,559
the charter was written to do it what
you're arguing as a philosophical

359
00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:41,919
discussion of whether the way we're
doing it is correct based on the way

360
00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:46,880
that you you view one man one vote one
person one vote uh everybody has the

361
00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:52,039
ability to vote and their vote counts
exactly the same as everybody else's uh

362
00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:56,480
that's a that's an undeniable fact I do
want to correct one thing that you said

363
00:33:54,360 --> 00:34:01,840
in the congressional district you do not
have to live in the congression District

364
00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:07,480
that you represent just to clarify our
last couple of Representatives have not

365
00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:13,480
lived in district 6 uh yet the and the
Constitution allows that not that they

366
00:34:09,119 --> 00:34:17,119
did anything incorrect but in in uh the
United States you do not have to live in

367
00:34:15,359 --> 00:34:21,800
the district you have to declare the
district you're running for but you do

368
00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:27,200
not have to reside within that District
um I disagree with that I think that's a

369
00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:31,159
terrible idea but that you know it is
what it is and that's not going to

370
00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:36,720
change probably but I understand what
you're saying I think you're raising the

371
00:34:33,879 --> 00:34:40,800
concern that the delegate from St Mary's
raised when he put the bill in I can

372
00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:46,679
tell you there a lot of people in St
Mary's County that did not like that uh

373
00:34:44,119 --> 00:34:52,560
and fought against it
um I'm I'll repeat myself and I

374
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:55,919
apologize I'm ad adamantly opposed to
someone from St Mary's County telling

375
00:34:54,320 --> 00:35:02,560
Garrett County and how they have to run
their elections period

376
00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:06,160
um again it was set up in my opinion
it's run the way it was intended or it

377
00:35:04,359 --> 00:35:10,400
would have been changed if we were doing
it wrong we wouldn't have been included

378
00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:13,240
in that bill because they would have
just said you're not interpreting your

379
00:35:12,079 --> 00:35:18,400
Charter
correctly um I don't believe that to be

380
00:35:16,079 --> 00:35:25,480
the case I think the way we do it is
beneficial for our County because I

381
00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:30,240
think it for the reasons we've already
uh laid out but I'm open having a

382
00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:34,760
conversation with you I understand where
you're coming from but I disagree

383
00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:39,680
philosophical philosophically with the
point you're trying to assert that

384
00:35:37,839 --> 00:35:44,480
people's votes are counted differently
or somehow don't matter as much I just

385
00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:51,359
disagree with that only General the
primary is run according to law but we

386
00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:57,760
do the general election in the primary
or the same in regard to how it's

387
00:35:54,240 --> 00:36:02,319
conducted when you run in the primary in
District 2 you're running against

388
00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:06,720
everyone else from District 2 but the
whole County's voting on you that's

389
00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:10,280
problem that's what's wrong but that's
what's going on in the general election

390
00:36:08,319 --> 00:36:14,119
the same the only difference in the
general election is now you're adding

391
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:14,119
different

392
00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:20,359
parties okay or or I'm I'm
misunderstanding what you're saying or

393
00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:24,800
or something we and I'll be more than
happy to have that

394
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:28,440
conversation Mike I'm glad to hear that
you're um interested or willing to have

395
00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:32,079
a conversation a lot of people are
concerned about the state of democracy I

396
00:36:30,119 --> 00:36:36,119
wish I was as optimistic as you are
about asking the legislature to do

397
00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:40,040
something and having come out to be what
I wanted them to do I don't know that's

398
00:36:38,319 --> 00:36:44,800
always the case because it goes through
some sort of a process that everybody

399
00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:52,200
has some sort of an
issue so I think there is more to

400
00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:56,040
discuss the request before 1970 we were
at large there's there's 12 counties

401
00:36:54,880 --> 00:37:00,079
that have a commission form of
government six of them are at large

402
00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:05,280
where they don't have commissioner
districts the other six are districts

403
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:10,960
five of those the Commissioners are
elected from the people in the district

404
00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:14,599
ours is the only hybrid model where we
have the district but then elected at

405
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:19,119
large so there's a lot of issues and it
is a philosophical discussion and I'm

406
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:22,960
glad that you are open to having that
discussion maybe we can talk about how

407
00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:32,839
to have that happen but I'd like to get
back to the um proposal for um a

408
00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:38,200
increased um transfer tax and possibly a
accommodation tax um the Department of

409
00:37:37,079 --> 00:37:43,560
Economic
Development um most recent Economic

410
00:37:41,280 --> 00:37:50,040
Development strategy had I think five
key elements or pillars three of those

411
00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:54,599
had to do with uh affordable housing
You' laid out a lot of economic um

412
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:59,599
development that's going to be taking
place in g county over the next few

413
00:37:56,520 --> 00:38:05,079
years and I think to benefit the county
we need those people to live here so

414
00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:11,880
they go to school they pay taxes here so
one question would be is the initiatives

415
00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:15,560
on housing going to be coming online
fast enough to meet the needs of these

416
00:38:14,079 --> 00:38:21,280
businesses that are coming on how is
that but we know that the state's going

417
00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:26,440
to be cutting money we know the federal
government's going to be cutting money

418
00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:32,000
that affects in so um you guys want to
do something afford housing we've taken

419
00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:37,640
a step already but we're going to need
some more money and um you have to talk

420
00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:41,480
about where it's going to come from and
maybe you guys have some thoughts of

421
00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:47,839
where it should come from uh we know for
example that the property tax um is the

422
00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:52,280
main source of Revenue in the county and
we also know that in the 11 10 years you

423
00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:56,200
guys have been here the property tax
revenue has been growing faster than the

424
00:38:54,160 --> 00:39:01,599
budget as a whole so a share of the
budget has been been

425
00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:05,400
increasing and part of that is because
you want non-residents to pay the tax

426
00:39:03,599 --> 00:39:11,200
just like the state wants counties to
pay the taxes revenues so you can't all

427
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:17,839
taxes are bad so relying on something
too much um emphasizes the bad aspects

428
00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:23,920
and um you need to look at ways to
diversify those tax revenues um income

429
00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:28,079
taxes one of the local taxes that we
have in Garrett County Most states don't

430
00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:34,520
have that local income tax
we have the third or fourth highest

431
00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:38,200
property tax rate in the state and at
least four years I don't know if it's

432
00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:43,040
the whole 10 years you've been here at
the um at the um prostate yeld tax

433
00:39:41,079 --> 00:39:49,960
hearings you guys keep the same rate
even though assessments can go up like

434
00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:55,680
100% that they did two years ago um
so property tax relief mechanism really

435
00:39:53,200 --> 00:40:01,720
favors people with the most expensive
houses that are growing the fast

436
00:39:58,200 --> 00:40:06,400
so I I don't think I think if you're if
you're relying on that I think I would

437
00:40:04,720 --> 00:40:13,000
suggest to take a second look at it the
other taxes the income tax um I think we

438
00:40:09,960 --> 00:40:17,160
have the second lowest income tax rate
both of the tax relief mechanism sort of

439
00:40:15,119 --> 00:40:24,400
favor higher income people in more
expensive houses um and this would be a

440
00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:28,920
way to diversify the tax um Revenue so
you're relying on on a source that's

441
00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:31,880
really paid by some of the wealthier
people in the county if you're buying a

442
00:40:30,319 --> 00:40:36,160
house for a million or milli half
dollars I think it's a constant yield

443
00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:40,319
here I I presentent of numbers and said
if you have one of the lower valued

