Tracy F. Seelye

Express Staff

Voters in Halifax and Plympton showed their support for a change, joining the rest of the country in voicing their displeasure at the status quo. Halifax brought 78.6% of its electorate to the polls, and Plympton saw  83.9% of its voters cast their ballots.

A victorious Donald J. Trump addressed his supporters and the country about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, pledging his presidency would work to unify a deeply divided country.  Following a night that surprised and shocked political pundits left and right, Trump was gracious in his remarks and praised Secretary Clinton for her “courageous and hard fought campaign” and her years of public service to the country.

“We owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country,” Trump said.  “Now is the time for America to bind the wounds of division  – we have to get together … It is time for us to come together as one united people.”

“I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans,” Trump said, reaching out to those who opposed him in an effort to “work together and unify our great country.”

Clinton had called Trump to concede and “congratulated us   it’s about us” on the win.   She had earlier sent her supporters home as several states were still too close to call, only to see them quickly shift toward Trump.

Clinton gave her concession speech to the country Wednesday morning, and also spoke to the need for unity in the wake of the election.

“I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans,” she told supporters and staff.  “This is painful and it will be for a long time … but our campaign was never about one person or even one election.  It was about the country we love.”

State Representative Geoffrey Diehl, (R-Whitman), state co-chairman for the Trump campaign had predicted the win Tuesday afternoon, insisting that polls favoring a Clinton win were in error.

“I’m extremely pleased with the election of Donald Trump,” he said.  “Being the first Massachusetts elected official to endorse him, I recognized that he will take on the establishment in D.C. to make government work for us, not against us.”

Diehl, who ran unopposed, will return to his seat in the 6th Congressional District and pledged, “I will continue to work to make a positive difference for our families each and every day.”

Representative Tomas J. Calter III, D-Kingston, was returned to his seat in the state legislature, as voters in Plympton and Halifax re-elected him to the 12th Plymouth District with 3238 to challenger Peter Boncek’s 1921, giving him a 602 vote majority in those two towns.  Calter also represents Kingston, and a precinct in Duxbury.

Plympton and Halifax also followed the trends throughout the Commonwealth in the four questions on the ballot:

Question 1, asking for an additional license for a slots parlor, was turned down by both towns.  Question 2, the hotly contested Charter Schools question was resoundingly defeated, despite the heavy advertising on both sides.  Question 3, which asked that farm animals be treated humanely, was overwhelmingly supported, and Question 4, asking if marijuana use should be allowed for those over the age of 21, passed.

Halifax voters said “No” to Question 5, specific to Halifax, asking voters to exempt Halifax from Proposition 2 ½ restrictions for the future bond issue to renovate the Council on Aging Center at Pope’s Tavern.

Town Clerks throughout the area are seeing a large turnout of early and absentee ballots for the upcoming presidential election Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Halifax Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor said has just over 5% of her town’s registered voters have come in for early voting and absentee ballot requests.  “I see that the elderly are finding it easier – they don’t have to wait in long lines.”  In the first two days, Monday and Tuesday, Halifax has had 145 people in for early voting and 140 absentee ballot requests, for a total of 285.  “The first day we saw 75 early voters in eight hours.  That’s about 10 voters per hour. “

Plympton’s Town Clerk Tara Shaw said that in the first two days 86 early voters cast their ballots, and 60 absentee ballots were mailed.  “I was hoping this would be a success because of all the hard work we have all put into it for the past couple of weeks,” she said.  With the 146 ballots between early and absentee, morer than 2% of the registered voters have already cast their ballots.

Gaynor said she is glad she is working in a smaller town, “Some larger towns have seen a huge increase in early voting.”  “We have our closed facebook page and communicate with one another,” she said.   

Whitman’s early voting total in the first two days was almost 600, more than the entire voting total for the primary election in September which was only 347, according to Whitman’s Town Clerk Dawn Varley.

Early voting will continue through Friday, Nov. 4, throughout the Commonwealth.

