[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6380358,"mediaKeyId","2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9","parentId",2132370,"title","Small-business owners at Tulagi Place raise eviction, communication concerns; economic development officials respond","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",2517000,"endMs",2879000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9&start=2517&end=2879","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9/thumbnail_2517000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380358/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Small-business-owners-at-Tulagi-Place-raise-eviction-communication-concerns-economic-development-officials-respond","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380358-6112f02a1c3ee2bacba8571b3afff683/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202980&Signature=VRHBIPj0FIT33aWyN6HZN5n-~c5rOtjRdbjUDzfduqIM4ZqBY~8w16cZpr6jwOeFH9-7Vyxt3t1BDcz93uvAUyQVNaw3YRHheBviOHrbKUavGoAatqJqwqEqHINOmQlahC-Cn5wPGXLaTxBSq~Pe55ZGJ0cSrdj5123P4z9QNhgSMxJaKJzZEN2N-~rP9YoN3TsAs~4sEgS5H~l7iTb2hFfq8bTZHbszBYjat2ay9IzKq~P1ln~Xjs7BH~54mY-ekvKqf78pgL2FBBPZSPKrQ~vx1ltuEGvml37aq7Aj-G6LLyiDv2L09BNqlJYFHZuCLu~8Hb-eGiwMULasTszm7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-01-21T00:39:05.31Z","article","Several small-business owners at Tulagi Place attended the May 12, 2015 Commissioners meeting to report they had received notice from their landlord that leases would end and that they had limited time to move. Business owners said the uncertainty was hurting their livelihoods and raised concerns about how county government and the Department of Economic Development had handled communication.

Commissioners asked department staff to clarify the county's role. Acting Economic Development Director Miss Finnecom and staff explained that the property in question is privately owned and that the county is not the property owner. Department staff said they had been in contact with tenants and with property owners who have been marketing the parcel for a number of years and that tenants had been on month-to-month leases; the owner recently informed tenants they would have a one-year period before any sale or redevelopment action.

Officials said county staff had been working to keep lines of communication open and were available to help tenants evaluate relocation options and to identify other vacant sites. The commissioners urged staff to assist small-business owners where possible and to provide clearer, proactive public information about property-status changes and county assistance. A county economic development manager said staff could show prospective alternative spaces ('the Roost' building, a former restaurant site and other parcels) and encouraged tenants to contact the department for help.

Separately during the same meeting the commissioners approved a letter of support for a local agritourism operation (Forest Hall Farm and Orchard) seeking state wayfinding signage and approved county participation in the MALPF matching funds program for agricultural easement acquisitions; economic development staff noted the agritourism program has specific eligibility criteria (e.g., property open for a minimum time each year and educational events) and encouraged other farms interested in signs to prepare to meet those standards.

What happened next
Commissioners directed economic development staff to follow up with the Tulagi Place tenants to confirm current leases and to help identify relocation options. The board also asked staff to improve public notice and outreach so merchants can plan in advance rather than be surprised by notices of short-term lease endings.

Ending
Commissioners said the county's role is limited with privately owned property but emphasized their interest in preserving local businesses and minimizing unintended displacement in commercial corridors.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5/12/2015 Commissioners of St. Mary's County","oneSentenceSummary","Local business owners in Tulagi Place told commissioners they had been given short notices to vacate amid a potential property sale; county economic development staff said private negotiations control lease terms but that staff has engaged with tenants and the property owner to limit displacement.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380363,"Commissioners select Hayden Farm for new Leonardtown library and senior activity center after contentious debate",937,5667000,6604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9&start=5667&end=6604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9/thumbnail_5667000.jpg","/articles/6380363/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commissioners-select-Hayden-Farm-for-new-Leonardtown-library-and-senior-activity-center-after-contentious-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380363-25f3c65fc406e7c9468b4ebf907989f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202980&Signature=UKWevaO0p4UVPSBlCnrSiIXcvKtZkSALexcbGdvpn~ad33EfV2lAGMmns4da8X6ai2P~m38lbLBVr23fENo2DrC4ztNIzhx7QXAhZK9HfbQ6DWmj2hP~hHITZqGKCxsu3Hv3JIZuPU69DoPWo6Bi1IOab4s~RH131moFoY3H~-5YEU6ujmwwQrnWAbErEcz0eLnLF5EWF3ovr5N4r5ZrNqCb0dnY-lsnalZ8ZGg7bfp1EXhS9WW6GR70iAcghsERadctYGWuGzoprEK~iYtO~1enlLbtF6VjEkfPjeC2EDE9oMIa5UxGIeWHGSVdfC7ALyyIuPVUU6N3Dupg3wlqnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After extended debate and public comment, the Commissioners of St. Mary's County voted on May 12, 2015 to designate Hayden Farm as the site for a new county library and a senior activity center.