444
00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:45,079
homes in the county that's growing less
rapidly you're probably paying more than

445
00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:49,800
your fair share maybe I could ask Nott
weeks to ask for some data from

446
00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:53,520
Department of assessment and Taxation St
it's pretty easy so I think that you

447
00:40:52,480 --> 00:41:00,480
have to
really seriously consider divers your

448
00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:05,079
Revenue sources as you go after you're
trying to wrestle with this need for

449
00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:10,480
affordable housing so you can re realize
the full benefits doesn't really benefit

450
00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:15,440
the county much if the if a business is
here and everybody lives in Pennsylvania

451
00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:19,839
or Morgantown or someplace so I think
that it's you really have to take a hard

452
00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:26,680
look at how to diversify the revenues
this seems one one way that is going to

453
00:41:22,720 --> 00:41:29,960
raise a substantial revenue and have uh
people

454
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:35,000
that are currently benefiting from the
property tax system and the income tax

455
00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:37,160
system um pay a higher share than
they're

456
00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:49,560
not I think we're having one right now
um you know you brought it up in a

457
00:41:47,839 --> 00:41:56,000
public meeting we're having a a
conversation about it um you know Mike

458
00:41:53,040 --> 00:42:01,760
came to our uh administrative session
today and we he he brought up the the

459
00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:06,480
topic of having Community meetings and
my comment to Mike was if we have a

460
00:42:04,280 --> 00:42:09,839
community meeting on every single issue
that comes before us we'll never make

461
00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:16,400
any decisions because all we have is
community meetings we meet twice a month

462
00:42:13,920 --> 00:42:20,400
this is a very appropriate conversation
to have in the public meeting I'm glad

463
00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:25,599
Lyn brought it up if people have
opinions on it share it um we meet again

464
00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:30,720
on February the
3D uh

465
00:42:27,720 --> 00:42:36,839
well in In fairness I mean I did raise
that and um you pointed out that in

466
00:42:34,760 --> 00:42:42,440
order for that to work it's got to be a
two-way street um people need to come in

467
00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:47,040
and express their concerns and I think
Chris Illustrated how that can change

468
00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:50,359
the outcome of things because you guys
weren't aware of this you were made

469
00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:55,880
aware of it because of the meetings he
had so it is a give and take so maybe um

470
00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:59,520
we put a couple of things on the table
maybe you three can just share your view

471
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:03,200
your your initial reaction I know you
haven't studied it there hasn't been a

472
00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:07,599
study there's been a study of how much
there's been surveys that have been

473
00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:11,599
signed by people at the fair everybody
wants to do the county development

474
00:43:10,079 --> 00:43:15,920
Economic Development says we have to do
affordable housing here's a here's an

475
00:43:13,599 --> 00:43:20,319
idea we've told you why we think it's
important maybe you guys can respond now

476
00:43:18,559 --> 00:43:24,960
in this public form if that's what this
is public forms two-way uh maybe you can

477
00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:29,720
respond and give some of your initial
thoughts or concerns or questions I mean

478
00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:33,880
that's how a dialogue happens so yes you
have another meeting but these people

479
00:43:31,319 --> 00:43:38,040
are here we put things on the table can
we get some

480
00:43:36,079 --> 00:43:44,559
reaction from you
guys I'll U you know as far as the

481
00:43:42,079 --> 00:43:52,480
Accommodations
Tax I I don't mind doing that at

482
00:43:47,839 --> 00:43:58,760
all but on the other hand I gota I got
to think does that discourage some of

483
00:43:56,079 --> 00:44:03,200
those people that are buying houses here
from buying a house here or selling a

484
00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:10,319
house here I don't
know um it's a discussion that you know

485
00:44:07,079 --> 00:44:16,559
we probably need to to talk about and I
think I don't know if Scott can

486
00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:21,160
pull anything
U that would give us an idea of what

487
00:44:19,160 --> 00:44:24,160
that might do I don't
know

488
00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:33,400
um everybody here probably knows
that the lake people bring in a lot of

489
00:44:31,079 --> 00:44:38,280
money to this County that we really
need so I would I would not want to do

490
00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:44,960
something to
discourage buying houses at the lake

491
00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:48,520
whether they're 500,000 or a million and
a

492
00:44:45,839 --> 00:44:53,359
half
um can they afford it yeah they can

493
00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:58,839
afford it I'm sure they can or they
wouldn't be buying those type houses so

494
00:44:55,880 --> 00:45:05,760
that's that's the argument that you know
needs to be to be made and taken into

495
00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:13,079
consideration what what impact do that
have um what what impact could it have

496
00:45:09,839 --> 00:45:17,400
and I'm not against um you know doing
something like that if I felt that the

497
00:45:15,559 --> 00:45:23,359
impact would be to the benefit of the
whole County well the letter was sent in

498
00:45:20,119 --> 00:45:28,920
the letter was sent in November and you
the email was sent to the Annapolis

499
00:45:25,640 --> 00:45:33,839
delegation and to each of you so we've
had time to think about this but now but

500
00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:39,800
now we're up against it because February
7th is the day for introducing the last

501
00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,800
day to introduce

502
00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:51,559
legislation yes sir yeah I'm sham as
well i' just like to uh talk about the

503
00:45:46,720 --> 00:45:57,040
impact thing I don't you know I don't
have one of those million doll houses

504
00:45:54,240 --> 00:46:02,000
whatever that is but I my wife and I
course of our 40 years of marriage I

505
00:45:59,079 --> 00:46:09,040
bought and sold the houses and most of
the time we get to the table and there's

506
00:46:06,079 --> 00:46:14,559
a stack of papers this te and go through
ins sign and you're amazed off and on

507
00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:14,559
money that's going different

508
00:46:20,559 --> 00:46:27,920
places we've already made our choices
we're already invested we've already

509
00:46:25,480 --> 00:46:34,280
decided live place that we're we're
buying at the settlement table we know

510
00:46:31,839 --> 00:46:40,119
that that's the choice we've made and
all the all the different hands that are

511
00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:47,319
in the for that
money we just kind of consider part of

512
00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:58,400
if you say a million doll house is
currently paying $60,000 in trans that's

513
00:46:51,800 --> 00:47:05,599
6% if you say 7% now that means 0,000
moreon for most of us $10,000 not

514
00:47:01,720 --> 00:47:10,000
CH but for people in that category not
even going to Flinch it's not even it's

515
00:47:08,119 --> 00:47:16,640
not even thing I have no idea what the
legitimate argument is against people

516
00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:16,640
who are like not even going to notice

517
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:24,880
that how how they are going to how this
scare people away no one in the world is

518
00:47:22,839 --> 00:47:30,440
saying this looks like a nice spot but
boy you know that transfer tax

519
00:47:27,559 --> 00:47:36,480
say and so the question is what are we
afraid of what we what what will I'm not

520
00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:42,240
fing I'd like to I'd like to have
somebody show me something that shows

521
00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:51,240
adverse impact of an increased transfer
tax on real estate I don't think there

522
00:47:45,440 --> 00:47:57,119
such number and like h on somebody prove
that that's going to be impact it's not

523
00:47:53,760 --> 00:48:03,359
just your own gut tells you right same
thing with the with a modest additional

524
00:48:00,160 --> 00:48:10,880
modest tax on on the rental people have
decid to

525
00:48:05,559 --> 00:48:13,359
get unbelievably $10,000 a week you know
rental

526
00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:26,599
property and once again they like and
say okay and that's it I don't think

