Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

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[music] [music] the Thursday, January 20th, 2026 uh work session. The item we're going to discuss tonight is discussion of regarding the 20-year municipal solid waste expansion plan. Mr. Pitman, you're on.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Mr. County Administrator. I'm John Pitman, solid waste director. Uh to my left, I have uh Mr. Robert Brown of ACC Consulting and Monty Jones of ACC Cons uh construction consulting here with me uh this evening. I also have my operations manager there. Uh so what we are here today is to give you a quick overview of the uh 20-year plan for uh uh long range initiative planning for solid waste. So in the authority overview, you know, it we want to tell you about uh operates as an enterprise fund. Uh is supported by service and tipping fees. Uh contracts for countywide curbside, solid waste and recycling collection. operates uh a yard waste drop off uh area which is old steel uh manages the county active MSW municipal solid waste and the CND industrial landfills and the closed uh Vakuna road landfill planning efforts include additional landfill capacity and a holistic review of solid waste operations collections uh collections of residential waste is what we accept recycle packables and bulk waste. That's on call only. Uh Meridian Waste of course provides our solid waste service, curbside service. Uh that contract started in July of 2022. The initial term of five years uh through July 2027. So that's coming up pretty pretty pretty fast here. Uh two additional year uh two-year term uh renewal options potentially through 2031. Our current resident fee is uh $75 per quarter uh which is an average of about $25 per

month per customer. That's effective uh July 2023. Uh a little bit about the uh MSW site uh on 110 the history and site life. Phase one um was permitted in uh 1992. The capacity was 423,000 cubic yards. The estimated life was about four years. Uh and phase two uh was permitted in uh 1996. The capacity is about 4.4 million cubic yards. Estimated life is 25 years. The total area uh is about 202 acres and the total waste disposal areas is about 53 acres that we actually are able to utilize. Uh the calculated uh field day is about 2034. Uh I'm going to uh ask Robert to elaborate on on this slide just a little bit.

Thank you, John. Um yeah, the the original phase the original phase one um was was the initial step in permitting out there. And then in in phase two, phase one was already in operations when Murray and I helped permit uh phase two. That gave you the footprint that you have now. Um we'll talk a little bit in a minute about the vertical expansion uh that we're under the process of going through right now. our CND landfill uh originally owned and permitted by Gimman Paper. I'm sure everyone is familiar with that. Uh permitted uh in 1995. Uh county purchased it in 1999. Uh the capacity was 28.1 million cubic yards. The total area uh is about 794 acres. Uh the total area that we're able to to dispose on is about 183 acres. The estimated life is about 100 years. Uh we probably won't be around at that time, but that's that's that's that's good life right there. [snorts]

And and that's been under operation since the county purchased it as CND. Obviously, previously it was just for the industrial waste coming out of Gimlin paper and it's been CND and industrial ever since. the the area up in the upper left of the picture there is is the initial cells that are closer to 110. Those were mostly filled by uh Gilman were finished filled by the county. Those are cells one through five and then the last several years you've moved um towards the east there and developed three cells. The last cell was 8A that was uh developed a couple of years ago. Uh the current uh and future uh construction of uh of our sales uh for the MSW landfare most recent construction stage five of course it was funded by our GEA loan of about $3 million. Uh the next phase is the uh MSW landfield vertical expansion design and permitting is underway as we currently speak. And then the CND landfield most recent construction is sale 8A which uh Robert just touched on. The next phase will be sale 9A. Uh the MSW and the CND landfield horizontal expansion permitting is underway. And so for the permitting update on that, um we've done to permit um an expansion of a landfill, you need to go through a two-step process basically. Uh one is the site suitable for it and the second part of that is design and operation plans. So we've initiated both of those on the MSW vertical expansion area. We've

already done the uh site suitability study and it it that has been submitted to the state for their review and you've tasked us with designing the vertical expansion and we're in the process of doing that right now. On the CND side, what we're we're under permitting only. So, we've turned in two separate documents over there. one for a CND expansion um and then one for an MSW um footprint over there. So, what John just touched on while ago is we got 28 million yards of airspace of CND and industrial. Maybe that's an over supply and we could utilize some of that footprint for MSW. And so that's what we're in the process of permitting now. Uh we've uh got some challenges facing the authority uh as far as the the limited remaining landfill uh capacity. The MSWLF has less than eight years of life without the uh the expansion. Uh environmental concerns continued uh focus on leash management and groundwater protection. That's something that we are working on on a daily basis. uh potential postclosure care release for Vakuna landfill. Uh we continue to to work at Vakuna making sure that it's in compliance with with all the environmental EPA and everything that that falls up under the uh closure of of Vakuna road landfill. Uh permitting and regulatory complexity expansion efforts must uh navigate complex permitting process. Uh ACC right now is currently guiding us through that process. Um and then public scrutiny. Community members have requested stronger environmental oversight before

expansion. Uh that's something that we are working on strongly right now and to make sure that uh we uh fall in line and and hear our community as they request stronger environmental oversight. So we are making sure that we do everything that we can to to make sure that happens. uh the need for planning uh our long permitting timelines for solid waste and landfill facilities uh the significant capital investment requirements equipment and construction operation efficiencies site layout and personnel uh ongoing regulatory and compliance obligations uh planning supports long-term capacity service reliability financial stability and environmental compliance Our vision for 2046, you know, from 2026 to 2046 is a 20-year planning, you know, uh horizon covering 26 to 2046 framework to guide future solid waste decisions. Uh addresses landfill capacity and operations. Evaluates equipment and staffing needs. Identifies future construction and permitting requirements. considers potential changes or enhancement enhancements to solid waste service. Uh at this time uh we are open for questions and and Q&As's.

Thanks men. Um questions from the board. Uh so the 20-year planning horizon for 2026 to 2046 is that in development now?

The purpose of this really is just trying to launch the idea that there is a need for that of to be able to plan for for the whole department for the future. Um, you know, I I like to think that in the past all that plan was in one person's head, maybe. And and we we need a plan book that that everybody can buy into, what we're going to do, why we're doing it, and what's best for the county. So, that's the idea is that we would initiate that plan. Yes, sir.

