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Officials Flag $68 Million Middle School Cost, Debate Local Impacts as Development Moves Ahead
Summary
County leaders discussed a $68 million middle school project with a local share estimated near $29–30 million, and town officials raised development and traffic concerns tied to projects including a proposed Wawa and other site plans.
County and town officials spent part of the meeting reviewing large capital projects and local development plans.
A county official described the middle-school project as a roughly $68 million facility and said the county’s likely share would be about $29–30 million, though he added that precise numbers will not be available until July. “We won’t have hard numbers until July,” the county official said, noting that design and "soft costs" can change totals and that shifts in state funding could further alter the county obligation.
Participants also discussed local development proposals. Town officials said the proposed Wawa convenience site had mixed public response, and speakers asked the county to help ensure State Highway Administration (SHA) attention for traffic studies and safety improvements on Route 213 near complex intersections. Town representatives asked that the county coordinate on traffic-beacon and crosswalk planning tied to MDOT bikeways grant opportunities.
Historic-marker placements drew a separate discussion: officials outlined plans for James Taylor and Isaac Mason markers and recommended consulting the circuit court judge before any marker near the courthouse to avoid unintended associations; one participant referenced past controversy over courthouse-lawn memorials.
Why it matters: The middle-school project would impose a large fiscal obligation on the county and shape capital planning for several years; concurrent development and traffic changes affect pedestrian safety and town character.
What’s next: Officials said they will update budgets as firm school-cost numbers arrive in July, pursue MDOT grant coordination for crosswalks, and consult the circuit court judge on marker placement.
