COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY

Tour of various locations throughout the County

 

MINUTES

JANUARY 25, 2011

 

Present:  President Jefferson L. Ghrist; Vice President Larry C. Porter; Member Wilbur Levengood, Jr.; County Administrator Richard P. Barton; Margaret Roe, Director, Office of Finance; Sara Visintainer, Executive Assistant; Amy Kreiner, Minutes Recorder

 

The Commissioners conducted a driving tour to visit various businesses and agencies throughout the County.  The following is a brief account of that tour:

 

Humane Society of Caroline County:  Steve Vaughn, Director, conducted a tour of the facility and the mobile spay/neuter clinic, and highlighted the following:

·         Cat population averages between 40 and 125, peaking between May and October;

·         Volunteers are integral part of the service, assisting with all aspects of the animal care including socializing, feeding, and cleaning;

·         Fundraising and donations are instrumental;

·         Capital needs include repairs to the crematorium, estimated at $25,000;

·         The mobile spay/neuter clinic - grant funded; handles as many as 35 cats per day; services the Kent and Queen Anne’s areas as well; and

·         Animal Control Officers average 2,000 complaints annually, and take in as much as 45% of the shelter’s population.

 

Greensboro Branch, Caroline County Public Library:  Richard Smith, Branch Manager, introduced staff; Debby Bennett, Director; Gale Nashold and Abby McNinch, members of the Library Board of Trustees; and Jerry Garry, Mayor of Greensboro.  Mr. Smith outlined the following:

·         Opened in October 1997, offering internet and wi-fi access, word processing; photocopying; fax; and other small business services; shared resources with the other branches, including the Bookmobile; tax assistance; and free media rentals;

·         Capital/building needs, including heating/cooling issues and roof leaks, all of which are the responsibility of the Maryland Rural Development Corporation, the building’s owner; and

·         Support comes from the County Commissioners; and partnerships with Caroline County Public Schools; the Town of Greensboro, the Friends of the Library; Greensboro Business and Civic Association; and the Maryland Rural Development Corporation. 

 

Driving Tour of Economic Development and Tourism projects:  JOK Walsh, Executive Director, Economic Development Corporation; Kathy Mackel, Director, Office of Tourism.; Don Mulrine, Denton Town Manager

·         Knaggs Guitars - Joe Knaggs, owner, formerly of Paul Reed Smith Guitars, expressed gratitude to the Commissioners and Mr. Walsh assisting him with a Small Business Loan from the County.  He reported business is off to a good start, and he is working diligently to ensure production meets initial demand;

·         Burkindine Sheet Metal - B. J. Johnson, Shop Foreman, stated that currently, crews are working on a large project for the University of Maryland;

·         Batter’s Up Restaurant - Zeb Brodie, owner, and large scale investor in several business interests throughout the County;

·         Combined Technology Solutions – Joe Anderson, President, gave an overview of his business and how the EDC has assisted with securing business space and funding;

·         Choptank Heritage Center; the offices of the Caroline Office of Tourism; and the Wharves at Choptank Crossing project – Ms. Mackel described how tourism grows the tax base for the County , and Mr. Walsh pointed out the various redevelopment projects underway;

·         Tanglewood Conservatories – Alan Stein, owner, has benefited from EDC to market and produce its line of custom, high-end conservatories;

·         Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm – Phil and Vickie Liske, owners, stated that their business has grown with help from agro-tourism;

·         Bell Nurseries and Blades Orchard – examples of agricultural diversification facilitated by the EDC; and

·         Yale Sportswear – Charles Nemphos, owner, described how the EDC has assisted his business with problem solving and retention.

 

Mr. Walsh stated that the EDC is actively assisting small businesses throughout the County with the Small Business Loan Program, and tourism initiatives such as Paddle N Peddle.  He pointed out several heritage tourism initiatives including the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and All-American Road, and the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park in Poplar Neck; the William Still family interpretive site; and the Linchester Mill.

 

Federalsburg Branch, Caroline County Public Library:  Lisa May, Library Board of Trustees; and Jeanne Trice, Branch Manager, outlined the following:

·         Capital needs: roof and heat pump replacement, estimated at $25,000 combined;

·         Staff from Caroline County Department of Public Works, and the Office of Technology, provide assistance to the library when needed;

·         Programs offered are heavily used, including preschool reading readiness; tax assistance; and small business assistance.  Services offered mirror those from the Greensboro and Central Branches;

·         Reductions in funding have resulted in reductions in staff and operating hours, while handling increased usage by the public;

·         Support is provided by the County Commissioners; and partnerships with CCPS; the Federalsburg Women’s Club; and the Town of Federalsburg.

 

The Commissioners concluded the tour, and planned to reconvene at 7:00 p.m., for the scheduled Commissioners Meeting at the Federalsburg Town Hall.

 

 

Preparation of Minutes by:

 

 

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                                                                                              Amy L. Kreiner