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 vote.

The commissioners approved the State’s Attorney’s Office application for a Fiscal Year 2026 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, requesting $461,016 in grant funds with a $132,412 county match (a 20% required match). Jessica Hall, presenting for the State’s Attorney’s Office, said the application would request funding for seven positions (one 50% director position plus six full‑time equivalents), mental‑health contractual services and victim‑services operating costs. The motion to apply and have the commission president sign grant documents passed by voice vote.

The board approved an easement with Thomas and Kathleen Dixon to improve sight lines and permit site work at the Snow Hill Manor boat‑ramp entrance. Commissioners noted the boat ramp and site improvements will proceed together and that those improvements must meet permitting and critical‑area approvals before construction. The motion authorizing the commissioner president to sign related documents carried by voice vote.

The commission released a property owner, Janet M. Butterfield, from a five‑year Agriculture Land Property Tax Credit agreement the owner entered on June 20, 2024, permitting the owner to subdivide or develop the parcel; county staff noted that early termination requires repayment of tax credits previously received and any applicable interest and penalties. Commissioners approved the release and authorized signatures.

The Department of Finance requested concurrence to award county calendar‑year 2025 asphalt overlay work to Holcomb Mar Inc. in an estimated amount of $3,177,550, subject to contract completion and sufficient FY26 appropriations for projects after July 1. Finance staff said fiscal‑year 2024 work completed approximately 24.81 miles of overlay and that the county aims for roughly 29 miles if funding continues. Commissioners authorized the procurement officer to award the contract; the vote was taken by voice.

The Department of Emergency Services requested three animal‑services budget actions. Manager Crowell reported that recent outreach and adoption events reduced shelter population from a peak as high as 200 animals to 55 animals after weekend adoptions, but unanticipated medical costs and the end of an in‑kind euthanasia partnership with Charles County require budget adjustments. Commissioners approved (1) a transfer of $50,000 from the Emergency Support Reserve to cover shelter needs, (2) an $11,813 reallocation from EMA lease payments to the shelter medical account, and (3) an increase to the hourly veterinarian rate to $97 per hour for the remainder of FY25 with an added $15,000 in the FY26 hourly budget to remain competitive in regional hiring. All three animal‑services motions passed by voice vote; commissioners noted the county is pursuing DDA licensing and medication safeguards for in‑house medical treatment.