[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6309014,"mediaKeyId","2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0","parentId",2415211,"title","Board approves minutes, adopts annual report and elects 2025 officers","audioSeconds",967,"startMs",108000,"endMs",1075000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0&start=108&end=1075","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0/thumbnail_108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309014/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-approves-minutes-adopts-annual-report-and-elects-2025-officers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309014-5b38c0aee3cbcd4a9c401d0bb95ff785/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143076&Signature=j-qLfA8VB7Y55khy4~HHZtavg1oXcfBsXXWQj7N~VVBGQpeLTk82MbcU~WmZQz2E1o7yHeABfSlvnUk3Pn87NsEbvOpBZTQ4aVdgA4-BPeKsjCyeYjG7pJyCTXqYdaNqDV70uqXeARv9KTwot2ovAOT2I1XuujM8vUPzVxMBXSoeUjxdeWR9ApcE~bPG1swUZHm2AfWZ1gIwZ-EEu6sR-CkNCo4JHOkQbQJfB4up7yvWg-YRPy9uTph2PUrSvaZX9eCMaQKy9F1w6gqBA75bsfK2E~bcWqudOz80toGeoJDteSxPiENKLbd2K-pKRJw2AOjcARFlI6GTXBAFBMe2hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-27T05:38:23.173Z","article","At the start of the meeting, the Emergency Services Board voted to approve the minutes from its Dec. 11 meeting. The board recorded a motion and second and approved the minutes with no opposition.

Later in the meeting the board voted to approve the 2024 annual report with one correction to a date in the membership section. The motion to adopt the annual report passed by voice vote; the board chair recorded no opposition.

The board also held elections for 2025 officers. JA Nelson was nominated and accepted the nomination for chair and won a voice vote with no recorded opposition. Hattie Norris was nominated and approved to continue as vice chair by voice vote. Sean Davidson said he would continue as secretary and the board approved his continuation by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from Dec. 11, motion and second recorded; outcome: approved, no opposition.

- Adopt 2024 annual report with one correction to the date in the membership section; outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Elect 2025 officers: JA Nelson, chair; Hattie Norris, vice chair; Sean Davidson, secretary; outcome: approved by voice vote; no opposition recorded.

All votes recorded at the meeting were voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/26/24 Emergency Services Board","oneSentenceSummary","The Emergency Services Board approved minutes from its Dec. 11 meeting, adopted the 2024 annual report with a correction and elected JA Nelson as chair, Hattie Norris as vice chair and Sean Davidson as secretary.","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},6309019,"Training cancellations at Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute raise concerns about instructor availability",172,1792000,1964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0&start=1792&end=1964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0/thumbnail_1792000.jpg","/articles/6309019/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Training-cancellations-at-Maryland-Fire-and-Rescue-Institute-raise-concerns-about-instructor-availability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309019-8c3e4d45b9896abb07ab1e1eb1dbbdbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143076&Signature=WUznIf1u~RK~WVCjD7LS6aJ30ifRJ9pJ37uaaLT71ZoN7Tl5FXjoybGSwWDnkFTnu69s4n9TBeCyiDyd-3Q48Aq36Yb4QBCwEXPGUYl4Kz74KVRyAnK64ARd8ayvBQjh4Qfvm63rMeRXUygnQmoyvj8wccODp-mFrYN9pCsVww5AZVRVrw1PPazLh5pxQCnzP13B8bryOLfwbCYV1tKA8xgCz1nyfvLfM4ETeRJtpyKUGEAano16n6hyNEICu21-lxwuB2Ui6NWJozyoe~Zb4bj1jj5MtKWrlQp6ENTixvixYlyU~uFd2XxRJrZwamvQxqxMRzaDQGH-6O5Cp6LP~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Cooper, assistant county fire chief, told the Emergency Services Board that several classes run through the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) have been canceled at the last minute because instructors failed to appear, leaving students and training coordinators unable to proceed.

\"We've had several Miffrey classes ... they have been canceled at last minute for instructors not showing up,\" Cooper said, describing unpredictable scheduling for fire‑service courses.

Board members said there have been recent meetings with MFRI leadership, including Director Cox and representatives from the University of Maryland's MFRI program, to try to resolve the problem. Cooper and other members noted personnel changes at the Southern Maryland Training Center and that the fire side of training faces particular instructional shortages compared with EMS training, which the board said coordinates instructor coverage differently.

One board member said key local chiefs have stepped in to try to stabilize class scheduling and the county hopes MFRI personnel changes and local coordination will reduce cancellations.