In Halifax, it will be available during normal business hours for the Town Clerk at the Town Clerk’s office: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Friday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.  In Plympton, it will be Monday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also, registered voters have the option to request an early voting ballot through the mail.  Simply fill out an application and mail it to Town Clerk, Town of Plympton, 5 Palmer Rd., Plympton, MA 02367.  In Halifax, mail your early voting  ballot request to Town Clerk’s Office, 499 Plymouth St., Halifax, MA 02338.

You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele or call the Town Clerk’s office – 781-293-7970 for Halifax or 781-585-3220 for Plympton.

Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.

Secretary of State William F. Galvin says,, “For the first time in Massachusetts, the first choice all voters will make is which day to vote.

“Early voting will make the most fundamental right of our citizens more convenient than ever to exercise.

“We encourage all of our citizens to exercise that right and take advantage of the opportunity to vote on their schedules.”

The Town of Halifax Zoning Board of Appeals members and Jennifer R. Harmon, also known as Jennifer R. Choate, have been named in a lawsuit brought by neighbor Scott M. Clawson citing improper notification regarding special permit changes and increases, at the dog breeding kennel operated by Harmon, Tarawood Kennels, 7 Plymouth St., Halifax.

ZBA members Robert Gaynor, Kozhaya Nessralla, Peter Parcellin, Robert Durgin, and Gerald Joy were named in the suit, not personally, but as members of the Board of Appeals. Also named is Jennifer R. Harmon, who is also known as Jennifer Choate, Tarawood Kennel owner.

According to Clawson’s suit, on the many occasions since mid-2010 up to this year, the ZBA did not notify parties in interest about hearings that were scheduled to change or substantially modify the terms of the kennel license and neighbors were denied their chance to appeal or to be heard on the permit renewal. 

The first license application approved by the ZBA on or about July 20, 2010, was for a special permit for a kennel for the breeding or boarding of dogs at 7 Plymouth St., Halifax with conditions, according to the filing.  The special permit was granted to allow “a kennel for the breeding or boarding of dogs.”  The permit cited nine conditions in addition to all the rules and regulations and codes of the Town of Halifax.  These conditions included no boarding of outside animals.  The dogs must all be licensed to Jennifer R. Harmon. No breeding of outside animals allowed on the premises.  The special permit is not transferrable.  Puppies not sold within six months must be removed from the property.  Only two (2) litters allowed per year per breed. Only 15 adult dogs on the property.  Applicant must provide and maintain soundproofing, and dogs must stay within the property line.  The applicant must license all adult dogs.

The special permit in 2010 was granted based on the presentation and plans presented at the hearing.  Any changes from what was presented and approved must be brought back before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The special permit also required that once the decision has been without appeal for 20 days, it be recorded with the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, or with the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court for Plymouth County, and a certified copy indicating such registry recording has been done be filed with the board.

Feb. 15, 2012, Harmon (Choate) met with the Zoning Board of Appeals at Harmon’s request to revisit conditions, asking that the number of dogs be increased to 23 adult dogs and the number of litters allowed be increased to three per year per breed, in addition to the original conditions set forth  in 2010.  That permit will not take effect until it is registered with the Plymouth County Registry of  Deeds and a  receipt for that filing is at the Registry is filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals.

In April, 2013, Harmon (Choate) was back before the ZBA requesting that her special permit be amended to allow up to a maximum of 50 dogs, and 26 litters of puppies, 20 litters for the German Shepherds and six litters for the Pomeranian breed.  This amendment was granted May 1, 2013.

In May 2014, the permit was amended to allow a maximum of 26 litters of puppies among three breeds: German shepherd, Pomeranian, and Jack Russell terrier, keeping to a maximum of 50 adult dogs on the premises.

In the 2015 permit renewal application, the total number of adult dogs was still 50, and litters of puppies still at 26, although now spread between only two breeds, German shepherd and the Pomeranian.

In short, in five years, the number of dogs allowed at Harmon’s (Choate’s) Tarawood kennel has grown from 15 adult dogs and two litters of puppies per year to 50 adult dogs and 26 litters of puppies.   In September of this year, there was before the ZBA a revision which would allow 100 adult dogs and unlimited litters of puppies.  That application has since been withdrawn, it was announced at last week’s Halifax Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

Clawson alleges in his filing that concerned parties were not notified by the Zoning Board of Appeals or by Tarawood Kennels about the special permit applications or their modifications allowing as many as 50 adult dogs and 26 litters of puppies. 

