[0:07] Seven.

[0:07] These media broadcasts provide county citizens an

[0:10] opportunity to watch and review

[0:11] our scheduled public meetings.

[0:13] In addition to our live audience today,

[0:15] we are providing remote options for citizens to watch

[0:18] and participate in county commissioner's meetings.

[0:21] Citizens may watch our meeting live on our website at

[0:23] qac.org/live,

[0:26] or on our public access governmental television channel

[0:29] provided by Breeze Line Cable Services.

[0:31] Citizens can participate by joining the Live Zoom meeting

[0:33] by going to qac.org/public comment,

[0:36] and citizens may also email comments

[0:38] to public comment@qhc.org.

[0:41] Comments received will be summarized during the press

[0:43] and public comment period.

[0:44] On today's agenda, we acknowledge everyone's participation

[0:48] and by attending you acknowledge

[0:49] that this session is both recorded and aired.

[0:51] Press and public comment will be taken

[0:52] and is limited to three minutes per person.

[0:54] If you do care to speak,

[0:56] please sign at the information table in the lobby.

[0:58] Comments longer than three minutes can be submitted in the

[1:01] writing for the commissioner's review.

[1:02] We will now stand and be led in the Pledge of Allegiance

[1:05] by commission, president Jim Moran,

[1:09] Pledge of Allegiance to testify

[1:11] the United States of America to the Republic

[1:14] for which stands, one Nation under God, indivisible

[1:19] with Liberty Justice for All.

[1:22] Can you please remain standing for a moment of silence

[1:25] for the passing of Wayne Humphreys?

[1:33] Thank you.

[1:42] All right, commissioners, we can move

[1:45] to approve this morning's agenda.

[1:47] So the agenda for our meeting today, July 14th, along

[1:51] with the regular session minutes,

[1:52] the sanitary commission minutes

[1:54] and the closed session minutes from the June 30th meeting

[1:57] have been circulated for review.

[1:58] Any additions, changes, corrections?

[2:01] Nope. Motion to approve the agenda as submitted

[2:03] and the minutes as submitted.

[2:05] Second, We have a motion

[2:06] to second any further discussion?

[2:08] Seeing none. All those in favor signify the saying Aye.

[2:11] Aye. Opposed? Alright, thank you commissioners.

[2:15] So we just held a closed session under the general

[2:17] provisions article sections 3, 3 0 5 B one for personnel,

[2:21] section 3, 3 0 5 B seven to consult with counsel

[2:24] and section 3 3 0 5 B three for land acquisition.

[2:28] I do believe we have one government services contract motion

[2:32] for for the personnel matter.

[2:36] I move to approve the government relations contract

[2:39] with Bruce Ano for FFY 2027.

[2:42] Second. Motion to second. Any discussion on this topic?

[2:46] See none. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.

[2:48] Opposed? All right, thank you commissioners.

[2:51] That brings us to press and public comment.

[2:54] So we appreciate all citizens for taking time

[2:56] to express views to the county commissioners.

[2:59] Comments are limited to three minutes per person

[3:01] comments longer than three

[3:02] minutes can be submitted in writing.

[3:04] This commission respects your desire

[3:06] and right to convey your message freely.

[3:07] When you come forward, please speak clearly at the standing

[3:10] microphone states, your name, your address,

[3:11] and your topic of interest.

[3:13] And in keeping with the dignity of our office, we ask

[3:15] that all views be expressed in a

[3:17] respectful and civil manner.

[3:19] We have, first on the list is Loring Mills.

[3:27] Good morning commissioners. Good morning. Morning.

[3:29] Morning. My interest is in traffic safety question.

[3:33] My name is Loring Mills.

[3:34] I live at 2 32 Topside Drive in Stevensville.

[3:40] A decision was made by the planning commission last Thursday

[3:44] to provide major site plan approval

[3:47] for a manufacturing facility adjacent to target traffic,

[3:52] routing and accessibility was considered,

[3:55] but traffic safety for that particular activity

[3:59] was not properly addressed.

[4:02] The proposed facility is for a good company,

[4:05] it's a great company, it's a great asset

[4:07] for Queen Anne's County, the tech ops safety

[4:10] specialty vehicles and that the county should support

[4:14] whatever they can to help this company.

[4:16] They provide items for security at national events.

[4:20] My concern is the traffic consideration of that entrance

[4:25] to the facility that was being considered.

[4:28] The proposed entrance to the FI is on a sharp curve

[4:32] of the Thompson Creek Road within 200 feet

[4:36] of the MA most complex intersection we have on Ken Island.

[4:40] That's where Route eight inter is interchanges with

[4:45] Thompson Creek Road and Pier One Road.

[4:49] That intersection is well documented

[4:51] as a problem intersection In fact,

[4:56] traffic backs up beyond where that proposed entrance is

[5:01] to the facility for each one of the red lights.

[5:04] Not every red light, but every few minutes a red light

[5:06] back up occurs there.

[5:08] And my concern is basically

[5:11] how the heck are you gonna handle all the traffic on that

[5:15] area and the aggravated aspects of that entrance

[5:20] to that important intersection.

[5:24] As you review the project, I review, IE urge the commission

[5:28] to require an independent TRA traffic safety evaluation.

[5:33] How does that impact the traffic there on that route eight

[5:38] at that intersection?

[5:39] That's very close. It's a lifeline.

[5:43] It's a lifeline for a large part of the county

[5:47] and a lot of business and activity there.

[5:50] I just thank you for consideration of that safety effect.

[5:54] I would like to offer my comments that I

[5:56] provided to the planning committee

[5:59] as thank

[6:01] You.

[6:02] Thank you.

[6:07] All righty. Jay Stead.

[6:17] Good morning commissioners.

[6:18] Jay Fag, queen and Conservation Association.

[6:21] Thank you for the opportunity to speak

[6:23] and thank you for having the morning meeting.

[6:24] It's kind of nice to see daylight outside.

[6:28] I just wanna make a comment one on 26 0 5,

[6:32] but two on these text amendments generally

[6:34] because I've been following this stuff for a long time

[6:39] and it seems like these text amendments are now getting

[6:41] to a point where they're getting outta control.

[6:44] And so anybody is entitled

[6:46] to submit a text amendment in February.

[6:49] More often than not, these things are coming forward for

[6:53] a single landowner to try

[6:55] and correct something either based on a bad investment

[6:58] or a misunderstanding

[6:59] or something related to their their property.

[7:03] The problem is they're not taking into account the broader

[7:07] impacts to the county

[7:08] and legis legislation is supposed to work countywide.

[7:12] And so what happens is some

[7:16] eager attorney will come forward with a text amendment,

[7:19] push it forward force staff to do a review,

[7:23] force your attorney to do a review,

[7:25] force my attorney to do a review.

[7:27] And oftentimes they end up failing.

[7:31] And so I hope at some point we can take a look at text

[7:35] amendments generally with the aim

[7:38] of hopefully doing away with them.

[7:39] I have to say in my 20 plus years, I've never once

[7:42] put forth a single text amendment.

[7:45] And there's a reason because I try

[7:46] and work through the commissioners,

[7:48] bring forward a legislative idea,

[7:50] let it go through the process.

[7:52] This text amendment process I think is just

[7:54] wr wrought with problems.

[7:55] That brings me to 26 0 5.

[7:59] I testified last time on it, this particular text amendment

[8:03] and this particular parcel of land.

[8:06] In short, in my view, the landowner bought a lemon

[8:10] and now he's coming to you to try and rescue his investment.

[8:15] At no point during his proposal

[8:19] has he done any other traffic

[8:20] studies anywhere else in the county.

[8:22] There's been nothing to look at any

[8:24] of the other intersections

[8:25] where this text amendment would apply.

[8:28] Your highest order

[8:29] as a county commissioner is public safety.

[8:33] By allowing what he wants to do at that intersection

[8:36] undermines your ultimate responsibility

[8:39] for public health, safety and welfare.

[8:42] I submitted a paper to Todd, Mr. Mon just a moment ago.

[8:46] I also submitted to you by email yesterday, I believe

[8:50] that text amendment 26 0 5 is legally vulnerable,

[8:54] but for a whole host

[8:55] of other reasons which are articulated in this paper,

[8:59] I hope you'll find a way to reject this outright.

[9:02] You have plenty of reasons to reject it.

[9:04] The Planning commission said no.

[9:06] The Economic Development Commission said no.

[9:09] The Board of Appeals said no

[9:10] and your public works department has said no.

[9:13] That should be plenty of reason.

[9:14] Enough to just say no to 26 0 5. Thank you.

[9:18] Thank you. Alright, Brenda Malaney,

[9:26] I'm the eager attorney.

[9:27] I believe so.

[9:29] I I represent the two first text

[9:31] amendments that are on your agenda today.

[9:32] And would just like to recognize that the, you know, the law

[9:36] and the process do allow citizens

[9:39] to bring these text amendments forward to resolve issues.

[9:41] The text amendments are there, whether you bring them

[9:44] or a citizen or a business owner

[9:45] or a property owner brings them to address specific issues.

[9:49] That's why the mechanism exists.

[9:51] The county has a short window where they can be submitted

[9:55] and you know, we've, we've submitted in that window

[9:58] to address an issue

[10:00] that we believe results in a better situation for the county

[10:04] supports business in the county

[10:06] and would allow a reasonable review by the Board of Appeals

[10:10] as we've proposed to modify the text amendment,

[10:14] would allow a reasonable review by the Board of Appeals

[10:16] through the conditional use process to ensure

[10:18] that there are not significant adverse impacts created

[10:21] at a subject location.

[10:24] Recognizing that this change is requested to be countywide.

[10:27] We do believe that it is reasonable.

[10:29] I do want to point out that there's a lot of, you know,

[10:32] there's some dialogue on social media on both sides

[10:35] of this discussion related to the 3 0 1 intersection

[10:39] that is adjacent to this applicant

[10:42] who brought forward the citizen led

[10:43] text amendments property.

[10:44] That intersection is well over 100 feet from this property

[10:48] so that that intersection is not at conflict with the law

[10:51] as it currently exists.

[10:52] There's a dirt road intersection between that intersection

[10:55] and this subject property.

[10:57] I don't believe that there are traffic concerns

[10:59] or safety concerns related to

[11:01] that intersection within a hundred feet.

[11:02] But the intersection that I think is causing some

[11:04] of this consternation and dialogue is well over 100 feet

[11:07] away from the entrance to this specific property here

[11:12] to answer any questions on behalf of either

[11:14] of these applicants for these citizen led text amendments.

