County hears public testimony on Hartford and Olive Branch road upgrade assessment

A public hearing before the Queen Anne's County Commissioners on Oct. 28 reviewed a proposal to upgrade Hartford Road and Olive Branch Road to county standards and levy special benefit assessments on adjacent property owners.

County Attorney Pat Thompson read the published notice for the hearing. Chief Roads Engineer Shane Moore told the commissioners and residents the project would extend from Route 8 to the end of Olive Branch Road, cover about 2,640 feet, and include 41 property owners. Moore said the estimated total construction cost is $232,320, which yields an estimated assessment of $5,667 per property or a 20‑year annual payment of $417 at an assumed 4% interest rate.

Moore described the proposed work as meeting the county’s minimum Type 3 local road standard: clearing and grubbing, ditch and stormwater work, entrance culverts, a widened 20‑foot stabilized road base, and a three‑course tar‑and‑chip surface. He said the county would take over maintenance in perpetuity if the road becomes a county road and that the construction timeline, if approved, could span roughly 18 months with initial construction aimed for spring 2026 and final assessment letters sent to property owners in 2027.

Residents largely supported repaving but raised procedural and practical concerns. James Slonena, president of the Romacoke on the Bay Roads Corporation, asked whether recorded covenants requiring a two‑thirds community vote to convert a private road had been considered; Thompson replied that commissioners have statutory authority to approve assessments and that recorded covenants do not bind the county’s decision on levying an assessment. James Slonena also disputed the count of lots included and asked whether excluded lots should share costs.

Other speakers raised questions about sewer or "ski" allocation and whether currently unserved lots could become buildable in the future. Moore said the unserved lots lack sewer service and that any future service would require state approval, making additional development unlikely without a separate state process. Residents reported dust and safety concerns for children and older residents and asked about speed control; Moore said the county would monitor traffic and maintain the road but that traffic‑calming devices and stop‑sign placement must meet state standards.

Several people asked about turnaround and school‑bus access at the dead end. Moore said county staff would pursue easement agreements to provide a T‑turnaround rather than using private driveways and would try to minimize added costs.

The commission closed the hearing and left the written record open for two weeks; staff said public comments submitted by email or mail will be included in the packet for the commissioners’ next regular meeting on Nov. 18, at which the board will decide whether to approve the project and assessments.