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Board approves hot-air balloon festival, authorizes wastewater tank replacement, advances animal-code changes
Summary
On March 24 the board approved a two-day hot-air balloon glow permit, authorized up to $60,000 from the utility fund to replace a damaged double-wall chemical tank at the wastewater plant, and advanced amendments to the county's animal ordinance to public hearing (including tethering and temperature provisions).
The Caroline County Board of Supervisors took a series of non-land-use actions March 24: it granted a festival permit to Balloon Shows USA for a hot-air balloon glow and laser show at Meadow Event Park (proposed May 8and 9, 2026, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., estimated attendance 2,500 per day), and it authorized a utility-fund expenditure of up to $60,000 to replace a cracked inner liner of a double-wall chemical tank at the county wastewater treatment plant.
Bradley Broom of Balloon Shows USA told the board the company runs 12to 15 balloon events a year and that pilots are experienced; pilots will conduct tethered rides (up to four tethered balloons offering short rides of around five to ten minutes under calm conditions) and static balloon shapes as part of the evening program. "All of our balloon pilots have at least 25 years' experience," Broom said; the technical review committee had deemed the event acceptable for approval.
Public Works staff explained the wastewater tank is a double-wall polyethylene unit whose inner liner developed a crack and allowed chemical seepage into the outer shell. Staff recommended replacing the unit with a fiberglass double-wall tank that has a longer expected service life despite a modestly higher price; the board approved funding from the utility fund (Fund 502) with a vendor lead time estimated at five to six months.
The board also advanced proposed code updates to Chapter 21 (animals) to public hearing. The amendments were presented as an alignment and cleanup to state code; sheriff's-office representatives noted specific operational changes such as a prohibition on leaving animals tethered outdoors when temperatures exceed 85— or fall below 32—, and clarified enforcement and kennel/fence definitions. The board voted to move the ordinance amendments to public hearing.
Other actions and business included a nomination to the Board of Zoning Appeals (Sonia Jackson Hudson) and calendaring of a March 31 budget work session.
Next steps: event organizers must meet permitting conditions; Public Works will procure the tank and schedule installation; the animal-code amendments will be the subject of a public hearing before the board.