527
00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:26,599
they're going to decide again BAS

528
00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:41,040
thing is if you're going to have
to across

529
00:48:34,200 --> 00:48:45,079
theard working people feel that a more
people Frank before I I saw you have

530
00:48:43,559 --> 00:48:48,040
your hand up before I come to Frank I
don't know commissioner Savage you have

531
00:48:46,599 --> 00:48:54,720
anything you want to weigh in on that
and then I I will in a minute but Frank

532
00:48:50,920 --> 00:48:59,960
what um yeah well I'm in agreement with
the concept of evaluating how generate

533
00:48:57,720 --> 00:49:04,319
Revenue to help achieve the goal that we
all agree is important of approving the

534
00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:09,680
availability and
affordability for the workforce so now

535
00:49:07,319 --> 00:49:14,720
it's a question of where does the money
come from and who pay and is it fair and

536
00:49:12,400 --> 00:49:20,359
Equitable and will it also make a
difference that requires some study some

537
00:49:17,839 --> 00:49:25,839
analysis Mike has shared with me some of
the work that he has done and it's a

538
00:49:22,559 --> 00:49:30,480
pretty compelling argument that money
can be raed without having a negative

539
00:49:28,079 --> 00:49:36,799
effect on where it's coming from people
like to pay taxes no do they like to see

540
00:49:32,839 --> 00:49:41,799
the taxes go up no but in the overall if
we could structure or even present a

541
00:49:39,280 --> 00:49:47,640
picture of the benefits to the community
including the wealthy lake property

542
00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:51,720
owner and the wealthy second home owner
by

543
00:49:49,079 --> 00:49:57,640
increased employment by increased
property taxes on new businesses by

544
00:49:54,440 --> 00:50:04,240
increased income taxes of new
an economic case can be made this is a

545
00:50:00,359 --> 00:50:08,720
good business decision we have not to my
observation taken a hard analysis look

546
00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:13,960
at this
we again I'm going for what I reading

547
00:50:11,240 --> 00:50:20,240
the papers in the street but the initial
proposals were shot down by folks with

548
00:50:16,920 --> 00:50:25,240
vested interest in real estate in
Hospitality uh and in the property

549
00:50:23,240 --> 00:50:31,359
ownership sure they don't like paying
the taxes but the fact is is we're going

550
00:50:27,880 --> 00:50:35,319
to meet our needs we took tonight we
know the state's going to be cutting

551
00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:40,119
significant amounts out of the budget we
feel that there's going to be some

552
00:50:36,640 --> 00:50:44,960
federal impact how deep how far but some
of the discussion is moving federal

553
00:50:42,200 --> 00:50:50,160
workers out of the state to other states
well if that happens the net result is

554
00:50:47,359 --> 00:50:55,720
we have less income coming to the state
and less people that might be interested

555
00:50:51,960 --> 00:51:03,079
in in taking a vacation so we should
make it attrative to grow here in a way

556
00:50:59,520 --> 00:51:07,839
that has the longterm and continual
benefit residents people sending their

557
00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:13,079
kids to school people shopping buying
cars buying motorcycles

558
00:51:10,559 --> 00:51:18,680
whatever I I think it's a no brand to at
least put some hard an having my

559
00:51:16,400 --> 00:51:23,280
association with Scott over the years he
is more than capable of helping us

560
00:51:21,040 --> 00:51:28,920
figure this out and coming up with a
cent argument that is emotionally

561
00:51:25,920 --> 00:51:34,280
satisfying financially satisfied and
that people of all income beings and you

562
00:51:31,920 --> 00:51:39,000
know positions in life can understand
and

563
00:51:35,680 --> 00:51:44,079
better that's my
lame question

564
00:51:41,599 --> 00:51:49,359
comment everything I wanted to say all
right good good job yes sir I just like

565
00:51:47,160 --> 00:51:54,760
to add that I mean we do it we we have
time pressure every year and if we don't

566
00:51:52,520 --> 00:52:01,280
deal with this now then it's kicked down
the road another year but nothing ever

567
00:51:57,240 --> 00:52:06,440
gets set in stone so if we raise
transfer taxes and accommodation taxes

568
00:52:03,960 --> 00:52:12,760
and we find out the people start
vacationing and buying their homes in

569
00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:17,480
Silver Lake in lake Taho somewhere other
than here there's nothing stopping us

570
00:52:14,920 --> 00:52:22,280
from changing course and admitting that
we got to ratchet that back down to get

571
00:52:20,359 --> 00:52:26,880
the people that want to be interested
our community interested again I I'd be

572
00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:31,799
very surprised if that was the result
why not give it a

573
00:52:28,680 --> 00:52:37,839
try Mike yeah I'd like to go back to
something that Sheamus and ly talked

574
00:52:34,680 --> 00:52:42,359
about um you keep the property tax high
it's increasing as a share of the budget

575
00:52:40,440 --> 00:52:46,040
it's growing faster than total spending
of the budget and um you keep the rate

576
00:52:45,319 --> 00:52:52,119
the
same if you reduce that when you have a

577
00:52:49,040 --> 00:52:57,400
constant yield hearing that benefits
everybody so that it benefits the lower

578
00:52:55,799 --> 00:53:02,119
lower value homes who are probably
paying more than their fair share of the

579
00:52:59,240 --> 00:53:06,920
taxes uh and that's an annual expense
and at the last constant yield hearing

580
00:53:04,559 --> 00:53:10,240
you had a parade of real estate people
coming through saying you can't keep

581
00:53:08,599 --> 00:53:15,359
increasing the property tax because
that's an annual operating expense and a

582
00:53:12,720 --> 00:53:20,079
lot of people buy the houses depending
on the rental income to pay the mortgage

583
00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:24,520
so if that gets too high they're going
to be selling those houses and that's

584
00:53:22,359 --> 00:53:29,920
going to affect the market and how much
you raise generally the um transfer

585
00:53:27,520 --> 00:53:34,640
taxes are one-time payments when you buy
the house and it's almost negligible you

586
00:53:32,559 --> 00:53:41,680
don't even see it a lot of people aren't
going to ask questions so I mean I would

587
00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:47,520
think well so I think that makes a much
more beneficial way or to to raise

588
00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:51,040
additional revenues and if we wait
another year then you're dealing with

589
00:53:49,119 --> 00:53:53,040
these businesses that are coming here
that are going to have Workforce and

590
00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:57,319
they're going to be living in
Pennsylvania or someplace else we don't

591
00:53:55,559 --> 00:54:01,599
benefit from these developments if
people live someplace else and we we've

592
00:53:59,599 --> 00:54:06,559
been saying that for years well so we
have to do something we have to do

593
00:54:03,400 --> 00:54:11,440
something now and we are and we are okay
go ahead but before that Tom wants to

594
00:54:09,559 --> 00:54:15,480
speak first I want to say I agree with
Mike Mike's the Eon this in our group

595
00:54:13,640 --> 00:54:21,559
and he's still deal with this in a lot
of ways so I appreciate his comment

596
00:54:18,160 --> 00:54:27,119
second all um I kind of have a problem
with using the Oney concept depending

597
00:54:24,599 --> 00:54:31,119
upon the people of the lake we got to
figure out other ways to do what we need

598
00:54:28,839 --> 00:54:36,079
to have done and not be dependent on
those people because if the economy goes

599
00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:39,799
south going go east and we're going to
be where we are now with no money so we

600
00:54:38,359 --> 00:54:48,240
have to come up with different ways of
approaching this okay that as already