[11:16] But just wanted to note that. Thank you

[11:20] Laura Davis.

[11:24] Morning everyone. Laura Davis Churchill, Maryland.

[11:28] I'm a lifelong resident of Quin Annes County.

[11:29] Grew up in Sellersville.

[11:31] My husband and I have been in Churchill

[11:33] for the last 10 years and I use the 3 0 1 4 0 5

[11:36] intersection every day.

[11:38] I used it on the way here. I will soon have children

[11:41] traveling that intersection

[11:44] potentially multiple times a day.

[11:46] I drafted an email, I sent it this morning.

[11:48] So a little tardy on my part.

[11:50] But I do want to express my feelings about

[11:54] the text amendment change that's being proposed

[11:58] for Ordinance 26 0 5.

[12:00] I urge you to vote no.

[12:02] As someone who has advocated to improve the safety

[12:04] of the intersection at 3 0 1

[12:07] and 4 0 5 for years, I find it deeply troubling

[12:10] that the county is even considering reducing requirements

[12:13] required setbacks for gas station entrances

[12:15] and exits from a hundred feet to 75 feet.

[12:17] The intersection is already one of the most dangerous

[12:21] and frustrating in our county.

[12:23] As you all are aware, every day residents have

[12:26] to navigate high speeds higher than ever.

[12:28] I would argue heavy traffic more than ever,

[12:31] I would argue right Since the Delaware

[12:34] Middletown bypass has been put in place,

[12:36] limited opportunities to turn on the highway

[12:39] and near misses that have become all too common.

[12:42] The solution should be finding ways

[12:43] to make this intersection safer,

[12:45] not weakening the very standards that were put into place

[12:49] to protect the traveling public.

[12:51] What is especially concerning is

[12:53] that the professionals charged

[12:54] with evaluating these issues have already spoken.

[12:57] The Department of Public Works recommended against the

[13:00] amendment planning staff recommended an

[13:02] unfavorable recommendation.

[13:03] The Economic Development Commission also opposed the

[13:06] amendment because of traffic safety concerns.

[13:08] When multiple independent county departments reach the same

[13:11] conclusion, that should carry significant

[13:13] weight in your decision making.

[13:15] This ordinance is not simply about one of a parcel of land.

[13:18] If adopted, it will establish a countywide precedent

[13:21] by reducing safety standards

[13:22] for future developments across Queen Anns County.

[13:25] A place we all know and love our community has been asking

[13:28] for improvements to this 3 0 1 4 0 5 intersection for years.

[13:32] We need to be meaningful.

[13:34] We need to put meaningful investment in traffic safety,

[13:37] better traffic flow,

[13:39] and long-term solutions, not regulatory changes

[13:41] that could increase the number of vehicle

[13:43] conflict points at an already difficult intersection.

[13:46] If this ordinance is approved

[13:48] and development proceeds under reduc, I'm sorry,

[13:51] reduced safety standards, I fear it will only be a matter

[13:54] of time before a serious tragedy occurs.

[13:56] Many of which have already occurred As it stands.

[14:00] I sincerely hope we never reach a day when everyone looks

[14:03] back and wonders why the warnings from the county staff,

[14:07] public safety advocates and concerned citizens were ignored.

[14:11] Please put public safety ahead of convenience

[14:13] and development pressure.

[14:15] The residents who travel these roads daily deserve

[14:17] leadership that prioritizes protecting lives

[14:20] over lowering established safety standards.

[14:23] I respect each of you and I ask you to vote no

[14:26] to Ordinance 26 0 5.

[14:28] Thank you. Thank you, thank

[14:29] You, thank you.

[14:31] That's all we had signed up.

[14:32] Would anybody else like to speak at this time?

[14:36] Name and address.

[14:37] Yes, Joe Ano lived here my whole life.

[14:40] Senator Rome, Maryland, the owner

[14:42] of Property and Price Station.

[14:45] One thing I just wanna make clear is

[14:46] that the intersection 3 0 3 0 1

[14:49] and four five is not the intersection that is applicable to

[14:53] what we're trying to change here it is the Dirt Road,

[14:55] Carville Price Road, which is within a hundred,

[14:57] not the not the highway intersection.

[14:59] Highway intersection I know is an issue.

[15:01] Every highway intersection on 3 0 1 is be is an issue.

[15:04] I'm in full support of trying to find a solution

[15:06] to make all those intersections safer.

[15:10] We've recently received a letter from State Highway.

[15:12] I know you guys have sent them letters to make 'em safer.

[15:14] We received a letter from them.

[15:16] They're gonna use our property to help

[15:17] with their traffic studies to, to try to find a solution.

[15:20] We're in full support of that.

[15:22] But those intersections are not, don't, don't really relate

[15:25] to what we're trying to do with this project.

[15:27] This project here we are trying to help the commu,

[15:30] it's a commercial property.

[15:32] You know, it's been sitting there vacant for years.

[15:34] The community out there wants something.

[15:35] They've, we've for four years we've

[15:37] been trying to figure out what to do.

[15:39] They've come to us. They want gas, they want a gas station.

[15:42] You know, there's no gas station along 3 0 1

[15:44] for 30 mile stretch.

[15:46] You know, there's no place to get fuel.

[15:48] They have to go to Churchill, they have to go

[15:49] to Centerville, they have to go to Delaware.

[15:51] We're trying to help the

[15:52] community here, the community there.

[15:54] This is what they want. So I hope

[15:56] we can find a way to make it happen.

[15:59] Would anybody else like to speak?

[16:06] We also have a couple people on Zoom

[16:07] and if you are in Zoom

[16:09] and wanna make public comment, could you please either use

[16:10] the raise your hand feature

[16:12] or answer the the chat that we have.

[16:15] This email comes from Claudia Jewel.

[16:18] As a lifetime resident of Ken Island

[16:19] and a resident of Marlin Farms for 62 years,

[16:22] I strongly request that commissioners

[16:23] and the Department of Public works prioritize the extension

[16:26] of the sewer system to Marlin Farms and Dominion.

[16:29] Rising water levels and aging STIC systems pose a genuine

[16:32] concern for homeowners and for the environment.

[16:34] Every waterfront home with the septic system is a time bomb

[16:37] for failure and our precious rivers will be the victims.

[16:40] Planning for extension of the 5 5 2

[16:42] system need to be started.

[16:43] ASAP as far as future allocations, quarterly review

[16:47] and approval appears to be the better plan.

[16:49] Thank you for your consideration. That's all I have.

[16:52] We better wave than I? No, I think we're good to deal.

[16:56] Alright, we're gonna go ahead and close.

[16:58] Press on public comment.

[17:03] Alright commissioners, we can move into the legislation

[17:06] we have this evening, or excuse me this morning.

[17:10] Tab number seven, item one, page one,

[17:13] county ordinance 26 0 5

[17:15] supplemental standards for gas stations.

[17:17] This is available for a vote.

[17:19] This is supplemental standards for gas stations

[17:21] to include fuel pumps, underground storage, fuel tanks,

[17:24] canopies and Queen S County.

[17:25] For the purpose of reducing the required distance

[17:27] between an exit entrance to a gas station

[17:30] to any intersection from 100 to 75 feet.

[17:35] I think I, I would like to continue this item

[17:37] for an additional two weeks so we can consider an

[17:39] amendment to the ordinance.

[17:40] So we're gonna hold that.

[17:42] Okay. Alright.

[17:46] Item number two, county ordinance 26 0 6.

[17:50] This is for the maximum impervious surface ratio

[17:54] for commercial and industrial uses in the suburban

[17:56] commercial district that we're operating prior to

[17:59] December 31st, 2025.

[18:02] And this would increase that impervious percentage coverage

[18:07] from 45% to 80%.

[18:11] And also I would also like to continue this item

[18:13] for an additional two weeks so we can consider an

[18:15] amendment to the ordinance.

[18:17] So we're gonna hold these two in two weeks, come back with a

[18:20] possible amendment and move forward from there.

[18:24] Okay?

[18:26] Alright. Thank you Mr. President.

[18:27] Item number three is the amendment

[18:31] to county ordinance 26 0 9 for

[18:34] transferable development rights.

[18:37] This can be introduced

[18:38] and forwarded to the planning commission for review

[18:40] and recommendation if you so choose.

[18:42] This would further restrict the allowable uses in open

[18:46] space, which have been administratively subdivided under

[18:49] other provisions of the legislation.

[18:53] I'll introduce the amendment to 26 and nine. Alright.

[19:00] Okay, item four is

[19:03] likewise an amendment to county ordinance 26 10

[19:06] for non-contiguous development.

[19:08] Also can be introduced and forward

[19:09] to the planning commission for review

[19:11] and recommendation similar to the previous ordinance,

[19:15] this would further restrict the allowable uses in open

[19:17] space, which have been administrative loose subdivided under

[19:20] the TD NNCD development districts.

[19:25] We'll introduce the amendment to county ordinance

[19:27] 26 10 as well.

[19:30] Okay. Alright. Alright.

[19:33] That's all we had on the agenda

[19:34] for legislation this morning.

[19:36] Okay,

[19:38] Next up we have Presentations.

[19:40] So item first up we have Ms.

[19:43] Melinda Ray, character counts coordinator.

[19:45] So Melinda, come on up. Good

[19:46] Morning, good morning, good morning, good morning.

[19:50] I'm a morning person So this is perfect.

[19:53] Alright, so I am here

[19:55] to give you guys just an update on character counts

[19:59] and where we stand and how our year went in the schools.

[20:02] It went really well. I always do surveys with our teachers

[20:06] and our students at the end of the year to kind

[20:08] of figure out, make sure we're doing what we want to do

[20:11] and that we're making the impact we think we're making.

[20:13] So I have some stats for you.

[20:16] We ask the teachers whether

[20:17] or not they felt the school supported character counts

[20:19] and they saw it like within their building

[20:21] and other places outside of just the coaches coming in.

[20:23] 95% said that they, they did. So the schools are on board.

[20:27] And then we have some great buy-in.

[20:29] We've got some great schools and great faculty,

[20:31] so I always love working with them.

[20:33] 93% of our teachers said

[20:35] that they welcome the character counts coaches into their

[20:37] classrooms, which is is nice.

[20:40] And one of the questions I asked both sets teachers

[20:43] and students was whether

[20:45] or not character counts is making a positive

[20:47] impact on their classroom.

[20:48] What are the teachers seeing?

