[{"_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",6299612,"mediaKeyId","2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177","parentId",2496369,"title","County attorney briefs commissioners on state legislation; commission declines position on regional transportation bill","audioSeconds",1344,"startMs",2481140,"endMs",3825690,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177&start=2481&end=3825","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177/thumbnail_2481140.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299612/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-attorney-briefs-commissioners-on-state-legislation-commission-declines-position-on-regional-transportation-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299612-c005ac5167f86959a1c89bd0581b949b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150665&Signature=l99i6v1z05gNpfjPy87Y4eNPFIbak0IpOGRgNgCMOPqFu07Vl11WSwm4ToZ6BYSs-QYVDGxniEoPV3b56OEAz~41TnAtYUA7LWIjI~UIpZLElL2AwNmsE0J0so7XSMqdY7j2jpvBP18T1l1ibHNpyVXTi9qkg-KbxVv0dlVLFB4wkkpaXCM8TizkX2CPWC~6vFXnxJDpQxKHacDkM50GC~RAyr833S0OhGtISsEjU9NNlfHfeafTBAs-xTKcp5wk6PSJR-Mdpg2c5gS-X7de90GtcAvw5~0wizT4YSdDL6-7hS3r1SBkgTVMjbDcm6cFvGPbKuP-KB9qvWbH3woVlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-03-05T03:41:42Z","article","Deputy County Attorney John Sterling Houser briefed the Commission of Saint Mary's County on March 4 about ongoing activity at the Maryland General Assembly, local bill status, and recent requests for letters of support.

Houser told commissioners that several local initiatives have not yet moved out of committees and that hearings are expected later in March. He reported that the public facilities borrowing authority bill has a House Appropriations hearing scheduled for March 12 and asked whether the commission wanted to submit testimony; commissioners opted to let the bill follow its course based on prior action rather than take additional testimony at this time.

Houser also reported a local bond initiative request for $350,000 to install a jet-A fuel tank for sustainable aviation fuel at the St. Mary's County Regional Airport; he said he would follow up with Public Works and airport staff for more operational and cost details. The commission heard a request from outside parties for a letter in support of HB 961/SB 1006 (artist moral rights/public art); Houser said the bill is statewide in scope and the county had not yet provided a local position.

On HB 1370/SB 881, the regional transportation authorities bill, Houser said he would notify the sponsor that the county declined to take a position. Commissioners expressed opposition to the concept, citing concerns about new regional taxes and shifting state responsibilities for transportation funding. Commissioner Mike Alderson said the bill would allow new local taxes (examples discussed included hotel tax and local sales tax increases) and that he could not support it.

Houser also reviewed other legislative developments including proposed statewide measures affecting solar siting, education funding discussions, and a bill that would allow the state to fund certain medically assisted treatment programs for detention centers through opioid restitution funds. Commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring these bills and to provide updates.

Ending: County staff will not take a position on the regional transportation authorities bill and will continue to monitor the General Assembly, returning to commissioners with updates or if the commission wishes to take future positions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","3/4/25 Commissioners of St. Mary's County","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy County Attorney John Houser updated the commission on the General Assembly, local bill hearings, and local bond initiatives. Commissioners decided not to take a position on a regional transportation authority bill after review and heard about several local legislative items under consideration.","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},6299618,"Commission authorizes BRIC grant application to update county hazard mitigation plan",531,2080305,2611500,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177&start=2080&end=2611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177/thumbnail_2080305.jpg","/articles/6299618/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commission-authorizes-BRIC-grant-application-to-update-county-hazard-mitigation-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299618-2730b8912f7e563a26962e4abb3e982b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150665&Signature=Eor6oc4Rkw62isZu2PUIKbBWTfAmoR4ulteDNzw-YRp~Rmi7uvnoEOMZywTvoR5mWv0pySWjBj4d9qsFHr2jMDaG2Vx2No6oXnbtE0iL7aC5x1Mdc9odvd692bcNlMI07Tjp0ymbuvfsRIioTFUt7OVG52Xbt4RZy-Z~HjCEE1lU9cluxOXp2ukee1vNBH78BXtiUQSA~DmzLSyazUtPmuSYdn5k-jQCfiOPrhAMgqkPuyDu1KbrwsKsXRHju7O~0zd5kPVGU9EAstbLeqDdok3AQFjjAnbrXFth7KfVYq4oZSxU0h~SL8l4-xqf8YbcAu7czwV7VheNKEPA3SMa5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Commission of Saint Mary's County voted March 4 to allow the Department of Emergency Services to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding to support an update of the county's multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.

Emergency Services Director John Utz and Emergency Manager (Bledsoe) told commissioners that the county's hazard mitigation plan is on a five-year cycle and must be updated by 2028 to maintain eligibility for certain federal hazard mitigation grants. The county is seeking BRIC funds from the federal fiscal year 2024 allocation; officials said the federal FY24 funding cycle was delayed and is being applied for in calendar 2025.

