Queen Anne's County commissioners adopt emergency solar law, assume Sudlersville debt and approve wide set of contracts

Queen Anne's County Commissioners on Aug. 26 adopted an emergency ordinance to bring the county into compliance with recent state renewable-energy requirements, approved an ordinance authorizing the county to assume indebtedness on behalf of the town of Sudlersville, and approved a package of contracts and grants including road resurfacing, ambulance purchases and broadband work.

The commission adopted county ordinance 25-10, an emergency bill that updates local rules for community solar generating systems, energy storage devices and solar energy generating stations to align with state law (Senate Bill 931 and House Bill 1036). The motion to adopt passed unanimously, 5-0.

Why it matters: the ordinance creates supplemental use regulations for community solar and batteries, sets a 5% limit on solar energy generating station acreage within the county's priority preservation area and establishes a compensatory preservation payment when systems are sited on Class 1 soils. County staff framed the vote as necessary to match new state requirements.

In separate legislation the commission adopted county ordinance 25-11, an emergency measure authorizing Queen Anne's County to "incur and assume indebtedness" in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,500,000 to acquire water and sewer public facilities from the town of Sudlersville. That motion carried, 5-0.

The meeting also included a slate of operational approvals and contracts the commission said were needed to maintain county services. Highlights:

- A hot-mix asphalt overlay program contract using the State Highway Administration pre-established contract was awarded to David A. Bramble Inc. for $1,925,146 to resurface about 8.92 miles of county roads. The motion passed with four votes in favor and one abstention (one commissioner recused because they live on a street included in the program). The county described the work as mill/grind, patch and resurface at multiple locations.

- The commission authorized the purchase of two ambulances through the Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative purchasing program from FESCO Emergency Sales in the total amount of $776,900; expected delivery was stated at 18 to 24 months. Commissioners said extended manufacturer lead times motivated ordering now.

- A three-year contract for groundwater and landfill gas monitoring at county landfills was awarded to Hill Consulting of Annapolis, Maryland, for $107,850.

- The county executed a Public Works agreement allowing Parcel 24 Holdings LLC to construct a 12-unit apartment building (six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom units) next to Cult Classic in Chestertown; the commission voted to execute the agreement.

- The county accepted an amendment to a state's "difficult to serve" broadband grant for 130 addresses, with a state grant amount of $793,124 and a per-connection cap of $8,000. Internet service providers will cover an estimated 60% of connection costs, with the grant covering the remainder.

- The county's IT department was authorized to execute an agreement for a redundant fiber-optic connection across the Bay Bridge to complete a fiber ring; county staff said the contract will cost $63,800 for the remainder of the fiscal year and $75,960 annually thereafter.

- Economic development recommended and the commission awarded a $100,000 contract to Bay Crossing Consulting to run the "Catalyst" minority business accelerator, funded from community reinvestment/repair funds (cannabis sales tax proceeds).

- The county updated its Investment of Public Funds policy (policy 400-003) to align with state law and current practice; the board approved the comprehensive update.

Additional routine items adopted included the Queen Anne's County Library certification for state aid for FY 2026 and other departmental contracts.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Ordinance 25-10 (emergency solar ordinance): Adopted, vote 5-0. - Ordinance 25-11 (assume Sudlersville indebtedness up to $5,500,000): Adopted, vote 5-0. - Asphalt overlay contract (David A. Bramble Inc.): Approved, $1,925,146; vote 4 in favor, 1 abstain (recusal). - Ambulance purchase (two units via FESCO): Approved, $776,900; unanimous. - Groundwater and landfill gas monitoring (Hill Consulting): Approved, $107,850; unanimous. - Parcel 24 Holdings public works agreement (12 apartments): Approved; unanimous. - Broadband "difficult to serve" grant amendment (130 addresses): Approved; unanimous. - Fiber optic bridge connection (state DOIT agreement): Approved; unanimous. - Catalyst minority business contract (Bay Crossing Consulting): Approved, $100,000; unanimous. - Investment of Public Funds policy update (Policy 400-003): Approved; unanimous.

What the board and staff said: Jack Thompson (county staff) and others characterized many items as compliance or routine infrastructure projects. The board emphasized urgency on procurements with long lead times (ambulances, apparatus) and the need to update local code to match state renewable-energy law.

What remains pending: county ordinance 25-13, adding Settlers of Oak/Barclay Wastewater Subdistrict and Settlersville Water Subdistrict to the water and sewer plan, was introduced for consideration; it was not adopted at this meeting.

Ending: Commissioners said the package of approvals would support road, emergency and utility services in the near term and allow the county to pursue grant funding for planned projects.