[20:49] Is this helping the way we think that we're helping

[20:52] and 91% of our teachers so

[20:54] that they see a positive impact on our,

[20:55] on their students from our character counts coaches.

[20:57] So that's always exciting.

[20:59] And then we also pull students, we pull fourth

[21:01] and fifth graders and some third graders,

[21:03] but mostly fourth and fifth graders.

[21:05] And this is always my favorite data

[21:07] is what the kids are saying.

[21:09] So 82% of that age group said that they enjoy the classes,

[21:13] they enjoy the lessons from our coaches.

[21:16] 89% felt that the coach that they had was engaging

[21:19] and then fun and, and they enjoyed their visits.

[21:22] And then 72% of the students said

[21:25] that they saw a positive impact from the te the

[21:27] coaches in their classroom.

[21:29] And 72 is obviously lower than 91,

[21:31] but we're talking about 10, 11 year olds.

[21:32] So that's a hard audience. So I think 72 is a good number

[21:37] for them to say that they see a positive impact.

[21:39] So I thought that that was kind of exciting.

[21:41] And then I also, we allow our TE teachers

[21:44] and our students to kind of make comments.

[21:47] So I wanted to read you some of them.

[21:49] These are from the teacher survey. I love character counts.

[21:52] Having a community member teach these lessons

[21:54] and be one more adult in a child's life who is teaching them

[21:56] and pulling for them is wonderful.

[21:58] It truly takes a village, which is one of my favorites.

[22:02] The year was outstanding best in 11 years.

[22:04] Coaches were great with kids, consistent and communicative.

[22:08] These character counts lessons are

[22:10] so valuable to our students.

[22:11] Thank you so much for making sure our young students

[22:13] are exposed to these lessons.

[22:15] And all of this is obviously

[22:16] because you guys allow character counts to continue

[22:18] to run in our county and

[22:20] because of our partnership with Q-A-C-P-S

[22:23] and then some students commented too.

[22:24] So I wanted to read you some things

[22:26] that come directly from these 10 and 11 year olds.

[22:28] This hard audience. I really like Character counts.

[22:31] I think it's fun and interesting.

[22:32] I hope that character counts stays in my life.

[22:35] Another said my character counts is so nice.

[22:37] She's fun and taught me

[22:38] to care about other people's feelings.

[22:40] She taught me good character.

[22:42] Another one said I like that it was fun

[22:44] and I got to write on paper, not on a computer.

[22:47] I really like what they do at Character Counts.

[22:49] I want to thank everybody that works at Character Counts

[22:51] and helps me learn and have fun.

[22:52] Thank you for going out of your way to help us.

[22:55] What age is this? This is 10 and 11 year olds.

[22:58] Yeah, another said our coach was really fun.

[23:01] The best character counts teacher ever.

[23:03] She tells stories that in lessons and she plays game

[23:06] and she teaches us and the pillars are really the best.

[23:09] And so these always make me smile.

[23:11] It's one of my favorite things. I also do focus groups

[23:15] with outgoing fifth graders who've had character counts now

[23:17] since kindergarten to get their impact, the good and the bad

[23:21] and the ugly all in between.

[23:22] And that went really well. I did that

[23:24] with all the outgoing fifth grade classes.

[23:26] We had a small group, about five to 10 students.

[23:29] I got some really good positive feedback on

[23:31] where they wanna see the lessons going in

[23:32] particular, which is exciting.

[23:35] So I'm working on some new lessons for them.

[23:37] The other thing that came up in one

[23:39] of those focus groups was the kids really wanting

[23:43] to be involved in character counts outside

[23:45] of just their character counts lessons in their classrooms.

[23:47] We do have student ambassadors in each building

[23:50] and those two students in each school get

[23:52] to do like announcements and special

[23:53] things for character counts.

[23:55] But a lot of the fifth graders wanted a bigger role.

[23:58] And so in speaking with the school counselor at Matt Peak

[24:01] Elementary, we're gonna do a pilot program this coming year.

[24:03] We're gonna call it Character in Action,

[24:05] which is basically going to be a character counts club.

[24:08] So we're gonna allow kids to kind of join it.

[24:09] The idea it's, it's kind of being flushed out right now,

[24:11] but the idea is that these

[24:13] students would choose a civic activity that they want

[24:16] to accomplish over the year.

[24:17] Something that they see that in the community they wanna

[24:19] make a positive difference in.

[24:21] And they would work as the leaders of this group to kind

[24:24] of organize that, figure out an action plan, figure out

[24:27] what they need and make

[24:28] that happen over the course of the year.

[24:29] And then I would support that through kind

[24:31] of like monthly get togethers.

[24:33] So we're excited about piloting that at Mad Peak Elementary.

[24:37] We do have new lessons coming up.

[24:39] Worked on a whole new series

[24:41] for our kindergarten first grade group,

[24:43] which I told you guys about the children's

[24:45] books we're working on.

[24:46] Or I'm working on fourth grade lessons right now.

[24:48] And then I hope to do also a fifth grade kind of revamp on

[24:51] what they, they do in their, their care accounts lessons.

[24:55] And then the last thing you mentioned earlier,

[24:57] we had a moment of silence for Mr.

[24:58] Humphreys. He was an integral part of character counts

[25:02] and is a huge loss to me and to this program.

[25:06] Not to mention the community at large,

[25:08] but the advisory board for character counts wanted

[25:12] to do something to honor Wayne's legacy,

[25:15] specifically with character counts.

[25:17] And so we will have a committee that will meet in September

[25:20] and we are going to be working on

[25:21] what we're gonna call the Wayne Humphrey

[25:23] Student of Character Award.

[25:25] So hopefully an outgrowing fifth grader at every elementary

[25:27] school will be chosen that exemplifies all six

[25:32] of the pillars the way that Wayne did.

[25:34] So we're looking forward to honoring him in that way.

[25:37] And then as always, we're always looking for volunteers.

[25:39] It is the summer, but I am already

[25:41] thinking of next school year.

[25:42] So all of you guys, I've got lots

[25:44] of openings as of right now.

[25:46] I'm going to speak to the board of Ed

[25:48] in next month in August as well.

[25:52] Businesses of character, if you guys have a business in the

[25:54] county that wants to join us and kind

[25:56] of help us promote our mission,

[25:57] we're always looking for that.

[25:58] And also advisory members.

[25:59] I love getting feedback and my advisory council

[26:01] is a great sounding word for me.

[26:03] So that's pretty much the update.

[26:05] I think I covered everything where

[26:07] We're at.

[26:08] So I have, not a question but more of a suggestion.

[26:11] So getting back to that group

[26:12] that you talked about, a fifth graders.

[26:14] Yes. This new, what are you calling it again?

[26:16] We're calling it Char, I'm

[26:17] gonna call it Character in action. Character

[26:19] In action.

[26:20] So just like the club. So I feel

[26:20] that the transition from fifth grade to middle school,

[26:24] there's a huge disparity and

[26:29] and desire to be cool in middle school.

[26:32] Yeah. And I think that adds pressure to the kids

[26:36] who have really focused as fifth graders or pre-K

[26:39] or kindergarten up to fifth grade

[26:41] and have practiced the six pillars of character

[26:44] for those five years that they were in elementary school.

[26:47] And then all of a sudden now they're faced

[26:48] with a different dynamic.

[26:50] And I think one of the focuses for this group

[26:52] that you're talking about is somehow helping them transition

[26:57] to the middle school level

[26:58] and understand that the honoring those six

[27:01] pillars is still important.

[27:03] I completely agree. And one of the things

[27:05] that I'm really looking forward to this particular group is

[27:08] creating it an opportunity for children

[27:09] to take leadership roles.

[27:11] Because I think that that establishes self-esteem.

[27:13] But to your point, when I sat down

[27:15] with the fifth grade focus groups, one of the things

[27:18] that came up and which is, which is why I wanna revamp kind

[27:20] of our fifth grade lessons, is

[27:22] that the fifth graders were very eager to kind

[27:25] of flip the pillars a little bit.

[27:26] In fifth grade. They said, you know, kindergarten

[27:28] through fourth grade and currently through fifth grade,

[27:31] the pillars are always about what you can do for others.

[27:33] How can you be kind? How can you be a trustworthy person?

[27:36] How can you show respect and all of those things.

[27:38] So the fifth graders were like, you know,

[27:40] we really need lessons on how to have self-respect, how

[27:44] to be responsible to ourselves, how to be true

[27:46] to ourselves, those type of things.

[27:48] So the lessons are gonna kind of flip a little bit.

[27:50] And so we're gonna be more reflective

[27:51] and self self-focused in fifth grade is

[27:53] what I'm looking forward to doing.

[27:56] But I'm a former fifth grade teacher,

[27:57] so I know exactly what you're talking about.

[27:59] And it doesn't necessarily start when they hit sixth grade.

[28:03] It's usually about January

[28:04] of fifth grade when they come back from their holiday break,

[28:07] something has flipped in these fifth graders

[28:09] and it's, they're completely different students. And

[28:11] The desire to be cool

[28:12] and accepted at the middle school level.

[28:14] Yes. And sacrificing some of those, those characters

[28:18] that they haven't exhibited all those years thinking I gotta

[28:21] ditch 'em because I'm now in middle school. And

[28:24] Middle school is a huge age

[28:25] of transition for these students.

[28:26] Yep. And they're trying to figure out who they are

[28:28] and how they relate in their groups.

[28:30] And their groups are changing. It's,

[28:31] it's a very difficult transition.

[28:34] And so we are hoping that with,

[28:35] by switching up the fifth grade lessons a little bit

[28:38] and making them more in introverted,

[28:40] we'll give these students a little bit more

[28:43] just self-esteem, self-confidence, power to to say no

[28:46] or power to make the hard, those hard choices.

[28:48] 'cause it is hard for those kids to do that.

[28:50] But also walking the fine line of, you know,

[28:52] my volunteers are just that they're volunteers.

[28:54] They're not psychologists, they're not educators.

[28:56] We wanna make sure that we're giving them lessons

[28:58] that are broad enough

[29:00] but we're not imposing, I don't know,

[29:03] self doctrines on kids.

[29:05] We want them to just give them tools to be self confident.

[29:10] Good. Awesome. Anything else? Thank you.

[29:13] All right. I'll see You guys soon. Thank

[29:14] you for the update. Yeah,

[29:15] Of course.

[29:16] Thank you. Thank you.

[29:21] Next commissioners we have

[29:23] Director Scott Hall from emergency services with

[29:28] his update today and that can be located in your book

[29:32] tab six, item two, pages two through 23.

