[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_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",6552289,"mediaKeyId","5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618","parentId",5120571,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves several resolutions, introduces bonds bill","audioSeconds",2014,"startMs",320000,"endMs",2334000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618&start=320&end=2334","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618/thumbnail_320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6552289/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-several-resolutions-introduces-bonds-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552289-16e5699b234763b7601a0959d553dfb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011664&Signature=fkraTy6Y~UBqo8ntNG9G1H60HYLYBRyOu-X9ITwsRPUiMlvmvVqDBjPtwF0OIv6fVXkom13u5XvFP3qh06qf-8PhMjEpYHDyaV4Tdp7q~V3Du2GPEWiIUNMIoHaQ6znAggshbjdfjCQZ79HH1x7iBNb-JqdxHbLUxrUB8b3dJLrBX0jY6jFvo-d1l8HeN0a0u9lEIi1elu~jvnlkUY6fOWDTPdBI8q6fe21-w~aKJD-6j4SyXY1H-G6hGikkw8wTbc09e022JOfi8-YOc-ua9ZzhCjV7JIyn58tnDe6OExHpED3dIeU6dpQeemBH5TTRkUcAwzYPPf9~410kA9bdiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wicomico County, MD","date","2025-07-02T19:26:22.377Z","article","At the July 1 meeting the Wicomico County Council approved multiple resolutions and introduced legislative bill 10-2025 (bond authorization). Below are the actions taken and brief context.

- Consent agenda: Approved by voice vote at the meeting opening (no roll-call details recorded in transcript).

- Resolution 93-2025 — Forest conservation easement relocation: Approved unanimously. Purpose: allow relocation of a 0.28-acre forest conservation easement on Tax Map 37, Parcel 457 (presentation by Colin Harrison, environmental planner, Department of Planning and Zoning). The relocation was described as an on-site, 1-to-1 replacement tied to a new sewage reserve area required by the county health department.

- Resolution 94-2025 — FY26 capital budget amendment (Parks projects): Approved (unanimous). The council amended the FY 2026 capital budget to accept Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund grant money for two Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism projects: Billie Jean Jackson Park — $60,000 for parking lot lights; Emerson Holloway — $35,000 for park master planning.

- Resolution 95-2025 — Salisbury Septic Elimination Project (contract with KCI): Approved unanimously (see separate article). The council approved a multi-year contract with KCI Technologies for design and outreach for septic elimination in identified Salisbury neighborhoods.

- Resolution 96-2025 — Appointment to PACK 14, Inc. board of directors (David Ennis): Approved; vote recorded as five in favor, one abstention.

- Resolution 97-2025 — Appointing David Ennis as voting member of the Tri-County Council for the Lower Shore of Maryland: Approved unanimously (procedural question briefly discussed about whether an appointee can vote for themselves).

- Legislative Bill 10-2025 — General obligation bonds introduction: Introduced. The county introduced an ordinance to authorize borrowing on the county’s full faith and credit up to $17,766,000 for projects across departments (emergency services, library, civic center, recreation and parks, solid waste). Finance staff outlined a timeline for bonding, a planned rating-agency trip and the structure of taxable (solid waste enterprise) and nontaxable series. The bill was introduced unanimously and the council heard a staff outline of next steps; staff said detailed debt and refinancing calculations will be provided at a later date.

Votes summary (as recorded in the transcript):
- Resolution 93-2025: unanimous approval.
- Resolution 94-2025: approved (unanimous).
- Resolution 95-2025: approved (unanimous).
- Resolution 96-2025: passed, 5 yes, 1 abstention.
- Resolution 97-2025: passed unanimously.
- Introduction of Legislative Bill 10-2025 (bond authorization): introduced unanimously.

