[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6364378,"mediaKeyId","2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56","parentId",2164851,"title","Garrett County approves three property sales, announces industrial projects and housing plans","audioSeconds",400,"startMs",1310000,"endMs",1710000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56&start=1310&end=1710","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56/thumbnail_1310000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364378/Garrett-County/Maryland/Garrett-County-approves-three-property-sales-announces-industrial-projects-and-housing-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364378-a1d0673928e0e3b37282d5b4baf5e204/orig.mp4?Expires=1775608001&Signature=LXjaND79k87nwtk~~xHhv3dfx35GmV9m-02k8d5oSyKS7necpbxOJknQM9HgRdqmwpyc5jXmiO3lUcMnre-IlH~E6T1LEGG3M~DsPbqIIqkq3gnR20MJyX3OP~mk5j9ttJWsti-wsuUMOwhYpjHtVvXQjRjOEZ9tdByvKMOyZXjJOvPEeXlcUXbztF1qFnuhKTXVOcnYOLz2Y0-5~0Uv8R~iao2yx988l9nm-P1d529FsV-qq4TjM1c3aYM71wSTaM8t~GBp7adbkPzL2jrt0-~amwfRzfStUd~h7k10ecJiYArUjI3vjSA3hEYD3eA7sEey~GYBZWCMsq5mu0myGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-28T21:32:16Z","article","The Board of Garrett County Commissioners approved three resolutions Jan. 21 authorizing sales of county-owned land in Keizer Ridge Business Park, Southern Garrett Business Park and on Francis Sanders Drive.

Resolution 2025-1 authorizes sale of a 15.2797-acre portion of Keizer Ridge Business Park to SunCap Property Group LLC for $35,000 per acre. Resolution 2025-2 approves sale of Lot 9 (about 4.2 acres) in the Southern Garrett Business Park to Sunrise Sanitation Services Inc. for a total of $63,000. Resolution 2025-3 authorizes sale of approximately 2 acres on Francis Sanders Drive to CHIPS Properties LLC at $15,000 per acre. The board approved all three resolutions as a slate.

County economic development staff framed the sales as part of larger efforts to attract employers and prepare industrial sites. Staff said the county will build a speculative (“spec”) shell building at Keizer Ridge and has received inquiries from prospective tenants even before construction begins. Commissioners also referenced a previously announced agreement for the Medco building in McHenry Industrial Park with a company identified as Canna Barrons.

Steve, a county community development staff member, told commissioners the department expects public announcements of new developments and jobs soon and said three resolutions to sell property would be brought forward in coming days. Connor Norman, business development specialist with Garrett County Business Development, presented a separate recognition during the meeting and remarked on local business milestones; economic-development remarks in the meeting emphasized job creation and the need for attendant housing.

Commissioners connected the land sales and spec building to workforce needs and reiterated ongoing discussion about affordable and attainable housing projects in Grantsville, Accident, McHenry and Oakland. Staff said there are multiple housing efforts at different stages of readiness, including an attainable housing project in Grantsville intended to produce housing “well under market value.” Officials estimated the county could see roughly 100 new jobs associated with the current round of economic-development activity but cautioned the final employment and company details will be announced later.

The sales are intended to clear county-owned parcels for private development in designated industrial and business parks; county staff said southern Garrett’s business park will be filled after the Sunrise Sanitation purchase.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Meeting - January 21, 2024 - Board of Commissioners of Garrett County, Maryland","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Garrett County Commissioners approved three resolutions Jan. 21 authorizing sales of county-owned land in Keizer Ridge Business Park, Southern Garrett Business Park and on Francis Sanders Drive.","taxTitle","Garrett County , Maryland","taxId",52516,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6364380,"Garrett County commissioners approve $7,000 to keep Garrett Transit operating through fiscal year",233,142000,375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56&start=142&end=375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56/thumbnail_142000.jpg","/articles/6364380/Garrett-County/Maryland/Garrett-County-commissioners-approve-7000-to-keep-Garrett-Transit-operating-through-fiscal-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364380-d5ed7b5773dbc586e37646b6809c4ec8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775608001&Signature=ZRT-oreaLFNhkix-Wxp~gUZGtR9UPwgB~45jNXBU0l0GcpYjAq9osqGteJkthZNZ-qSI81tEYN2BtXmFqGmbztiI~Me2AeAA4tNzMouHJj6JuuR1Q4w7UNIr8MJiXBbvUfLcKUj0lRUgkz920iktGG6tQV2Abr8uvMVjoPVAoKrNvPeYvgEB755m3XVbuXJYoHSqVQraA~jFR-1h1qrKBqwZLczzV-vxJzd6AVwEvlNFkHnFt984w~P58hX31Yte2DNvvBNNZhd6g7jdQJBLIPGWeUyLIB4AT-F2TcsSDUtQTOzEBSS8XMfdzNXmlRF-8J2n~OLlR~h1bKblMW6jpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Garrett County Commissioners voted Jan. 21 to allocate $7,000 from county carryover funds to help Garrett Transit Service (GTS) maintain operations through the remainder of the fiscal year.