[29:35] And we also have it up on the screen here as well.

[29:39] Good morning, Senator Director Haas.

[29:40] Yes, good morning. Good morning everyone.

[29:44] It's nice to be here in the morning.

[29:47] We've been told to hold this to 10 minutes

[29:49] so we're gonna speak really fast.

[29:52] If you could hold your questions till the end,

[29:54] I'm sure you'll have a couple questions for us.

[29:55] Each one of us is timed out how long it's gonna take us

[29:58] to do our, our component of it.

[30:00] So I am going to immediately turn it over to Lori

[30:03] to go over special operations.

[30:04] How much time does she get and just keep Yeah,

[30:07] how much time does she get about the more

[30:09] not enough the more

[30:10] We pause what time I'm gonna get.

[30:13] Alright, so good morning.

[30:15] I just wanna do a general recap of special operations.

[30:18] It's kind of a vague overview of our staffing.

[30:22] We've done some remodeling

[30:23] and this is what our staff looks like now.

[30:25] We have eight full-time employees

[30:27] and we are anywhere from emergency management to logistics

[30:30] to training under the emergency management umbrella.

[30:33] Some of the things that we are currently involved

[30:35] in or project updates.

[30:37] We have recently submitted four grants for the county.

[30:42] There's a list of them there.

[30:43] We are also starting to work on our continuity operations.

[30:46] We'll be reaching out to county departments very soon

[30:49] so we can work on our continuity of the county government.

[30:53] We're updating our strategic plan.

[30:55] We are constantly working on our emergency operations plan

[30:58] and evolving that.

[31:00] So that's in case of any large scale emergency.

[31:03] But we also work with individual groups this year we're,

[31:07] we were contacted by the four H Fair so

[31:11] that we can help them come up

[31:13] with a safety plan for this summer.

[31:16] And I think you'll see some added benefit to that

[31:18] during four each week.

[31:20] And then we also worked with hole in the wall over the last,

[31:23] I would say three years to get them up and running.

[31:26] And they're currently doing that.

[31:27] We're working on a dam plan

[31:29] and a dam exercise for all the dams

[31:32] that are in Queen Annes County.

[31:34] And then that is a mandate by the state.

[31:37] We do that every five years.

[31:38] And then we also continually touch the,

[31:42] our emergency response team

[31:44] or our cert team is active and growing.

[31:47] We are in the schools, both high schools

[31:49] and we are now expanding to two middle schools.

[31:51] We did one last year.

[31:54] We're also continually working on CPR staff,

[31:57] the lead training and public outreach events.

[32:01] Our logistics group, it consists of the radio,

[32:04] the CAD analysts and the inventory control.

[32:08] And then we have our training group

[32:10] and they are training mostly in-house coordinating out of

[32:16] out of our department to get enhanced training for EMS,

[32:19] special operations and

[32:22] and communication. And that is

[32:26] Alright on EMS.

[32:29] So first thing I wanna highlight is our staffing.

[32:31] So this is our current staffing based off of

[32:33] what we had coming out of FI 26.

[32:35] This doesn't include that FFY 27 seventh unit.

[32:39] So the important thing is from baseline we have zero

[32:41] vacancies right now, which I'm proud of.

[32:43] We've got one staff member that's in the process

[32:45] to precept from EMT to paramedic.

[32:48] We have four more that are in their mentoring process

[32:49] to set them up for success to move up.

[32:51] And then we have another four that are

[32:52] enrolled in paramedic class.

[32:53] So we're doing really well investing in our staff

[32:55] and building a pipeline of a LS providers for us.

[32:59] Fall volume wise, you can look from 24

[33:02] to 25 we saw enhancement

[33:03] or increases across the board in calls, transports

[33:06] and depletions in 2026 were already

[33:09] projected to be ahead in calls.

[33:11] Transports are lagging a little bit behind then

[33:14] what they would've been at this time last year.

[33:15] But also June to September is the busy months

[33:18] with the summer traffic.

[33:20] So we expect that those numbers will probably hike up a

[33:22] little bit over the company once.

[33:26] Looking at our response times for our 1275,

[33:28] we're holding pretty consistent around 13

[33:31] and a half minutes on our 70th percentile.

[33:33] We're also highlighting the 90th percentile

[33:35] 'cause it's something in our

[33:36] strategic plan that we're looking at.

[33:37] And that's kind of an industry standard

[33:38] that you really wanna start with Nate,

[33:40] your 90th percentile times, which we hold close

[33:42] to 17 minutes right now.

[33:44] Something that's contributing to challenges in our division

[33:48] and we're seeing an increase in major

[33:49] incidents throughout the county.

[33:52] We've got a lot of large accidents.

[33:54] We've had a couple of search operations that have happened

[33:56] and we're seeing an increase in our priority cardiac

[33:58] and respiratory patients.

[34:00] And things to notice is

[34:01] that these high acuity calls require multiple units

[34:04] of people to manage the severity

[34:06] of these people projects underway.

[34:09] You guys are familiar with the whole blood grant.

[34:11] We've talked about that last month.

[34:12] We're just waiting for the funding to be released

[34:14] to move forward with that project.

[34:16] The replacement supervisor unit that we ordered in November

[34:19] of last year is on the production line

[34:21] and we anticipate to see delivery of it in September.

[34:24] The cardiac monitors that you guys approved for us to do,

[34:26] we have taken delivery of them

[34:28] and we will do be doing training in the month of August

[34:30] with a target in service date of August 26th.

[34:33] And then we're also expanding our rapid sequence induction

[34:36] program, which is the highest level

[34:37] of innovation in airway care that we do.

[34:39] Thanks to Lori's training folks, we're able

[34:41] to really train up some folks outside

[34:43] of our supervisor cadre

[34:44] that were the only ones that had that skill.

[34:45] So we're gonna increase the level of service to the citizens

[34:48] of Queens County through that transport unit updates.

[34:52] So we've got two new Fesco units that are

[34:55] arrived in November and are in service.

[34:57] The unit that we ordered in July of 23,

[34:59] we finally got a production number on

[35:01] and we're expecting to see that

[35:02] around Thanksgiving of this year.

[35:04] And then we currently have two units on order from Fesco

[35:07] that were approved on August 27th

[35:09] and shortly we'll be asking you for another one 12

[35:12] to 18 month lead times on those.

[35:15] And last thing I know it's on

[35:16] all your mind The seventh unit.

[35:17] So we have two paramedics for that unit that are scheduled

[35:21] to start on August 12th.

[35:23] We are open for EMT positions up until tomorrow afternoon.

[35:26] We are gonna be conducting interviews on the 21st.

[35:29] We're hoping to grab a couple of them to start in

[35:32] that August 12th cadre.

[35:33] And if not, we'll put them on an eligibility

[35:35] list to start them in October.

[35:37] With that, I'll over to Scott.

[35:40] All right, so next on list is communications.

[35:42] Phil thought it would be great to take a vacation.

[35:45] So he was unavailable to come

[35:46] today, so I'm taking his place.

[35:49] The good news with our communications division is,

[35:51] is we have 25 or 23 full-time staff.

[35:55] Zach had to make us look bad,

[35:56] but we have one vacancy and he has zero.

[35:58] So we're working on the one vacancy just

[36:02] orientation wise, when we do have a vacancy

[36:05] and we bring in a new employee from scratch,

[36:07] it takes us about 1200 hours to train the person

[36:09] to get them fully functional by themselves on the floor.

[36:13] So it's usually a huge ordeal

[36:15] for us when we do have a vacancy call.

[36:17] Volume wise, we're running just a little under 62,000 calls

[36:22] to the center so far this year.

[36:24] Of those calls, 28,000,

[36:27] a little under 28,000 were emergency calls into the center

[36:30] and required emergency services.

[36:37] Phil has successfully passed the state 9 1 1 board

[36:41] inspection, which is an annual inspection that we go through

[36:45] and we actually passed with flying

[36:46] colors and we're very proud of that.

[36:48] Phil has also upped his QA and QI are quality assurance

[36:52] and quality improvement programs throughout the division

[36:55] and we've been lucky that the 9 1 1 board has funded a lot

[36:59] of applications that we can use

[37:01] to help us do quality assurance and quality improvement.

[37:04] One thing that you approved several months ago was the

[37:07] upgrade to our Vesta nine one one phone system

[37:09] and it has been delivered, it's sitting in the warehouse

[37:12] and we have a anticipated completion date of the upgrade

[37:16] late August timeframe

[37:18] and we should have a newly functional nine one one

[37:20] phone system in the center.

[37:22] We're currently coordinating efforts

[37:24] with Talbot County's 9 1 1 Center to use their backup center

[37:27] as our backup center when the courthouse gets its

[37:30] renovations in the upcoming year.

[37:33] Currently our IT department is working

[37:36] with their IT department to make that happen.

[37:38] And we still have a long way to go but we're hopeful

[37:41] and confident that we'll be able to use Bert's Backup Center

[37:44] as our backup center during

[37:46] that timeframe of the renovations.

[37:48] Last on the list is we recently had an audit done

[37:52] through the 9 1 1 board to analyze our rate

[37:57] that we charge on the phone bills.

[37:59] If you're, if you remember about two years ago we raised our

[38:02] rate from I think 75 cents to a dollar 50.

[38:06] And it took us about two years to do that process.

[38:08] Thank you Commissioner Wilson for getting in the middle

[38:10] of it and expediting that process

[38:13] even though I wouldn't really call it expediting it,

[38:16] but you moved it along a lot quicker than what it could.

[38:19] They basically on their analysis feel

[38:21] that we could up up our fee

[38:23] to $3 if we're comfortable doing that.

[38:26] We can't do that currently.

[38:27] I'm just putting a a a a reminder

[38:30] that we could potentially do this

[38:33] December timeframe is when we need, need

[38:35] to start considering it and start

[38:36] having conversations on it.

[38:37] And why my bringing it up is the 9 1 1 board is not capable

[38:41] of funding to the same levels that it has in the past

[38:44] because the technology change.

[38:46] There is a large brunt on the money for the grants

[38:49] that the 9 1 1 board, which will require us to pay more

[38:52] for services that the board has covered in the past.

[38:55] The good news is I am currently a voting member on the board

[38:59] and Jeff Rank sitting behind me is probably gonna get even

[39:03] with me for talking to him into being a

[39:05] member of the 9 1 1 board.

[39:07] But he is the fiscal administrator that's on a 9 1 1 board.