The council moved these items forward and asked staff to return with missing details (for example, staff said they would provide a full outstanding-debt calculation for the bond package at a future meeting).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wicomico County Council Legislative and Open Work Session July 1 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 1 the Wicomico County Council approved a consent agenda and voted on a series of resolutions and introductions, including budget amendments and appointments. Votes and brief descriptions are listed below.","taxTitle","Wicomico County, Maryland","taxId",4258,"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},6552293,"Council pauses bill to require prior approval of professional services; requests quarterly reporting",2038,8922000,10960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618&start=8922&end=10960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618/thumbnail_8922000.jpg","/articles/6552293/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-pauses-bill-to-require-prior-approval-of-professional-services-requests-quarterly-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552293-839e29f3e814223a33c5fbb3351fcb1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011664&Signature=VbrfBFi4UPosuJq8COOvInOEIRhpG0FfAol7zwRR6mpUocolrMKNXQb5DrLmvPK0PjiruJ8gmLHv8-MgbGER0U7M9q7sfJ9wheAqBfNSA7fF-P6bXASzQs8eRkMfl4dBrM7IPMoX0xP8y-6Ve6s0idRIUGMWr4i3-YMh-hi1gUc9EnSZYJE0umy-55M~lT485fUdSSQZOw4BhiqueyJgQlT6~66mPJwsnDIdkLHMu0NVEzjGS6kjFjcibeqBmBzi8xdSY858Q9RicAfWIzBhg3I70IgJYyg105pvPpXKEAVz40l0k78y5NIUkJbFsqXZ7EOt~-NHH-mmmNwIY7sh1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wicomico County Council on July 1 declined to advance a draft ordinance that would have required council review before the county executed many professional-services contracts. Instead, council members asked staff to produce a quarterly report of professional-services expenditures and to return with a proposed process that balances transparency and administrative practicality.

Background: Council members raised concerns about the scale and scope of paid consultants, the degree to which outside consultants are relied on for institutional knowledge and the absence of a single, searchable classification for “professional services” in the county’s financial system. Staff responded that the existing spreadsheet of purchase-order–based professional services is incomplete because some fees (for example, bond counsel or consultants billed through settlement) do not appear on purchase orders.

Staff recommendation: Finance Director Pam Olin and legal staff recommended tabling the ordinance and using the current fiscal quarter to collect more complete data before the council debates a codified approval requirement. Olin said that forward-looking reporting tied to purchase orders and check runs would provide a more complete, auditable record with less manual rework than reconstructing the prior-year ledger.

Council direction: Council members said they do not want to micromanage day-to-day procurement but want to prevent surprises (for example, sustained, high-value consulting arrangements that have not been clearly communicated). The council asked staff to deliver a standardized quarterly report that includes high-value consulting contracts, multi-year retained consultants and any non–purchase-order engagements such as bond counsel or settlement-paid advisors. The council also asked staff to suggest whether discrete contract types should be tagged in the general ledger for easier reporting over time.

Next steps: Staff will begin producing the quarterly report for the current fiscal quarter and return with draft policy recommendations in a work session. A public hearing on the originally introduced bill remains on the July 15 agenda but staff said they will work with the council to refine the approach before any final vote.","After a review of hundreds of purchase orders and contracts, the council agreed to delay a proposed ordinance that would require council sign-off on professional services and instead asked finance and legal staff to provide a quarterly report with a refined list of consultancies for targeted oversight.",{"_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},6552300,"Council considers accepting Hebron Lions Club park donation; planning linked to West Metro/Conley Mill debate",1869,7051000,8920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618&start=7051&end=8920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618/thumbnail_7051000.jpg","/articles/6552300/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-considers-accepting-Hebron-Lions-Club-park-donation-planning-linked-to-West-MetroConley-Mill-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552300-c9a8058a59e2fe777b8d0282597b2dde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011664&Signature=jGbsrwoWggUdBvdBEFQhtn~TT43v8PBgr3-3Q4Wg5qKJpkEozF5oRnUn1xR50hTOTkCGNGXG~h0KDoHfSvGNdk88KtjO7dQEpp7pfG7jdquDUBjf4X46v3G~gcguiY3YaFtIVEi7ZyL7wCjCUytf-B2zYcyTGVSl6CIBwV0sJD7Zq4wu~V~4chWghcIFktXUst3jEHspXsuoGgfH0IWEx2jv7sBS0fpAyyw9mIZQCB~iWdN6jPBlptvWEtwalLQvaXlCxzGpjALaOdjseahlNKifPjyNV0AX~9i33MCbZZk2bOJhWelBkLf08UXpRJWoVgZEpcuTXe0j5jvyElscWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wicomico County staff presented a proposed donation of roughly 4 to 5 acres from the Hebron Lions Club for recreational use and asked the council for direction on whether to accept the land.