The board did not adopt a formal resolution; members agreed to continue engagement with MFRI leadership and local training centers to improve reliability.","Board members and chiefs said multiple fire‑service classes were canceled at the last minute by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, causing scheduling disruptions. County and regional training centers have held meetings to address instructor availability and personnel changes at the Southern Maryland Training 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},6309024,"Emergency services officials outline 9‑1‑1 center refresh, radio rollouts, CAD and microwave upgrades",161,512000,673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0&start=512&end=673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0/thumbnail_512000.jpg","/articles/6309024/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Emergency-services-officials-outline-911-center-refresh-radio-rollouts-CAD-and-microwave-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309024-5f9d390bb30e3b36ceb1f7b75e516dfe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143076&Signature=TlQFCgor-I2bVCLUdFNmOZAXmQlXLwsmWXveXKGTbyVvBotMnOXYMK4-YERhJqbRmkadcSMWMInz6f2ZYWXbut7u1G0UfgYir0o1Ugx9w2pCu~l~ClUIYE~aNB39BMypDQxjA0i99UilTqDWMjXz5l0OMVQhpQ1mmSOB18VjKxpZX7atjEZ99rc5o2lVmWEdFV8mzwprlGAKUd8yvkoXnbu0z9Aa7hL61sRVSlzDwtyqPkMKHOQfRvyekNqFKGeGunJ~Nj-JeTmQDAuK9RnV5sDqc1kZWrcI1EClJ4~bDNM1RUT18QY7rND3TFVp7LsTkpVOo0o6zgJw1iPI8tFlTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Utz, St. Mary's County Director of Emergency Services, updated the Emergency Services Board on a series of operations and technology projects affecting 9‑1‑1, radio fleets, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and microwave backbone replacement.

Ut z said the full 9‑1‑1 center refresh begins Monday, March 3, and staff will operate from the backup center during an estimated six‑week rehabilitation. She said the department has a redundancy plan and will communicate failover details with partner agencies.

On portable radios, Utz said engineers from Harris Engineering are working on firmware and clarity settings after partners reported audio clarity concerns. The department has received 132 additional XL‑400 portable radios for the fire department but will hold broader rollouts until programming and settings are verified.

Utz said the Tyler CAD upgrade is due for rollout in March and that county IT and the CAD team are conducting testing; she reported no major issues so far. She added the county's microwave system replacement is progressing: site visits were completed in January/February, a detailed design review is scheduled for April and installations are expected to begin in June.

\"That will take us approximately 6 weeks, to rehab that center,\" Utz said about the 9‑1‑1 refresh, and she thanked the Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board and county commissioners for support of the project.

Board members asked operational questions and received assurances that redundancy plans and partner notifications are in place.","The department said the 9‑1‑1 communications center will undergo a six‑week refresh beginning March 3; radio firmware and programming issues are being worked with vendor engineers before a larger rollout; a Tyler CAD upgrade will roll out in March; and a county microwave replacement installation is expected to start in June.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309029,"St. Mary's officials discuss raising revolving loan fund caps as fire apparatus costs climb",703,1078000,1781000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0&start=1078&end=1781","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0/thumbnail_1078000.jpg","/articles/6309029/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-officials-discuss-raising-revolving-loan-fund-caps-as-fire-apparatus-costs-climb","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309029-869a5086187eaaa1eb206818e7e63a94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143076&Signature=KxhQWB43lq5Xf115XxKBS5BYnkVEQbmykIpe4mqjVeMOCV6iwNlsf9~2IHn81zAyIO1O~fy70sljAuKVJkv6CbSox-DLW6TlhpB4v2imDL~MyhZqe81m5O2SETt3BqEkZnxyX7qa4H3GK1Fhg9nX2goyI09znYqOGb3SKT-9lNiiDdwKFk5lMeqUOCsC~7BYVOjFwdsrz9FC9dHDMRmqVdfBLoEaTuT-lhEQB54peKK~fEUJynZ0fLHj4b3sUGfiAsOwCLDJvmKqlJQS3Feje8MmfDo7v0Qi6NZVVkGJAJCw0YB-hNe60VFdIThenjAZ~-vOUX3zI9SRnXwofu2VMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy County Administrator Dave Yingling and St. Mary's County Chief Financial Officer Vanetta Van Cleef briefed the Emergency Services Board on the county's revolving loan fund for volunteer fire and rescue apparatus and on possible legislative changes to raise borrowing caps.

Yingling explained the revolving loan fund is statutory and has been used since 2006 to provide loans — financed by county bonds — to volunteer fire departments and volunteer EMS organizations for vehicle purchases and renovations. He said the statute was last amended in February 2006 to set the county's bonding authority for the program at $5,000,000.

Van Cleef gave a current-balance snapshot and a five‑year projection. She said the fund has about $3,000,000 available now and, based on planned requests, could fall to an estimated $824,000 by the end of FY2031. She identified an anticipated $1,750,000 loan request in FY27 among the near‑term demands on the fund.