[39:11] I'm very proud of both of us being able to to participate in

[39:14] that and thank you Jeff for saying yes

[39:16] and you'll probably never say yes to me ever again.

[39:22] Next on the list is fire Marshal Jeff, take it away.

[39:24] So I'm Jeff Morgan, I'm a fire

[39:26] marshal for Queen Hills County.

[39:29] Currently in our office we have two full-time people.

[39:32] We have a one fire marshal

[39:35] and then one full-time fire inspector, two plans examiner.

[39:38] And we have five part-time contract personnel,

[39:42] which includes one part-time fire inspector,

[39:44] two plans examiner and four part-time inspectors.

[39:48] These are the stats from January through June.

[39:52] They're half year stats.

[39:54] It averages to 183 activities plan reviews per month,

[40:00] which breaks out to nine average activity plan reviews per

[40:03] county workday, which excludes holidays and weekends.

[40:07] If you look at the stats over on the side,

[40:09] I'll just point out a few of 'em.

[40:10] The bucket final,

[40:11] which are residentials in the county residential units,

[40:15] it's 121 we've done so far this year.

[40:19] Hydros are 124

[40:23] and the inspections we've done is 269.

[40:27] We've had three complaints that we follow up on

[40:29] and those are citizen complaints that come in

[40:31] through an email system.

[40:33] They can go online to the fire marshal,

[40:35] they can put in whatever problem they have

[40:37] and we'll come out and we'll take a look at

[40:39] what the issue is and get back to 'em if they So a desire.

[40:42] And we've done 277 plan reviews this year so far.

[40:46] And our total right now is 1,094.

[40:50] And then this is a breakdown from 2018 when I took over

[40:54] to the present and you can see the,

[40:56] the reds are all the activities such as inspections,

[41:01] bucket tests, complaints, anything like that.

[41:04] And the greens are the plan reviews

[41:05] that we've done in those years.

[41:07] And he says this is for calendar year. So that's all I have.

[41:13] So at the end, there's one thing that Lori forgot

[41:15] to mention, and I am not walking outta here without

[41:18] mentioning it 'cause I'm very proud of it.

[41:20] But the Maryland Emergency Management Association recognized

[41:23] Queen Annes County Special Operations Division

[41:25] with two awards this year, which I'm extremely proud of.

[41:28] One of 'em for Queen Annes County was a multi-agency

[41:31] sheltering exercise.

[41:34] Received the preparedness project

[41:36] of the year award for that.

[41:38] The second award that she received was

[41:40] for Queen Anne County Cert program

[41:43] and we received the community project

[41:45] of the year award for that.

[41:47] Why is that significant? Because there are 26 primary local

[41:51] jurisdictions that compete for these awards.

[41:53] There's basically six of 'em throughout the year.

[41:56] We receive two of 'em, which is unheard of.

[41:58] We've got a staff of three lori's part-time of that staff

[42:01] of three doing emergency management work.

[42:04] And most of these agencies in the larger jurisdictions have

[42:07] well over 20 people working in their

[42:09] emergency management division.

[42:10] So we're outperforming with three compared to

[42:13] what the larger jurisdictions are doing.

[42:15] So I'm extremely proud of that.

[42:16] And that's the end of our

[42:17] presentation. So you have any questions?

[42:19] Very good. So what Scott saying is if we reduce his

[42:21] workforce a little bit more, they work harder, right?

[42:26] And we get more awards Reputation, what I said

[42:29] So much for job security, Great job on those awards.

[42:32] I, I think people, what they don't see is sort

[42:35] of the local government working quietly, the background.

[42:38] And it's a lot of the planning

[42:39] and preparation that you do for if there's an emergency

[42:41] that allows you to respond so effectively

[42:44] and people don't see those exercise going on,

[42:47] but they're constantly being evaluated

[42:49] and it's amazing work that you guys do. So thank you. Thank

[42:52] You.

[42:53] Well, one thing, you guys have always been role players

[42:54] for us on, on these drills.

[42:56] I think you won a an academy award Commissioner Moran on,

[43:00] on a couple that you've done for us.

[43:01] And Phil has always been behind us on everything that we do

[43:06] and basically is on a unit every time we

[43:08] have an event that we're covering.

[43:09] So, so all of you thank you for

[43:11] What do for, well I I'm gonna get, hopefully I get one

[43:13] more chance, one more attempt at working

[43:15] the, the Bay Bridge race. We are

[43:17] Hoping, hoping that you are there for us. Yeah,

[43:19] That I just, just one discouraging comment

[43:24] regarding your presentation

[43:26] and certainly out of your control,

[43:28] but you talk about units that we ordered in 2023 and

[43:32] and we're and they've just entered production.

[43:35] Yep. So, you know, trying to plan that far out on, on

[43:39] and anticipate what our needs are gonna be in the future,

[43:41] knowing how long it takes to get equipment in.

[43:44] So kudos to you and your staff.

[43:47] I I just become a common factor that you guys lead,

[43:51] you know, the state in a lot of categories

[43:53] and that a lot of organizations in other county

[43:56] jurisdictions want to be like us.

[43:57] So kudos to you guys. Outstanding work. We

[44:01] Appreciate your support.

[44:02] Well we couldn't do our work without you,

[44:03] so thank you for everything you do for us.

[44:05] So, real quick question, Lord, has the state

[44:07] or is there any rumblings of the state addressing the

[44:10] battery emergency systems in terms of

[44:14] from an emergency management standpoint

[44:16] because we're only gonna be able to hold 'em off for so long

[44:20] and one of the fears is they get in

[44:22] before we actually have a plan

[44:23] on how we're gonna deal with

[44:24] 'em. If something was to happen.

[44:25] We have not heard anything or the state but, and

[44:28] It has not hit a state level on the emergency management

[44:30] Side at all. Okay.

[44:31] We talked about battery storage for

[44:33] Solar large.

[44:34] Yeah. Actually it's gonna be more than just solar now.

[44:37] It's gonna be for a lot of things. Yeah, yeah.

[44:39] Standalone and everything else. So yeah. All right.

[44:42] Well between that and data centers

[44:45] and everything else,

[44:46] we're not worried about data centers right now.

[44:47] We got, we got more,

[44:49] We got a year reprieve

[44:50] There, but, but you're not wrong.

[44:51] That's where the, that's where the big battery,

[44:54] I was out Frederick County at

[44:55] that hyper data center out there

[44:57] and a number of batteries they're gonna have out there.

[44:59] If that catches own fire, the whole county's gonna go.

[45:01] I mean there's just no way they're gonna contain that.

[45:02] Right. 180 acres of batteries.

[45:05] It's just gonna have to let it burn out. Yeah.

[45:07] It's the only way to do it. Yeah, unfortunately. Anyway.

[45:10] Well that's good to know the state's on it.

[45:13] Be some Well thank

[45:15] you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you

[45:16] Scott, while you're here.

[45:17] Commissioners, they, they had two action items.

[45:19] Do you wanna cover those real quickly? Yep.

[45:21] Alright, So if you wanna turn to tab number three,

[45:22] commissioners tab three, item number 11,

[45:26] pages 46 through 50.

[45:27] This is for the emergency services billing rate increase

[45:31] proposal in the addition of a lift assist

[45:33] and treatment without charge transport charge fee.

[45:37] So they've conducted an analysis of their current rates,

[45:41] Medicare reimbursement trends, inflation factors,

[45:44] and looking at neighboring jurisdictions.

[45:47] And it's been determined that our existing rates are

[45:49] significantly below regional benchmarks

[45:52] and there is a recommended increase of 200% in those

[45:56] transport charges to better align with prevail market rates

[45:59] and improve cost recovery.

[46:00] And to establish a charge for lift assist responses,

[46:04] which are an increasing, increasing in call volumes as well.

[46:09] So

[46:12] I move to approve the increase in ambulance billing rates

[46:14] and authorize the implementation of charges

[46:17] for lift assistance services

[46:19] and treatment without transport services as recommended

[46:21] by EMS and slash mc.

[46:26] Second, We have a motion

[46:27] to second any further discussion on this item?

[46:30] Seeing none. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

[46:33] Aye. Aye. Opposed? So moved.

[46:35] Thank you commissioners. And item 12 on pages

[46:38] 51 through 54.

[46:40] This is a request to order an additional ambulance

[46:44] with an expected delivery date of 18 to 24 months.

[46:47] As we we know, we have

[46:51] a Huston Houston Galveston area contract purchasing program

[46:55] agreement that will enable the department

[46:57] to procure a 2027 Ford F five 50

[47:01] for $394,259.

[47:05] I move to authorize the director of the department of EMS

[47:08] to purchase 1 20 27 Ford F 5 54

[47:13] by four Horton Model 6 23 ambulance

[47:17] through the Houston Galveston Area Council

[47:21] Cooperative Purchasing Program from Fesco Emergency Sales

[47:25] for $394,000 and

[47:29] $259.

[47:31] Second, We have a motion and a second on this item.

[47:35] Any discussion? Seen none.

[47:37] All those in favor signify the saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

[47:40] So moved.

[47:42] Thank you commissioner. Alright, thank

[47:43] You.

[47:44] Motions a little lower on that, huh?

[47:44] And the last one, the stretcher

[47:46] And the power lit Separate on

[47:49] That, that so it,

[47:50] if we know it's under 400,000, it's like woo.

[47:52] If we ordered that As

[47:54] A 20% markup, if you order it

[47:56] through them versus going straight to the manufacturer

[47:58] On this, I I assume that sooner

[48:00] or later you're,

[48:02] your orders this make four that we're waiting on now.

[48:04] Yes. So we're not gonna put 'em all in service

[48:08] when they come.

[48:09] 'cause you're gonna end up with a, a year in your cycle

[48:12] that you're gonna have to replace four ambulances.

[48:14] They're gonna stagger as they come in. Yeah.

[48:16] So, but we need to, the fleet

[48:19] that we have on the street right now, we need

[48:21] to replace desperately.

[48:22] So we'll transistor 'em as quick as we can.

[48:26] Okay. Thank you.

[48:27] Thank you commissioners. Thank you. All

[48:29] Right.

[48:30] Thank you. Great presentation.

[48:30] And and Todd, I'm

[48:31] sorry, I think we're a couple minutes. No,

[48:32] You're fine.

[48:33] We're good. Alright.

[48:35] Commission sticking with our action

[48:37] items in tab number three.

[48:38] We'll go back to item number onell leading off Proclamation

[48:42] 26 19 Parks and Recreation Month.

[48:47] That explains everything. That

[48:49] Explains a lot. It's Parks and

[48:50] Recreation month.

