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Dorchester County Council approves landfill design, landfill-closure amendment, roadwork contract and ambulance purchase; moves farm lease to public hearing
Summary
At the Aug. 19 meeting the Council unanimously approved a $199,216 design contract for Beulah Landfill Cell No. 2, a $679,294 amendment for New Beulah closure, a tar-and-chip roadwork contract of about $788,635, a sole-source ambulance purchase for $409,011, and agreed to a public hearing on a farm lease with Delmarva Native Plants.
Dorchester County Council members on Aug. 19, 2025 approved several procurement and project contracts that county staff said are needed for waste management, road maintenance and emergency services.
The Council unanimously authorized Solid Waste Manager John Cooney to proceed with Service Order Project No. NCP2025 with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. for construction design of Beulah Landfill Cell No. 2 at a cost of $199,216, to be paid from the Solid Waste FY26 operating budget. The Council also approved an amended Service Order (Project No. ME2604) with Geosyntec to provide design support, construction quality assurance, field and laboratory services and a certification report for the New Beulah landfill cell closure at an additional cost of $679,294 funded from the landfill closure account. Cooney told the Council that landfill cells are filled in layers, the current cell is expected to last through 2027, and a transition to Cell No. 2 is planned for 2028; the facility comprises eight cells with an estimated operational lifespan of about 45 years.
Public Works Director Matt Ozman won Council approval to proceed with a contract with American Paving Fabrics to tar-and-chip approximately 29.92 miles of county roadways for an estimated $788,634.65 from the FY26 operating budget. Ozman said maximizing miles during a single mobilization reduces costs and estimated savings could reach up to $500,000 over several years because each mobilization costs about $30,000.
On emergency medical services, Emergency Medical Services Chief Debbie Wheedleton requested and the Council approved a sole-source purchase from Atlantic Emergency Solutions of a 2027 Ford F-550 XLT 4x4 Diesel Road Rescue Ultramedic ambulance for $409,011 to be funded by the FY26 Capital Budget line item 'Purchase New Ambulance.' The Council recorded vendor familiarity, customization to County specifications, and fleet maintenance capability as justification for sole-sourcing.
The Council also acknowledged a recommendation to award the Bobtown Road Farm Lease to Delmarva Native Plants, LLC at $500 per acre and unanimously agreed to proceed with a public hearing on that lease award. Additionally, the Council confirmed interim poll decisions to provide a $63,000 County match for Program Open Space projects and to send a letter supporting continuation of the Oyster Recovery Agreement program through the Maryland Port Administration.
All approvals at the meeting were recorded as unanimous motions (motions typically made by Councilman Ricky C. Travers and seconded by Councilman Rob Kramer, Jr.).
