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HomeMy WebLinkAbout200609 - OPEN MinutesBoard of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland Open Session Minutes June 9, 2020 MOMENT OF SILENCE AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President Cline asked that the families of Larry Schlotterbeck and Jack Downey be remembered during this moment of silence. A moment of silence was observed, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CALL TO ORDER President Jeffrey A. Cline called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 10:03 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 1113, Hagerstown, Maryland, with the following members present: Vice President Terry L. Baker and Commissioners Wayne K. Keefer, Cort F. Meinelschmidt, and Randall E. Wagner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Baker, moved to approve the minutes of May 5, 2020; Mary 12, 2020; and May 19, 2020. The motion passed unanimously. Senator Andy Serafini and Delegate Paul Corderman were welcomed to the meeting by the Commissioners. Senator Serafini discussed the County Commissioners acting as the Local Board of Health and decisions which needs to be made during the pandemic as such. Delegate Corderman stated that the Commissioners need to be devising a plan to reopen Washington County. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS The Commissioners thanked Senator Serafini and Delegate Corderman for their comments. Commissioner Keefer recognized Ms. Ruby Staley as she celebrates her 112th Birthday. Commissioner Meinelschmidt congratulated the Town of Hancock as becoming the Trail Capital of Maryland. Additionally, he congratulated the Recreation Department for the recent opening of the pools. Commissioner Meinelschmidt referenced an upcoming softball tournament scheduled for this weekend which would offer up to 150 hotel bookings and asked the Commissioners to review the Executive Order and provide input. Earl Stoner, Health Officer, advised that the State Compliance Officer stated no games are to be played (no large gatherings). Commissioner Meinelschmidt discussed his interpretation of the Governor's Executive Order and shared that the Commissioners needs to consider providing consent. The Commissioners thanked Mr. Stoner and Tom Brown for the responsiveness provided during this pandemic. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Information Systems Josh O'Neal, Director, requested consensus to replace the AV System in the Commissioners meeting room in the amount of $43,347.03 with funding from the 10300. The Commissioners reached a consensus to move forward as requested. Budget and Finance Page 2 of 3 OPEN Session, June 9, 2020 Sara Greaves, CFO, recognized Rick Curry, Director, Purchasing, for his recent achievement of obtaining his bachelor's degree. Mr. Curry thanked the Commissioners for their support. Department of Business Development Susan Small, Director, provided the Commissioners with an update regarding the matter of the Rise Up Grant funding. She advised that applications will be accepted through Monday, June 15th and requested that the deadline be extended so that additional applications may be considered. Ms. Small suggested that the number of applications be reviewed, and the extension be considered the following week. Earl Stoner discussed the CARES Act funding needed for the Meritus Medical Center. County Attorney Kirk Downey received a request for a Letter of Support from Ajay K. Gupta, Health Solutions Research to submit a grant application for the Opioid Operations Center. The Commissioners reached a consensus to provide the letter of support as requested. RESCIND BID AW ARD PUR1464 -GROUNDS MAINTENANCE CHEMICALS Brandi Naugle, Buyer, Purchasing, requested authorization to relieve Synatek Solutions, Souderton, Pennsylvania, from the bid without prejudice for Item No. 31 (Signature XTRA) and to award to the next lowest responsive, responsible bidder based upon drawing lots in public, pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Washington County Procurement Policy Manual. Ms. Naugle explained that the County accepted the bids on April 29, 2020. The Commissioners drew lots to award the procurement in the case bids for Item No. 31 , pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Washington County Purchasing Policy; Nutrient Ag Solutions was selected to be awarded this item. Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to relieve Synatek Solutions from the bid without prejudice for Item No. 31 , and to award to Nutrient Ag Solutions, as presented. The motion passed unanimously. 