[48:51] That's right. That explains a

[48:52] Lot.

[48:53] There's a theme

[48:55] And it's FY 27 Now.

[48:56] Yeah. What did they say? Go when the

[49:00] Hooker's hot or whatever back.

[49:02] Well then it's hot strike. Well it's hot, right?

[49:05] I've got good practice.

[49:10] So I You want me to read the proclamation first? Sure.

[49:12] Or have him go and then justify it. Nevermind. All right.

[49:16] Proclamation 26 19.

[49:19] Whereas Parks

[49:20] and Recreation are an integral part

[49:22] of communities throughout this country,

[49:25] including Queen Anne's County and Wears Parks

[49:27] and Recreation promotes health

[49:29] and wellness, improving the physical

[49:31] and mental health of people who live near parks

[49:34] and wears Parks and Recreation,

[49:36] encourages physical activities by providing space

[49:38] for popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools,

[49:42] and many other activities designed

[49:44] to promote active lifestyles.

[49:48] You should probably have umpiring in in there as an activity

[49:54] Where has parks and recreation programming education

[49:57] activities such as out

[49:58] of school time programming youth sports

[50:00] and environmental education are critical

[50:02] to childhood development.

[50:04] And whereas Parks and Recreation increases a community's

[50:08] economic prosperity through increased property values,

[50:11] expansions of local tax base, increased tourism,

[50:16] the attraction and retention of businesses

[50:18] and crime reduction.

[50:20] And whereas Parks and Recreation are fundamental

[50:23] to the environmental, environmental

[50:25] wellbeing of our community.

[50:27] And whereas Parks and Recreation are essential

[50:29] infrastructures that make our communities resilient in the

[50:32] face of natural disasters and climate change.

[50:36] And whereas parks and where our parks

[50:38] and natural re recreation areas ensure the ecological beauty

[50:43] of our community and provide a place for children

[50:46] and adults to connect with nature

[50:48] and recreate outdoors,

[50:50] which has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.

[50:53] And whereas the US House of Representatives is designated

[50:57] July is Parks and Recreation month now

[51:01] therefore be it resolved by Queenan County Board

[51:03] of County Commissioners.

[51:05] The July is recognized as Parks

[51:07] and Recreation month time

[51:09] by the Queen Annes County Commissioners.

[51:12] Thank you. And while he's here

[51:15] That's right.

[51:17] While we're here, it is the beginning of a new fiscal year.

[51:19] So we have the next three items.

[51:20] Item two, three and four are

[51:22] for new field lighting projects using the Keystone

[51:26] purchasing agreement with Muscow.

[51:28] The first one is for White Marsh Park

[51:31] lighting on one baseball diamond

[51:32] and installation of additional infrastructure

[51:34] for future field lighting. I move to all,

[51:37] Lemme Finish, you're done. No,

[51:39] No we're gonna because we're gonna do all three together.

[51:43] Okay. Okay. Yeah. The second one is at bat's neck

[51:48] for one baseball diamond retrofitting the artificial turf

[51:51] field lighting and electrical panel bat's neck park.

[51:54] And the third item, item four is

[51:57] for a softball field at Bat's Neck Park as well.

[52:00] I moved to authorize the Department of Parks

[52:02] and Recreation to contract with Musco to install lighting

[52:05] for number one one baseball diamond

[52:07] and install infrastructure

[52:08] for future field lighting at White Marsh Park for a total

[52:11] of $525,368 two one

[52:16] baseball diamond retrofitting the artificial turf field

[52:19] lighting and electric panel work at Bats Neck Park

[52:21] for a total of

[52:22] six hundred seventy eight five hundred and thirty $2,000

[52:26] and three one softball field at Bats Neck Park

[52:29] for an apartment amount

[52:32] of $294,035 contingent upon

[52:35] grant funding from DNR program. Open space.

[52:40] Second. Second. We have a motion

[52:42] and a second on these three items.

[52:44] Any discussion? None.

[52:46] All those in favor signify by saying Aye. Aye. Aye.

[52:48] Opposed? So moved.

[52:50] Alright. Actually I know we've already made

[52:52] but I just want just a quick comment

[52:53] and I apologize 'cause you raced through that.

[52:55] But I think it's significant to remember that

[52:58] by putting these lights on the fields we're we're expanding

[53:01] the ability to use those diamonds beyond

[53:03] what daylight hours offer.

[53:05] So it's important because with this huge need for Fields

[53:10] usage, with all the different youth sports organizations

[53:13] that have evolved over the years in our

[53:16] community, this is key.

[53:18] So huge money well spent.

[53:22] Yep. Yeah, sure. Alright.

[53:24] The next two items, five and six are for new equipment

[53:26] for our parks and recreation department.

[53:28] The item five is for

[53:30] 2 20 26 Chevrolet 2,500 trucks.

[53:34] The second item, item six is for a Ford F five 50 truck

[53:40] from Hertrich Fleet Services with a dump bed

[53:42] and snowplow package.

[53:44] I moved to authorize the Department of Parks

[53:46] and recreations to purchase number one two 2026 Chevy 2,500

[53:51] HD trucks with Snowplow packer package from

[53:54] Hertrich Fleet Service Inc.

[53:56] In Denton, Maryland for $108,688

[54:00] and two one 2027 Ford F five 50

[54:04] truck with dump bed

[54:06] and snowplow package from Hertrich Fleet Services Inc.

[54:09] In Milford, Delaware for 108,767.

[54:14] Second. Okay,

[54:16] we've got a motion to second on these two items.

[54:18] Any discussion? None.

[54:20] All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.

[54:23] Opposed? So moved.

[54:25] Thank you commissioners. And our final item for

[54:28] Director Chanley is a parks stage rental fee increase on

[54:32] pages 24 through 26.

[54:34] And the Parks and Rec advisory board is recommend

[54:36] to increase the rates for stage rental fees

[54:39] effective August 1st.

[54:41] And essentially this is just for the security deposit,

[54:43] transportation and fuel surcharge fees.

[54:46] So just recovering our costs to deliver the stage

[54:50] If somebody borrow It right or rents it.

[54:52] Yes. Those fees are continued to be waived

[54:57] for nonprofits and co-sponsored events that

[55:00] I move to authorize the Department of Park recreation

[55:02] to increase the rates for stage rentals according

[55:04] to their updated rate schedule sheet.

[55:06] Effective August 1st, 2026.

[55:09] Second. Got a motion to second. Any discussion?

[55:11] Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. So

[55:17] Thank you.

[55:18] Just if you don't mind real quick, because this Parks

[55:21] and Recreation month, I'd like

[55:22] to acknowledge our recreation staff that is here.

[55:25] Yep. We got James Miller, we've got Curtis,

[55:29] Nick sti, Liz Pearson, Isabella Cheney,

[55:34] and Karen er here.

[55:35] And they're the ones who put together,

[55:39] that's a big part of our organization that, you know,

[55:42] it's a small group and they do a large,

[55:44] large activity for all of us.

[55:47] So they should be acknowledged

[55:48] For.

[55:49] Alright, well done. Thank you. Thank you all.

[55:49] Thank you again for thanks for being here today.

[55:51] Good to see everybody take care.

[55:53] You All right? All right, commissioners, moving along.

[55:58] Item number eight in your books on pages 27

[56:01] through 28 is an MOU with the Maryland Department

[56:03] of Transportation, MDTA

[56:05] for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Flagpole.

[56:07] And this is a mechanism to allow us to collect donated funds

[56:12] for the newly erected flag pole down by the Bay Bridge.

[56:22] I move to execute the memorandum of understanding

[56:24] with the Maryland Transportation Authority

[56:26] for the flagpole located at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

[56:29] Second, We have a motion to second into discussion.

[56:33] So funding mechanisms are payback mechanisms.

[56:38] Well, M-M-D-T-A couldn't accept donations from the local

[56:42] American legions and VFWs directly.

[56:44] So we were acting as a conduit

[56:46] to receive those donated funds to help

[56:48] Pay and then pass it through

[56:49] Pay for that project. Okay.

[56:50] Okay. So that, that was really, they,

[56:51] they just can't accept those donations.

[56:53] So this was a mechanism to allow us to get that

[56:55] and gotcha for the project.

[56:57] Yeah.

[56:59] So not that we would promote gambling of any sort,

[57:02] but if you are a member of any of the American Legions post,

[57:08] they are gonna be committing half of the proceeds

[57:10] that they receive on the machines

[57:13] that they have at their location

[57:15] towards the payment of this flag.

[57:17] So, gamble away

[57:22] and if there's an issue and a problem,

[57:24] dial the 1-800-GAMBLING problem number.

[57:28] Okay. Is there any other discussion?

[57:32] Let's get that flag paid for.

[57:34] Alright. Seeing none, all those in favor

[57:35] signify saying aye a.

[57:37] Aye. Aye. Opposed? So

[57:38] Moved. Sorry Jim.

[57:40] Thank you commissioners. Item nine.

[57:42] On pages 29 through 43, we have a,

[57:44] a conservation reserve enhancement program, a crep agreement

[57:48] of sale and project agreement

[57:49] for the relief farm LLC 90.7 acres

[57:53] of a 338 acre farm owned by relief farm ready

[57:56] to be submitted to Maryland DNR

[57:58] for review and final approval.

[58:00] No county dollars are associated with this crep easement.

[58:04] I move to execute the Crep easement agreement of sale

[58:07] and project agreement for the property owned

[58:09] by relief farm LLC.

[58:11] Second. Got a motion to second. Any discussion?

[58:15] Very well. All those in favor sign public saying aye. Aye.

[58:18] Opposed? So moved.

[58:20] Thank you commissioners. Item 10,

[58:23] we have a resolution here.

[58:24] This is resolution number 26 0 9.

[58:26] It's a slight modification to the moratorium,

[58:28] which is resolution 25 12.

[58:30] This resolution is to extend the one year deadline on the

[58:33] Board of Appeals conditional use approvals that for projects

[58:37] that may have been caught up in that, in

[58:39] that approval process, that will stay the timeline

[58:43] for a particular project and,

[58:45] and that the approval which would

[58:47] otherwise expire on July 16th, so they will not have

[58:50] to return to the Board of Appeals

[58:52] for a conditional use approval they've already received.

[58:56] I move to adopt resolution 26 0 9

[59:00] Second.

[59:03] Okay, we have a motion to second on this. Any discussion?

[59:07] And again, this is modifying the moratorium imposed

[59:10] by the resolution 25 dash 12.