So, currently we're going to be out of capacity in 2034 roughly on on your current on the current footprint. Yes, sir. So, the the plan beyond that is based on vertical expansion, not land acquisition or expansion of the footprint. The the initial plan is for vertical expansion. Yes. Yes. Is that what gets us to 2034? The No. No. your current permit gets you to 2034.

There's the the conversion of the CND cells over to MSW cells. I think one slide showed that the CND has greater than 100 years capacity left. So when you convert those CND cells over to MSW, it gets your MSW and your CND capacity almost equal. So then you know you're kind of running out airspace of both those waist streams about the same time. Let me go back to that overall change. microphone. Martin.

Yeah, it's it's on the slide. If we if we can get to the other slide. That one that the Gilman paper used. Yes. It was mainly a sludge dump is what it was for years in the in the front. Yes, sir. This one is good. Yeah. Yeah. So, so you're going to change the C and D area right there

or C and D and D that just kind of evens up your air. You're not so lopsided on the Sorry. CN side uh with with pushing south and expanding the CND so that we can get the MSW. Does that still um do we still have a 100redyear life expectancy with the CND?

We haven't done those volumes yet, but you haven't got the capacity that you did. Uh you don't have 28 million yards, but When I said 100 years, it was at least a hundred years. I don't remember exactly what the report said, but um it it's kind of hard to plan for for a waist stream 100 years from now. I don't know what people are going to be throwing away 20 years from now. With the that's strictly CND though you were talking about. Yes. Yes. How many years does that expansion for MSW get us? The estimated

the vertical expansion which is the first step of this from 2034 to over the top of the existing footprint. Our current estimates are that's going to get you another 10 years. The 20 44 estimate. Yeah. Yeah. At our existing MSW. Correct. How many extra years does the uh that orange or yellow area get you? That's going to get you at least another 20 years.

Okay. But what we, you know, the history of it is is that the county was at the MSW landfill and then you purchased the CND area and have two separate entrances, two separate offices, two separate scales, almost like two separate sites. And so within this 20-year window, you're going to be out of the MSW footprint completely and you'll have all your operations in one place, which I think is a a better business, right? all of your operators, all of your haul, all of your operations, hauling dirt to the working phase, whether it's going to CND or to MSW is in one site. You got one set of scales. Um, so it'll all be on this old Gilman uh landfill property. You also got to remember that you can put C and D in a MSW, but you cannot put MSW in a C and D.

Right. [clears throat] So part of the future plan is to consolidate those two offices into like one entrance like a Twin Pines or Right. Okay. Right. And have some efficiencies there obviously. Yes, sir. Uh well, I guess as you know, as you're looking forward to initiating, you're not you don't need anything from us to start this. You're doing this, correct? That's correct, sir. We don't need anything.

Cool. So, as you're looking forward to that, you know, back to that public scrutiny part, I would maybe, you know, obviously I believe the the landfills operate at somewhat of a profit, right? That's profitable. Um, some of the public scrutiny is probably some of the stuff we're bringing in. Uh, maybe if we could be a little more picky about our trash, u, that might help alleviate some of that as well. Absolutely. We we are in the plan, you know. Yes sir. [clears throat] Mainly the uh C and D is construction materials. Am I correct? Yes. That's technically what it is. Saying we can put those at the MSW. Is that what you were saying, Ben?

But you can't put municipal into the CND, right? You [clears throat] you can't mix waste. Yeah. the the purpose of having two separate facilities is that the CND is a is less expensive to develop. So, it's less expensive airspace that you're getting less dollars for on the CND tipping fees. Uh, if you put CND waste in the MSW landfill, then you're eating up more valuable airspace with a type waste that you could put in a different place with outliners. So, vision 2046 really is just the vertical expansion. No, no,

no. Okay. No. It's so it it gets you 2044 gets you there, but what are you what are you gonna do after that and then it's it's about permitting all those other areas because right now we've just turned in

the site suitability reports for the MSW expansion on the CND property and that CND horizontal expansion you talked about. So then it's about designing that. But I I I think in in I'm going to speak for John here for a minute is that it's also about making it a business that's that's that's operating successfully. Right. So it it's it's it's it's about um not having to borrow money from uh Jifa to build something. It's about how when do I have to buy new equipment? When do I have to start building the next cell that I have to go into and where's the capital going that's going to come to that? So it's also financial modeling about that getting you to 2046 also

with the goal with the goal have of having a surplus. Am I correct? That's what you're shooting for. Yes, sir. Can't say profit. [laughter] Surplus. Yes, sir. That's exactly where we're trying to go. I think probably to call it profit is not accurate because there's money we have to set aside for future closures and monitoring. This is a multi multigenerational plan here we have to get into. So to say it's profit [laughter] yeah won't be any you'd like to have a surplus with the full expansion

and the additional cell from CNW to MSW. We could potentially extend our MSW to 2064 though. Correct. Cool. Sounds like y'all got it. A permitting question. [clears throat] Is there a public notification on the permit process? I assume there is. So, we'll go through that.

Gamut. Yeah, there's there's uh public participation all along the way of of both permittings whether we're talking about the vertical expansion or the expansions in the future at the CND horizontal and MSW down there. So this next step that what you'll see is like I said we've got a site suitability report into the state. we'll get a reaction from them and as soon as they um say that it's suitable and issue the county a suitability letter then we'll go through a notification process. Uh when we go through the permitting over there then you're required to have a final public hearing um about that vertical expansion prior to uh getting the final permit. So, how long was it going to take to get rid of Vakuna completely?

That's a good question. What was the question?

So, yeah. Um, so Vakuna is it's in a what they call corrective action right now. So, um, which is the full extent of environmental monitoring you can do at a landfill and, uh, so I think it's probably its 30-year time frame, but it hasn't met the standards environmentally to get out yet. And um you know, everything's in compliance with the I don't want everything's in compliance with the rules and the law, but there are some constituents that are contained within the site, but until those totally acquies, um you know, it you're going to be required to stay in um postclosure care. And they're getting there. I mean, it's it's improving year-over-year. There are some active things you could do to make that happen more quickly, but of course that does cost money, you know. So, it just depends on how aggressive you want to be to get that release from postclosure care.

What does that entail? If there's actions that can be taken, what are they?