2020 HOUSING BOND ALLOCATION TRANSFER Jill Baker, Director, Planning and Zoning, recommended the approval of a transfer of the Washington County's 2020 Housing Bond Allocation in the amount of $5 ,546,531 to the Community Development Administration for use in issuing housing bonds on behalf of Washington County. Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to approve the 2020 Housing Bond Allocation transfer in the amount of $5 ,546,531 , as presented. The motion passed unanimously. BLACK ROCK AGRICULTURAL LEASE Todd Moser, Real Property Administrator, and Andrew Eshleman, Director, Public Works, requested approval to proceed with a Request for Quotation for the rental of a tract of land adjacent to the Black Rock Golf Course and Landis Road and to enter into an Agricultural Lease with the highest bidder. Mr. Moser proposed that the minimum bid amount be set at $3 ,500. The Commissioners discussed the options and suggested that the current tenant be awarded the opportunity to renew the current lease. Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Meinelschmidt, moved to approve renewing the lease with the current tenant. The motion passed unanimously. Page 3 of3 OPEN Session, June 9, 2020 2020 AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION DISCTRICT APPLICATIONS Chris Boggs, Land Preservation Planner, Planning and Zoning, requested approval of the ten (10) year Agricultural Land Preservation District; he presented the applications from sixteen (16) property owners. If approved, the listed applicants will be restricted to agricultural use only on their farms for a period often years. In exchange, the landowners will not pay County property tax on their agricultural land or buildings and they will receive a credit of up to $711 on their farmhouse. The cost of tax credits relating to these properties for the ten-year period equals approximately $12 per acre per year for a total of approximately $29,784 for the full ten-year period and includes 2,482.011 acres. The Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board and Washington County Planning Commission approved all proposed districts as the applications met the program criteria for size, soils, assessment and Comprehensive Plan requirements. The sixteen (16) Washington County Agricultural Preservation District applicants are as follows : Robert Martz and Michael Martz (123,2 81 acres), Blue Mountain Farm LLC (56,257.01 acres), Eklund Family, LLC (136.3 acres), Walnut Hill Farm LLC (114.75 acres), Robert and Doris Harbaugh (47.865 acres), Donald and Charlene Bragunier (88.9 acres); Billie and Carol Winders (114 acres); KB Farm Properties LLC (1216.424 acres); Philip Bowers (69.674 acres); Melinda Golden (239.04 acres); Melinda Golden (132.56 acres); Melinda Golden (109.75 acres); Bobbie Grimm and Maxine O'Neal (22.8 acres); Bobbie Grimm and Maxine O'Neal (118.18 acres); Philip and Rachel Hege (63.867 acres); Jane Hess (125.22 acres); Katherine Byron and Timothy Stark; David and Barbara Baker ( 127.2 acres); Mark and Angela Kessler ( 40.31 acres); Russel Wolfinger (89 acres); Bonnard Morgan Trustee (192.745 acres); Dale Green (25.45 acres); and Janet Fulton (67.79 acres); five (5) year renewals for the following four (4) property owners include Martz, Morgan, Green, and Fulton. The matter was closed at 11: 18 AM with no citizen comments received. Commissioner Meinelschmidt, seconded by Commissioner Wagner, moved to approve the 10-year Agricultural Land Preservation Districts for the sixteen (16) property owners as presented. The motion passed unanimously. BOARD OF HEALTH, HEALTH OFFICER, AND GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS Kirk Downey, County Attorney; Earl Stoner, Washington County Health Officer; and Tom Brown, Emergency Services, presented the Board with information as requested as it pertains to the statutory authority relied upon by the Governor. Mr. Downey advised the Commissioners that as the Board of Health, they could be more restrictive but not less restrictive than the State of Emergency. He assured all that neither the County nor the Health Officer closed the businesses within Washington County. Mr. Stoner confirmed that Sgt. Travis Nelson, State Compliance Officer with MSP stated that no event with more than 10 people can be held under the current Executive Order. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wagner, seconded by Commissioner Keefer, moved to adjourn at 11 :43 a.m. The motion passed unanimously. Krista L. Hart, County Clerk