Commissioners discuss $1.2M estimated replacement of Solomons Boat 3 and $800K grant request

County public safety staff and Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad leaders asked the Board of County Commissioners on July 9 to support a Port Security Grant application to replace Boat 3 and to clarify funding and lifecycle costs for the vessel and specialized detection equipment.

Dave McDowell, director of Public Safety (speaker 26), introduced the request and said the replacement boat’s total estimated cost is approximately $1,200,000. "There's a grants writer who has applied for an $800,000 port security grant," McDowell said, explaining that the $800,000 request includes a $200,000 local match. Barbara Warner, the county’s grants writer (speaker 12), told commissioners the federal share would be about $600,000 if the full $800,000 allocation is awarded. Warner said the county has already set aside $1,000,000 in FY24 funds and secured a $100,000 legislative bond initiative but still faces a shortfall of about $109,000 to reach the full quoted purchase price.

Warner and Solomons Deputy Chief Hargrave (speaker 13) stressed that the price estimate — roughly $1,209,000 with minimal equipment — excludes ancillary costs such as a trailer, boat lift, new pilings and storage, and does not yet include final bids. Warner noted the boat would also ideally include specialized chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) "Seaburn" detection and protection equipment; she said the grant request intentionally sought a lower amount ($800,000 of a possible $1,000,000 maximum) to increase the chance of awarding some federal funds.

Commissioners asked operational and fiscal questions: where Boat 3 will be housed (the Solomons pilot house), whether pilings and a lift would be required, who will cover cost overruns, and what the annual maintenance and calibration costs of the detection systems might be. Warner provided a preliminary estimate of recurring cost for detection systems of roughly $19,000 in year one and about $10,000 in subsequent years, but said she would confirm those numbers. Solomons leadership said the volunteer organization has agreed to provide up to about $109,000 if the grant does not cover the full cost.

Commissioner concerns focused on the increasing scope and cost of the vessel and lifecycle costs. "My concern is this boat keeps growing, and we're knocking on the $2,000,000 door for a boat," one commissioner said; Solomons leaders responded they do not expect costs to reach that level and that the grant is intended to reduce taxpayer impact. Commissioners requested follow-up information on annual maintenance and operating costs, vendor build time (estimated about one year), and whether regional companies or utilities had been approached for support; staff agreed to gather those details and return to the board.

No final county spending vote on additional funds was recorded at the meeting; commissioners gave direction to staff to report the annual operations and maintenance estimates and other follow-up information to inform future action.