County approves one-time park equipment, Town Creek restroom and recurring maintenance staff for youth fields

On March 22, 2022, the St. Mary's County Commissioners agreed by consensus to use nonrecurring fund balance to buy storage units and field-maintenance equipment and to add a recurring hourly maintenance crew to support volunteer youth athletic leagues.

The items approved for one-time funding include equipment and storage for field maintenance that county recreation staff estimated at $146,000 and a $9,000 expense to install a permanent restroom to serve Town Creek Park's pool and adjacent tennis courts. Commissioners also agreed that recurring hourly staffing for field maintenance will be added to the department's operating budget; staff identified that recurring cost as about $95,000 a year to cover three hours of work per park across the season.

The request came from Art Shepherd of Recreation and Parks, who told commissioners the county recently received Program Open Space funding administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and that local leagues currently depend on volunteers using personal vehicles to move equipment on game days. "All the different equipment is $146,000," Shepherd said during his presentation, and he asked the commissioners to permit a modest, recurring hourly crew rather than additional full-time equivalents.

Commissioners who spoke during the discussion endorsed the idea but asked that staff confirm recurring budget placement and long-term maintenance plans before permanent hires are added. The county's chief financial officer, Jeanette Cudmore, and deputy director Jody Kawosney said the one-time items could be paid from fund balance and that the $95,000 recurring amount would be added to next year's operating budget lines. Commissioners also discussed volunteer liability and coverage: staff said registered volunteers are covered under the local government insurance trust when they are registered and acting as county volunteers.

Commissioners asked staff to return with details about storage security, restroom service plans, and maintenance responsibilities, and to identify whether volunteer support could offset recurring costs over time.

The consensus adds one-time equipment and facility items out of nonrecurring fund balance and creates a recurring line for hourly maintenance staff; commissioners directed staff to finalize budget placement and follow up on maintenance and liability details.