BOCC Budget 8/11/03

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0968dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC Budget Meeting Notes FY 05"><U><B>BOCC Budget Meeting Notes FY '05</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=130 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbeck</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Web Site of Clare Whitbec"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>BOCC Budget 8/11/03</B>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BOCC Budget 10/27/03"><U>BOCC Budget 10/27/03</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=350 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0978dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>BOCC Budget 8/11/03</I></div> <bR> <div> When I arrived, the BOCC was discussing the Board of Education’s capital budget.  Brad Clements was saying that the students who attend the Forrest Technical Center relieve the need for relocatables.  Richardson said the State counts 25 students per class.  Some classes don’t have 25 students.  You always need more classrooms than you get by dividing the school enrollment by 25.  Mattingly said it seems that there is a disadvantage by having a tech center.  When you are challenged with our budget needs, he continued, I wouldn’t vote for the technical center today.  We need the money to build our schools.  Richardson said they are working with Embry Riddle to create a path for students to receive FAA certification when they turn 18.  We get partnerships that feed back into our community by preparing children for the careers that are offered.  Capacity is a goal, she continued, but it is only a goal.  We want the kinds of programs our community needs.  Richardson explained the concept of core capacity, that is how many students a building can hold in terms students getting lunches.  McK asked who would be working with the Board of Ed on the uses of the Carver facility.  Forrest said he would.  Rollins asked if Recs and Parks could use the gymnasium this fall.  All the BOCC nodded.  Forrest said there was discussion about locating the Head Start Center there.  There has been discussion about how to maintain the historical structure.  McK said it’s OK as long as you are not looking for a budget amendment.  </div> <div> Phil Rollins came next. When I reentered the room, he was talking about the Three Notch Trail.  He had already addressed the completion of Nicolet Park.  Funding is planned to be split over two years, ‘04 and ‘05.  The ADA project is requesting FY 2005 for making parks accessible.  The shore erosion part of the Piney Pt Lighthouse museum could be funded with about $225,000 in a State loan that can be repaid over 20 years.  Phase I and Phase II of Piney Point Museum Renovation and Shore Erosion control.  Rollins said this project will be redone to reflect decision to be made in the next couple of months. The Drayden Schoolhouse was deferred last year because of funding issues and it’s back for FY ‘05.  It would provide interior improvements, parking and interpretation.  Cecil Park, Myrtle Point, 7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> District, and Elms Beach parks are for planning money.  Raley noted that he was requesting planning money for all four.  He suggested that there will only be enough money to do improvements for one park.  Wouldn’t the plans be outdated?  Rollins said it’s a case of needing the master plan to determine what could be done.  It was determined two years ago that the earlier you do a master planning process the better the cost estimates would be.  Raley said we hear about the rate of growth in the 2<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT> district.  Would it be safe to say that Cecil Park is most in need because of growth?  Rollins said there should be more water access at Elms Beach.  He thinks it would be a toss up between Cecil and Elms Beach.  7<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> District doesn’t have restroom facilities or picnicking facilities.  Each has a reason to be top priority Rollins said he thinks Elms Beach should be the top priority.  Rollins said he doesn’t want to do four master plans.  Rollins said he would like to know what the priority would be for a Myrtle Point Master Plan.  The next item was Phase II of the Lighthouse Museum project.  The St. Clements Island project is to expand the museum building.  He expects to see that project deferred.  Mattingly said for the BOCC to spend $75,000 for design.  We need to go back to the design-build concept.  He can’t see spending $75,000 on a $700,000 project.  Forrest said there has not been a design build project.  Wayne Davis is capable of doing it for $125 - 130,000 per square foot.  Elaine Kramer said we need to get everybody in agreement on what design-build is.  Kramer said Rollins can be the guinea pig.  Rollins said the Wicomico golf course has a maintenance building that was design build.  The central County park and the 2nds District park are acquisitions.  Perhaps we can combine those two by finding a parcel that satisfies both those needs.  Perhaps in the Leonardtown - Callaway area we can find $50,000 for acquiring park land.   Rollins said we use Project Open Space funds.  Raley said the citizens don’t understand.  