601
00:54:43,599 --> 00:54:53,240
stated it's equal burden on every level
okay and it's fair and it's open and we

602
00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:59,160
we all reach the consensus
on we can't keep doing what we're doing

603
00:54:55,520 --> 00:55:04,760
now we're going to lose out well and I
appreciate all the comments and Len I'll

604
00:55:01,960 --> 00:55:13,599
say to the group exactly what I told you
when when we met um I

605
00:55:09,640 --> 00:55:18,599
think I I would uh here here's the
difficulty that I have that that hasn't

606
00:55:15,559 --> 00:55:24,559
been mentioned yet we keep using these
terms affordable housing we we have

607
00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:29,400
housing projects in
Q that are moving for

608
00:55:27,119 --> 00:55:34,039
for I don't know the number that's
enough I don't think anyone in this room

609
00:55:31,039 --> 00:55:37,920
does that can say we need 100 houses 200
houses 1,000 houses I don't I don't know

610
00:55:36,160 --> 00:55:44,520
that anyone has that
number we know that there's going to be

611
00:55:40,720 --> 00:55:49,799
roughly a 100 new ones in Q right now 63
of them are in Grantville that's an

612
00:55:46,559 --> 00:55:55,760
attainable housing project that is going
to have houses at well under market

613
00:55:52,520 --> 00:55:59,119
value that aren't income based and
another problem we have in this

614
00:55:57,599 --> 00:56:04,880
conversation
is what's the what are we trying to

615
00:56:02,079 --> 00:56:08,799
solve we keep throwing this term out and
you know we we and I think we all agree

616
00:56:07,359 --> 00:56:12,520
I don't think anyone in here disagrees
we don't need more housing and no one

617
00:56:10,200 --> 00:56:18,319
disagrees that we need housing for the
schools and we need housing to to

618
00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:22,359
support a growing uh job market and so
everyone in the county will agree with

619
00:56:19,799 --> 00:56:27,240
that I don't think there's a single
disagreement the question is is that

620
00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:32,480
does that take the form
of is it just more housing stock and if

621
00:56:30,960 --> 00:56:36,319
it's more housing stock how do you
manage that is that a county function

622
00:56:34,680 --> 00:56:40,319
and therefore we have to create a whole
new Department within County government

623
00:56:38,160 --> 00:56:45,799
that we have to fund on the back end
which grows the

624
00:56:42,400 --> 00:56:50,280
bureaucracy is it income based are we
trying to hit what income point at that

625
00:56:48,520 --> 00:56:53,920
point what are we want affordable
housing for people at the low income

626
00:56:52,119 --> 00:56:58,960
level or do want attainable housing for
two teachers that come in and and the

627
00:56:56,319 --> 00:57:04,480
blueprint are going to make $120,000 a
year uh are we we trying to figure out a

628
00:57:02,559 --> 00:57:08,280
way to get them
housing I think that's a conversation

629
00:57:06,640 --> 00:57:12,960
that should be had where where are we
trying to hit what what are we trying

630
00:57:10,440 --> 00:57:21,920
what problem are we trying to solve the
lack of housing is there um but uh there

631
00:57:18,520 --> 00:57:25,440
needs to be a greater consensus of I
really I I firmly believe in what we're

632
00:57:24,160 --> 00:57:31,280
doing in Grantville is going to work we
want to duplicate in mechanic the only

633
00:57:27,599 --> 00:57:35,960
thing we're missing in Grantville is
highquality rental units which is

634
00:57:33,000 --> 00:57:38,599
something this County does not have and
the reason they're not going in there is

635
00:57:37,359 --> 00:57:42,000
because the town of Grantville didn't
want them and we're in a partnership

636
00:57:39,960 --> 00:57:47,200
with them to do
that that could be done in

637
00:57:44,520 --> 00:57:53,119
McKenry if you talk to housing experts
which I am not one of some of them will

638
00:57:49,720 --> 00:57:57,960
tell you you need a lot of people at 21
years old they want to rent

639
00:57:56,240 --> 00:58:00,799
but most people in Garr County most
rentals in Garr County if they're any

640
00:57:59,440 --> 00:58:04,559
good they're rented and it'll be rented
for a long time those people will stay

641
00:58:02,440 --> 00:58:07,680
there the vacant ones are the ones that
you wouldn't want to put your own kids

642
00:58:05,880 --> 00:58:14,520
in and that's why they're
vacant so if we can get decent rentals

643
00:58:11,400 --> 00:58:19,319
at a decent price you capture those
teachers that I'm hiring every year they

644
00:58:17,400 --> 00:58:22,720
can't find a place to rent here so
they're going to Morgan Town or

645
00:58:20,799 --> 00:58:26,160
Frostburg and the problem is they'll
tell you I'm going to live there for two

646
00:58:24,520 --> 00:58:29,640
or three years and I'll move here when I
can afford it cost of housing keeps

647
00:58:27,920 --> 00:58:35,079
going up those people get embedded in
those communities and then they never

648
00:58:31,000 --> 00:58:41,039
come back uh I I see it every single day
so I think we have to get high quality

649
00:58:38,240 --> 00:58:45,440
rentals here at a price that isn't
subsidized based on your income because

650
00:58:43,480 --> 00:58:48,920
those professionals don't qualify and
they're leaving that's why I think the

651
00:58:47,400 --> 00:58:53,520
housing project that we're thinking
about doing in McKenry can hit the niche

652
00:58:51,520 --> 00:58:58,119
that we're not hitting anywhere
else but the problem with that is where

653
00:58:56,400 --> 00:59:01,960
we've identified a McKenry where we
already own the

654
00:58:59,640 --> 00:59:05,079
property there's a lot of Regulation we
got to go through to get there it's not

655
00:59:03,440 --> 00:59:11,760
necessarily at this point in time a
funding issue it's some other issues

656
00:59:09,039 --> 00:59:15,200
that we got to get through uh to to make
that happen not not that money's falling

657
00:59:13,680 --> 00:59:20,119
out of the sky and that we can afford to
do everything we want to do the other

658
00:59:17,359 --> 00:59:23,359
thing I would say to for to consider as
we have this conversation I think it's a

659
00:59:21,640 --> 00:59:27,920
valuable conversation I'm glad Len
brought it up I enjoyed talking with him

660
00:59:25,000 --> 00:59:32,720
about it and and yes Sheamus I agree
with you I think the vast majority of

661
00:59:29,559 --> 00:59:39,119
people in Garr County would support uh a
raise and the transfer tax at certain

662
00:59:35,039 --> 00:59:44,720
price points um I think that's probably
something that the majority of people in

663
00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:49,119
this County would would support to raise
taxes just to raise taxes without a

664
00:59:46,720 --> 00:59:53,240
clear plan of how to spend that however
I do not think is a good idea and right

665
00:59:51,359 --> 01:00:00,319
now I don't think we have a clear plan
the other thing we don't have and yes

666
00:59:56,559 --> 01:00:06,720
there's a lot of speculation out there
we do not know there's a doom and gloom

667
01:00:04,079 --> 01:00:11,480
prognostication from some folks but we
don't know what the impact of the

668
01:00:08,559 --> 01:00:16,440
shortfall of state budget is going to be
yet we don't know what the impact of the

669
01:00:14,119 --> 01:00:19,880
new presidency is going to be yet good
bad or IND different we just don't know

670
01:00:17,839 --> 01:00:24,400
we can speculate I can tell you there's
probably a whole lot of Republicans that