The decision followed multiple presentations, emails and public testimony over several weeks about two candidate sites: a county-owned parcel at Hayden Farm and a downtown Leonardtown site for which the town and private parties had offered donated land. Commissioners discussed traffic and access, sewer capacity, parking and the potential economic-development effects of a downtown location. Planning and county staff provided written and oral material on site readiness and permitting considerations.

Commissioner Todd Morgan argued in favor of the downtown Leonardtown site, saying it would link the library to nearby shops, restaurants and pedestrian activity and cited opportunities for catalytic economic development in the town center. \"The Lawrence Avenue location prevails on this amenity with nearby shops, restaurants, etc.,\" a planning staff memo the board reviewed said, and several commissioners noted that the downtown site has multiple ingress/egress points and fiber infrastructure in place.

Other commissioners favored the Hayden Farm site primarily because the county already owns the land and officials said that ownership reduces the risk of lengthy delays tied to donated parcels and private negotiations. Commissioner Mike Hewitt said he would not commit to reserving large taxpayer dollars for property the county does not yet own. Several commissioners expressed frustration that a proposed face-to-face meeting with the private landowner who had discussed donating acreage did not take place before the vote; one commissioner said the meeting would have violated open-meetings restrictions because more than two commissioners would have been present without notice.

The board voted to designate Hayden Farm by majority vote. The vote was taken after a motion and a second; the chair announced the motion carried and that the county would move forward with planning for the site.

What the decision means
The vote directs county staff to proceed with site planning and coordination for a combined library and senior center at Hayden Farm. County staff and the library board will still have to complete design, permitting and funding arrangements. Commissioners who opposed the Hayden Farm designation said they would continue to support the project and urged rapid progress to get a shovel in the ground.

Context
The selection follows several years of study and prior planning documents that included library options at Hayden Farm. The recorded debate at the May 12 meeting focused on trade-offs: owning land now (which can speed delivery but concentrates development in one area) versus accepting donated downtown land (which could spur downtown economic activity but raised uncertainty about timing and additional off-site infrastructure costs).

Ending
Commissioners asked staff to return with implementation steps; the board signaled it expects staff to address traffic and sewer capacity analyses, project phasing and design options and to brief the commissioners as the project advances.","After a lengthy public and internal debate over access, economic development, permitting and donated land, the St. Mary's County commissioners voted to designate Hayden Farm as the site for a combined library and senior activity center.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6380368,"St. Mary’s County adopts FY2016 budget, approves grants and agritourism and preservation commitments",1669,1471000,3140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9&start=1471&end=3140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2132370-f686d0c5e6a404a7d2422ac75f56f5c9/thumbnail_1471000.jpg","/articles/6380368/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-adopts-FY2016-budget-approves-grants-and-agritourism-and-preservation-commitments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380368-e88b9cb9bb617431807583347280303e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202980&Signature=SHgfKcbW5Dd57Ma3ztnE1TS~VbSjnEcpzvWdwTw-phuZKdRon4p0R890Q2Mar02V~BXwJkCQtn3ItMJxJ~Cr6IL2ftPv6kZ39Ss8uZrLHQ6uPOcYGZjWHgStT~qip6~eSZ1mWEsf2YaauA4qFgSj6SulzOeh5NDJpAmrJbzNb-exzjL~dsQdPC7QzaqqPfBw5eF96bSugRpvYXAU2P6Ab~scRGrNBbiMoAJI5zH-IxH0eaPKEF11MM2mMRwboOvUGCwJwxR4RUoWUk7-0tCo965QihkvP8t1Dqq2VGHj88tgwE~NPWpIahXRBQPEtEALqlKFzDlFNRndbyS7yxjX3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Commissioners of St. Mary's County approved the fiscal year 2016 revenue and appropriation ordinances and adopted the FY2016 budget on May 12, 2015, voting to set tax rates and advance a capital-improvement plan while retaining pay-go funding for near-term projects.