Well, it's active remediation. Like, you can inject some things into the groundwater that would help uh make the conditions more favorable. You have some metals that are kind of precipitated out in groundwater. So you can do some injection into the groundwater to make those conditions less favorable. So the metals drop out. So there's some things like that. It's basically kind of landfill gas out there that's affecting the soil that's making some metals pop out of the soil. So I want to be clear, it's not constituents that are coming from the landfill. It's like the landfill is creating the conditions for some metals to pop out of the soil into groundwater. And so there are some things that you can do to kind of recreate better geochemical conditions so that those metals stay in the in the soil. So you know and it it's just you know active remediation just costs money and you know so it just depends on if you want to shorten that time frame it probably can be done. it just costs money. Or if you're okay with just allowing it to be in postclosure care longer, then you just keep doing the program you're doing right now and the landfill will continue to acquies as you know it gains more time. So,

but just to clarify, we're in compliance. Yeah, I do want to clarify, you are in compliance with the rules and the laws. It's Yeah. The groundwater is safe to drink. It's not going off site. Yeah. Okay. The issues are the the the rules in the law are about what are you doing off the property, right? And and so that's what he means by that.

Yeah. So everything is delineated within the site. And so that's what kind of EPD requires is that you delineate it and that you're working towards getting that, you know, back into, you know, those constituents to drop out of the groundwater, which the site is. So they have some things in place. It's called like monitored natural attenuation and things like that that are and we do like performance monitoring to make sure that that natural attenuation is continuing to happen which it is. So those are like kind of the things that are in place out of Akuna. [clears throat] Yeah, I've learned a lot. Thank you. All right. [laughter]

I've got a couple general [clears throat] questions. If you don't have the answer tonight, just you can bring them back to us. They're just general questions. Um, uh, the yard waist site on Osteel Road, that's the only one we have. That's a yard waste, the drop off center. Yes. What's What are the hours operation for that? 7 to 11 on Saturdays only. I'm sorry. 7 to 11 Saturdays only. Saturdays only. And that's sufficient for the community to I mean, are you seeing any need for outside of those hours? No.

Okay. Um the recycling and this is a question bringing back is what's the monthly charge for the recycling portion of the monthly bill that we currently have with um I don't know that off the top of my head. I have to review the

just a question to bring back. Yeah, I'm going I'm going off memory here, but when we originally approved the contract, I want to say the recycling portion, and we were looking at it monthly, not quarterly. We bill in quarterly cycles. So, I think the the total annual bill right now is $300 a year. I think about a hundred anywhere from 100 to 125 of that is or actually no, I'm sorry. I got to go back and look, but I want to say it was like 11 something. This was on the monthly figures. Now, when we first approved this, this was almost five years ago. So, this is per account. So, it was something like 11 something was for recycling and or maybe that was just regular trash. Recycling costs more

than than regular trash. So, uh but the majority of the bill probably close to half if not more, maybe even twothirds is is probably recycling. So, we can get those figures for you though. any any idea where the public participation is on recycling? Roughly 30 30%. 30%. That's what we had done last time was about 30% participation. So, that was a big conversation before uh we put it back out the bid last time. So, I mean it's it's one of those uh things. It's more of like a feel-good kind of thing that you offer, but not a whole lot of people actually participate. Uh, one other one I asked you before is u percentage of outside of the county waste coming in compared to the total. And again, you can bring that number back. I'll bring that back to you. Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Uh, as we're talking about the vision for for 2046. Um, there are two unincorporated pockets um within the city of St. Mary's. So, there's um the Mushluff area and then the Point Peter area. Old Still Road is a bit of a trek for for for yard waste, yard debris. I don't know if maybe after like certain events or like maybe uh some sort of schedule could be developed where they go around and do pickup. A lot of the code enforcement complaints I get out of Mushluff, for example, are people laying their yard debris in the rightway, but the county doesn't come pick them up. They don't know what to do with them. So, they kind of just sit out there and rot and also, you know, gum up the the drainage as well. So if you know people aren't hauling it all the way out to Old Still Road.

Yeah. To me that that's part of the planning process also. It's not just about capacity at the landfill, but it's about how stuff gets there. So certainly that's worth looking into. Thank you guys. Anything else? Nothing further. Thank you guys. All right. Thank you. during the work session. [clears throat] [music] [music]

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by Commissioner Goodman and then followed by the pledge of allegiance.

Let us stand as you're able. Gentlemen, please remove your covers. Let's pray. Our father and our God in heaven, we come to thee thanking thee for this beautiful day that you've given us even though cold. We thank you for the opportunity to meet tonight and to consider these things before us. Please give us wisdom to do the right thing for the citizens. Father, we ask special blessings on those beraved in the community. We've suffered a loss in the Proctor McCulla family. Please comfort them. Be with them. Father, protect those who protect us in uniform here and abroad. Father, bring world peace, please.

All of these things we ask in thy name. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, Katie, roll call. All commissioners are present. Okay. Are there any deletions or the amendments to the agenda as printed? Seeing none.

Well, Mr. Chairman, um do we need to add uh real estate to the executive session? Oh, it's on there. Just It's already on there. Never mind. Yep. Any deletions or addition? Okay, hearing none. Uh to entertain a motion for approval for the agenda. Second have a motion. Did you get a motion? Have not got a motion. I make a motion to accept the minutes as approved. Second.

I'm sorry. Agenda. Thank [laughter] you, Katie. We have a a motion and a second for to approve the agenda. Any discussion? All in favor? All opposed? Motion carries. Okay. The next item is the adoption of the agenda. Senator entertain a motion to adopt the agenda. Do I have a motion? Can I do it now? Yes, sir. Make a motion to approve the agenda. We have a motion. Adopt it. Right. I'm almost I'm going to give up right here. [laughter] We have a second. I'll second the approval of the minutes.

We have a motion in a second. Uh any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Now we'll move on to approval of the minutes for uh the special call meeting for January 6, 2026. We just did that, sir. Sorry. We just did that, sir. Minutes. We just did the agenda. We're doing the minutes now. Okay. From the last two meetings or the official call meeting and the regular meeting of the on January 6th. Who's on the first? Couldn't tell you.

Actually, I can get us caught up. We did we did adopt the agenda as presented, but the mo previous motion was the word agenda was said instead of minutes. So, if we could just clarify that. Not. So, we're going to clarify. The motion was agenda, but it really was the motion to approve the minutes. The minutes? Yes, sir. That's what we're doing. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. Yes, absolutely. Second. The approval of the minutes. We've already done that, correct? That's what we're doing right now. That's what we're doing right now.