[59:12] Seeing none. All those in favor signify by saying Aye. Aye.

[59:15] Aye. Opposed? So moved.

[59:18] All right. Thank you Commissioners.

[59:19] We've completed items 11

[59:21] and 12 with Director Haas,

[59:24] item 13 on pages 55 through 57.

[59:28] This is from our liquor board.

[59:31] This is for performing arts nonprofit organization,

[59:34] beer and wine license.

[59:36] They, the recently approved

[59:39] and voted to pro promote legislation for new beer

[59:44] and wine licenses for performing arts groups.

[59:48] And the board respectfully requested the commissioners

[59:50] forward this particular legislation to the delegation

[59:53] for introduction at the next legislative session in 2027.

[59:57] And this was generated via the Churchill Theater.

[1:00:00] They were requesting a beer

[1:00:02] and wine license for plays and shows.

[1:00:07] I move that the proposed legislation 27 dash 1 0 2,

[1:00:10] performing arts nonprofit organization, beer

[1:00:12] and wine license as submitted by the liquor Board,

[1:00:13] be forwarded to our legislative delegation

[1:00:15] for consideration, an introduction

[1:00:18] during the 2027 legislative session.

[1:00:20] Second, We have a motion to second any discussion

[1:00:24] As the commissioner lays liaison to the board of ed,

[1:00:26] I mean to the liquor board, it's, they're constantly coming

[1:00:30] to the liquor board for a one day

[1:00:32] license or a one event license.

[1:00:34] And, and it just made more sense to go this direction,

[1:00:37] you know, to give them that, that ability to not have

[1:00:41] to keep coming to the liquor board every time

[1:00:42] they're gonna have an event at the theater.

[1:00:44] So this was something that they discussed and worked out

[1:00:48] and it's, it's a good idea.

[1:00:51] Perfect. Very good. Any other discussion? Seeing none.

[1:00:54] All those in favor? Seat opposed saying Aye. Aye. Aye.

[1:00:57] Opposed? So moved

[1:00:59] All commissioners.

[1:01:00] Item 14 on page 58 is a letter of support

[1:01:03] for a grant application being submitted by Hope for All.

[1:01:06] And this is for a Veteran's home subdivision located in

[1:01:10] Grayville on Melvin Avenue.

[1:01:12] And the project would include pre-designed planning,

[1:01:16] schematic design, design development,

[1:01:18] and vacuum sewer remain upgrades going forward.

[1:01:20] So if they get the grant, so nice project,

[1:01:25] I move to execute the letter of support to

[1:01:28] Maryland Historic Trust for hope

[1:01:29] for all Veterans Home Subdivision Project.

[1:01:32] Second Honor. Motion to second. Any discussion?

[1:01:36] Seeing none. All those in favor signify to say aye. Aye.

[1:01:39] Opposed? So moved.

[1:01:42] Thank you commissioners. Item number 15

[1:01:45] is a procurement policy addendum and a donation

[1:01:49] and sponsorship policy revision on pages 59

[1:01:53] through 110.

[1:01:55] So addendum one to the procurement policy supplements are

[1:01:58] existing procurement policy specifically

[1:02:00] for procurements funding in whole

[1:02:01] or part with federal grants Cooperative agreements

[1:02:04] or pass through funds locally funded

[1:02:07] projects are not effective.

[1:02:08] But this basically just puts us into compliance

[1:02:10] with the federal uniform guidance

[1:02:13] and states that we're at conflicts with any of those

[1:02:16] that the, the addendum will control

[1:02:17] for federally funded projects.

[1:02:19] And secondly, the donation

[1:02:20] and sponsorship policy replaces our old donated policy,

[1:02:24] a donated property policy with a broader donation

[1:02:27] and sponsorship program covering cash, gifts, real

[1:02:30] and personal property in kind services, et cetera.

[1:02:33] We don't use that very much, but we wanted

[1:02:34] to have something, you know, on the books in case we have

[1:02:36] those opportunities going forward.

[1:02:38] This is just a general update. Yes,

[1:02:43] If you have any questions, director Jeff rank

[1:02:47] penned this policy in these amendments. So these

[1:02:50] I move to prove Addendum one,

[1:02:52] federal procurement compliance addendum

[1:02:54] to the county's procurement policy 400 dash zero one

[1:02:58] and place the county's donation policy

[1:03:00] with a new donation sponsorship policy.

[1:03:02] 400 dash one both to be effective July 14th, 2026.

[1:03:08] Second, we have a motion in a second.

[1:03:10] Any other discussion? This isn't gonna make

[1:03:12] It more difficult, right?

[1:03:15] This isn't gonna make it more difficult for donations.

[1:03:22] No. It'll just create some guidelines

[1:03:27] to better monitor the donations.

[1:03:29] So a lot of donations come in and have restricted uses

[1:03:33] and makes sure that we use funds for that

[1:03:38] and is, and are entered into our books properly.

[1:03:42] And, and, and this authority,

[1:03:45] the commissioners have the ability to, to make any kind

[1:03:50] of changes or waive certain restrictions

[1:03:54] on a case by case basis.

[1:03:56] Okay,

[1:03:59] Any other discussion?

[1:04:01] Seeing none. All those in favor sign public saying aye. Aye.

[1:04:04] Aye. Opposed? So moved.

[1:04:07] Thank you commissioners. And our final item today is item

[1:04:09] 16 on pages 111 through one 14.

[1:04:12] This is Budget Amendment CC one for the Board of Education.

[1:04:16] This provides $500,000 to the Board of Education

[1:04:19] to fund two district-wide rotating behavioralists

[1:04:22] and four middle school mental health support staff positions

[1:04:25] as approved by the board. Last month

[1:04:28] I moved to approve Budget amendment CC one,

[1:04:31] increasing the Board of Ed operating budget

[1:04:35] by 500,000.

[1:04:37] Second. I have a motion in a second. Any discussion?

[1:04:41] Move all those in favor. So same aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed?

[1:04:46] That'll move. Alright, commissioner,

[1:04:50] That's all we had.

[1:04:51] So we're at just five minutes shy

[1:04:54] of pressing public comments.

[1:04:56] Part two on the agenda.

[1:04:59] There you go. Anything, nothing, nothing online.

[1:05:04] Nobody wants to speak.

[1:05:06] Alrighty, we'll close pressing public comment.

[1:05:08] Go to round table, we'll go backwards. All right.

[1:05:13] Happy Bastille Day to our,

[1:05:15] our French American Commissioner.

[1:05:17] There you go. Mr. Mr. Moran. Thank you.

[1:05:19] And Commissioner Ell and do Oh, that's true. Yes.

[1:05:22] So I wanted to make sure, acknowledge,

[1:05:24] believe we ell for both of you.

[1:05:28] And then I wanted this, we, we,

[1:05:30] we passed on two text amendments today

[1:05:32] to have them have some modifications and coming back in

[1:05:37] and we've gotten a bunch of emails

[1:05:39] and some for some against, right?

[1:05:41] Both split. But it, it highlights an issue

[1:05:45] that we've talked about a lot in the past

[1:05:47] that it still always seems to escape.

[1:05:51] The public dialogue is speaking

[1:05:53] to the actual issue that's before it.

[1:05:56] So a lot of what we've received against is it's dangerous

[1:05:59] because of 3 0 1,

[1:06:02] but the ordinance that they're seeking to change

[1:06:07] has nothing to do with the proximity to 3 0 1, right?

[1:06:11] 'cause 3 0 1 is more than two

[1:06:13] and a half times, oh, the distance from that property than

[1:06:17] what the minimum safety standards are in the ordinance.

[1:06:21] So it's nothing to do with 3 0 1.

[1:06:23] It's I think what Carville Price Road is the road.

[1:06:26] So if you're saying it's dangerous, right?

[1:06:28] And you're saying it's because of 3 0 1, that's not

[1:06:32] what the ordinance speaks to.

[1:06:33] You really need to speak to what is the volume

[1:06:35] of traffic coming off Carville Price Road

[1:06:37] that creates the danger.

[1:06:39] That's, that's the issue that's being addressed by that.

[1:06:43] And I think a lot of people are forgetting that not

[1:06:46] to discount the issues with 3 0 1 and safety concerns.

[1:06:50] And we have been doing a whole bunch of stuff with the state

[1:06:53] to try to address those

[1:06:54] and trying to get federal grant funding

[1:06:57] to try to improve those intersections.

[1:06:58] But, but that's not the intersection,

[1:07:00] that's the issue of the ordinance.

[1:07:02] And I don't think people are understanding that.

[1:07:05] And so a lot of times when people come

[1:07:07] and they speak against something

[1:07:09] and they're speaking to something that is not the issue

[1:07:11] that's coming up and then they

[1:07:12] feel like, well, nobody listened to me.

[1:07:14] It's like, but you, but you weren't talking about the issue.

[1:07:17] So also tech ops, we had the gentleman here talking about

[1:07:20] what's the traffic impact of

[1:07:22] where the new location for tech ops is.

[1:07:24] And I hear all these people saying all this traffic,

[1:07:28] but it sounds like to me of people

[1:07:30] who don't really know much about tech ops, right?

[1:07:33] And they're assuming a traffic flow.

[1:07:35] Tech ops does not have hundreds of employees. 25. Yeah.

[1:07:39] I mean it's 25 maybe with a new thing they'll get up to 35

[1:07:42] or 40 hopefully more, more jobs.

[1:07:45] It's not a lot of traffic that are coming in.

[1:07:48] Tech ops does not have a whole lot

[1:07:50] of tractor trailers coming in.

[1:07:51] I mean, they have a piece of equipment that comes in

[1:07:54] a bus from DEA

[1:07:57] or you, you have a support van for Spokane Police Department

[1:08:02] and it's there for several months being worked on,

[1:08:06] not coming in and out.

[1:08:09] So it's not a high volume, frankly, if you're worried about

[1:08:14] traffic volume is a safety issue for that parcel,

[1:08:18] you should want tech ops

[1:08:20] because it is probably the least impact to traffic

[1:08:23] of any other business that could go there.

[1:08:26] And then the other issue when people are writing about it

[1:08:29] saying you shouldn't let tech ops there,

[1:08:31] or some people will say it's already decided actually yes,

[1:08:34] it has already been decided.

[1:08:36] It's called zoning. Zoning of what can go into a piece

[1:08:39] of property is already decided.

[1:08:42] That's why the business chooses that property.