671
01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:28,599
think things are going to get a lot
better then there's a a lot of people

672
01:00:26,720 --> 01:00:33,799
that don't but we don't know the answer
to that yet what I can tell you is right

673
01:00:31,720 --> 01:00:41,480
now our budget is very
healthy and there is not anything

674
01:00:38,599 --> 01:00:47,000
that we know of right now where we're
going to be scrambling to think we got

675
01:00:44,520 --> 01:00:52,839
we got to do something drastic to meet
it we know the blueprint is going to

676
01:00:49,559 --> 01:00:58,839
increase our funding to the schools by
an

677
01:00:54,400 --> 01:01:03,520
additional 14 134 million over the next
couple of years we're planning for that

678
01:01:01,799 --> 01:01:10,000
that's why we have a healthy budget
right now because we know that

679
01:01:06,680 --> 01:01:14,720
eventually within the next probably five
to six years that's not going to look

680
01:01:11,799 --> 01:01:21,680
quite the same but I don't think there's
anything pressing right now that

681
01:01:17,599 --> 01:01:26,160
would necessitate us to raise any
tax without a clear plan on how we're

682
01:01:24,039 --> 01:01:30,200
going to spend that
and yes everyone everyone I talk to no

683
01:01:28,880 --> 01:01:33,440
matter where they are in the county
whether democrat or republican no matter

684
01:01:32,119 --> 01:01:39,119
if they make a million dollars a year
$10,000 a year will recognize the fact

685
01:01:36,319 --> 01:01:44,319
that housing is an issue there are a lot
of people that don't want more sub

686
01:01:41,240 --> 01:01:46,880
income subsidized housing in this County
there's a lot of people don't like what

687
01:01:45,559 --> 01:01:50,839
we're doing in Grantville they don't
think it's the answer we're still

688
01:01:48,559 --> 01:01:56,359
funding the firsttime home buyers
program I think we were the first group

689
01:01:53,880 --> 01:02:00,279
to do that um
still support that and and will continue

690
01:01:59,119 --> 01:02:05,000
to support
that so I think it's a broader

691
01:02:03,119 --> 01:02:09,119
conversation of we just need new Revenue
because I'm afraid right now if we raise

692
01:02:06,760 --> 01:02:12,960
a tax no matter what tax it is that
revenue is going to sit or it's going to

693
01:02:11,160 --> 01:02:17,119
be reallocated somewhere that it
shouldn't be and then three years from

694
01:02:15,559 --> 01:02:19,960
now two years from now a year from now
when we are ready to do something we say

695
01:02:18,760 --> 01:02:22,440
well now we don't have enough money
because some other department got

696
01:02:21,240 --> 01:02:29,279
dependent
upon an allocation of money so my own

697
01:02:27,400 --> 01:02:34,119
personal
opinion

698
01:02:30,880 --> 01:02:36,960
is I think there is a lot of credibility
from what's being asked by this group

699
01:02:35,920 --> 01:02:40,240
I'll tell you there's a lot of people
out there don't want to see any increase

700
01:02:38,319 --> 01:02:44,640
in taxes and there's a lot of people
that do have vested interest otherwise

701
01:02:41,920 --> 01:02:50,440
that can probably articulate why raising
either of those taxes would not be

702
01:02:47,119 --> 01:02:53,920
beneficial I won't speak for them um
because I don't know I I I can't make

703
01:02:52,359 --> 01:02:59,319
that argument because I don't know the
market um we did raise ra the

704
01:02:56,599 --> 01:03:03,440
Accommodations Tax a couple of years ago
we're one of the highest in the state

705
01:03:00,880 --> 01:03:08,599
now I do think there's a saturation
point in Accommodations Tax where people

706
01:03:05,799 --> 01:03:14,400
will stop coming if you over tax what
they pay I don't know what that number

707
01:03:11,119 --> 01:03:21,000
is but I think there is a number and I
think a a lot of that is

708
01:03:17,880 --> 01:03:26,520
reputation so even if it's not accurate
if the reputation is you don't want to

709
01:03:23,599 --> 01:03:30,319
go there because it's too high taxes
than what we've come to rely on we we

710
01:03:29,119 --> 01:03:36,200
bring in a lot of money on
Accommodations Tax as it is right now

711
01:03:32,880 --> 01:03:43,520
you all know that and I would like to
think that we allocate that money wisely

712
01:03:40,839 --> 01:03:49,279
that's why we're able to fund GTS when
they're short on money to save a program

713
01:03:46,920 --> 01:03:55,319
that most people need because we've
budgeted well enough to have a

714
01:03:52,440 --> 01:04:00,000
surplus in in carryover funds to be able
to to accomplish that that's why we're

715
01:03:58,039 --> 01:04:04,520
not we're one of the very few counties
in the state if not the only one after

716
01:04:02,559 --> 01:04:09,640
next year that hasn't raise property
taxes to cover their blueprint cost we

717
01:04:07,400 --> 01:04:14,520
haven't had to do that and we're not
planning on doing that in in the short

718
01:04:12,440 --> 01:04:21,119
term can't speak for years out because
we don't know what's going to happen so

719
01:04:16,799 --> 01:04:26,520
that's my response to to your uh
question Mike of me responding directly

720
01:04:23,839 --> 01:04:29,799
that's my direct response um I do think
there's Merit especially to the transfer

721
01:04:28,599 --> 01:04:34,760
tax
piece I'm curious to see what that

722
01:04:32,480 --> 01:04:39,799
actually looks like at the end of the
day and you know I and when I talk with

723
01:04:37,520 --> 01:04:45,520
lenon we don't know I mean if the
thought is you're going to increase that

724
01:04:42,640 --> 01:04:50,920
1% on everything over a million
dollars because I don't know legally if

725
01:04:47,799 --> 01:04:56,240
you can do it differently than that so
so what I'm saying is if I sell a house

726
01:04:53,440 --> 01:05:01,480
for $999,000
and the transfer taxes

727
01:04:58,760 --> 01:05:05,160
1% and then once it goes to a million
the whole million's taxed at 2% I don't

728
01:05:03,559 --> 01:05:09,640
think you can do that you can only go
from the increase from the one mill you

729
01:05:07,680 --> 01:05:15,279
know
up and and that

730
01:05:12,279 --> 01:05:20,400
is difficult to plan on because it's
going to fluctuate perhaps widely from

731
01:05:17,760 --> 01:05:27,720
year to year not to say it shouldn't
happen that way but I I I just don't you

732
01:05:24,799 --> 01:05:32,039
know I I don't have the the thought
process of if we do this we're going to

733
01:05:30,279 --> 01:05:35,960
make millions of more dollars and then
we can do all this stuff with housing

734
01:05:34,279 --> 01:05:42,960
which we haven't even kind of figured
out what we want to do yet um that's

735
01:05:39,799 --> 01:05:48,920
just my my opinion on that Sheamus you
had your hand up first so uh you just

736
01:05:45,559 --> 01:05:54,039
articulated really beautifully me for
comprehensive housing plan I mean really

737
01:05:52,520 --> 01:06:01,240
I mean we went all the way through where
all the questions were don't the impact

738
01:05:56,400 --> 01:06:09,200
is going to be we don't know don't know
don't a big thing so what beg to

739
01:06:06,599 --> 01:06:14,720
put of
us out way process to create

740
01:06:15,559 --> 01:06:18,559
compreh

741
01:06:20,000 --> 01:06:27,640
ansar let's not losing opportun know
resources

742
01:06:25,760 --> 01:06:33,599
figure out how to raise the money while
we are moving toward a comprehensive M

