St. Mary’s County commissioners approve bond transfer, playground grant, hunting agreement and other measures

Leonardtown, Md. — The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County on Aug. 2 adopted a series of ordinances, agreements and budget adjustments that the board and county staff said support local infrastructure, housing and public services.

The board voted to adopt an ordinance to realign the intersection of Blacksmith Shop Road and Seadrill Lane Road and approved multiple administrative items including the county’s transfer of its 2016 housing bond allocation to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), authorization to apply for a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant for Wick Playground with the town of Leonardtown, acceptance of a $20,000 grant from Exelon Generation Company LLC to support emergency planning, and a cooperative wildlife management agreement to allow DNR-managed archery deer hunting at Myrtle Point Park.

Why it matters: the actions reallocate local and state resources, authorize planned capital and operating work and update personnel and budget policies that affect county services and projects in coming months. The bond allocation supports mortgage programs run through the state; the playground and hunting agreements affect park facilities and how county open space is managed; the Exelon grant funds emergency-plan updates tied to regional hazard-mitigation work.

Key approvals and summary details:

- State Core Public Health Services Funding Agreement (FY2017): The board authorized the county signing the agreement that confirms the county’s FY2017 public health budget and the county’s allocation to the state-required funding agreement. County staff said the county’s allocation exceeds the state maintenance‑of‑effort minimum. The motion passed; one commissioner registered an abstention during the roll call on the motion.

- Wick Playground application and project agreement (Leonardtown partnership): The Department of Recreation and Parks sought and received approval to pursue a $200,000 Maryland Community Parks and Playgrounds grant to supplement $200,000 already in the FY2017 CIP for replacement of the Wick Playground on the Governmental Center grounds. Brian Lowey, director of Recreation and Parks, said the combined funds would allow replacement of wood equipment (about 20 years old) with modern, ADA‑compliant surfacing and fencing. The board authorized the commissioner president to execute a future joint‑use agreement if the grant is awarded.

- Myrtle Point Park Cooperative Wildlife Management Agreement (bow hunting): The board approved the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cooperative agreement to allow archery hunting for white‑tailed deer on approximately 141 acres of a 192‑acre parcel at Myrtle Point Park for the 2016 season. DNR will manage permits out of the Myrtle Grove Wildlife Management Office; staff said there will be a maximum of six hunters per day, portable stands only, and hunting dates will follow Maryland season and bag limits (hunting proposed Oct. 15–Jan. 31; October hunts Monday–Friday only, remainder of season Monday–Saturday).

- Transfer of 2016 housing bond allocation to DHCD: The commissioners directed staff to transfer the county’s 2016 volume cap allocation — $3,882,759 — to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for use with the Maryland Mortgage Program and Maryland Home Credit Program. County and housing authority staff said the allocation historically goes into a statewide pool that supports low‑cost mortgage products; a qualifying household cap and program limits apply.

- Exelon (Exxon) grant acceptance for emergency plan updates: The board accepted a $20,000 grant from Exelon to help update the county emergency operations plan; emergency services staff said the work will be coordinated with the county’s hazard mitigation plan update to reduce duplication and realize cost savings. The commissioners authorized acceptance of the grant and related budget amendments.

- Capital reserve rollover and CIP budget amendments: Finance staff presented nine budget amendments to close FY2016 projects, roll unobligated transfer tax and pay‑go balances into FY2017, realign funding sources on select projects and establish a new AP‑1702 “bridal legacy” program. The board approved the package.

- Personnel manual updates: The board approved revisions to the County Government Manual of Personnel Policies and Procedures, effective Aug. 15, 2016. Key changes included extending the county’s prohibition on cell phone/text use while driving on county business to personal and rental vehicles, clarifying unlawful possession of weapons in the workplace, and a 90‑day waiting period before a former full‑time employee (excluding hourly employees) is eligible for rehire.

- Sale/real estate contract authorization: Following an executive‑session discussion on property acquisition, the board authorized the county president to sign a contract for the sale of real estate by and between 48 Farm Limited Partnership and St. Mary’s County.

What county staff said: Joyce Sapp, Fiscal Services chief for the health department, described the core health funding agreement as the state‑required confirmation of the county’s public health allocation. Chris Casalemas, director of Economic Development, and Dennis Nicholson, executive director of the Housing Authority, presented details of the housing bond allocation and program choices. Brian Lowey described the Wick Playground project as a community effort; Recreation and Parks will manage maintenance if the grant is awarded.

Next steps and context: Several approvals authorize staff to execute agreements or apply for grants; project designs, permit processes, and any required public notices or joint‑use agreements will follow usual departmental and town processes. The Myrtle Point hunting agreement is subject to DNR permit procedures and season schedules.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance to realign Blacksmith Shop Road and Seadrill Lane Road — motion to adopt ordinance: approved. - FY2017 State Core Public Health Services Funding Agreement — motion to authorize signing: approved; one commissioner abstained. - Community Parks & Playgrounds application (Wick Playground, Leonardtown partnership) — motion to approve application and authorize future joint‑use agreement: approved. - Cooperative Wildlife Management Agreement (bow hunting at Myrtle Point Park) — motion to approve DNR agreement: approved. - Transfer of 2016 housing bond allocation ($3,882,759) to MD DHCD — motion to approve transfer and authorize execution of related documents: approved. - Acceptance of Exelon Generation Company LLC grant ($20,000) for emergency‑plan updates — motion to accept and amend budget: approved. - Capital reserve rollover and nine CIP budget amendments — motion to approve and authorize: approved. - Personnel manual revisions (effective Aug. 15, 2016) — motion to approve: approved. - Authorization to execute contract for sale of real estate (48 Farm Limited Partnership) — motion to authorize signature: approved.

Ending: Several of the approved items — the playground grant application, the emergency planning work supported by the Exelon grant, and the DWCD bond allocation transfer — will require follow‑up by county departments. Departments told commissioners they will return with implementation details as required by grant or contract conditions.