Okay. All in favor? Motion carries. So now we're moving on to presentations. We have a presentation by Malden and Jenkins for our uh fiscal year 2025 financial audit. Hello. Oh, there we go. All right. Hey, everyone. Uh, it's my honor to be here tonight. We've got some good news on your financial reports this year. Uh, my name's Kirk Arch. I'm with Mald and Jenkins CPAs. I'm the lead auditor for the county's annual financial statement audit that's required by the state. Um, got like I said, we've got some good news all the way around. give a brief overview uh of the firm. We'll go over the uh various the various reports that we issue and then we got some house cleaning items there kind of at the end. So, Bon and Jenkins is considered a large regional firm. We're primarily focused here in the southeast. We are a full-ervice firm. If it has anything to do with numbers, accounting, or finance, there's a good chance we have somebody that specializes in it. So, uh if you do have any needs outside of the annual audit, do please let us know. Uh we provide this slide here to just kind of provide that we do have a deep bench when it comes to professionals. Um we have over 150 people that work full-time uh servicing governments just like you all. Governmental accounting is a very unique thing and doesn't directly translate to what you see in the private sector. And by having a dedicated group of people, we feel we have a very good team to be able to bring you all a very high level of service. So the main goal of a financial

statement audit is to give an opinion about whether or not we as your auditors believe that your financial statements are materially correct and whether any material admissions. Uh the county's responsibility in all that is for the actual financial statements themselves. They're also responsible for all the footnotes and the assumptions and the estimates contained therein. Our responsibility is to express express that opinion as I mentioned based on the results of our audit procedures. We do follow generally accepted auditing standards and governmental auditing standards. Uh and for this main opinion uh we are happy to say that this year we have given a clean or an unmodified opinion. This is the highest level of assurance that we can offer as your external financial statement auditor. uh and it's really the best case outcome that you can get in this this type of audit. So really what that means kind of at the base level is um you know we believe that these financial statements could be uh relied on not only by you all but to outside parties as well and uh that's a great opinion. Okay, we do issue two other reports in addition to the independent auditors report. The second is called the yellowbook report. It's a report over uh internal control over financial reporting and over compliance with laws and regulations. This report is not intended to provide an opinion. I like to call it if it's if you see something say something kind of report. Uh I'm happy to report that we are issuing an unmodified or clean opinion on that. Meaning we didn't have any things that we felt we needed to include. there are no material weaknesses, significant deficiencies or instances of non-compliance that we noted through throughout our audit procedure. So again, that's the best case scenario you can have with this report. And the final report that we issue is called the single audit report. For any entity that expends more than $750,000

of federal funding, you're required to have a compliance report that basically just goes over to make sure you followed all that the guidelines of the the grant, that money was spent on what it was supposed to be spent on, that all the appropriate reports are filed, etc. Uh we did issue a clean or unmodified report there as well. Uh meaning that we didn't find didn't see any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies or instances of non-compliance. So uh again that's the best case scenario there. Additionally we do at times issue another report called a management letter and this would be if we saw something that we didn't think was necessarily large enough to include in these reports but we would feel that was you know something we want to bring to management's attention. We didn't have anything there either. So um you know that's really what what I like to call the clean sweep [snorts] as far as audit opinions are concerned. So congratulations I would do always like to highlight that you all prepare a annual comprehensive financial report. This report really kind of goes above and beyond what's actually required to be reported to the state. It's got a significant amount of information in it. Has a transmitt letter. It has management's discussion and analysis which puts the finances kind of in it's kind of a narrative to the financial performance for the year.

[snorts]

Um, additionally it has 10 years of statistical information both financial and non-financial and for the past 20 plus years you all have received a certificate of financial reporting excellence from the uh government finance officers association. Uh the report this year will be submitted and we have uh no doubt that you all get that certificate again. So that's really the gold the gold seal there. So great work. do have just some financial uh highle highlights to share here. There are two sets of statements contained in your financial statements. You have governmentwide statements which is everything put together and then you have your individual fund statements and some of those have different measurement basises. Uh so this is going to be basically the balance sheet and income statement of everything kind of combined. Uh and you've got a really strong balance sheet this year and and wonderful financial performance. Uh we got 173.6 6 million in total assets and deferred outflows at year end. [snorts] Of that 104.5 are capital in nature. Those are going to be infrastructure type items uh machinery equipment those types of things. Have 53.4 million of cash and cash equivalents. Uh of that 173.6 it is offset by 27.1 million of liabilities and deferred outflows. Most of which around half of which 14.2 million are considered to be non-current. Those are going to be things like landfill liability, um your retirement plans, etc. Uh ending the year out there at 146.6 million in net position or equity of which 17.1 is unrestricted. Uh that's that's a good place to be at the end of the year. A lot of that's going to be investment capital assets, but as we kind of noted above, you all do you do have a good bit of cash on hand at the end of the year to get you through. Um overall, a strong balance sheet. Looking at the income statement side, we've got about 78.4

million in revenue, offset by about 72.5 million in expense. Overall, we're ended the year with a net increase in that position of 5.9 million. So, that's great. Here's briefly just a little bit of a a graphic depiction of the performance for this year. Um, you'll note that over the past few years, revenue and expenses have been increasing. But the important part there to know is that your revenues seem to be increasing more quickly than your expenses, which is really where you want to be, especially in this inflationary market that we're in now. [snorts] Um, overall, that's a good chart. Every year, things look to be getting a little better. This chart here is a depiction of your capital asset activity. This is going to be your infrastructure, machinery, equipment, those things I mentioned a minute ago. Uh, this year we can see a pretty big increase there. uh and year-over-year for the past five years, we can see that investment has gone up and and that's what you want to see in a chart like this. That basically means that you're reinvesting uh in the the infrastructure in the community at a rate quicker than those assets are depreciating. It's a great thing. We always like to highlight the general fund. The general fund is your your main operating fund. It's got your public safety, uh public works, administration, HR, all those types of things. Uh it does have a little bit different measurement focus than the governmentwide statements, but we uh in our general fund this year, we do have a pretty strong balance sheet, 18.7 million in assets offset by 4.7 million in liabilities and deferreds. [snorts] Uh ending the year at 14.1 of fund balance. We had 45.1 million of revenue, 45.7 of expenditures, and around a 2.4 million transfer out um to the capital projects fund. We did have a little bit of a decrease in fund balance, but it's really because of those investments in the infrastructure this year. Just kind of moving those over to the uh capital projects fund. So, uh end of the year

