News Flash

Todd Mohn’s Wrap Up of the February 28^th County Commissioner Meeting

The February 28th County Commissioner meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. 

PRESENTATIONS

1. Ms. Cathy Willis, Department of Community Services Annual Report and Update   
2. Mr. Steve Chandlee, Parks and Recreation Update    
3. Mr. Ward Slacum, Oyster Recovery Partnership Presentation
4. Ms. Kelly Hamilton, Animal Services Update  

LEGISLATIVE

Public Hearing  - 2011 Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan (CWSP) 

Amendment 11-18                     

A Public Hearing was held at 6:05 p.m.  The following was discussed and no public comment was made.

TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN - POTABLE WATER SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS

This is a text amendment to reflect the Town’s plan to improve their existing water system by taking the following actions; refurbishment of the existing 50,000-gallon elevated tank located on Wall Street, installation of a new 100,000-gallon ground storage tank located adjacent to the existing Queenstown Outlets property’s elevated tank, construct a new 4-inch well into the Mattawan aquifer and a new water treatment facility located on Del Rhodes Avenue, replace undersized and/or defective watermains to meet the provisions of the 10 States Standards to all areas within the Queenstown service area, and extend new water mains to recently annexed areas. In addition to the new Groundwater Appropriation for the Del Rhodes Avenue well, the Town will seek to increase the Groundwater Appropriation Permit for the two existing wells currently into the Mattawan aquifer.

NORTHWEST CHESTER WATER MAIN EXTENSION- 

This is a map amendment to reflect the County Commissioners’ intent to extend an 8-inch water main from the intersection of Main Street and Castle Marina Road (adjacent to the Chester McDonalds,) west along Main Street to Shopping Center Road. The intent of this amendment is to upgrade the water service area map designations from W-3 to W-2 to allow the properties along that route to connect to public water.

The record will remain open for comments and a vote will be scheduled for the March 14^th meeting.

ACTION ITEMS

Public Landings requested the Commissioners approval to increase rates for Public Landing Ramp Permits and Annual Boat Slip Fees. Public Landings operates as an enterprise fund with a balanced budget. This request is part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 budget. Below is a table that outlines the recommended changes:

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

FTA and MTA Certifications and Assurances packet is a requirement for the FY2024 Annual
 Transportation Plan for Queen Anne’s County. The execution of the documents informs FTA and MTA that the Queen Anne’s County Area Agency on Aging certifies that it will operate the Public Transit System and the Statewide Specialized Transportation Assistance Program (SSTAP) in compliance with those certifications and assurances.  This documentation also includes an Authorizing Resolution #23-04 which is to be adopted.   This is a $450k operating grant for transit services.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

3.  Queen Anne’s Soil Conservation District Plan Review Fee Increase Request 

Queen Anne’s Soil Conservation District is delegated by the Maryland Department of the Environment to review and approve Sediment and Erosion Control Plans. The QASCD is also delegated to review Storm Water Management Plans for Agricultural Construction. QASCD is requested approval to increase fees for plan review which offset the cost of the contracted Plan Reviewer. The current fee schedule was approved by the Commissioners in 2017, with an amendment made in 2018 to include a fee for New Poultry Site Evaluation.  Below is a table that outlines the recommended changes:

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

4.  2023 Citizen Sponsored Text Amendment Application Text Amendment/County Ordinance #23-02                                                     

The County accepts citizen sponsored applications for text amendments during the first 10 business days in the month of February of each calendar year. During this annual window, the County received the following application for consideration: #23-02 — Jemal’s Kent Narrows, LLC c/o Joseph Stevens: § 18:1-26. Waterfront Village Center (WVC) District. Bonus density provisions for mixed-use residential density in the WVC with retail/commercial or services uses not to exceed 5% of the gross floor area. This amendment will allow for a maximum mixed-use residential density of up to 25 dwellings per acre for redevelopment of properties with dilapidated or abandoned structures and increase the percentage of residential or commercial apartments as required in the definition of “mixed-use”. The percentage of retail/commercial or service uses is not to exceed 5% of the gross floor area. Staff recommends sending the Citizen Sponsored Text Amendment #23-02 submitted by Jemal’s Kent Narrows, LLC to the Planning Commission for investigation and recommendation.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

5.  Budget Amendment #CC-48 – FY2022 DES Communications

This budget amendment is to increase budget authority for the Department of Emergency Services Communications Division for a capital grant and related expenditures. All vendors were directly paid by the Maryland 9-1-1 Board at the completion of the projects; however the County is still required to record both the revenue and related expenditures based on accounting and auditor requirements.

