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County authorizes phase‑2 PSAP grounding work after 9‑1‑1 grant realignment
Summary
Emergency Services received approval to realign Maryland 9‑1‑1 board grant funds and proceed with a second phase of electrical grounding and bonding work at the county backup Public Safety Answering Point after lightning strikes damaged equipment; staff said the remaining grant balance and a second 9‑1‑1 grant year will fund completion.
St. Mary’s County emergency‑services staff told commissioners June 24 they will realign spending within Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board trust funds to complete phase‑2 electrical grounding and bonding work at a backup public‑safety answering point (PSAP) after earlier lightning strikes damaged equipment.
Emergency Services staff said the county initially received 9‑1‑1 board approval for $600,000 and completed phase 1, which included relocating overhead utilities, removing telephone poles and conducting tower inspection work. The department requested commissioners’ approval to realign remaining FY‑25 9‑1‑1 funds and to proceed with a second phase to bond and ground metal components inside the PSAP, install a grounding loop around the building and extend grounding to the on‑site radio tower so the facility will meet Motorola R56 grounding standards for communications support facilities.
Deputy Director Kirsten Shag and technical staff explained that mission‑critical consultants and the Department of Public Works and Transportation determined the project must proceed in phases; phase 2 is quoted at roughly $535,000 and would be covered by realigned FY‑25 9‑1‑1 board funds and subsequent grant year allocations. Shag told commissioners $90,000 remained on the original grant and the requested realignment would allow the county to finish the remediation effort.
Commissioners voted to approve the FY‑2025 budget amendment realigning the spending plan for the Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board trust fund (MD2538) and authorized Emergency Services to proceed with the phase‑2 project plan presented to the state.
Why it matters: The work addresses documented equipment damage caused by lightning strikes and seeks to reduce the risk of future outages at a PSAP that handles emergency calls. Funding comes from the Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board grant program and required county approval to realign the FY‑25 spending plan to finish the remediation.