very strong there. Um we do have around 3.7 months of un uh unassigned fund balance. And the reason we like to look at we like to look at this metric is essentially if you stop taking in money at your fiscal year in how how long could you run without any additional resources and so for a June 30th government you want to be right where y'all are at that 3 to four month mark. So great place to be. Uh overall liquid ratios assets to liabilities 1 one's good 4 to one's great. Here we do have a another little graphic depiction. I think the the thing to point out here is we do see those revenues increasing year-over-year which is good. This year the the expenses did outpace the revenues a little bit but again that's that reinvestment uh in the community and you're ending the year with a strong fund balance. [snorts] You saw the waste fund is your primary business type fund. Uh ended the year there with 34.2 million of assets offset by 14.3 million of liabilities. ending the year at 19.9 million in net position. Uh did have 4.2 million in revenues offset by 9.7 of expenditures with around 600,000 of kind of everything that doesn't fall in that category. Will say the expenses were a little high this year based on a landfill remeasurement. But it's really a one-time thing and looking year-over-year, uh it's just kind of a bump in the road. So overall, we did have a decrease due to that, but uh we did also add 3.6 6 million in capital assets and took on a little dude debt at 2.5. So we do have some required communications here. Uh as I mentioned the financial statement disclosures uh the accounting policies and procedures and estimates those are the responsibilities of management. They're considered to be an integral part of your uh annual comprehensive financial report and all that's disclosed in that report. We did not have any difficulties

in dealing with management. We didn't have any disagreements with management. There are no cor uncorrected misstatements that we are aware of and we are required to be independent of you all. Bond and Jenkins is and we are in fact independent which is what allows us to issue these opinions. Just a couple final housekeeping things. Uh the government is required to follow government accounting standards. Uh and that the the board for that is the government accounting standards board. They are continually striving to improve uh the standards of which you all are required to follow. Uh there are some new pronouncements coming down line here in the next year or so uh and some various projects in the works. We don't anticipate those will be uh anything material or difficult for you all to adopt and we do offer free CP for your finance team uh to kind of help provide a roadmap as these things come out. So with that, that's all I had for you all today. I'd just like to end by saying um you know you've all got a great set of opinions, a good year, strong balance sheet, a great place to be. I'd like to thank the management team. Uh Nancy, Janice, they they do all the things that they give us all the stuff that we need to to do your audit while they do their regular jobs. So, hats off to them. They've been a pleasure to work with and they've made our jobs easier. Um, it's been our uh pleasure to serve the county and I'll be happy to take any questions if you all have any.

Thank you so much. Um, thanks Nancy for what you guys do and thanks for a great report. Uh, board have any questions or comments? We pro the board's been provided a hard copy of the audit. It's also available online. So, uh, it's open for review for anybody who wants to take a look at it. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.

Okay. We'll now move on to our first public comment section. It'll be comments for the agenda items only and it will be limited to three minutes. Is anybody signed up? Anybody want to speak to the board about agenda items? Seeing none, we'll move on to the regular agenda. Item one will be uh presented by election supervisor Shannon Nettles.

Good evening, commissioners. It is that time of year again where we set qualifying fees. So that's why I'm here tonight. I would like to present the opportunity to you to consider the approval of the qualifying fees for the elected positions for the 2026 election calendar year in Camden County. The board of commissioners has two positions, districts two and four. That qualifying fee is $36. And the board of education also has districts two and four. Qualifying fee is $108. So, I'm just requesting your approval on those qualifying fees, please. [snorts]

Thank you, Shannon. Mr. Chair, I move to adopt uh the resolution to set the 2026 uh qualifying fees. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you. Next items are from Julie. There she is.

Good evening. I'm requesting that the board approved a $2,59.50 grant from ACCCG through the Georgia County Internship Program. These funds will be used to hire a college student to work as an intern this summer. This intern will work with the IT department in an effort to enhance cyber security. The grant matching the grants matching fund will provide $750 for match. At this time I would like approval to accept award as presented information. Do you have a Mr. Chair? I move to uh approve the grant award for the association of county commissioners of Georgia 2026 Georgia county internship program.

Motion to have a second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you. I'm requesting that the board approve a $5,000 grant from FM Fire Services. These funds will be used to purchase equipment for non I'm sorry, for pre-inccident training. This equipment is critical to improve overall responder preparedness. No match is required. At this time, I would like approval to accept the award as presented. Haven't heard the request. Do we have a motion? Make a motion to accept the $5,000 grant from FM service. Second, chairman. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Motion carries. I am requesting approval to purchase four weather stations from Weather Stem. Weather Stem is the premier commercial weather station company in the US as a GSA contract holder and sole proprietor. The grant award and matching funds to purchase this equipment was approved at the December 16th board meeting. At this time, I would like approval to app to purchase weather stations as presented. Could you run? Yeah, sure. [laughter]

I'm requesting approval to purchase four weather stations from Weather Steim. Weather stem is the premier commercial weather station company in the US as a GSA contract holder and sole proprietor. The grant award and matching funds to purchase this equipment was approved at the December 16th board meeting. At this time, I would like approval to to purchase weather stations as presented. You haven't heard the information. Do we have a motion? I make a motion we approve the purchase of the weather stations. We have a motion. Do we have a second? I second it. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Thank you. Motion carries.

Would you like to do the photos? Photos. The big check. Oh, cool.

Yeah. Always good. Okay, as we stumble along, the next uh item will be presented by Chief Sullivan.

Good evening, Mr. Chairman, commissioners. I come before you tonight request an approval of a clinical affiliation agreement between Camden County Fire Rescue and Charlton County EMS education. This is an agreement that we haven't had have had in the past, excuse me, with Charlton County. This agreement will allow their EMT and paramedic students to write clinical hours on our ambulances. This agreement is required to be renewed annually per the Department of Public Health and Office of EMFs and trauma guidelines. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. Okay. Do we have a motion? I make a motion we approve the clinical affiliation agreement with Charlton County. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Motion carries. Next is uh budget amendments from Nancy Gonzalez.

