St. Mary's County commissioners set public hearing, approve grants, easement, tax‑credit release, asphalt contract and animal‑shelter budget moves

The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County approved several administrative and budget items on March 18, including a public hearing on surplus county property, a grant application from the State’s Attorney’s Office, an easement for park access, a release from an agricultural land tax‑credit agreement, a county asphalt overlay contract award, and budget amendments for the county animal services division.

County Attorney John Giddens explained the county’s surplus property process and requested that the commission set a public hearing for April 8 to receive public comment on the disposition of county‑owned surplus real property. "For those folks that don't pay their property taxes for 2 years in a row, those properties get sent to the treasurer's office and put up what's called the tax lien auction," Giddens said. The commissioners moved and approved holding the hearing on the morning of April 8; the vote was taken by voice and recorded as a majority voice…