Steve Miller, director of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, said the Lions Club park on West Church Street in Hebron has long served the community but needs renovations. The club’s president offered the park to the county in May, conditioned on county planning that includes Lions Club representation and a dedicated space to honor the club’s legacy.

Why it matters: The offer intersects an earlier, long-running debate about other county park properties — notably the West Metro Core site (Levin DeShield Road) and Conley Mill. The county previously purchased West Metro as part of a planned park project; some residents opposed development there. Council members and residents said they would rather see Hebron’s existing park revitalized than build a new large park close by.

What staff described: Miller said the land offered consists of the active park area (about 4.5 acres); the Lions’ adjacent event center and parking would remain privately owned by the club. Miller said renovating the Hebron park would likely cost far less than building a new park on a blank site and could incorporate features the community previously requested (for example, lighted fields) if the council directed staff to pursue that path. He said county staff could pursue a land-conversion request to move the program-open-space designation from West Metro to Conley Mill if the council desired.

Council discussion and public comment: Council members asked for an estimate of renovation and ongoing maintenance costs and for an analysis of potential parking needs and whether adjacent parcels could be acquired. Residents and the Lions Club leaders in the chamber urged the council to accept the donation and prioritize a fiscally responsible solution that preserves neighborhood character. Multiple speakers urged protecting Connolly (Conley) Mill’s natural features and said moving the program-open-space designation to Conley Mill was consistent with prior planning.

Next steps: Director Miller said staff will prepare a resolution and a fiscal estimate and return to council. The council asked to see the park’s revenue/lease history for comparable West Metro funds and requested a work session to discuss the land-conversion option and the fiscal impacts before final action.","Wicomico County staff outlined a proposed donation of about 4½ acres from the Hebron Lions Club and discussed how accepting the park could be coordinated with a longer-running plan for West Metro/Conley Mill park land conversion.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_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":73,"_74":73},6552305,"Council approves multi-year contract for Salisbury septic elimination project, staff says state funding covers hookups",1769,565000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618&start=565&end=2334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618/thumbnail_565000.jpg","/articles/6552305/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-approves-multi-year-contract-for-Salisbury-septic-elimination-project-staff-says-state-funding-covers-hookups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552305-10b2e3427bb38189955737b946a3ae15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011664&Signature=Nue8MiJ~T5OrIYhbLZ5vreld0EmDjAmAowJmxhnW1x~4pQUN~0ASYUg0QnHteXXnxJakag90qBs9jUQsB6RJ9y9KyfdbackvXXOofp0bDC7WxCCArCQ4ckUB7Ps-BvJdNSnFyep6fifPfmy4tuwuNyH3hfimcpt3QXmPSafOXD1FKOGP7BQHaPQQ9hIaHgh7ii8c-4PaWPr4PvOtM~7pPaWtivx-OFKE8egwpuZEm8IuIKel04SL1FJDGEnMXE22hnZV-DsAwvxx~sRVAjNDWqG8QYjtcmgPtbHuuHYNgrPsXcXyf5JAvL9rrrg14r070B-aWelMAFFxhm-6eyFnPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wicomico County Council voted unanimously July 1 to approve a multi-year contract with KCI Technologies to design and carry out outreach for the Salisbury Septic Elimination Project.

The motion, carried by unanimous roll call, authorizes the Department of Public Works to proceed with KCI for design and community outreach in neighborhoods identified for sewer connection: areas near North and South Delano Avenue, President’s Neighborhood and Regency. Adam Corey, executive director of environmental services, said the county’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) application ranked highly and staff received the state’s SRF documentation the day of the meeting.

