[{"_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",6510995,"mediaKeyId","5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669","parentId",5334290,"title","Economic & Tourism department reports small commercial growth, new grants and ferry feasibility meetings","audioSeconds",934,"startMs",1002000,"endMs",1936000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669&start=1002&end=1936","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669/thumbnail_1002000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510995/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Economic-Tourism-department-reports-small-commercial-growth-new-grants-and-ferry-feasibility-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510995-a6e63cdf8e1480401fec427e12245dbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775210013&Signature=KbhYDMLWArs75DkKxhyaPL026xfBdNLm8QM3dI4Vdu3xMscZdHH09OwPCA-kGxLMix1bC3QkF0WFoKUQG0IMLu6TkUdCf63wVYdcz1xf5nUham445nNRhAfKVTu6q-UubWYFBPR7cszl-aa6WPY5wSZQfK1hdX3TYBZvCdIrRGGOVdyGKOvrrN8kgiHzd1YiieBU0gycxHFjcnhNxrTEyYfBRvReJRns3I1ZMuFF9O49FKhz8rh~mFZm3oF0aLINRMJauhkAOY9GC3UPm7nBdmfME--Ki04Zg2r1C2IppmaHOHYN55qNdJTEMW38QR3UnLfFYiuynnty3lvHEhCZvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Queen Anne's County","date","2025-07-02T23:07:04Z","article","Heather Tamelli, Queen Anne's County economic and tourism development director, briefed the county commissioners July 8 on key performance indicators, recent grants and several ongoing initiatives including a multi-county ferry feasibility study and a new online site-selector tool.

Tamelli told commissioners the county continues to hold a low unemployment rate of about 2.4% (second lowest among peer counties), and that the commercial property tax base remains near 11% of total taxable value. She said county assessors reported about $52 million in commercial property sales for fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025) and that the county has about $72 million in deals in process, which staff described as a combination of capital investment, expansion and project pipeline work that may not all translate directly to property-tax base increases.

The department introduced an online site-selector tool (Resimplify) listing about 50 commercial and industrial properties with linked details and a map; staff said the tool reduces manual property research and will be added to the county website’s resources.

Tamelli also provided grant updates: a $112,000 grant for a mobile visitor center, a $50,000 Maryland alcohol-production marketing grant, and three approved site-readiness grants submitted to MEDCO. She said the county received a $4,000 Maryland 250 marketing grant for event promotion. Tamelli said the county was working with the Abishore Regional Council on a regional business loan program in early exploratory stages and implementing an ag-tourism and land-use study in partnership with Planning and the Ag Extension Office.

On ferry planning, Tamelli described meetings with the Maryland Department of Transportation and Anne Arundel County as part of a five-county ferry feasibility study. She said federal grants awarded in a nearby county include funding to purchase two ferries, one proposed route to the Matapeake area on Kent Island, and that if funding proceeds the project timeline could stretch into 2027–2028 because of boat procurement and other steps.

April Plummer, marketing administrator, updated tourism metrics and said 2023 visitor statistics show a 4.7% increase in visitors and a 6.3% increase in visitor spending compared with pre-COVID benchmarks; hotel-tax calendar-year 2024 collections rose about 3.2% over the previous comparable period. Plummer highlighted recent international media hosting (a U.K. FAM tour) and on-the-ground promotion work with local restaurants, historic sites and maritime businesses.