Clawson contends that the ZBA granted Harmon’s special permits and revisions without notice to parties-in-interest and seeks to have the special permit annulled and if not annulled, to ask the court to order further relief deemed just and proper.

Clawson has been before selectmen and the ZBA on many occasions with concerns of dogs barking at all hours of the day and night, seeking relief from the noise.  Selectman Kim Roy has investigated the charges on behalf of the board and found noise to be substantial.

At the Sept. 27 selectmen’s hearing, Choate was ordered to reduce the number of dogs in her kennel to 25 in order to help keep the noise to a minimum.  Roy also found that soundproofing which has been one of the conditions of her permit since the first permit given in 2010 has not been done. 

Clawson, who was a member of the audience Sept. 27, appeared dissatisfied at the ruling, saying that he (and others in the area) have been waiting for something to be done for years and expected something more substantial to solve the problem.   

Tuesday night’s meeting of the Halifax Board of Selectmen went to the dogs once again, even though chief dog bark investigator Kim Roy was at a conflicting event.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig told the board that he had received another barking dog complaint from a neighbor of Tarawood Kennel on Plymouth Street.  Selectmen chairman Troy Garron said the statute is clear and they would have to investigate and would have Kim Roy put on her investigative hat once again to check into the complaint.

Seelig also told the board that he had received notice that a lawsuit is pending: Scott Clawson v Town of Halifax and Jennifer Choate, owner of Tarawood Kennel.  Details of the filing were not available at press time, but should be innext week’s Express edition.

Continuing in the doghouse, selectmen held a hearing for a dog attack on another dog.  The attacking dog’s owners, Lisa and Chris Watson, and Halifax Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan were present.  The injured dog was being walked past the Watsons’ Summit Street home while leashed and the Watson’s dog, outside in its own yard with its owners, ran through the electric “invisible” fence because the battery had evidently failed.  The Watsons were able to get their dog back under control.  The injured dog was bleeding from a wound on its tongue; it had evidently bitten its own tongue, according to ACO Callahan.  No other injuries were evident on either dog.

This is the first incident with this dog, Chris Watson told selectmen.

ACO Callahan told the board that her concern was making sure that the 65 pound dog was kept under control at all times when outside so that a situation such as this could not happen again.  The Watsons assured the board that they would see to it.  Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron told the owners that the board would send them an official letter putting them on notice that the Town of Halifax does have a leash law and enforces it.

“Another failure is a concern,” ACO Callahan said.  She also noted that she quarantined both dogs as a precaution, even though all shots were up to date.

Resignations

From COA

Seelig told the board he had received two resignations: Sharon Hartz and Joy Marble, chairman and vice-chairman of the Council on Aging.  Garron instructed the secretary to the board, Pam McSherry, to send a letter from the Board of Selectmen thanking them for their service to the town.

Seelig also noted he had received a talent bank form from Corrie Merritt which he will pass along to the appropriate parties.

Daniel Borsari came before selectmen to be sworn in as an Associate Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Borsari told the board that he now has the time to invest in the position and is looking forward to it.  Borsari said he holds a real estate license.  Garron joked that Borsari is a detail–oriented guy and has probably read the bylaws from cover to cover already.  Borsari nodded and affirmed that he had.

New Town Hall

fragrance policy

Seelig told the board that he is ready to implement the new “Fragrance Policy” for the Town Hall, asking those coming into the Town Hall to refrain from wearing strong fragrances as some people working there are sensitive to them.   

Seelig assured the board that there would be no “fragrance police;” it is a voluntary program and those working in Town Hall would like to make the public aware.

In other business, selectmen

• approved 16 additional recycling abatements, although Selectman Thomas Milias told the board that he would like a little more information about these private haulers and to be sure that they are doing what is required.  Susan Johnson, Recycling Coordinator, is looking to get stronger regulations for private haulers to be sure they are doing what they should by way of recycling.