What staff told the council: Corey said the county will forward-fund design costs — roughly $600,000 was referenced for design in discussion — then be reimbursed by a package of grant and low-interest loan funding from the state. He said the county would not place infrastructure in the ground without firm assurances from the state of funding. Corey said the Bay Restoration Fund and SRF funds were expected to cover costs the county sought, and that the county included connection and abandonment costs in the SRF application so homeowners would not face large upfront fees.

“Hookup fees are going to be covered under SRF funding,” Corey said. He also described the usual SRF financing mix: part grant, part low-interest loan, with percentages dependent on project ranking and criteria such as environmental-justice scores.

Homeowner impacts and technical details: County staff said the process includes abandoning septic tanks in place (contractor pump-out and filling) rather than excavating them. Corey said the contractor would “pump out the effluent… crush the top end… and just fill it in,” noting physical removal is often impractical.

Council members pressed staff on whether homeowners would face connection fees or additional bills. Corey said homeowners would pay a water and sewer bill to the City of Salisbury once connected; SRF funding was included to cover one-time hookup fees so residents would not incur a major upfront cost. Staff estimated the project covers on the order of about 200 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs), though that figure was described in discussion as approximate.

Public outreach: Corey said KCI’s contract includes community outreach and that staff will soon begin neighborhood meetings. Council members emphasized the need for robust outreach, including meeting in neighborhoods rather than requiring residents to travel to central locations, and asked staff to consider phased billing or subsidies for initial rates to ease the transition for households unaccustomed to regular utility bills.

Other administrative notes: Corey said the project does not require the sanitary district for this phase because the infrastructure will be City of Salisbury-owned and operated. The council asked staff to return in July with legislation to create a water and sewer committee or sanitary commission for broader policy work; staff said they expected to present draft legislation at the July meeting cycle for council review.

Vote: Resolution 95-2025 (approving contract with KCI Technologies) was approved unanimously.","Wicomico County approved a multi-year contract with KCI Technologies for the Salisbury Septic Elimination Project; county staff told the council SRF and Bay Restoration Fund monies should cover design, hookup costs and outreach for homes in identified service ‘islands.’",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6552309,"County council introduces emergency bill to limit out-of-county landfill waste amid capacity concerns",2515,2900000,5415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618&start=2900&end=5415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5120571-0f2484940cb8c3e319d30ad4de2d8618/thumbnail_2900000.jpg","/articles/6552309/Wicomico-County/Maryland/County-council-introduces-emergency-bill-to-limit-out-of-county-landfill-waste-amid-capacity-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6552309-fe100d04546bae5f2da83947d2d87511/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011664&Signature=L-JkoK67A9QjFkmLerq~XAMyqIVJNkER--~Tm0yRJc9jPkg0bJvK7m6KAXi7eldVa4H0U1ZAOSG~KckmjTNmmRaKXb3SsRgqu6LJsDwOUTz4sjLH7HKnukRyrmu9NXpuZTMgzREMCJoQ7qS2szdFHVQD95rqdGlXBUBk0N075RvvnTo-DJ8V3l0q4c2SgLkUhryO8x-GbD9KYGywS3a84gz9CStm21WzJMG-lD2Bi4zKY~BAINy45eXhiDsRgHeOm39P4Vx6ATdsEtMvVTa5VgosjHx10FrABBuU5w63UlVRRg-w~lc14eUWEqwjX~eXPEeHTI8Wf3z2oSvhm7~V6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wicomico County Council on July 1 unanimously introduced an emergency ordinance that would give the council final authority over the operating days and hours of the Newland Park landfill and generally restrict commercial solid waste originating outside Wicomico County.

The measure was introduced after senior county staff said a March aerial survey showed far less remaining capacity at Newland Park than earlier documents indicated, and after the executive’s office shared a phased plan this month to restrict commercial-hauler access on weekends and other days. The council set a work session in two weeks and scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 5.

