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Council approves state police grant, broadband easement, local procurement awards and tax-abatement requests
Summary
At its Oct. 1 meeting the Council accepted a $164,894 FY25 State Aid for Police Protection grant, approved a 99-year broadband easement, awarded on-call engineering and a Vienna Park pavilion contract, confirmed a $12,495 Byrne JAG interlocal agreement and authorized proceeding on several tax abatements.
The Dorchester County Council at its Oct. 1 meeting approved several routine but consequential items: acceptance of a state police-protection grant, a long-term easement for broadband infrastructure, procurement awards for engineering and a park pavilion, confirmation of a Byrne Justice Assistance Grant interlocal agreement and steps to proceed with multiple tax-abatement requests.
At the Sheriff’s request, the Council accepted a $164,894 FY25 State Aid for Police Protection grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy to support policing in eligible subdivisions and municipalities; the grant covers the performance period July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 and requires no local match.
The Council also approved an agreement with Maryland Broadband Cooperative, Inc. to allow access to and maintenance of telecommunications facilities at Fieldcrest Drive for a 99-year term with an option for a 50-year extension, action taken at the Sheriff’s request.
On procurement, Public Works recommended and the Council approved awarding on-call engineering services on an as-needed basis to George, Miles & Buhr; Lane Engineering; and Davis, Bowen & Friedel for a three-year term with optional extensions. Recreation & Parks Director Duc Trieu recommended, and the Council awarded, a 12-by-20-foot hardtop pavilion with a four-inch concrete pad at Vienna Park to low bidder Green Site LLC for $27,223, funded by FY24 Program Open Space funds.
The Council confirmed, by interim poll, approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Cambridge for a $12,495 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant to be split between the Cambridge Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office; the poll result was recorded as 4–0 in favor.
Finance Director Karen Tolley requested and the Council approved proceeding with tax-abatement actions for multiple entities and properties (Cambridge Common's, LLLP; Cambridge Skeet & Gun Club, Inc.; Glenburn Associates; Women’s Auxiliary of DGH; Cedar Meadows Rod & Gun Club, Inc.; Homes for Hurlock Limited Partnership; Cambridge Waterfront Development, Inc. / CWDI Holdings, LLC). Tolley also provided a finance update on ARPA funds, audits and the Uniform Financial Report during the meeting.
Public comment included Don Satterfield, Corrections Director, who thanked the Council and staff for support and noted remaining work in corrections staffing and operations.
Next steps: agreements and contracts will move to implementation steps described by the relevant departments; tax-abatement proceedings will be processed per Finance direction.