Good evening, commissioners. Nancy Clark Gonzalez, chief financial officer. This agenda item covers budget amendments for the fiscical year 26 budget and you have detailed amendments in your packets. But in summary, um the amendments are for the general fund. Expenses are increased for grant funded purchases with corresponding grant revenue. There is also a transfer to the capital improvement fund for a board approved park purchase. Advalorum tax revenue is reduced due to the adoption of the rollback rate and a lower final digest value than what was used during the budget preparation. And as a result of these changes, the use of fund balances increased to cover the net adjustments on the unincorporated tax district fund. The adjustments include establishing a budget for park maintenance, a decrease in funding for the PSA, and an increase in the fire budget for a board approved purchase. Tax revenue is reduced for the same reasons as the general fund, and insurance premium tax revenue is increased based on the amounts actually received this fiscal year in October and the use of fund balance is increased. On solid waste, the budget is increased for a vehicle purchase which was approved by the board. And the capital improvement fund, the budget is increased for the board approved building improvements at Cornelia Jackson Park along with an adjusted transfer from the general fund to cover those costs. And the finance department recommends approval of these budget amendments.

Thanks, Nessie. You're welcome. We have a motion. Make a motion. We approve the fiscal year 2026 budget amendments. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none. All in favor? Thank you.

Motion carries. Thanks, Nancy. Next up is uh Jared from Public Works. Good evening, commissioners. I got four things in front of you tonight on the agenda. Uh first one is an approval to purchase four Bad Boy Renegade 61inch zeroturn mowers. Um these packages will be for the public works parks division. Uh and they be being purchased from Southern Hardware uh out of Brunswick. Um as you guys know, January 1st we took over the maintenance of the parks at public works. um we're responsible for the maintenance um moving forward and funding in the amount of $65,470 was approved in the budget amendment back in December 5 or 16th 2025. Uh competitive pricing for this purchase was achieved through the TIPS National Cooperative Purchasing Cooperative. Uh contract number 161102. Um, Southern Hardware is the local supplier of Bad Boy products and the DBW recommends the purchase of the quoted Bad Boy mowers uh equipment packages from Southern Hardware.

Thanks, Jared. Entertain a motion.

Make a motion to approve the four bad boy Renegade 61 in zeroturn mower packages. We have a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second. Any discussion? Yeah. Um, did we get a quote from a local vendor in Camden County? You know, Clarkquest handles Xmart.

We didn't go with um, so we went with two Bad Boy mowers um, back in November and they've been excellent in the in their performance and the just the quality of the equipment. um to stay with the congruency of maintaining low supply of parts and and materials to keep all the mowers going. We wanted a push to go forward with the additional purchase of four same model. Correct. So we can keep the same filters, same belts, same pulleys uh on the shelf to to maintain not only rightway mowing but also parks. Okay. Thank you. What kind of warranty comes with uh these mowers? Three years. Three years. Y

Okay. Uh it's a 60inch deck or 61 inch mowing radius on on those bad boys. Uh and I I talked to a lawn care expert actually they do the rightway mowing in St. Mary's and they thought you know the it was fair. My question is why would you use a $13,000 mower versus like a top-of-the-line $8,000 mower from Lowe's?

Uh they just don't take the beating on the from the side of the roads. We we tried that. So, the original mowers that we bought for rightway mowing, we bought two commercial grade 72in diesel mowers. We also bought two 61in uh it's basically the the the starter of a commercial grade uh level for from K Cabota. And those mowers are now that's why I just had to replace them um unbudgeted uh in November because we thought we were going to get somewhere between three and five years out of it and we could barely limp three years out of them. um they just don't hold up to the the same standard. Um you know, mowing a residential or even a um office commercial, you know, uh uh lot is a lot different than what we have in the parks on the side of the road in the rightway mowing. They just get beat up a lot more. So, we need those decks and those those frames that can handle that.

That's a great answer. Thank you. Thank you, chair. Yes, sir. What What is the shelf life of the uh the one that you're purchasing? So, we have a three-year warranty um on most of the components except the wearables, which is that's, you know, known. So, the deck, the frame, the motor. Um after that, we anticipate at least another two years. Two years. So, five years on the ones you're buying and three years on Lowe's. Is that what you're saying? Well, no. Lowe's has a four-year warranty from the manufacturer, actually.

Do they warranty the uh the decks? Because usually the decks are what? the decks are usually what go and it's also their warranty is going to be they're gonna they're going to press that it's not a consumer commercial uh use of the equipment that we use our equipment mo most definitely or designated as like rightaway or off-road use and it's it's not going to you know um be good with their warranty. They'll warranty it for four years if you're going to cut your backyard or two acres on, you know, on your property, but they're not they're not going to warranty it with, you know, all the coverts and driveways and and roadways that we have to cut near. These are these are for the parks.

Exactly. But parks have I mean, if you guys have walked Howard People Park, you know, it isn't just an open field. It's got, you know, ruts, divots. We go over transitioning with sidewalks and everything else that beats on the mowers. Uh, and if they don't have a stout frame and a stout um deck, then then they take the the the the wear and tear poorly. Bottom line, a commercial mower will last a whole lot longer than anything you'll get from Lowe's. Now, I was disagreeing with that. I was getting clarification.

Now, now, now back in November when we originally went with these bad boy mowers, we purchased two for Rightway Mowing. Um, we did get pricing for the John Deere equivalent. We did get pricing for the Scagg equivalent um and the Bad Boy Moore actually um when we demoed it, it was much more stout of a frame and in uh deck and they came in cheaper than the other two. And all three of them were on national competitive contracts. And that information is in the in the packet. Yes. Any more discussion?

All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, next one on your agenda, we're going to change it up a little bit. This would be the approval of the submitt of the uh, local maintenance improvement grant uh, or Elme road list to the Georgia Department of Transportation. We do this annually. Um, we submit roads that we know um, are in poor condition and need uh, need help and need restoration. Uh, every year that we applied for our ELMG, we have gotten it. Um, the last two years, we've actually gotten a supplemental Elme as well. Um we don't know if we're going to have that again this year. Um but what we're doing is uh we we're submitting for coal coal rain road the portion significantly that we're keeping and that isn't part of the new bypass project um that's happening we'll say we'll let pending is 2030. Um, so we're taking the funds that we got from the LRA last uh spring and we're going to take these funds and we're going to go forward with uh doing a restoration and and shoulder widening on that road. [clears throat] So again, roads are submitted annually to GOT for Elm funding. The application has to be submitted by February 1st. Um, and we're looking for um approval on on our road list to submit uh to G dot. [snorts]

Okay. Entertain a motion. I make a motion to approve this. Second. We have a motion and a second. Discussion.