743
01:06:31,079 --> 01:06:37,760
and it could be that the people in the
room Realtors being in the room some of

744
01:06:35,640 --> 01:06:42,520
them are going to say here's what we
think is going to happen if you do that

745
01:06:39,760 --> 01:06:50,920
and we say they'll prove it you know and
and we we work our way to with facts and

746
01:06:47,119 --> 01:06:59,079
and and you know real figures and figure
out what this mean does any know what

747
01:06:54,359 --> 01:07:01,319
one percent 6% to 7% is going to raise
next

748
01:07:02,920 --> 01:07:12,559
year exactly realtor probably um we
don't know in fact all the questions you

749
01:07:10,279 --> 01:07:18,119
have like what is this is this is this
affordable housing is this subsidized

750
01:07:14,599 --> 01:07:23,079
housing is this what is this answer that
question so why don't we figure out a

751
01:07:19,599 --> 01:07:29,839
way to just go our s and do that hard
work I'm on put in room

752
01:07:26,400 --> 01:07:34,559
do this right yeah I wanted to reiterate
what Shan was just said I I think this

753
01:07:31,799 --> 01:07:38,480
is the first time I've sense that we
have agreement agreement we have a

754
01:07:36,480 --> 01:07:43,119
discussion that is headed in a direction
that looks like could come to agreement

755
01:07:41,000 --> 01:07:47,799
but how do we solve a couple of issues
that we have one being the whole

756
01:07:45,240 --> 01:07:52,880
affordable attainable housing issue the
other being you know attracting

757
01:07:50,200 --> 01:07:57,839
businesses and have uh available housing
for their Workforce that we can

758
01:07:56,160 --> 01:08:03,480
that here's what we've done here's what
we're planning to do that does call for

759
01:08:00,720 --> 01:08:07,240
a strategic plan of some sort focused on
those issues how do we pay for it how

760
01:08:05,520 --> 01:08:12,720
much do we need what what are other
jurisdictions doing who's who's making

761
01:08:10,440 --> 01:08:17,120
progress and who's not making progress
and why and I know that's not going to

762
01:08:15,000 --> 01:08:24,040
happen before February 7th so you know
we can take take that off the table but

763
01:08:19,319 --> 01:08:28,159
I do think setting a goal next Fe St
maybe see what happened happen with the

764
01:08:25,960 --> 01:08:31,640
CN you know the blueprint what's
happening on the state scene what's

765
01:08:29,440 --> 01:08:36,319
happening on the federal scene and what
are we learning from various

766
01:08:34,120 --> 01:08:40,839
constituencies and I think we could put
together a damn plan that people would

767
01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:43,960
have confidence in to say here's why
we're spending the money here's what the

768
01:08:42,759 --> 01:08:48,199
goals are here's how we're going to
measure attainment of those goals all

769
01:08:45,480 --> 01:08:52,839
the things we get in an economic plan
and I think the county would look good

770
01:08:50,759 --> 01:08:57,120
the citizens would look good you guys
would look good everybody's had

771
01:08:56,080 --> 01:09:00,120
okay I'm
going

772
01:09:03,239 --> 01:09:09,640
my one of the things it's just about
every article I've read on the

773
01:09:08,159 --> 01:09:15,839
affordable housing is the first thing
you do is you look at the amount of

774
01:09:12,920 --> 01:09:20,799
regulations right now and your land use
okay you've got to redo them okay

775
01:09:18,400 --> 01:09:27,719
because there's a lot of land use every
you're to one acre okay and you can't do

776
01:09:24,279 --> 01:09:32,480
anything else that house now they have
these a or whatever they're called that

777
01:09:30,480 --> 01:09:38,239
the legisl has been working on I know
they passed together or not it's the um

778
01:09:35,560 --> 01:09:45,719
being used to accommodate the need for
housing okay next thing is that we have

779
01:09:41,719 --> 01:09:50,319
to know exactly as Sheamus and Frank
suggested we got to know what the real

780
01:09:47,719 --> 01:09:54,199
problem is what's our what's our group
who do we have to Target how much money

781
01:09:52,239 --> 01:09:58,760
do they make how many kids do they have
in the house how many this that and put

782
01:09:57,120 --> 01:10:03,000
that together in some kind of work
formula one of the things that I've been

783
01:10:00,520 --> 01:10:07,840
pushing is the concept of an apartment
house to a multi-story apartment house

784
01:10:05,520 --> 01:10:11,640
with uh elevators in it to accommodate
people that have disabilities and

785
01:10:09,120 --> 01:10:15,120
elderly people okay because a lot of
people are going to be forced into to R

786
01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:18,199
particularly older people they're going
to have to give up their houses because

787
01:10:16,320 --> 01:10:21,960
they can't afford to maintain them they
can't afford the taxes on them or they

788
01:10:20,480 --> 01:10:26,600
can't afford the fire insurance for all
the above okay so we got to accommodate

789
01:10:24,280 --> 01:10:30,840
those people that's a whole spectrum
that we don't even know about and in

790
01:10:28,400 --> 01:10:35,560
order to do that that's been pointed out
we got to know what the extent of the

791
01:10:32,360 --> 01:10:38,480
problem is be able to deal with it and
I'm glad to hear that you're willing to

792
01:10:36,880 --> 01:10:42,159
do that but I think we need to get get
to work on it right now and get out

793
01:10:40,480 --> 01:10:45,960
there and find out who who and who's in
the bushes because a lot of people hav't

794
01:10:44,040 --> 01:10:50,679
identified and we don't know about them
because I'm staying at Great

795
01:10:47,440 --> 01:10:55,840
grandmother's house so is my dad my mom
and my brother okay they're all in the

796
01:10:52,920 --> 01:11:01,400
same category they don't so they're all
come together and I just we have to do

797
01:10:59,480 --> 01:11:05,320
something quick it's going to affect the
county people are moving out they taking

798
01:11:03,159 --> 01:11:10,199
the kids out of our school system that
income tax goes out the window okay the

799
01:11:07,960 --> 01:11:15,600
property tax goes out all those things
that we benefit from the sales tax when

800
01:11:12,760 --> 01:11:18,960
they bought locally go on okay and we
didn't have people invading us on the

801
01:11:16,960 --> 01:11:23,000
weekend we wouldn't have any sales tax
so what we need to do is we need to

802
01:11:20,679 --> 01:11:27,880
focus on the people in there County the
local population and working those folks

803
01:11:26,199 --> 01:11:33,600
because they're the ones that have
brought us to where we are and we need

804
01:11:29,440 --> 01:11:38,239
to make sure they stay at us Mike um how
long ago did you start planning the

805
01:11:35,400 --> 01:11:44,639
project that's now underway in
grandstone well that's an interesting uh

806
01:11:42,239 --> 01:11:51,639
question
um as it stands right now under the co

807
01:11:49,320 --> 01:11:56,520
well I know the point you're trying to
make and it's not a good point and I'll

808
01:11:53,960 --> 01:11:59,840
tell you why I think because I'm sure
you

809
01:11:57,360 --> 01:12:05,280
do the answer your question is about
nine years uh the problem is what we're

810
01:12:02,600 --> 01:12:09,239
doing is never been done before so we
had to figure out a way to do it which

811
01:12:07,239 --> 01:12:13,480
proved to be exceptionally difficult
primarily due to bureaucracy and

