CENTREVILLE - Many charitable events held on county land will now be able to request a fee waiver for the rental of a park, trail, or equipment such as bleachers or stages. The Queen Anne’s County Commissioner voted unanimously March 24, to immediately reinstate the fee waiver policy which had been terminated several years ago when the county faced a large budget deficit.
Commissioner Paul Comfort said, "Our charitable organizations are a backbone of the county's volunteer culture. We are happy to again offer the opportunity for these non-profits to utilize some of the county government's resources gratis under certain conditions."
Given better economic times and the Board’s desire to help organizations with providing free activities for citizens, the following criteria for the waiving of fees was adopted: the organization must be a non-profit; the event is not a fundraiser where people must pay money to attend; the facility where the event is located is not one that normally requires a fee for access such as Conquest Beach, Blue Heron Golf Course, or public landings and marinas; the facility may not be an indoor facility that requires county personnel to open, close or monitor activities; if the facility is mobile such as a stage or bleachers then the personnel and transportation costs associated with the event will not be waived.
“A healthy non-profit sector is part of the economic development equation,” said Commissioner Robert Buckey. “We cannot improve the economic health of our county while cutting programs that provide answers to the social, cultural, health, educational and environmental needs of our people. With the state and local governments predicting budget shortfalls, more people are relying on non-profit organizations for assistance with basic needs. People looking to move to Queen Anne's County want a good place to raise families and live. Nonprofits contribute to improving the quality of life and safety for all of QAC citizens.”
Commissioner Mark Anderson noted that the very popular Kid’s Fishing Derby conducted by the Kent Island Elks Lodge 2576 each year in July would be positively helped by the new rules that continue the waiver of fees for non-profits hosting events that have no admission charge.
A security deposit is required for all facilities regardless of waiver status. For more information please contact Chip Price, director of the Department of Parks and Public Landing at 410-758-0835 or at cprice@qac.org.