• signed an addendum for Howland Disposal Service which would see a 1 1/2% increase.  Millias told the board he understood that there should be a net decrease in the total.  Seelig told him that while there was probably a decrease in tipping fees, there was likely an increase in other areas such as labor.

• noted that the Fire Department has opened an EZPass account which would be useful in cases where FD personnel were attending seminars outside of Boston.  Seelig told the board that there is no charge for the transponders and that the Town of Halifax should have transponders for several of the town’s vehicles that would go into one account for the Town.

• noted that the next meetings of the Board of Selectmen will be Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.

• adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

The FY17 real estate tax rate will not shift between resident and business properties.   

Plympton selectmen heard the recommendation of the Board of Assessors and agreed that to split the tax, asking Plympton’s businesses – all 19 of them – to assume a greater tax burden and the residents to assume a lesser burden, might cause businesses looking to settle in Plympton to look elsewhere.  The tax rate being submitted to the Department of Revenue for certification will be $18.06 per thousand assessed valuation.  This is a 2.21% increase over the FY16 tax rate of  $17.67.

Assistant Assessor Deb Stuart told the board that several towns near Plympton do shift the tax burden to businesses: Hanover and Middleborough have a slight 1.05% business tax assessment to a .9866% residential tax assessment.  Carver has the greatest business to residential shift in the examples chosen – 1.399% business percentage to .9076 residential percentage of the tax burden.

Commonwealth law allows communities to shift up to 1.5% to businesses giving relief to residential tax rate.

The estimated tax levy for FY17 is $8,644,994 from a value of $478,704,690.  Divide the levy by the assessed value then multiply by 1000 to compute the tax rate.

Stuart told selectmen that the projected average single family home to have an assessed value for 2017 is $341,200.  This is a 2.2% increase over FY2016.

The projected average tax bill for the average single family home for FY 2017 is $6,613, an increase of 3.95% over FY2016.  This compares to the 7.25% increase in the FY2016 average tax bill over FY2015.  The CPA tax of 1.5% increases the projected total average tax bill to $64.

Carver Urban Renewal Development

Selectman Christine Joy reported to the board that she had attended the Carver Urban Renewal Development Committee meeting last week where access to the proposed project at the Carver/Plympton town line was among the topics discussed.

Alternative 5 was introduced, which would close Montello Street to through traffic by way of a gate which could be opened in case of emergency.  The plan shows a modified turn from Montello onto Park Avenue in Carver .

“What was an interesting takeaway was that they were discussing acquisition of Melville property and the Cool property is going to be the primary entrance to the park.  I thought that was interesting that they hadn’t acquired that property yet,” Joy told the board.

The developer was in discussion with the property owners and felt confident that they would be able to come to some type of agreement to acquire the properties.

They are also very cognizant of the neighbors with the orientation of the properties in the park to reduce the impact  to the neighbors, with lights and noise, and to face the loading docks toward Route 44.

They spoke about the different designs and Alternative 5 was favored.  The feeling was that there would be too tight a left-hand turn off Montello which would prohibit truck traffic.  They were going to look at an alternative to accommodate a truck which went down Montello St. in error so they could turn around.  The developer mentioned the possibility of closing Montello St. to through traffic.  The neighbors were very happy. The closure would be within Carver but would require Plympton to agree.

HALIFAX – Selectmen Tuesday night ordered Jennifer Choate, owner of Tarawood Kennels, 7 Plymouth St., Halifax, to reduce her adult dog population from the 50 she is now licensed for to 25 adult dogs on the premises.

Selectman Kim Roy, who was charged by her board to investigate the numerous complaints from neighbors about excessive barking, spoke for more than an hour about the history of complaints to the board, the first from 2010 and the remedial steps which were promised and never completed through Tuesday of this week.

Roy said that she and Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan made an official visit to Tarawood Kennel on Tuesday, the day of the hearing, to see if progress had been made on noise abatement, and to count the number of dogs present.  ACO Callahan found it difficult to get an accurate count as the dogs weren’t tagged individually.