Yeah, Cole Rain Road is is in need of some work. I'm glad we've got that on the on the list to do. And [clears throat] just for clarification, we're not doing a complete restoration on the entire length of coal rain. Coin is um at Zion Cemetery is specifically that area is where it's going to be divided and from there to uh highway 40 is what uh G dot will take over on this Kingsland bypass. So on that portion, we're looking only to do a five-year preservation on it. So that way around 2030 when they're ready to let that project, we've done our part to maintain the road up until that point, the section from 17 to uh Zion Cemetery will remain county road and that is the road that we are going to repave, broaden the shoulders and and uh increase the the striping on it.

Right. There's no need to spend the extra money to do it to Highway 40 when the state's going to come in and rip it all up anyway. Yes, sir. Any more discussion? All in favor? Motion carries.

Thank you. Uh the next one up is approval of purchase. Oh, I took two. Sorry. Approval of purchase the K Cabota UTV package for again the Department of Public Works Parks Division uh from Sapalo Equipment of Brunswick, Georgia. Um again, we took over the project uh of taking on the parks on January 1st. funding in the amount of $18,000 was approved in the 2026 budget uh amendment in December 16th. So that puts this purchase $8,500 uh over budget. Um but we're going to utilize and you'll see in the next agenda item, we're going to utilize over $8,000 in savings that we have on the work truck package to compensate and cover the the overages. Um, this actual purchase wasn't required to be brought in front of you, but I thought it was pertinent information that if we are going to overspend on an item that it was brought before you guys for approval. Um, this again is on a competitive pricing um through the Sourcewell National Contract uh for ground maintenance equipments and SAPO is the local supplier of Kabota products and we'd recommend the purchase of the KOTO Kobota UTV from Sapalo. Entertain a motion.

Make the motion we approve this purchase. Second. We have a motion and a second discussion. Is this the I know K Cabota is making the long bed now. Is that what you're getting a long bed or a regular?

This is still the regular bed, but it's uh got the ability to um have any side go down. So, if we pull up in the park and need to add mulch or add dirt to a certain section, we can roll down the side, work off the side of the machine. You don't always have to try to back up to the work that you are. It is identical to one that I've had in previous uh um employments that I had. Works phenomenal. We used it up in Michigan salt plowing, you moving uh material all across our complex. Um we also have acquired from previous PSA an older model of the same. So again looking to keep congruency on parts and and service and that it made sense to stay with the brand. We have had good success with K Cabota when it comes into their diesel um uh market.

Thank you. So what are we using? What are we using this side by side for? So this is a utility vehicle. It's not truly a sidebyside. It's a twoerson work vehicle that has a dumping bed. So when we're in the parks, we're moving material from say parking lot out into the parks. We're not tearing up uh the park itself. We're not going through evasively with pickup trucks trying to move material. So, this is more of a a fine um um piece of equipment for us to go through the parks and get work done. And you said you're going to explain overspending somewhere else. What's Yeah, so the overspending essentially is the fact that we're getting a cab model. So, this unit I AC

Yeah, with AC and and and obviously with this these type of days heating as well. Um, so that way when the guys are in the back of the park working, they can have a spell in the AC when when they get overheated or if they have an issue. Um, it also helps obviously with rain and weather and the the cab itself lasts a lot longer when it's an enclosed cab versus an open cab. And yes, I will I I'll specify in the next one where we are saving. Cool. Further discussion? All in favor? Motion carries.

Okay. Uh lastly is for the approval of purchase of a 2026 Chevy uh Chevrolet work truck package uh for the Department of Public Works parks division. Um from uh Gramer uh Garber at Chevrolet of Green Cove um Springs, Florida. Um the investment is going to be up 1,147,728.20. 20 cents. [clears throat] The public works um division day-to-day operations. Um we're looking to get three trucks, two of which will be 2026 Chevy Silverado for 1500 4x4s. Crew cab work trucks and these will be essentially pulling the trailers and the mowers to the work site every day. Uh in one 2026 Chevy Silverado 2500 4x4 extended cab uh service truck. This will have the service truck body so we can do uh bring tools and and material out to the job site and work off the vehicle. Uh instead of having to constantly go back to Woodbine here and get parts and equipment, they'll have a lot of the day-to-day job supplies and parts on that truck and we'll be able to do work mending fences, fixing posts, um whatever it may be out on the road instead of having to come back. Um, so this truck will have um a air compressor unit. It'll have other things so that way if they have issues with a low tire on the side, um we can we can manage those instead of having to bring equipment on the trailer all the way back to Woodbine to do work. Uh so to go over the so we had 15 $150,000 approved in the in the budget amendment uh back on December 16th. um this pro this purchase is is roughly uh [clears throat] $2,300 cheaper, but also by buying through um Gardner Chevrolet, they are going through the uh sheriff's Florida Sheriff's Association contract bid, which their bid and their specs on their trucks are uh above and beyond what we normally spec. So, they include

um Rhino lining or or a Linux lining of the of the uh of the beds of the truck, includes nerf bars on the side. These are all components that we normally would buy for our trucks anyways to to maintain them and to get them uh their longevity to be extended. So, these are savings that we're getting by buying this package with them. So, we're going to be $2,300 under on the initial purchase, but we're going to be well over $5,000 under when it comes to upfitting the vehicles ready for for uh the road. And that was already worked in uh the budget numbers in uh the the budget amendment in December 16th. You entertain a motion.

Have a question. I guess you have to make a motion. I'll make a motion we approve the purchase. [clears throat] We have a motion. Have a second. I'll second. My my question is the same. I mean I I see uh Carl Black Chevrolet, Daniel Chevrolet, and Garber Chevrolet all in Florida. Did uh did we try a local?

