The Talbot County Council on Tuesday approved four separate amendments to the county comprehensive water and sewer plan and authorized staff to pursue grant and loan funding for multiple wastewater projects.

Votes and key details

- Resolution 3‑83 (8356 Lenape Lane, St. Michaels): The council found the site’s existing single‑family dwelling has no remaining development rights and approved reclassification to S‑1 (immediate priority). Vote: unanimous (Callahan, Stepp, Lesher, Milkey, Haight voted aye).

- Resolution 3‑84 (tax map 32, parcel 27): A 20.4‑acre property was moved from unprogrammed to S‑1 for a single EDU; staff noted the parcel has four deeded lots but only one EDU was being requested and additional EDUs would require further council action. The council adopted the resolution and the motion noted that any later request for more EDUs would require a separate amendment. Vote: unanimous.

- Resolution 3‑85 (27050 St. Michaels Road): The council approved moving this property from an on‑site wastewater system to connect to the Region 2 wastewater treatment plant; staff said the move should reduce capital cost relative to upgrading an existing private treatment plant. The resolution was approved 4–1 (Milkey voted nay). The transcript records a 30‑EDU figure for the application; staff confirmed 30 EDUs are included in the resolution.

- Resolution 3‑86 (26401 Royal Oak Road): Property (about 1.25 acres with a house) was approved to connect using an existing force main installed under prior resolution 2‑35. Vote: unanimous.

Grant and loan applications

County engineering staff and council authorized submission of applications for funding from the Maryland Department of the Environment State Revolving Fund and USDA Rural Development for several projects, including up to $750,000 in loans for the Preserve at Yarmouth Mills wastewater plant (application timing required by MDE), an application for up to $1,500,000 in loan/grant funding for the Calhoun/MEBA sewer extension (higher estimate reflects possible sludge remediation costs), and up to $40,000 for a preliminary engineering report for Martingham lagoon work. Council members discussed the federal shutdown’s potential to delay federal review but authorized the applications.

Procedural notes

Planning and technical staff reported the Public Works Advisory Board and the Planning Commission reviewed and recommended each resolution (votes mostly 4‑0 at those bodies). Councilmembers reiterated that obtaining S‑1 status for a parcel does not automatically enable additional development beyond EDUs specifically authorized; future EDUs would require separate council action.

No public speakers registered in the hearings for these items, and public hearings were opened and closed before the council votes.

The council recorded all votes by roll call as part of the meeting minutes.