County officials said the payment will fill an immediate federal- and state-driven shortfall and will not require reductions to other county programs because the money will come from reserves. Community Action, which operates GTS as a pass-through of federal and state funding, had asked the county for help after cuts to its federal/state funding stream.

County staff told the commission that the transit shortfall was tied to changes at the federal and state levels and that Community Action plans internal reforms that may reduce the deficit. The presentation noted a currently estimated deficit of $489,709 for the program, but staff said that figure could change pending Community Action’s efficiency measures.

Chris, representing Community Action and Garrett Public Transit (GPS), thanked the commission after the vote, saying, “We at Community Action and GPS specifically are sleeping a lot better at night, knowing that we can continue to provide services.” He introduced Cody Kroll as GPS’s new director and said Kroll and staff are pursuing both funding and operational changes.

The board approved the allocation by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes. Commissioners said any longer-term funding needs would be handled as part of the next fiscal-year budget process and recommended that Community Action submit a formal budget request if additional support is needed going forward.

The commission’s decision preserves transit service for residents who use GTS for out-of-county trips until Community Action’s internal changes and future budget requests resolve the underlying shortfall.","The Board of Garrett County Commissioners voted to cover a shortfall in Garrett Transit Service using carryover funds, approving a $7,000 allocation to maintain transportation services through the current fiscal year while Community Action and GPS pursue longer-term fixes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6364371,"Public comments press commissioners to study transfer and accommodations taxes to fund housing; board seeks comprehensive plan",1678,2266000,3944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56&start=2266&end=3944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56/thumbnail_2266000.jpg","/articles/6364371/Garrett-County/Maryland/Public-comments-press-commissioners-to-study-transfer-and-accommodations-taxes-to-fund-housing-board-seeks-comprehensive-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364371-ff324f24c4f22fed01011dda669255cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775608001&Signature=UatAJ8nnWwdwOXEdkYA8GMl7iM-~iQ0FyXu-v8~367gm7g30fsse-wjsd0Abmj2wZmIykpQj0gw8Yg8SmhiQGwod0AhHQYgFHGKafxXSgK97J6w~vHXBCxf8XEavjfrejlAI4rsuxdOrxGTWwCdlz~72cGIDOWopbJEJiFvpSq4XdGA2-8BOYdrp7iwkOUtE9cNeJ~Nv7vlrJUzlipr-AOuur551VuHAhHRsV~Cdof9wgG4XuORhioDjT~HWuh5D8Qr8eIVHqF11tQR4qe141LPhvyJt0FdHVzUAqqDYEIq9fzznBWOmSQsP~j8BM5nhV9VRl41XeZVXD-gKo8ymAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents urged the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during public comment Jan. 21 to consider raising the transfer tax and the accommodations tax to finance affordable and attainable housing as the county prepares for incoming employers and job growth.

Mr. Schindler, a resident who attended the meeting, praised the commission’s decision to support Garrett Transit and raised concerns about representation and election procedures; his remarks preceded a broader housing and tax discussion. Seamus Welsh and other residents urged the board to move quickly, saying settlement costs and transfer taxes are modest relative to housing prices and that additional revenue is needed to support workforce housing.