Why it matters: County officials said the landfill could be fully unusable within about a year at current disposal rates unless inbound tonnage is limited. Council members and haulers warned that ad hoc closures or phased day restrictions could cause public-health and logistical problems — including increased roadside dumping or operators unable to complete contracted weekday work.

What council and staff said: County Attorney Michael Benson (introducing the item) reviewed the county’s legal documents and told the council he found no explicit provision in the county’s Maryland Department of the Environment refuse permit that bars taking out-of-county solid waste. Benson also said the county’s solid-waste management plan mentions “no out of county” restrictions only for rubble and construction debris, not for municipal solid waste.

Adam Corey, executive director of environmental services, Department of Public Works, told the council the county had received new aerial and operational data this year. “We’ve got the aerial data, we don’t have it,” Corey said during the discussion, describing how updated surveys changed the county’s understanding of remaining cell capacity. Corey later told the council bluntly: “We’ve gotta stop accepting other people’s trash.”

Andrew Illumini of the Department of Law presented a timeline and the county’s analysis of remaining capacity. He told the council the most conservative staff numbers show roughly 11 months of capacity at current burn rates if inbound waste is not limited.

Council concerns and industry input: Council members said they had not been briefed in advance on the executive’s phased plan and pressed for a transparent public process. The proposed executive timeline discussed closing the landfill to commercial haulers on Saturdays beginning Aug. 1, increasing to Saturdays and Mondays on Oct. 1 and adding a third weekday in Feb. 2026, with a potential full commercial closure by July 1, 2026. Council members warned such a phased approach could create concentrated arrivals on the remaining open days, overload staff, and risk illegal dumping. Haulers and residents at the meeting described practical impacts on collection schedules and worker hours.

Enforcement and code issues: Staff and councilors discussed existing county code language that still authorizes out-of-county transfer-station permits and the county’s practice (a $90 permit line in the code for out-of-county permits was cited). Benson said change to the code would be required if the county intended to end out-of-county permits. The draft emergency bill includes penalty provisions for violations and gives the law department authority to review manifests and manifests-based evidence when enforcing limits.

Funding, future cells and alternatives: Finance Director Pam Olin and landfill staff said the county is simultaneously pursuing the design and permitting work for Cell 7 and evaluating funding to construct new cells and mitigate a shortfall. Staff said Bay Restoration Fund and State Revolving Fund (SRF) monies have been used on related infrastructure projects and that funding mechanisms and tipping schedules affect decisionmaking going forward.

Next steps: The council introduced the emergency bill unanimously and scheduled a work session in two weeks to review draft language and the operational timeline with landfill staff and legal counsel. A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5. Staff told the council they will also supply the analysis and supporting documents requested by members ahead of the work session.

What the bill would do (as introduced): The draft emergency ordinance would (1) require council approval before the county changes landfill operating days or hours that affect commercial haulers, (2) restrict acceptance of commercial solid waste generated outside Wicomico County, and (3) create a surcharge/penalty mechanism and manifest-inspection authority to implement the restriction (details to be refined in the work session).

Public comment: Dozens of residents and stakeholders spoke during public comment, a majority urging the council to limit out-of-county waste and to avoid ad hoc closures that would disrupt service for county residents. Several speakers urged the council and executive to move quickly to open additional cell capacity and to avoid sudden operational shifts.

What was decided: The council voted to introduce the emergency bill and to hold a work session and public hearing; no final restrictions were adopted on July 1.","The Wicomico County Council unanimously introduced emergency legislation to assert the council’s authority over landfill operating days and to limit out-of-county commercial solid waste after staff said recent surveys showed the landfill has substantially less remaining capacity than earlier reports indicated.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council approves several resolutions, introduces bonds bill

Council pauses bill to require prior approval of professional services; requests quarterly reporting

Council considers accepting Hebron Lions Club park donation; planning linked to West Metro/Conley Mill debate

Council approves multi-year contract for Salisbury septic elimination project, staff says state funding covers hookups

County council introduces emergency bill to limit out-of-county landfill waste amid capacity concerns