The County Council debated the issue of climate change and the role that the County Government should play in combating global climate change. Several of my colleagues enacted a version of a resolution establishing a "Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup" to review the ‘crisis’ of abrupt climate change. This resolution asserts that Frederick County should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in less than 10 years and not emit any greenhouse gases at all by 2050. While it may be an admirable goal to be conscientious and make individual behavioral changes to reduce one’s carbon footprint, this county resolution urges dramatic government action that will have significant impacts to quality of life. As a Frederick County Council Member, I view my responsibility to the county as reducing the government’s role in people’s everyday lives and sticking to the basics of providing safe communities, good schools, and effective transportation, not utilizing the power of the County government to force people to make dramatic life changes to try to save the world.

The County Council enacted a number of changes such as the Forest Resource Ordinance that will basically require a 1 to 1 ratio of forest to be replanted if it is removed for development and make several other minor changes to help ensure Frederick County retains its natural resources. The County Council also enacted a Domestic Violence Coordinating Council which will bring some structure to more comprehensively addressing the problem that domestic violence poses in Frederick County. Additionally, the Council considered making it easier to apply for and obtain a permit for Accessory Dwelling Units (in-law suites, tiny houses) on an individual’s private property.

The big show was the audit of Sheriff Chuck Jenkins’ 287(g) program. Sheriff Jenkins has done an admirable job over the years of looking out for Frederick County residents. However, a vocal minority is strongly opposed on principle to the Sheriff’s participation in the federal 287(g) program. This group has been trying to use the other levers of government to force the Sheriff to stop participation in this program. The most recent attempt involved having the county spend nearly $20,000 to hire an independent audit agency to provide a detailed audit of any county funds spent on the program.

The audit found nothing surprising. There were some incremental costs for mileage and travel for training, salaried staff time, some meals for those waiting to be picked up by USDHS, and not much else. These were things that were already known prior to the audit. The audit itself cost 5 times more than the amount of incremental costs to run the program. Further, the County Council has received legal advice that the Council cannot exercise any control to stop, change, or alter the Sheriff’s policies since it is a separately elected constitutional office.

So county taxpayers spent money on an audit that told us what we already knew that cost more than the program itself which the Council has no power to change anyway. If you re-read the above sentence, you will understand why I opposed the audit in the first place.