When asked how many dogs were present, Choate replied she wasn’t sure.  When asked how many litters of puppies were on premises, she answered two.  Roy opened the door to another room and found another litter.  Choate appeared to have no idea how many dogs were in her kennel or kennel offices.

Roy read a damning letter into the minutes of the hearing from a former Tarawood kennel manager, who swore to its truthfulness and signed it.  Choate refuted its veracity.

Another ongoing concern Roy had was for the condition of the crates which housed the dogs, stating that most were chewed, with sharp edges, providing potential danger to the animals.

In some areas, dog enclosures were left open to the weather: sun, rain, or snow, and Ms. Choate was asked to provide some kind of shelter for them.  When Roy and Callahan made their visit on Tuesday, temporary tarps had been strung over the crates to provide a sort of shelter.  Soundproofing material which had been promised over the years had not yet been installed, nor had it been purchased to be installed.

Selectman Tom Millias told Ms. Choate that the problems seemed to occur after she increased the number of dogs through a special permit approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals from 15 dogs to 23, and then to 50.

The board was shocked to learn that she had yet another revision to her license before the ZBA asking to increase the number of dogs allowed to 100, and with an unlimited number of litters of puppies allowed!

Millias said he didn’t see how she could manage that number of dogs and obviously couldn’t, with the increased complaints of neighbors.

Roy played several recordings of dogs barking which she made from a neighbor’s yard at various times of the night, early morning, and during the day.  “I wouldn’t want to live next door to that,” Roy said.

Selectmen gave Choate 45 days to comply with the reduction order, to find homes or places for the additional dogs, and limited the number of litters of puppies she could raise to 12 per year.

Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron, a known animal lover on the board, told Ms. Choate that the barking problem is hers to solve; it is not up to selectmen to tell her how to solve it.

The board asked ACO Callahan to check on the progress of the reduction of dogs and report back to selectmen.

Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

State Representative Tom Calter will host an Open Forum Discussion and Q&A session on the significant water problems currently plaguing West Monponsett Pond, Silver Lake and Jones River, as a result of water management practices from the City of Brockton,.

The event takes place Saturday, September 24th from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Halifax Town Hall, Great Hall.  This is a change from the original pondside location to provide  better parking and accessibility.

It is open to all, and community members concerned about these three bodies of water and health impacts to surrounding residents are encouraged to attend.

In addition to Rep. Calter, speakers will include Pine DuBois, Executive Director of the Jones River Watershed Association, Marianne Moore, Executive Secretary from the Monponsett Watershed Association, Cathy Drinan, Board of Health Agent for the Town of Halifax, Jack O’Leary from the Central Plymouth County Water District Commission, and State Rep. Josh Cutler, whose district includes Hanson.

Learn about the parameters of the 1964 law that allowed Brockton to draw water in the first place, and the City’s practices that have led to water quality degradation and cyanobacteria blooms far exceeding state health standards. Attendees will also hear about the work done by the Central Plymouth County Water District Commission, the Monponsett Watershed and Jones River Watershed Associations, Rep. Calter, Rep. Cutler and other activists over more than two years to push for change in Brockton’s approach; the role of the Dept. of Environmental Protection in negotiating a new Administrative Consent Order with Brockton to implement that change; next steps in the process and how residents can get involved.

The cyanobacteria levels from algae blooms have been at record high levels this summer causing significant health concerns and the summer’s marked drought has not seen relief.  To further add to the problem, Brockton turned off Aquaria, their supplemental water source in late August, taking 11 million+ gallons per day from Silver Lake.  Representative Calter says that the quantity and quality of water is in danger and immediate action is required.

Complimentary coffee and refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact abbelmore@hotmail.com.

Halifax selectmen were astounded Tuesday night to hear that State Rep. Michelle DuBois of Brockton accused Rep. Thomas Calter of overstating the water problem with Monponsett ponds and Silver Lake.  “This is a simple case of the wealthy residents around Monponsett Pond wanting to sunbathe on their sandy beaches while taking clean drinking water out of the mouths of poor black children in Brockton,” she said.  This was during a recent discussion in the House chamber, Calter told The Express.

