St. Mary’s County commissioners approve multiple grant awards and applications including jail treatment, school resource officers and 9-1-1 spending plan

St. Mary’s County commissioners unanimously approved a series of grant awards and grant applications at their Aug. 19 meeting, authorizing county staff to accept or submit documents needed to secure state and federal funding for public safety, emergency communications, recreation and services for people with developmental disabilities.

The package of approved actions included awards and applications that will fund jail-based treatment for opioid use disorder, residential substance abuse programming, continuation of school resource officer positions, a Maryland 9-1-1 spending plan, waterway improvements and other program grants. Several approvals included budget amendments and matched funding drawn from existing county personnel costs.

The board voted to accept a Governor’s Office Performance Incentive Grant Fund award of $185,688 to continue jail-based medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. The award will partially fund two registered nurses and two contracted peer recovery specialists; it excludes medication funding. Commissioners also authorized a related budget amendment to establish the award in county accounting.

Commissioners approved a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) grant application for $224,556 to fund an aftercare planning licensed social worker and a peer recovery specialist to support the jail’s MOUD program. The application includes a 25% non‑federal match requirement ($74,852) to be covered in‑kind using salary/fringe for an existing offender reentry case manager already funded in the sheriff’s FY26 budget. In addition, the board accepted an unexpected RSAT carryover grant award of $71,909 that will continue funding for two contracted registered nurses through December 2025; that award carries a 25% match ($23,636), also covered by the same salary/fringe source.

The commissioners approved continuation of two school resource officer positions via a Maryland State Department of Education grant (School Resource Officer adequate coverage grant) in the amount of $196,906. County funding for the SRO program was discussed; commissioners instructed staff to realign hours and include a budget amendment consistent with the grant rules.

The State’s Attorney’s Office was authorized to accept a Gun Violence Reduction Grant award of $79,552 to continue funding an evidence analyst position that assists with case preparation for firearms‑related prosecutions. The county match for that award was adjusted downward to $8,867 to reflect the final award amount.

Emergency Services received approval to submit a fiscal 2026 spending plan and accept $951,900 from the Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board to support maintenance and operations, personnel training and enhanced security measures, including portable generator procurement and continuity-of-operations work.

Recreation and Parks accepted a $249,000 Waterway Improvement Fund award for improvements at Wicomico Shores ($199,000) and Forest Landing ($50,000), and authorized submission of an FY27 application for another $249,000 proposed for repairs at St. George Island and Tall Timbers public landings.

The Department of Health’s developmental disabilities grant award for Camp Discovery ($35,000) was accepted along with a $5,219 budget amendment to support the program. Commissioners also approved a partnership project agreement with the town of Leonardtown to submit a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant application for a proposed Leonardtown splash pad; the grant program is administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the project would be implemented as a cooperative agreement with the town.

Each item was moved, seconded and approved in open session with no recorded dissent. Staff were authorized to execute related documents and to submit required electronic forms.

Votes at a glance

- Performance Incentive Grant Fund (Governor’s Office): award $185,688 — approved; motion to accept and amend budget to establish award — outcome: approved (ayes). - RSAT grant application (Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy) — requested $224,556; 25% match $74,852 (in‑kind county salary/fringe) — authorized to apply — outcome: approved (ayes). - RSAT part 2 carryover award $71,909; 25% match $23,636 (in‑kind) — accepted — outcome: approved (ayes). - School Resource Officer adequate coverage grant $196,906 — accepted and related budget realignment authorized — outcome: approved (ayes). - State’s Attorney Gun Violence Reduction Grant $79,552 — accepted; county match adjusted to $8,867 — outcome: approved (ayes). - Maryland 9‑1‑1 Board spending plan MD2638 — $951,900 — authorized for submission/acceptance — outcome: approved (ayes). - Waterway Improvement Fund FY26 award $249,000 (Wicomico Shores and Forest Landing) — accepted — outcome: approved (ayes). - Waterway Improvement Fund FY27 application $249,000 (St. George Island & Tall Timbers) — authorized submission — outcome: approved (ayes). - Developmental Disabilities Administration community grant $35,000 (Camp Discovery) — accepted; budget amendment $5,219 — outcome: approved (ayes). - Community Parks & Playgrounds (Leonardtown splash pad) — project agreement approved and authorized to submit application — outcome: approved (ayes).

What commissioners said and staff details

Warden Mary Anne Thompson, presenting for the sheriff’s office, told commissioners the PIGF award would support continued nursing and peer recovery positions required by state law and that medication costs are not included in that award. Thompson and county staff explained the RSAT application would fund additional aftercare/planning staff needed under the Annotated Code of Maryland, Correctional Services §9‑603 (house bill 116) and that the required county match would be covered by existing, already funded county personnel costs in the sheriff’s FY26 budget. Thompson reported operational pressures at the detention center: 182 inmates were being treated as patients for mental‑health concerns within a population the county described as running about 209, and nine inmates were waiting transfer to state psychiatric hospitals.

Director of Emergency Services (Director Utts) described the 9‑1‑1 spending plan as focused on maintenance, personnel training and contingency measures including portable generators and enhanced center security; commissioners authorized the director to sign all related documents.

Ray Bivens, director of Recreation and Parks, outlined the $249,000 Waterway Improvement Fund award and said funds are drawn from boat sales, registration and a gasoline excise allocation; the board accepted the award and authorized staff to manage required documents.

The board’s approvals required staff to prepare budget amendments and execute grant agreements electronically where applicable. In each case, the motions were seconded and passed with no recorded opposition.

Ending

Commissioners closed the consent and grant‑approval portion of the agenda after unanimous votes on the items listed above. Several grants will require follow‑up budget amendments and contract documents; staff were authorized to proceed with those administrative steps and to execute awards on behalf of the county.