If awarded, applicants expect FEMA to provide up to 75% of the project cost with a local match of 25%. Emergency Services estimated the total contract cost would not exceed $60,000, making the county's potential share approximately $15,000, which staff proposed as an earmark in the Emergency Services FY27 budget.

Utz explained that BRIC application decisions are lengthy: awards are unlikely to be announced until calendar year 2026 and funds would not be released until the county's FY27 if the application is successful. He also noted that Maryland Emergency Management (MDEM) notified the county that FEMA has temporarily placed a hold on reviews of some reimbursement-based grants; Emergency Services said that status does not prevent applying for BRIC funds for consideration in future award cycles.

Commission President Randy Guy moved the application authorization; the motion passed by voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor. The commission also authorized the president to sign related documents and directed staff to include the potential $15,000 county match in the FY27 budget process if the grant is awarded.

Ending: Emergency Services will file the BRIC application and return with updates on application status and any award decision in future budget cycles.","Commissioners approved applying for FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) funds to update the Saint Mary's County multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan and earmarked a possible $15,000 county match in FY27 if the grant is awarded.",{"_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},6299622,"Commission approves updated YMCA Great Mills CIP and authorizes congressional funding requests",813,1373745,2187540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177&start=1373&end=2187","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496369-83d37b005cf1947050f663627b253177/thumbnail_1373745.jpg","/articles/6299622/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Commission-approves-updated-YMCA-Great-Mills-CIP-and-authorizes-congressional-funding-requests","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299622-761f63024cb4852d3ef5cd9db2e1f916/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150665&Signature=hXErRCVamth2YXDMRXCHvXRDjHPGaSQGe0HS6NTIhSs8o1uuDHXO4Ibz4xVvEgcEsI68YF5cYd5GxLKSVpBR7940tOYuRJSL3SOx8fApejppE4JpfQDT1200SnOzm4FwGklURp3ZlNRk1sVD2YRwe~F1yG79PJvnZpXjwTXup7kdtunEso2ob~ya0RndA9xmGY-u~B8XMROx17YRNkB6crPcOtslqa3DiIoULI0iMcfs3kiLgnR9BSXkS5BbSGI5YQFU1KNQ8Y2VAwcSjC1rxi9rx8RzbnGKD5HqOcMD41feKgBitbdJr4ikpUL7K4csrB~BQmJ-CHNkdYi5BJARvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Commission of Saint Mary's County on March 4 approved an updated Capital Improvement Program entry for the YMCA Great Mills project and authorized the commissioner president to sign letters to the county's federal delegation and submit an online application seeking federal funding.

The revised CIP entry reflects additional grant funding in a total amount of $3,600,000, and commissioners also approved a separate motion authorizing county staff to complete the required online congressional funding application and send support letters to U.S. Senators and representatives. County staff said the action is part of ongoing efforts to reach a $4 million funding target for the project.

Why it matters: The YMCA project has been the county's top congressional earmark request for multiple years and the county says additional state and federal support is needed to reach the budgeted project total. Commissioners debated whether repeatedly seeking the same earmark limits the county's ability to highlight other infrastructure needs to the delegation.

Department of Public Works and Transportation Director Jim Gotch and Deputy Director Gary Whipple described the application process and the county's coordination with the YMCA. David Weiskopf, the county administrator, told commissioners there is a tight timeline between receiving federal application instructions and the deadline for submission, which compressed staff's ability to circulate details to the commission before the meeting.

Commissioners asked for clearer, earlier communication from staff about future earmark submissions. Commissioner Eric Colvin said the process should give commissioners more opportunity to help shape requests and suggested other county needs (roadwork, flooding mitigation) might be better highlighted in future requests. County staff and other commissioners said they support submitting the YMCA request now because not asking would foreclose the chance of receiving funding.

The approved CIP entry shows $1,500,000 listed as state support on the CIP sheet, though several commissioners noted the state budget and submitted state requests make that amount uncertain. Public Works staff said the YMCA and county are both pursuing state funds separately and that the county requested $2,000,000 in federal funding in the current application cycle to help reach the project's planned funding level.

Commissioner Randy Guy, the commission president, signed the motion authorizing submission of the county's federal application and related letters to the delegation. The motions carried by voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor.

What’s next: County staff will submit the online congressional funding application and send the signed letters to the county's federal delegation. The YMCA and county will continue pursuing state funding and private donations to close the remaining project funding gap.

Ending: Commissioners said they will ask staff to brief them earlier on future earmark opportunities so the board can provide input before applications are filed.","The Commission of Saint Mary's County approved a revised Capital Improvement Plan entry and authorized letters and online applications seeking federal and state funding for the YMCA Great Mills project, including a county-requested total of $3.6 million in grant support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County attorney briefs commissioners on state legislation; commission declines position on regional transportation bill

Commission authorizes BRIC grant application to update county hazard mitigation plan

Commission approves updated YMCA Great Mills CIP and authorizes congressional funding requests