County finance director Jeanette Cudmore and interim chief financial staff reviewed the budget package, telling the board the constant-yield property tax rate set for the budget is 0.8523 and that the total FY2016 capital improvement plan (CIP) is $37,342,012. The adopted budget uses about $9.9 million in PAYGO (pay-as-you-go) funding for capital projects and carries a general-fund total of roughly $227,000,349.

The county's budget book also includes a plan for continued bond-funded projects (the draft showed $11.1 million in bonds for 2016 and additional borrowings in future years) and an appropriation for a mix of operating and one-time items. Cudmore told commissioners the board is using an estimated 4% growth factor for FY2016 revenue projections and that the county's June 30, 2014 unassigned fund balance was $22.8 million, of which about $11.8 million is planned for use in FY2016, leaving about $11 million unassigned as a contingency.

Board of Education presenters told the commissioners the county will accept a $55,980 federal subgrant under the Maryland State Department of Education's Race to the Top Comprehensive Assessment program to buy individual devices for student assessment. \"Our allocation for that subgrant is $55,980 and these grants are specifically allocated to support individual devices or computers to support instruction and assessment,\" said Dr. Morrow, acting assistant superintendent of instruction, during the Board of Education presentation.

Other grant actions approved during the meeting included a Department of Justice Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant application for $23,527 to cover half the cost of ballistic and stab-resistant vests for sworn and corrections personnel, and a letter of support for a private farm's application to the Maryland Agricultural Tourism Signing Program. Commissioners also signed a letter indicating the county's interest in participating in the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF) FY2016 matching-funds program, providing matching dollars that will allow the county to move forward on offers to eight applicants appraised and ready to receive offers.

Votes at a glance
- Revenue ordinance (sets tax rates including constant-yield rate 0.8523): Approved by voice vote; motion carried.
- Appropriation ordinance (sets FY2016 appropriations and operating budget): Approved by voice vote; motion carried.
- FY2016 budget adoption (overall approval of schedules and fund balance plan): Approved by voice vote; motion carried.
- Race to the Top Comprehensive Assessment grant (Board of Education; accept $55,980): Approved; motion carried.
- Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant application (DOJ US-1616; $23,527): Approved; motion carried.
- Forest Hall Farm letter of support (Maryland Ag Tourism Signing Program): Approved; motion carried.
- MALPF FY2016 Matching Funds Program letter of interest ($1,035,369 county match noted in presentation): Approved; motion carried.

Context and implications
The FY2016 budget preserves a fund-balance cushion while using PAYGO to limit borrowing in the near term; the package includes $9.9 million in PAYGO and proposes future bond borrowing tied to CIP cash flow. The budget increases county funding for the school system (the county contribution was presented as $98,151,001 for the Board of Education in the adopted schedules) and includes policy decisions on vehicle replacements, salary steps and stipends for sworn officers, an enterprise and special-revenue fund schedule, and a list of CIP projects planned through 2021.

Commissioners emphasized they sought to reduce tax burdens while still funding priorities. Finance staff said some figures (notably state income-tax distributions for late May) were still pending when the board voted, and staff said the board would monitor revenues and cash flow during the year.

Ending
After the board's votes the county will publish the adopted revenue and appropriation ordinances and begin implementation of FY2016 operating and capital activities described in the budget documents.","Commissioners approved the county's FY2016 revenue and appropriation ordinances and adopted a $227.0 million general fund budget, while also approving several grant applications and letters of support for agritourism and land preservation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Small-business owners at Tulagi Place raise eviction, communication concerns; economic development officials respond

Commissioners select Hayden Farm for new Leonardtown library and senior activity center after contentious debate

St. Mary’s County adopts FY2016 budget, approves grants and agritourism and preservation commitments