Welcome to the Thursday, February twelfth, two thousand twenty-six meeting open session of the Board of Carroll County Commissioners.

As we always see, we'll begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silent reflection.

Thank you very much.

The Office of Procurement and Cooperation with the Circuit Court of Carroll County requests your approval to purchase security upgrades for the Carroll County Courthouse for Marathon Technology Services Incorporated in the amount of $51,515.59 cents.

This purchase is being made through a term contract that was competitively bid and awarded to Marathon Technology Solutions Incorporated.

The security upgrades will be 100% reimbursed by a security grant administered through the Maryland administrative office of the courts.

The amount is approved in the FY26 budget.

Just additional uh efforts on our part to upgrade security within the uh circuit court for Carroll County's uh buildings as uh Corey indicated as we indicated if we're gonna uh this will be reimbursed by the administrative office of the courts through a grant uh that we obtained.

So happy to answer any questions.

I I was down you all were down in Annapolis yesterday, weren't you, for the state of the state address.

I was down there two days ago testifying on another bill, and um one of our one of my colleagues, uh the administrative judge in Washington County was down there testifying in support of a bill to increase penalties for threats against judges and uh public officials.

Um it's uh something that's on all of our minds, and we'll try to do what we can to beef up security where we can and when we can.

So if the Board of Commissioners approve the purchase of security upgrades for the Carroll County Courthouse for Marathon Technology Services Inc.

and the amount of 51,515.59 cents.

We have a motion.

Do we have a second?

We have a motion and a second.

Any further discussion?

All is in favor?

Aye.

All is opposed.

Motion carries.

Thank you all very much.

Thank you.

Have a good day you're on.

May the wind be at your back.

You and you as well.

Thanks.

So next we will move into priority Carol.

Commissioner Kyler, I believe you are up first this week.

I'm first.

Okay.

Um we had our joint meeting with the environmental advisory committee, which is always interesting, and some of the stuff they do and some of the stuff they look into and and respond.

So just a great committee, and uh um it it it's I don't know how many people know that that they exist.

You know, it's we talked this morning about um and and Commissioner Krebs said until people get involved, they seem to not know the details.

And and this is one I'm not sure what they know, but we we meet with them once a year and talk to them a little more than that.

Um last week I went to the Taste of Maryland agriculture at uh live casino and uh it was great.

Um I I ended up being late because of wrestling.

Um so I didn't get to walk across the stage, but I don't think anybody noticed or cared.

But uh it was it was great, and a lot of Carroll County people there.

Um Lippy brothers were one of the sponsors, and uh a lot of lobbyists, a lot of delegates and senators and elected officials from throughout the state, and all there for AG and it was nice.

Um Rhonda and I got to visit grand grandkids over the weekend.

We were delayed a weekend because of the snow and uh um Southwest canceled flights, but um we got to do that.

Um went down to District 5 night, which is really district 5 slash 42 night, and uh it was a great crowd there.

We talked about that a little yesterday.

Um the majority of the people that attend that are elected officials, candidates, people involved in government.

That is a great night for just a voter, a taxpayer.

You can go down, you can hear um our our uh delegates and senators talk about what's going on down there.

You can uh you can go through the tunnels that uh seem relatively secretive, but you can be guided through the tunnels, you can watch a session.

Um it's kind of a canned session, not not too much uh controversial, but you can watch a session.

So I I just wish more of the public would uh would attend that.

And they they put out invitations, it's on Facebook, it's on various emails.

Um I I don't know what more they could do to get people there, but um I'd love to see more people there.

Um we're working on the budget already.

Uh Carroll County Public Schools had their meeting yesterday, and the Board of Ed uh voted on their proposed recommended budget.

Umesterday uh morning was Mako, and uh I chose be because I was going to be there all day to do it in their in person in their office, um, which I understand when you've got a statewide committee why it's advantageous to do virtual, but it just seems like it's so much better to set face to face and talk to people.

And uh yesterday was a great day down there.

Um I left Mako and went to the state of the state that uh the governor um I think the paper said almost one hour, and um he he did a speech and uh the banner has a pretty good article on it talking about he reviewed his three years, and their opinion is his speech showed his strengths and weakened weaknesses and that he's figuring out he probably can't control Trump and uh unfortunately he can't control the the Senate or the House either in Annapolis.

And uh it was interesting and uh um it it's interesting to see the Democratic Party agree to disagree or maybe not agree but disagree, and that's happening in the Senate right now with the redistricting, and I hope uh I hope uh Ferguson stays firm and and keeps us from doing it.

It's uh it's it's crazy.