So our local, we've we've reached out to them before in the past. um they don't they're more of a a not they're not so much a a municipal commercial seller of of Chevrolets. Um they rec you know have that they know they have other competitors that that outdo them with that. They focus on uh the private sector um and sales. They don't really do a lot of fleet sales. Um these vendors are all on the the national and the and the local uh purchasing pro uh programs. So it gives us the best bang for our buck being a municipality buying in that same group of local municip municipalities. So yes, um of course [clears throat] we would always like to go local, but on some of these cases like this, it just doesn't make sense for us to um pay more or ask a vendor to do something that's outside of their their normal um day-to-day operations.

I I'd still have to keep trying. Understood. So, so for example, they just don't have a an actual government um um person that that works with the government accounts where all these other dealers that we went to, they have a person or a team that that's all they do is they work on making work trucks and service trucks for uh local government. So, with the downsizing of the scope of the PSA's responsibilities for park maintenance, I don't imagine they needed all of their trucks running around to do park maintenance. That's correct. Now, I know they're not the prettiest trucks you've ever seen, but they are still functional. Are those not something we can [clears throat] get by with?

Well, there's two things there. Um, one, we don't have any service records or or proper maintenance on those trucks, so we really don't know the wear and tear on those engines and tribe trains. That is the the the top dollar for those vehicles. Um, a lot of them aren't specked the way that we spec our trucks, so they just don't have the performance either. And and thirdly, you know, we are splitting a lot of those m uh excess equipment um with the other uh cities as well. So for us to go in and just say we're going to take this portion doesn't make a lot of sense. If I'm going to invest the money, it would be in the trucks because those are 10 to 12 year investments versus a lot of the smaller equipment that um that we did, you know, already looked at to pull over from from the the pool. Well, what I've heard consistently from you is that if we're going to do this, take over our parks, we're going to do it right.

We're going to do it right because uh we're not going to regret the fact that we took this over. We're going to do it our way, the right way. Thank you. Any more discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen. Now move on to reports calendar. Katie, there's no changes at this time. No changes in the calendar. Sean, do you have any comments? You got one.

11's not number 11's been removed. Yes. Okay, that's one that was removed prior to that item never made it onto the agenda. Martin, yes, it'll be brought back up later. Yesterday,

Mr. Chairman, the only comment I had was about finance and just thank Nancy and Janice and their team and all the other directors that had any level of involvement with the audit. Well, if you've never gone through one of those of this size, the uh thousands of pages that are requested by the auditors, it's uh pretty impressive that the staff was able to accomplish this in a timely manner and uh have such a very clean report on top of their daily duty. So, just a big big thank you to all the finance team. You do you guys do a tremendous job and uh you're not thanked enough. So, I appreciate everything y'all have done. [applause]

Thanks Sean. Thank you Nancy. Now we'll move on to our public next public comment section. This will be for u any items that the public wants to speak on. Uh we've been limited to three minutes. Do we have anybody signed up? Nobody signed up. Anybody want to speak to the board? Yes, sir. Come up. state your name and uh your address.

Good evening. I'm Steve Gross. I live at 110 Pinto Court out in Woodbine in the unincorporated area. Um just one quick thing be before you start. You guys you guys did miss one thing. I believe he said that the mowers have been in service since November and they're basing uh uh quality on mowers that have been in service since November. Did we do much mo mowing between November and mid January? I just wondering about that and that's not not my point. But anyway, my my real point of being here, I'd like to talk about the uh the JDA, the um the reacquisition of the land down there in St. Mary's and what the board um has in relation to the JDA regarding that. How how is the board's relationship with the JDA regarding that situation, that current situation? I'm I'm trying to get a question answered. I guess what what

this is this is a comment period for you to speak to us. This is not a question and answer. You can't you can't reply to me in any way. All right. So So then uh I guess there's nothing else I can do. that this it's very uh disheartening to come up here and try and get any information in any way regarding the the commission and what's going on with the JDA. It's like it's top secret and I'm wondering where is that information available and I ask all around and everybody says it's not. Yes, sir. If you'd like to stick around when the meeting is over, we can have someone come and speak with you. Okay, that's it. That's that's all I have. the JDA meetings are open to the public as well

and I understand that. But my question is not directly about the JDA. My my question is what is the relationship between the board of county commissioners and the JDA? What is that relationship? That is my question. Good evening. My name is Janie Everett. I live at 11:06 South Court Avenue here in Woodbine, Georgia. And um this is probably the last meeting before the annual thigh call commemoration. I'd like to invite the commission and the public to come. This year is the 55th anniversary. Um we have had our people um the 30 fallen patriots of thy call. That bill has been introduced into Congress is in committee and we still have to stay focused on getting the state of Georgia delegation Alabama, Texas and Florida where these 30 people were from to uh support this measure. But the very thing is to have the state of Georgia, there's 14 delegates. We expect all 14 of them, well 13 to support uh Congressman Buddy Carter. It took a lot like 13 years to to find someone that had courage enough to step forward. And it with was with your help that this thing finally came to this point and we need to make sure that it goes further. So, February the 3rd, 10:00 a.m. the thy call commemoration will be held at the high school auditorium. Everyone is invited. Um, the

children from Kingsland Elementary will present the 30 fallen patriots of thy call, the 30 nominees for the Congressional Gold Medal. In the 250 years of this country, this is the 250th year the first medal was given to President George Washington. And it is an honor and a privilege to have our people nominated this year. So, but we have to remain focused and call our Georgia delegation and tell them support this measure when it gets to the floor. And also, we're having a benefit dinner to benefit the commemoration this Saturday at the PSA. Um, the tickets are on sale now. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else? Seeing none, um, entertain a motion to adjourn the regular meeting and convene the executive session for discussion of real estate litigation and personnel. So move. Have a motion to have a second. Second. Have a motion and a

regular meeting. Make a motion to adjourn the executive session and reconvene regular meeting. I'd like to second that, chairman. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Okay. Have one item coming from executive session we need to deal with. Entertain a motion to approve a quick claim deed to the city of St. Mars for parcel S270321. Address is 904905 Dillworth Street, St. Mary's. So moved. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

All in favor. Motion carries. Motion to adjurnn. Mr. Chairman, I move to adjourn this meeting. No second. Second. Have a motion in a second. All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you all. Katie second. Oh, Katie second it. [laughter] Oh, somebody has raided my candy. [music]