Commissioners asked for follow-up information on several pending commercial deals and applauded the launch of the online site tool and the department’s grant activity and marketing work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Commissioners Meeting || 07/08/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The county's economic and tourism director reported a 2.4% unemployment rate, roughly $52 million in commercial property sales for FY25 and a pipeline of roughly $72 million in active deals; staff announced new grants, a site-selector tool and participation in a multi-county ferry feasibility study.","taxTitle","Queen Anne's County, Maryland","taxId",59354,"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},6511003,"Character Counts program spotlights citizenship; state's attorney and volunteers recognized",567,331000,898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669&start=331&end=898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6511003/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Character-Counts-program-spotlights-citizenship-states-attorney-and-volunteers-recognized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511003-8d362fcf48a285eee452e950d81261ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1775210013&Signature=LpSNRmLqNK4v8P3KaGn2O9OM~lkCRoBNTR5TqSKk5cvuGgdUX9l23~VPEVZh6yK9rMicKj3MgOQoRe36NeFlzqG3-AOjze2rYc9YALZjxFVEN6veChXMFRMtXtRpJ7Ce1BFEvLU47TRr32MfstAUHpHRR3KSlPL5kHbg09UW937FJG2vIbj4LucM-2H3ALBuhexad5-sDe1yAVffE6Nyi1BlsEpf5shjgoQJSD9U4ZYvuHIOnT~rMAAGDMUdP1-qWxabOamzE6R2~R1cB1qjqtnivCrAI5ZIALT6ZKBQ9Q7I9XnM0YHOrCU~l3KwtbJi36vRjZQyM9V-R5N15OYKhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Character Counts presented its July spotlight at the July 8 Queen Anne's County Commissioners meeting, reporting program expansion, high satisfaction among coaches and teachers, and new summer and school-year initiatives.

Melinda Ray, Character Counts program director, told commissioners the program achieved 100% coverage in kindergarten through fifth-grade classes for the second consecutive year and placed coaches in all four middle schools and at the homeschooling co-op. Ray said the program expanded student ambassadors to 14 ambassadors across seven elementary schools and that the ambassadors helped produce segments with the county's public-access TV station.

Ray summarized end-of-year survey results: \"95% of our coaches felt there was a positive impact in the classroom, 97% of teachers said our coaches created a positive impact, and 73% of third- through fifth-grade students reported a positive impact; 81% said they loved having Character Counts,\" she said on the record. Ray said the program has 43 enrolled 'businesses of character' with a goal to reach 50 by the end of the summer, and that lessons are being distributed through Queen Anne's County Parks & Recreation summer programs and Horizons offerings.

The commissioners' July spotlight recognized Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Lance Richardson for his long-term volunteer coaching and support for the Drug Free Coalition and Character Counts. Richardson said his office partners with Character Counts and that multiple prosecutors in his office volunteer as coaches. \"My office has a great partnership with Character Counts,\" Richardson said, and he encouraged residents to consider coaching.

Ray said she is piloting an eighth-grade student-government program at Stevensville Middle School and planned a meeting with Queen Anne's County High School's principal and the interim superintendent to explore high-school engagement. She also described efforts to create resource libraries in elementary schools so coaches can access books and lessons without traveling to a central office.

Commissioners thanked Ray and the volunteers; staff said the county will publicize fall recruiting for coaches and a family event planned for October at Dominic's Farm in Queenstown.

Ray and commissioners emphasized volunteer recruitment and sustaining the program's coverage next school year.","Character Counts representatives reported statewide-style program growth, high positive-impact survey responses from coaches and teachers, and a summer expansion of programming; Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Lance Richardson and his office were recognized in July's spotlight.",{"_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},6511007,"Queen Anne's County Commissioners approve appointments, contracts and grant actions; schedule two road public hearings",3766,267000,4033000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669&start=267&end=4033","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5334290-549b77d555935514dd43915dbe4b6669/thumbnail_267000.jpg","/articles/6511007/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Queen-Annes-County-Commissioners-approve-appointments-contracts-and-grant-actions-schedule-two-road-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511007-8382afeb0f9da51e21b68f24896aecc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775210013&Signature=H7t~-IgQ6JtO6d1r~cdHMoTawC1WiLQOTb7Dwq7PorFaWzWm~M-eQ5cFPALNz8PZLbUmiQoAie74ElZ88DQcwY0H5kRxM82aXXLul0RRNpaCGtmF~wwNOFXMBBbamiXlxZoJfWk7VxLTmvcMo~WBT5ZmeVdN1z7zGkfni27Fi32meOhr9twiBdhr4Ko5ujh9N8RmUXB-4jfKV~uBZSYIyiaCFkWtyYcaJkQQOj8zyf1qn-IQbFPfgHTrNdSgIVU~~xPA4c8~Kmt1kJ0bj2ZnpgT9-nPVAnrKv3P~spRXpWSe73S397dzyC6crQqvnriVjqQvU8QS8rblRQhjN3qu7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Queen Anne's County Commissioners met July 8 and approved a series of administrative actions including board appointments, public-hearing schedules for two private-road improvement projects, a public works agreement for a commercial haul route and multiple contract and grant authorizations. The meeting included votes to adopt state and federal transit certifications, accept grant-funded positions for the county jail, and award a waterfront repair contract contingent on additional state and county funding.