812
01:12:11,280 --> 01:12:17,639
procurement policies and expenditures
public funds now that we figured out how

813
01:12:16,679 --> 01:12:23,040
to do
it um I think you will see that

814
01:12:20,600 --> 01:12:31,239
nine-year
project drop considerably

815
01:12:26,639 --> 01:12:37,440
uh just due to experience and
understanding how you can do things and

816
01:12:34,040 --> 01:12:42,760
the way to make it work we
went six and a half of those nine years

817
01:12:40,440 --> 01:12:48,000
without making any progress at all
except being told well now you can't do

818
01:12:44,960 --> 01:12:53,239
that or you can't do that once we
figured out how to do it it took about a

819
01:12:50,239 --> 01:12:58,639
year to get all the legal wrangling
together uh and then we we almost hit

820
01:12:56,400 --> 01:13:02,800
light speed and it's been like two years
since since then so so there is a lead

821
01:13:01,000 --> 01:13:08,040
time to each of these component parts
that we there is the next project we

822
01:13:05,840 --> 01:13:14,840
have in McKenry which we've been talking
about for a while so that that's not you

823
01:13:10,159 --> 01:13:22,360
know inside baseball but uh the the it's
going to be more of the issue

824
01:13:18,520 --> 01:13:27,360
of water and sewage stuff than it is
going to be how to make it work work and

825
01:13:25,560 --> 01:13:32,880
how to write covenants and how to
legally do the stuff uh so it it might

826
01:13:31,120 --> 01:13:38,639
be a
different waiting than than what we

827
01:13:35,719 --> 01:13:42,760
experienced the first time um each
project will be different because

828
01:13:40,159 --> 01:13:47,239
they're all you know the project that
we're we're hoping to do in Oakland uh

829
01:13:45,719 --> 01:13:49,760
and the project in Grantsville you're
you're dealing with Municipal

830
01:13:48,360 --> 01:13:53,080
governments on top of the County
government where we're at McKenry there

831
01:13:51,560 --> 01:13:57,239
is no municipal government but there's
no readily available Water and Sewer

832
01:13:54,840 --> 01:14:02,199
like there is in Grantville and Oakland
so each one be a little bit different in

833
01:13:59,880 --> 01:14:08,639
in how they go about being
done your point is taken however that it

834
01:14:06,000 --> 01:14:14,120
there is a lead time no matter what so
there needs to be a strategy it has

835
01:14:10,760 --> 01:14:17,920
component parts the economic development
office has already started with their

836
01:14:15,520 --> 01:14:21,600
last economic development plan so here
here are the key elements of supporting

837
01:14:19,880 --> 01:14:28,920
the growth that you're anticipating from
these building you just so yes that need

838
01:14:25,159 --> 01:14:32,880
to be developed but it's but there's a
time lag to each of those things there's

839
01:14:30,480 --> 01:14:35,719
been a discussion for 18 months about
well how are we going to do it how we

840
01:14:34,040 --> 01:14:38,560
going to implement it and there was an
effort to think about well here's an

841
01:14:36,960 --> 01:14:41,679
institution but then they got bogged
down about well what's our Revenue we

842
01:14:40,360 --> 01:14:48,159
don't know what our income is going to
be so it's not unreasonable to think

843
01:14:45,120 --> 01:14:53,239
about pursuing all those things in a
simultaneous fashion where somebody is

844
01:14:51,199 --> 01:14:58,920
looking at the overall plan and how they
fit um so I think given the successes

845
01:14:57,239 --> 01:15:04,080
that you're anticipating over the next
year and people and high and reasonable

846
01:15:01,320 --> 01:15:09,679
jobs and hundreds of people coming here
we need to be prepared pretty soon to

847
01:15:06,080 --> 01:15:16,679
try to accommodate that um so that's one
question one issue the other issue I had

848
01:15:11,679 --> 01:15:22,719
is that yes the um the accommodation tax
was an a

849
01:15:19,280 --> 01:15:28,360
authorization um to raise this tax and
we ran a been brex for 15 years rais

850
01:15:25,320 --> 01:15:34,159
almost every year i' say um but we just
passed it on in price that was early on

851
01:15:31,360 --> 01:15:38,639
um but there's nothing my question would
be if if we're trying to do all these

852
01:15:36,600 --> 01:15:44,639
things simultaneous this would make
sense to at least go in for some

853
01:15:40,360 --> 01:15:50,280
authorization on a increase in the um
transfer tax and yes nobody likes an

854
01:15:47,639 --> 01:15:53,760
increase in taxes but when you go to the
constant yield hearing and you say we're

855
01:15:52,080 --> 01:15:57,800
going to keep the tax rate the same
that's an increase in tax r

856
01:15:56,000 --> 01:16:02,760
for everybody in that District that was
reassessed two years ago whatever

857
01:16:00,000 --> 01:16:06,960
District the lake is increased 100% so
that was a big increase in taxes for

858
01:16:05,199 --> 01:16:12,280
those people because you kept the rate
the same and there are lower valued

859
01:16:09,440 --> 01:16:16,360
homes away from the lake that I believe
are paying more than their fair share

860
01:16:13,920 --> 01:16:20,719
Scott could do an easy study to document
whether that's the case or not and

861
01:16:18,239 --> 01:16:25,520
that's because they're not getting the
only relief they can get would be

862
01:16:22,239 --> 01:16:28,719
through lower in tax rates so
I I understand what you're saying but I

863
01:16:27,080 --> 01:16:32,960
think that we can leave here with some
sort of a notion of a way forward or do

864
01:16:30,600 --> 01:16:36,600
we leave here saying well was a good
public discussion and we're not going to

865
01:16:34,880 --> 01:16:40,800
do
anything I don't know that we're going

866
01:16:38,360 --> 01:16:47,840
to make a decision right this minute mik
um but soon I think uh I think there's

867
01:16:45,480 --> 01:16:52,080
going to be a movement forward out of
necessity because as I mentioned

868
01:16:50,280 --> 01:16:56,840
previously we all
agree almost unanimously that housing is

869
01:16:55,639 --> 01:17:00,960
the
issue how we move forward with that

870
01:16:59,600 --> 01:17:05,840
there's going to be some discussion
about um and and we'll have to see I

871
01:17:03,800 --> 01:17:09,400
mean to to leave here right now saying
we're doing nothing would not be correct

872
01:17:07,440 --> 01:17:13,480
the project in Grantville is Broken
Ground and moving forward it may not be

873
01:17:11,320 --> 01:17:18,320
what you all want to see but it is
happening and I think it will be a big

874
01:17:16,280 --> 01:17:22,080
what's that it's necessary but maybe not
sufficient and to get something more

875
01:17:20,440 --> 01:17:25,920
sufficient to handle the hundreds of
jobs that are going to be created we do

876
01:17:24,080 --> 01:17:28,800
need to be doing something today I can't
wait 10 years because those people being

877
01:17:27,520 --> 01:17:33,760
psylvia
by I don't disagree think I've gone over

878
01:17:31,480 --> 01:17:37,320
my 10 minutes I I think so I think we're
keeping track so I can't let you talk

879
01:17:35,480 --> 01:17:41,679
the next couple of meetings you can see
it well you know I thank you for I thank

880
01:17:40,000 --> 01:17:49,360
you for making the time I think it's a
helpful discussion you know um like I

881
01:17:45,480 --> 01:17:56,040
say this I I don't claim to be an expert
and I don't have a plan but I but I know