“When do we stop the madness?” asked Selectman Kim Roy.   “When are we going to hear from the DEP?”  Calter said that he has heard from the DEP and they are going to issue an Administrative Order to stop Brockton from taking water from Monponsett.

“DEP now recognizes that the system is no longer sustainable.”  Things move very slowly.   

“Just so you know, Jones River {Watershed Association} was invited to speak {to the Brockton City Council} about a month ago.”  I went with them, and sat with them from 7 p.m. until our appointment at 10:45.  At 10:45 when we went to take the microphone, City Council Attorney stood up and said, ‘we are advising the Council not to take this testimony.’”  Calter said they were told it was due to the legal action pending right now.

“What legal action?” asked Roy.  “The Council twice

asked if I was aware of any legal action, and I said no.  They then asked Paul Collis and other members of the Jones River Watershed Association, and they replied no.”  Calter told selectmen that the group was allowed only to speak to funding, and could not give any technical data.  Calter said he spoke with the Mayor of Brockton outside City Hall at 11:15 at night, and, after a few choice words, pointed out to the mayor, “as an example {of the water mismanagement} here are your lawn sprinklers on at 11:15 at night!”

Calter said that when the legislature comes back into full session January 4, he will file legislation to make Brockton tap into the MWRA through Stoughton where there is plenty of water to serve the City’s needs.  Calter furthered that it is not the amount of water Brockton is taking that make up the Monponsett problem, it is the water management, or mismanagement, which has brought the situation to its sorry state.

Rep. Calter also answered concerns stated by Selectmen Tom Millias and Kim Roy that the towns of Halifax and Plympton were denied any say or vote in the sale of 5 acres of land from the Silver Lake School district for the construction of Kingston’s new police station.

Halifax’s representatives on the Silver Lake School Committee voted against the sale, and Plympton’s two members, each having a half vote, voted for the sale.  Calter told the board that his role in the matter was strictly as a legislator who filed legislation as requested of him, which was worked out between the buyer and the seller, that is the town of Kingston and the Silver Lake School District.

Selectman Tom Milias interrupted saying there is no seller until the bill passes because there is no vehicle to sell until the law is passed.  He expressed his frustration that the land that we all bought – all three towns in the district – is being sold without the voice of the voters of Halifax being heard.  Calter told him the school committee didn’t request language in the bill to include the vote of the individual towns and in the several other instances where regional districts have sold land, there was not such language for member towns to vote, other than through their elected representatives.

Millias countered that he bet those sales weren’t to another member town that has as many votes on the board as the other towns combined.  We all own this property.  We should have a say.  Millias echoed Roy’s concerns, and concerns heard at Plympton the night before.

Calter told them that the town of Kingston will bring this project back to special town meeting to ask the voters to approve the land purchase which they had turned down at their annual town meeting.  If Kingston voters turn down the project again when they vote in October, it will no longer be an issue.  The project will be dead.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY– All of Plymouth County remains under a drought “watch” despite the recent rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine, with areas of the county under the more severe “warning” category.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, produced jointly by The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s National Drought Mitigation Center, the U.S Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, states that drought conditions are getting worse.

54.7% of the state is experiencing a “severe” drought, and 22.6% of the state is in an “extreme” drought.

“Drought conditions worsened in Massachusetts and surrounding areas,” officials stated, even despite recent rainfall.

State officials are continuing to urge the public to conserve water in light of the ongoing conditions.

The state is also planning to offer grants to struggling farms and is putting plans in place to provide enough water for firefighting and public safety.

Those plans include efforts to ensure mutual aid is in place to make sure there is enough water to go around should there be a major fire in one community that uses up a significant amount of water.

“Our Administration continues to support communities across the Commonwealth to work in unison as we prepare for the very serious ramifications that a prolonged drought can have on our economy and public safety,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito in a statement.

The previous five months have been abnormally dry. While 100% of the state is under some sort of watch or warning today, about 80% of the state was not under any sort of watch or warning at the beginning of March, according to the monitor.