[1:08:44] Because if you have a business and you wanna expand

[1:08:47] and you go to a real estate agent, you don't say,

[1:08:50] show me any piece of property where maybe I could build it.

[1:08:52] You say, here's my business, what parcels are available

[1:08:57] where I can do what I do.

[1:08:59] And zoning will say, yes,

[1:09:00] this is already legally allowed there.

[1:09:02] So has the decision been already made

[1:09:05] that a business like Tech Ops could be in there?

[1:09:08] Yes, absolutely. A hundred percent.

[1:09:09] That was done a long, long time ago by zoning.

[1:09:13] It has been zoned for that.

[1:09:14] So the decision is not whether a business

[1:09:17] like that could go there.

[1:09:18] It is. Does the concept plan fit within the requirements?

[1:09:22] And so if, if there's opposition to that, you need

[1:09:25] to look at the specific issue that's coming up

[1:09:28] before the planning commission.

[1:09:29] Because if you speak about like a challenge

[1:09:32] to zoning when it's already been zoned,

[1:09:34] the planning commission can't change the zoning based on

[1:09:37] public comment that would trigger all

[1:09:40] kinds of lawsuits for the county.

[1:09:42] We did a town hall expressing a lot of

[1:09:45] how development works in Queens County

[1:09:46] and all the vast rules that are in place.

[1:09:49] And it's not just county law.

[1:09:51] There's state law, there's federal law

[1:09:53] that all impacts these things.

[1:09:54] And so it's important whether you're for

[1:09:57] or against the project that you're actually looking to

[1:09:59] what is the issue that's being decided on.

[1:10:01] And then look at the law surrounding that

[1:10:03] so you can actually speak to the actual issue.

[1:10:04] Because if you're not, you're,

[1:10:08] you're not talking about the issue that's being decided.

[1:10:10] So you're gonna feel like your voice

[1:10:12] wasn't heard or, or impacted.

[1:10:14] But if you're not talking to the actual issue, then it's not

[1:10:17] what the jurisdiction of that board who's deciding on it,

[1:10:20] it's not what they're allowed to decide on.

[1:10:22] And I think we get into a lot of times where people get

[1:10:26] frustrated or sort of disenchanted

[1:10:28] because they're not focusing in on the actual issue.

[1:10:31] So I, and and since that came up twice today,

[1:10:33] I wanted to point that out again.

[1:10:35] I pointed out a lot, and hopefully it starts to click in

[1:10:39] with people, but there, there is a vast amount

[1:10:42] of laws in place as to where things can and can't go.

[1:10:46] And it's not anybody just waving a wand

[1:10:48] and deciding at one hearing.

[1:10:51] Thank you. So I just wanna put that out there. Appreciate

[1:10:53] It, appreciate it.

[1:10:54] I'm, I'm, I'm not following that, so I'm good.

[1:10:58] I I for my time to, to Chris used, I, I think it,

[1:11:02] those were important issues that he made.

[1:11:04] Sometimes we, we, we miss the big picture, you know,

[1:11:07] we're we constantly looking at things at 37,000 feet

[1:11:11] and we're not really looking at the focus of the point point

[1:11:13] that's actually trying to be made.

[1:11:14] So thank you Chris. Well done.

[1:11:18] Patrick Fernos restaurant, worked there,

[1:11:23] worked there for years, and then a convenience store.

[1:11:27] It seems like this is a issue that is,

[1:11:33] as you spelled it out correctly.

[1:11:37] Secondly, Wayne Humphreys, what a great man.

[1:11:41] He has done so much for the county

[1:11:43] so much that we don't know.

[1:11:45] He was heavily involved the playground

[1:11:50] at Old Love Point.

[1:11:54] And I worked with him on that.

[1:11:56] And I remember, you know, 25 years ago, him coming to the,

[1:12:01] the church talking about this character counts thing.

[1:12:04] And he's, he was just a, a really wonderful man.

[1:12:09] Third, that blood infusion program I am

[1:12:12] really excited about.

[1:12:13] Of course we'll never know whoever needs it,

[1:12:17] but it is a phenomenal step forward for mobile units

[1:12:21] to be able to get access to blood on, you know,

[1:12:24] during an MCV on Route 50 or 3 0 1.

[1:12:27] It, it really is extraordinary.

[1:12:30] And finally, the flagpole,

[1:12:35] I would have to say that it's probably

[1:12:38] the most positive input I've heard

[1:12:40] of since living in the county that the,

[1:12:43] and the commissioners put this together, the,

[1:12:47] the o overwhelming response was 99

[1:12:50] to 99% Lost it, missed

[1:12:53] It, right.

[1:12:54] I mean terms like majestic and, and

[1:12:57] It made my day.

[1:12:58] I woke up as I was

[1:12:59] Driving and then when, then when the flag wasn't up,

[1:13:01] they just came unglued, like where's fly? Where to go?

[1:13:04] But isn't that nice? Isn't that nice?

[1:13:06] More excitement than when the Chipotle opened it.

[1:13:08] And that was a big deal on Ken Island.

[1:13:09] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:13:11] This was much bigger than Chipotle. Yeah, it was.

[1:13:14] Anyhow, so it seems like we were able

[1:13:17] to rectify part of the problem.

[1:13:23] It would still be nice if we could get it to fly

[1:13:26] Thanksgiving and Christmas,

[1:13:27] but right now that's not on the docket.

[1:13:30] So I think we need to either send a letter to, to Richard

[1:13:34] and to the governor saying, Hey, you know, can we come up

[1:13:37] with more than five or six times a year

[1:13:40] where this is gonna fly?

[1:13:41] Yes. The smaller flag is a

[1:13:46] bandaid, but that's about what it is.

[1:13:48] It's beautiful. I went

[1:13:49] and looked at it yesterday from Walt Petrie's place.

[1:13:52] It's still a pretty big flag. It is.

[1:13:54] I mean it's still pretty big.

[1:13:56] Commissioner, I don't know if you're on,

[1:13:58] have a meeting coming up,

[1:14:00] but is there something we can do to try

[1:14:04] to get them to put it up more often?

[1:14:05] You mean as far as brag, you mean?

[1:14:06] Well, I think the thing is we need to take control of it

[1:14:10] if, or the American Legion

[1:14:13] let the American Legion take it up and put it down.

[1:14:15] That's what they do. They're exceptional at it. But

[1:14:19] The, the safety concern.

[1:14:20] Yeah, safety concern.

[1:14:21] Yep. But right now we go out

[1:14:23] and change the lettering on the overdoses and deaths.

[1:14:28] So I, I think we qualify to be able

[1:14:30] to handle putting the flag up and down,

[1:14:33] but we'll see them at maco

[1:14:35] and we can as a collectively

[1:14:38] as a group voice our opinions to that.

[1:14:40] I'd like to see 'em bump up the size of the interim flag.

[1:14:43] It's 10 by 15, let's jump up one or two sizes

[1:14:45] and seats, you know, 15 by

[1:14:47] 25.

[1:14:48] 15 by 25. This one now the, the smaller

[1:14:51] One.

[1:14:52] Yeah. Okay. So the big one's

[1:14:52] 30 by 50.

[1:14:53] Right. So it's half.

[1:14:55] And that's, and that's a monumental task

[1:14:56] to take that down and raise it.

[1:14:58] It takes multiple people. Yeah.

[1:15:00] And obviously concerns, you know, with the weather and,

[1:15:03] and how quick the weather can change and,

[1:15:05] and getting somebody there to get that down.

[1:15:08] There's a lot of, I mean, again, we, we talk about terms

[1:15:11] of like majestic,

[1:15:12] but understand there's a, the human aspect of it on

[1:15:16] what it takes to make that majestic look happen.

[1:15:19] And then I think that's where a lot of the,

[1:15:22] the devil is in the details and getting that done. So

[1:15:25] Between the county and the American Legion,

[1:15:27] I think we could figure it out.

[1:15:29] Yeah, I'd love to see that work out. Yeah.

[1:15:33] But that again, you know, addressing the issues.

[1:15:36] But perhaps maybe, you know, M Mdot does some training

[1:15:40] for a handful of these Legion members, you know, and,

[1:15:42] and so they understand the processes

[1:15:45] and what some of the restrictions will be and just coming

[1:15:48] and going to that area on the bridge again.

[1:15:51] That's the concern. Right.

[1:15:52] Again, I don't think it's a safety issue. Where do

[1:15:55] They park?

[1:15:56] How do they get there? Right.

[1:15:56] And they don't have the proper, you know, vehicles

[1:15:59] that have all the lights on it.

[1:16:01] Yep. The nine yards. So the county does,

[1:16:03] and we've done, like I said, we've maintained the sign, so

[1:16:06] it'd be nice to have the support of the American Legion,

[1:16:08] but, you know, we'll, we'll do the, you know,

[1:16:11] put people out there to do it.

[1:16:13] We'll have that discussion at Mako

[1:16:15] and we'll go from there. Yep.

[1:16:17] Our, I, I mean respectfully, our, our DW

[1:16:21] and our sheriff, I mean, they're, they're on 3 0 1 every day

[1:16:25] or Route 50 and they're,

[1:16:27] they're pulling off in the median to do something.

[1:16:30] Right. Even though it's a state road.

[1:16:31] They're picking up this, they're doing that.

[1:16:34] I think we could figure it out.

[1:16:35] Yeah, Well if they would, if they would let us do it.

[1:16:39] Well again, that's the goal, right? Okay.

[1:16:45] It Patrick? Yes sir. Alright, Jeff,

[1:16:48] Just a shout out to the red Exco.

[1:16:50] I got to witness 'em. Well, yesterday, well

[1:16:53] Done.

[1:16:54] They had eight of 'em, nine people lined up

[1:16:57] and I actually witnessed him, somebody behind me, two cars

[1:17:00] behind me, tried

[1:17:02] to jump in when they saw the police up in the distance

[1:17:04] and got right two cars behind me.

[1:17:07] And as we got up there, I looked back

[1:17:08] and that guy was out there, he just yanked him.

[1:17:10] Even though it was a half mile back,

[1:17:12] he still grabbed him from behind me

[1:17:13] and said, no, you're over there.

[1:17:14] And they had, I'm gonna say they had 10

[1:17:16] or 11 there, the car hold over just Oh yeah.

[1:17:18] Writing a ticket. So I loved it, loved it.

[1:17:20] Didn't have to ride down the middle and keep 'em out.

[1:17:22] So, yeah, that's all I got. I got nothing.

[1:17:25] So motion, make a motion to adjourn.

County Commissioners Meeting || 07/14/2026

Transcript