882
01:17:53,520 --> 01:18:00,360
as a resident
and and I see the property values that

883
01:17:59,239 --> 01:18:07,920
have
risen and and we're directly Ben

884
01:18:04,400 --> 01:18:12,920
beneficiary of that that we need money
we need money to address housing it's

885
01:18:10,960 --> 01:18:17,679
can't be done on the cheap and I I would
have questions even about what kind of

886
01:18:14,679 --> 01:18:21,719
housing because nobody's considering L I
think that needs to be considered where

887
01:18:19,480 --> 01:18:28,880
you you do the infrastructure you set up
the foundation and you bring the house

888
01:18:23,280 --> 01:18:33,719
in but but um without being an expert I
know we need money I see the money the

889
01:18:32,120 --> 01:18:39,440
property values increasing around the
late let's get that money let's ask our

890
01:18:37,440 --> 01:18:43,760
delegation to go to Anapolis and get
that money we have plenty of smart

891
01:18:41,560 --> 01:18:48,920
people we have nonprofits in this County
that do tremendous things we have

892
01:18:46,040 --> 01:18:53,920
dedicated smart people here let's get
the money and then let's let's sit down

893
01:18:51,880 --> 01:18:58,400
like other people are saying and and do
the comprehensive plan but if if we

894
01:18:56,520 --> 01:19:03,800
don't get enablement
to if we don't get the ability to do it

895
01:19:01,480 --> 01:19:07,760
we're not you know we're going to be
shorting ourselves when we don't need to

896
01:19:06,040 --> 01:19:12,920
these are reasonable you you use the
word drastic these are reasonable

897
01:19:10,239 --> 01:19:18,320
proposals this is reasonable Revenue
proposers there's nothing drastic about

898
01:19:15,400 --> 01:19:22,520
this unless the unless a member of the
board of realter wants to say it's

899
01:19:20,600 --> 01:19:29,440
drafted and I don't
think to clarify l i I think my use of

900
01:19:26,280 --> 01:19:33,560
the word drastic was in the point of our
budget is healthy enough right now that

901
01:19:31,840 --> 01:19:38,159
unless something you know that we would
have to do something drastic I'm not

902
01:19:35,400 --> 01:19:43,400
calling your proposal drastic to
clarify so yes ma'am just one last

903
01:19:41,639 --> 01:19:51,239
thought when you were giving us all the
good news about 2025 you

904
01:19:46,600 --> 01:19:56,440
mention hundreds of jobs hundreds of
jobs that's families and schools and

905
01:19:56,480 --> 01:20:04,280
is that being considered when you're
creating these opportunities for

906
01:20:02,159 --> 01:20:10,960
employment for some place for them to
live absolutely no question about okay

907
01:20:08,360 --> 01:20:15,920
no question about that's the plan and
that's the plan we're talking about yeah

908
01:20:13,760 --> 01:20:20,760
and and keep in mind I mean let let's
just be be real about it if a 100 jobs

909
01:20:18,920 --> 01:20:24,400
are created tomorrow we're not going to
have a 100 new families moved to g

910
01:20:22,800 --> 01:20:28,440
county that that's just not going to
happen

911
01:20:25,679 --> 01:20:32,840
uh and the other thing
is you have a lot of people in our

912
01:20:31,040 --> 01:20:37,960
communities and and Uniontown
Pennsylvania and Hancock Maryland and

913
01:20:35,960 --> 01:20:43,600
Morgantown West Virginia are just like
Grantville and Oakland people drive from

914
01:20:40,760 --> 01:20:47,239
Oakland to work all over the mid you
know the region people drive from

915
01:20:45,000 --> 01:20:50,800
Grantville to work all over the region
just because they got a job in Uniontown

916
01:20:49,120 --> 01:20:56,560
or morgant toown or hagertown doesn't
mean they're looking to move there uh so

917
01:20:53,719 --> 01:21:00,520
I'm under No Illusion iion that these
hundreds of jobs are going to bring

918
01:20:58,239 --> 01:21:07,280
hundreds of families in if we end up
with 20 or 30 or 40 that would be great

919
01:21:04,600 --> 01:21:11,360
um so I I just want to you know I don't
have any unrealistic expectations that

920
01:21:09,360 --> 01:21:15,960
this is solving our school problem and
and everything else um you know there

921
01:21:14,000 --> 01:21:21,440
there will be commuters there will be
people that leave job a to go to job B

922
01:21:19,360 --> 01:21:27,239
there'll be all kinds of that stuff but
does that does that cheapen the need for

923
01:21:25,320 --> 01:21:32,719
housing that we've thought absolutely
not we that that's been a critical goal

924
01:21:29,560 --> 01:21:38,120
of of ours for the last several years it
will continue to be um I appreciate this

925
01:21:36,360 --> 01:21:41,360
discussion again I don't I don't think
anyone would come in here I I don't know

926
01:21:39,800 --> 01:21:44,600
anyone that would come in and say we we
don't need to try to solve the

927
01:21:42,520 --> 01:21:50,120
affordable housing issue I would argue
that we've done a lot to try to do that

928
01:21:47,840 --> 01:21:53,920
uh is it enough obviously not we still
have a problem but so does every other

929
01:21:52,400 --> 01:22:00,520
especially rural community in the
country this isn't specific to Garr

930
01:21:56,199 --> 01:22:07,760
County um but I also I just have a I
just have a a hard time

931
01:22:04,400 --> 01:22:13,159
justifying uh and and to shamess I
appreciate your comment

932
01:22:10,920 --> 01:22:19,000
like we got to have a plan to move
forward to justify what we're doing and

933
01:22:15,320 --> 01:22:23,199
I'm I agree I agree completely with that
so what does that mean Mike are we going

934
01:22:20,840 --> 01:22:28,520
to sit here and and wait another two
hours and clearly draft without a fully

935
01:22:25,199 --> 01:22:33,000
detailed plan no but we're going to
continue to move in that direction and

936
01:22:30,080 --> 01:22:37,760
figure something out um and I'm sure
that at the next meeting on the thir

937
01:22:34,920 --> 01:22:44,560
we'll probably uh to to lens's point
probably have much more of the same

938
01:22:39,840 --> 01:22:48,080
conversation that that's great um does
does anybody else have any other

939
01:22:46,679 --> 01:22:55,360
questions or
comments Charlene you want an anot

940
01:22:52,320 --> 01:23:01,480
anot president of the of Commerce here
in Garrett County says 400 housing units

941
01:22:58,159 --> 01:23:01,480
would transform

942
01:23:02,239 --> 01:23:08,360
count would be transformative unless
they're all unless they're all million

943
01:23:06,639 --> 01:23:15,040
dollar
homes then I'm not sure that would be I

944
01:23:11,480 --> 01:23:15,040
mean I I don't know about that

945
01:23:16,040 --> 01:23:23,400
but it would be transformative we just
don't know which way it would transform

946
01:23:21,360 --> 01:23:29,960
is it possible we could schedule get
together like this an official

947
01:23:25,480 --> 01:23:32,960
commissioner just get
isues

948
01:23:45,040 --> 01:23:48,239
realov yeah I

949
01:23:51,400 --> 01:23:58,520
mean uh I mean you can make the request
we the short answer is yeah we can do

950
01:23:56,639 --> 01:24:02,679
that can you know we just get
logistically figure out any other

951
01:24:01,360 --> 01:24:09,200
questions
comments good

952
01:24:04,920 --> 01:24:12,399
meeting motion to adjourn all right
[Applause]