Rollins replied if we don’t use those funds, someone else will.  Chancellors Run expansion could be moved out, Rollins said.  Citizens have said they would like improvements and expansions to acquisition of new land.  You can acquire the land, said Rollins.  And take it off the tax rolls, said Raley.  McK said the more facilities you have the more cost you have.  He thinks we need playgrounds in subdivisions.  McK wants us to expand the regional parks we have.  Mattingly asked if we can count neighborhood parks.  Rollins said it doesn’t meet our goal for public park land because it’s private.  Rollins talked about the tennis court replacement project.  Courts are 25 years old.  They have deferred them for ‘03 and ‘04, but can’t defer them much long.  In answer to a question, Rollins said the tennis courts at Wicomico Shores belong to the County.  Rollins said you have to tear out the courts.  Bill Ball gets as much life as possible from the courts.  You can fill the cracks.  Rollins said it’s the freeze and thaw action.  Jarboe said an asphalt cap over the whole thing.  Rollins said he should have Ball come in and talk about the project.  Mattingly said even though there’s little cost savings it wouldn’t be as much as new courts at Chaptico Park.  Rollins was asked if they got a lot a play and said they’re not in very good condition, so people don’t use them much.  People have the perception that the tennis courts belong to Wicomico Shores, but they are public.  Rollins said there are no funds until ‘06.  He thinks the BOCC wants those courts finished sooner.  We have a clientele of 500 homes, said Jarboe.  Sometimes it’s just a matter of changing the name from Wicomico Shores Golf Course to Wicomico Shores Golf Course and Tennis Courts.  Rollins said Phase II and Phase III of Chaptico Park were supposed to follow right on.  McK said do two courts and evaluate the needs.  Colton’s Point Park is intended to be a complement to the park.  He would move it out further.  The hiker-biker trail for Lancaster Park would be deferred indefinitely.  He would like to have the trail money go to the Three Notch Trail.    Lexington Park Recreation Center may become part of the Carver program.  North County Outdoor pool is in for ‘08-‘09.  The public landings all involve State funds through a waterway improvement program.  Abell’s Wharf is being deleted.  Raley asked if St. Inigoes is due to start this summer and was told yes.  The State didn’t approve money for Fox Harbor.  Forest Landing We have been told we will get $100,000 from the oil spill money.  Forest Landing will be state funds. Raley suggested considering something to prohibit the watermen from backing their pickups onto the pier at Fox Harbor.  McK said he thinks we need to add a public landing on the Patuxent to the plan and was told it’s in the plan.  Jarboe noted the Cape St. Mary’s landing is now being used.  Dement got a message that people aren’t happy at Cape St. Mary’s.  Jarboe said they couldn’t launch until they had the floating ramp.  Dement said he thinks it was a matter of parking.  Mattingly asked about Piney Point Landing, where will the bulkhead be?  On the creek side, said Rollins.  He said he will move the Patuxent River Public Landing forward.  Dement said What’s wrong with Myrtle Point.  We own the land and we can’t do nothin’ with it.  Rollins said it wasn’t a priority.  Rollins said the money we have can only use used for acquisition.  McK asked if there is Club Properties money to be supplied by Project Open Space (POS).  He said if you take $525,000 that’s this year’s money.  Rollins said he just sent John and e-mail about what the total Mount of POS funds would be.  He thinks the $500,000 is the total amount up through ‘04.  Rollins said Recs and Parks will be revising this plan.  Raley noted that the County is below the State goal of 30 acres/1,000 people.  Until we reach that goal we can only use a small amount of open space money for development and renovation of existing parks.  Rollins aid it’s 50% now, it would be 75% if the goal were not set.  We are mandated to use POS money to a acquire parks, when we could have used more money to develop our parks.  The reason is you don’t build ball fields in State Parks.  They are different uses.  Parks administrators have been fighting this for some time, said Rollins.  McK said you don’t have to use Program Open Space Money.  Mattingly said if we don’t use the money someone else will.  McK said if what they’re getting is an advantage, it worth doing.  Jarboe said when you add the state, federal to the local number.  Rollins said he doesn’t think many Counties have reached the goal.  Rollins said there will be a session on it at MACO, but he isn’t going.  Dement asked if there were a boat ramp at Greenwell, is it Public?  It’s public, he was told, but only for non-motorized boats.  He said he’s never seen it.  Forrest said they got oil spill money to upgrade the facility.  It’s real steep, said Dement. Guy asked me the other day, could they use it.  Jarboe said you’d have to carry the boat down.  Dement said he has a tv show to do.  Raley said they got the message for the wellness center.  McK asked for a summary of current bond indebtedness and Kramer said that’s why the next session has been scheduled so far out.   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>