Commissioner Savage acknowledged the issue’s importance but said the county does not yet have a ‘‘clear plan’’ for how any new revenue would be spent. Savage said the county’s budget is healthy now and emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy that defines the type and number of housing units the county seeks (for example, high-quality rentals, attainable housing for workers, or income-based units) before adopting tax changes. He and other commissioners supported further study and convening stakeholders to draft a strategic housing plan.

Other speakers, including Mike and Frank, argued for diversifying county revenue sources and noted the county’s heavy reliance on property tax. Several commenters recommended immediate analysis: quantify how much revenue a change in transfer or accommodations tax would raise, who would pay, and what types of housing projects the money would support. The chamber president commented that about 400 housing units would be “transformative” for the county, but speakers cautioned unit type and price point matter.

Commissioners suggested forming a working group or task force to develop a comprehensive housing strategy and to model revenue options; they did not adopt any new taxes at the Jan. 21 meeting. The board said it will continue the public conversation at future meetings and that staff would work on data and analysis to inform decisions ahead of potential legislative timelines.","Residents asked the Board of Garrett County Commissioners to consider raising the transfer tax and accommodations tax to fund affordable and attainable housing. Commissioners and members of the public agreed on the need for a strategic housing plan and further study; no new taxes were adopted at the meeting.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6364375,"County awards Keizer Ridge spec-building design-build and McHenry pavilion construction contracts",128,969000,1097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56&start=969&end=1097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164851-5409d11638c6e7e0483557916141bf56/thumbnail_969000.jpg","/articles/6364375/Garrett-County/Maryland/County-awards-Keizer-Ridge-spec-building-design-build-and-McHenry-pavilion-construction-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364375-5954cdfbc6da5b8e943f0e291875f9f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775608001&Signature=C2jk878ibqKaYUI8myz5NSyOON7nbaE9sh~TCVK6YUCPhvFSj5~A4WQAxb0ylgvW4mLX~5nFgxdqx7JLMk4dcHgGDzxLD5sNvmKtVhVyMQIYTRCxA~yFD9oppNx5DyuZljz4u-7sBJrXSVjlooO9am0LnegwjkFYG6W~hol5Dkl4ukHoeaLmXuvK2eRr81yCIoa8eHDg1P9Js00olHsEN0lIfJc5Onn-jr6sKxcerDQ5I9QseIi~22X-kM7creVdL2NuQZ03fpRk4dQcXH7O4YhBWv4PeXMOiQHcKUuVDrKYfx32gDx9G-HjA9IEKMndfDurdJL~RzmM1jZ3xp4dkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Garrett County Commissioners accepted purchasing department recommendations Jan. 21 and awarded two construction contracts: a design-build contract for a speculative building at Keizer Ridge Business Park to Daystar Builders for $4,817,000, and the McHenry Lines Club Pavilion construction contract to Mossyhorn Construction for $62,535.

Mr. Nall, presenting the purchasing recommendations, said the Keizer Ridge design-build solicitation drew two proposals and that Daystar Builders’ $4,817,000 proposal best met evaluation criteria and fit the project budget. For the McHenry Lines Club Pavilion project, five bids were received; Mossyhorn Construction submitted the low bid of $62,535. The county noted the concrete slab is not included in Mossyhorn’s award and that the pavilion funding comes from Program Open Space; additional funds will be sought later to cover the concrete work.

The board approved the awards by voice vote. Commissioners said the Keizer Ridge award supports the county’s spec-building strategy to attract tenants to the industrial park and noted interest from potential occupants prior to construction. The McHenry pavilion project will proceed with pavilion construction only until additional funding is obtained for the concrete slab.

Contract awards are subject to standard procurement and contract-execution procedures. County staff said the projects are within available budget amounts and that procurement documentation will be completed in follow-up steps.","Purchasing presented two bid awards: design-build for a Keizer Ridge Business Park spec building was awarded to Daystar Builders for $4,817,000; McHenry Lines Club Pavilion construction was awarded to Mossyhorn Construction for $62,535 (concrete slab not included). Both awards were approved by the commission.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Garrett County approves three property sales, announces industrial projects and housing plans

Garrett County commissioners approve $7,000 to keep Garrett Transit operating through fiscal year

Public comments press commissioners to study transfer and accommodations taxes to fund housing; board seeks comprehensive plan

County awards Keizer Ridge spec-building design-build and McHenry pavilion construction contracts