Board members and fire leaders raised that heavy fire apparatus purchases have grown substantially in price. One board member observed, \"10 years ago, an apparatus would cost you anywhere from $300,000 to $700,000 ... now a single fire engine is almost a million dollars and any special service truck ... upwards of $2,000,000.\" The board discussed whether the statutory $5,000,000 cap on bonding authority should be increased and whether an individual‑loan cap exists in statute or by practice.

Van Cleef said she was not aware of a statutory individual loan cap and would research whether any department-level limits are policy or practice. Yingling said any change to the cap would require the county to submit a package to its state legislative delegation; he said the item is tentatively a priority for the county's FY27 legislative package.

Board members urged long-term planning and savings by volunteer companies to avoid last-minute urgencies; one member described a successful departmental vehicle‑replacement savings plan used by a Lexington Park rescue squad.

Yingling said the county had postponed introducing a legislative change until next year to better align with the county's budgeting and delegation processes, and Van Cleef noted the county prefers not to issue bonds until funds are needed.","County administrators and the Emergency Services Board discussed potential legislative changes to increase the cap on the volunteer fire/rescue revolving loan fund, noting the fund's legislative cap, current balance and projected demand for expensive apparatus.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309034,"St. Mary's Emergency Services submits FY26 budget request including 28 new positions and radio upgrade plan",344,139000,483000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0&start=139&end=483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415211-ec6bda4a80fcdcd86f93ee5a39e4b2a0/thumbnail_139000.jpg","/articles/6309034/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-Emergency-Services-submits-FY26-budget-request-including-28-new-positions-and-radio-upgrade-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309034-b6a5da28aa26c80095068a9a700e1b29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143077&Signature=PYUCLfTwnj-u7RwSagfXu1bQgHug0IrvYBoaOQkUs4vUHZRdxxwVflScgjCAO77016A0LrTPfFWo60m2ujTrr07g4IYFq~ebzrihwrZJgXHFks-haKaNsQhUE6DjSg9JHiMj~4tjZXeEy0eNPTUmAimiE4cO57GfTkTaeH4L7EdE8rq~Nxbls6MFe6FQY8X8~UOeTA1YZqJ~6lfeJZRLw~AuTXYhbugtObdkBlbNJOg7XlCheadJ8CQ3FIyxX0SE1FlvRAjMNv5nDp8u6Aq~Rd~Hyrntg21PQLO~RSt7C8bXmH1C3xCTECmJPr4uvHEVkkGUrXmDvdPXwKa3mwJL6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Director of Emergency Services Jennifer Utz presented the department's FY26 budget submission to the Emergency Services Board, asking the county to fund 28 new full-time equivalent positions and noting a proposed $2.5 million increase to the division's baseline request.

Utz said the 28 positions include two additional medical duty officers (bringing staffing to two MDOs per shift across four shifts), eight paramedics intended to staff paramedic ambulances, 10 full-time EMTs, one administrative coordinator and one behavioral enrichment coordinator at the animal shelter, four call takers for the 9‑1‑1 communications center, one personnel coordinator, and one grant-funded emergency planner. She said some animal-shelter roles were previously grant-funded and are being proposed as county-funded positions.

The budget package also includes the department's regular state and federal grant applications. Utz listed grants the department submitted as part of the FY26 package, naming Maryland 911 Board funds, AMOS/508 funds, MPG grant funds, Homeland Security grants, Exelon funding, and a county 50/50 match vehicle (MIMS 50/50) as included sources.

Utz outlined a three-year radio-system proposal covering core system and network upgrades, mobile replacements and phased replacements for county departments and public safety agencies. She said there is a potential option, pending review with the county administrator and CFO, to use exempt financing to replace all fire portables in FY26 while moving EMS portable replacements to FY27 so the county could upgrade entire fleets at once.

She described the FY26 submission as a “robust budget package” but cautioned that federal and state funding uncertainty will affect final decisions by county commissioners.

\"There is a lot of uncertainty, as we all know, surrounding the federal government and the budget and the state budget and what that means for the local county governments,\" Utz said, noting the submission represents the department's assessment of its needs.

The board did not take a formal vote on the budget submission; Utz asked members if they had questions and said staff would work with partners through the county's budget process.

The Emergency Services Board also reviewed equipment requests submitted by volunteer fire and rescue companies as part of the departmental submission.","St. Mary's County Emergency Services presented its FY26 budget request to the Emergency Services Board, asking for 28 new FTEs, a $2.5 million increase, grant funding carryovers and a three-year radio system plan with potential timing changes if exempt financing is available.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves minutes, adopts annual report and elects 2025 officers

Training cancellations at Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute raise concerns about instructor availability

Emergency services officials outline 9‑1‑1 center refresh, radio rollouts, CAD and microwave upgrades

St. Mary's officials discuss raising revolving loan fund caps as fire apparatus costs climb

St. Mary's Emergency Services submits FY26 budget request including 28 new positions and radio upgrade plan