The commission appointed four members to the Local Management Board: Roger Hyrell, Robert James Randall, Andrew J. Gravis and reappointed Danaria Murga. Their terms were recorded as expiring June 30, 2028. The appointments followed a closed-session recruitment process the county disclosed at the start of the meeting.

The board scheduled public hearings for two private-road improvement petitions. Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing for the Hartford and Olive Branch Road improvement project in Kent Island Estates. County staff said that project covers a 2,640-foot private road and that the estimated project cost is $232,000 (about $5,700 per property owner, with an assessment schedule discussion noting the payment option should be for 20 years). Commissioners also scheduled a hearing for the South Carolina Road and Oak Street improvement project in Kennewell and The States, a 3,740-foot project with an estimated cost of about $336,000 (approximately $6,870 per owner). Staff told the commission they expect to hold hearings in October.

The commission executed a public works agreement with RB Baker and Sons for use of a county road segment as a haul route. Under the agreement the company will post a $100,000 maintenance bond, the county said, and the route is structured to accommodate up to 50 truck trips per day over 15 years between a borrow pit adjacent to Route 301 and the company's landfill cell.

Parks and Recreation staff recommended, and commissioners approved, a low-bid contract to Bay Coastal (Berlin, Md.) to replace bulkheads and ramps at Crumpton and Deep Landing. The low bid was $909,548. The award was conditioned on anticipated Maryland DNR waterways grant funding of $250,000 and a requested county contribution of $75,000; commissioners identified potential county funding sources if the DNR grant is awarded.

As part of sanitary commission business, commissioners executed an assumption agreement with the National Rural Water Association to assume an outstanding engineering-bridge loan for the Town of Sudlersville’s sewer work; staff recorded the outstanding balance at $39,320.50 and cited a prior agreement to assume the town’s water and sewer financial obligations.

In new-business votes the commission:
- Adopted authorizing Resolution No. 25-07 to certify Federal Transit Administration and Maryland Transit Administration assurances for FY 2026 specialized transportation programs; county staff said the certification is required to receive federal and state transit grant funds.
- Accepted grant funding from the Maryland Office of Overdose Response to fund two contractual positions for the Department of Corrections — a part-time certified medical technician for dosing and a peer-support specialist — covering July 2025 through June 30, 2027; staff said the positions are grant-funded and result in no county cost.
- Approved an amendment and declaration of extinguishment to an open-space easement for a cluster subdivision (Pippin Farm LLC) that reclassifies open-space requirements for a 190.45-acre parcel under the county’s sliding-scale rules.
- Approved the purchase of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and managed Security Operations Center service from the Tenneo Group at $60,110 per year, following a competitive procurement.
- Authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation to contract with Bay Coastal for the Crumpton and Deep Landing project (see above).
- Approved the RB Baker and Sons public works agreement (haul route) and executed the Sudlersville loan assumption agreement; both items carried on voice votes.
- Approved several county policy and operational changes including increased erosion and sediment control plan-review fees requested by the Queen Anne Soil Conservation District; adoption of updated human resources policies (career ladder, telework, and Character Counts coaches/book buddies); and adoption of an ICT change-management policy (Policy No. 700-009).

Several items were noted as informational or underway, including the county’s FY25 road resurfacing and tar-and-chip programs; commissioners were briefed on contractor schedules and weather constraints that have delayed work in some cases. The commission closed the formal business and moved to press and public comment.

Votes were recorded by voice for most motions; where individual tallies were not read into the transcript, the clerk recorded motions as carried by voice vote.","At their July 8 meeting the Queen Anne's County Commissioners appointed members to a board, scheduled two private-road improvement public hearings, authorized a haul-route agreement and approved several grant, contract and policy actions including a contract for waterfront repairs contingent on state funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Economic & Tourism department reports small commercial growth, new grants and ferry feasibility meetings

Character Counts program spotlights citizenship; state's attorney and volunteers recognized

Queen Anne's County Commissioners approve appointments, contracts and grant actions; schedule two road public hearings