The grant funding covered contractual work by Mission Critical Partners, Motorola, AT&T and other miscellaneous vendors to complete the project which totaled $924,829.62.   

Queen Anne s County DES applied and received a grant through the Maryland 9-1-1 Board to furnish and wire the backup 9-1-1 center totaling $123,445.56.
 Queen Anne’s County DES applied and received a grant through the Maryland 9-1-1 Board to purchase headsets for the 9-1-1 center totaling $10,223.10.
 The total requested increase for the above grants is $1,058,498.  No County funds were allocated for these projects.   

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

6.  Budget Amendment #CC-33 Chesapeake Heritage Visitor Center Bulkhead Replacement                                                                                                                          

This amendment increases budget authority in the Chesapeake Heritage Visitor Center - Bulkhead Replacement project in the amount of $33,275. The project is complete however, a budget amendment is necessary in order to remedy the current deficit in the project.
 The current grant revenue budgeted in the project is $396,623, however. $409,086 was received. The additional $12,463 received is being recognized with this amendment. The remaining deficit of $20,812 will be funded with prior year fund balance.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

7.  Budget Amendment #CC-34 Riverside Remediation     

This amendment will establish additional budget authority in the Riverside Remediation project. The project is complete; however, the project is currently overspent by $102,562. Per a departmental meeting with DPW they would like to move $102,562 from P40959, Housing Authority Facilities, to cover the deficit. There is sufficient funding available for this adjustment. The project will be closed once funding has been allocated.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

On August 9th 2022, the County Commissioners approved awarding the contract for the KIHS Synthetic Running Track to ATC Corp. in the amount of $373,770. However, due to a change order, the total cost of the project was $377,470. Therefore, an additional $22,470 of budget authority is necessary to cover the project deficit.  (The original budget was $355,000).

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

Per discussion with the Department of Aging & DPW the CDBG grant of $800,000 budgeted under State Capital Grants will not be received. Therefore, we are removing the $800,000 budgeted grant from the capital budget, along with the corresponding expenditure budget.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

The Maryland Department of State Police awarded the Sheriff’s department the Local Agency License Plate Reader Grant for FY23. This reimburses for the purchase of license plate reader equipment ($202,406). Funds are paid quarterly on a reimbursable basis.  No additional County funds are needed.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

This amendment will establish budget authority in project 44001, Parks Skate Park, for the construction of a skate park at Cockey Lane in Stevensville. On February 16, 2023, Maryland Department of Natural Resources awarded $665,190 under the FY23 DNR-LPP Grant. These funds will be reimbursed once Parks incurs the expenditures. The remaining $100,000 will be funded using Parks and Recreation impact fees.

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

Desk Item 1 - Congressional Earmark Request for the QAC Family YMCA - This is a support letter to Senator Van Hollen on behalf of the YMCA of the Chesapeake.  The YMCA is seeking $1.38 million in congressionally directed spending to support the construction of the Career Development and Resource Center within the Queen Anne’s Family YMCA. This shared-used model will be part of the 62,718 square foot multi-use facility now under construction in Centreville which includes a YMCA, Senior Center and Career Development and Resource Center for a total cost of $21.4 million.  

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

Desk Item 2 – Rural Health Collaborative Pilot Repeal and Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition Funding - This includes support letters requested by Senator Hershey’s office for SB 498/HB 497.  This bill would repeal the provisions of law establishing and governing the Rural Health Collaborative Pilot; and requiring the Governor to provide an appropriation in the State budget for fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter to fund the operations of the Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition.  

APPROVED 4-0 - 1 ABSENT

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

1.  Planning and Zoning Monthly Department Report – January 2023    

2.  Thank you card – Dale Timms                                                                  

3.  Thank You Card Regarding Queen Anne’s County Ride        

Or you can watch the meeting here https://www.youtube.com/live/a-6AUcfIuJE?feature=share