February 10 Board of Public Works Meeting: What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) considered and approved the following requests and recommendations in its February 10, 2021 meeting. This is not a comprehensive list of all considerations and approvals during the meeting.

  • Baltimore City
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $5,050,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Zoological Society, Inc. to assist in funding the design, construction and equipping of infrastructure improvements for the exhibits and operations of the Maryland Zoo.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 3 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
    • A request from the Maryland Stadium Authority for approval to award demolition/abatement, temporary electrical, fencing, and site packages for the Montebello Elementary/Middle School renovation and addition project (2040 East 32nd Street).  This project is a part of the Baltimore City Public School’s 21st Century Building Initiative (Item 12 of the Secretary’s Agenda)
    • A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $4,000,000 grant to the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame of Maryland University for the design, construction, and equipping of renovations to the Knott Science Building.  The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 6 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Calvert
    • A request to provide a $464,837.65 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County, Maryland from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 78-acre conservation easement in the Calvert Creeks Rural Legacy Area (American Chestnut Land Trust, Inc. property).  Acquisition of this conservation easement will protect productive forestlands, provide public trail access, preserve 3,379 linear feet of forested stream buffers to Governor’s Run and provide 775 feet of tidal buffer along the Chesapeake Bay.   This easement will be held by the Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County and the Calvert Nature Society.  Easement value: $5,421.43/acre (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • Cecil
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $144,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 13.42 +/- acres (Sten Trust property) in Cecil County. This fully forested property contains a small reach of an unnamed tributary to the North East River and includes direct frontage along Turkey Neck Road.  Acquisition will provide long-term water quality protection of the North East River Watershed and contribute to the conservation of a large block of contiguous forest that includes habitat important for Forest Interior Dwelling Species.  It will also improve boundary line management, allow for additional access, and expand public recreational opportunities including hiking and wildlife observation.  The property will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as an addition to Elk Neck State Forest (Item 2A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • Charles
    • A request to provide a $452,038.97 grant to Charles County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 167.59-acre conservation easement in the Zekiah Rural Legacy Area (Swann property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect ecologically significant forest lands and provide permanent protection to 4,000 linear feet of stream buffer on Zekiah Swamp Run, a tributary of the Potomac River.  The Zekiah Swamp is considered by the Smithsonian Institution to be one of the most important ecological areas on the East Coast.  This easement will be held by the County Commissioners of Charles County, with the County paying program compliance costs.  Easement value: $2600/acre (Item 9A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • Frederick
    • A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to Board of Directors of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Museum of the Ironworker.  The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Harford
    • A request from the Maryland Environmental Trust to ratify the donation of a perpetual conservation easement on 48.32 acres in Harford County (Izaak Walton League of America, Harford County Chapter, property on 2800 Willoughby Beach Road, Edgewood) (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Mayor and City Council of the City of Aberdeen for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Aberdeen Family Swim Center.  There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 1 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Montgomery
    • A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $1,618,000 grant to the County Executive and County Council of Montgomery County to construct and equip renovations to the County’s Pre-Release Center’s Dietary Center.  The Grantee has submitted documentation that it allocated sufficient funds in its FY 2019 budget ($1,618,000) to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Prince George’s
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $74,500 in funding from the Community Parks and Playground Program to install a new rubberized walking/running trail encircling the perimeter of Edmonston Park.  Outdoor fitness stations will also be installed along the track to provide users with additional exercise options (Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • Queen Anne’s
    • A request to provide a $420,791.84 grant to Queen Anne’s County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 97.37-acre conservation easement in the Foreman Branch Rural Legacy Area (Everett & Fisher property).  Acquisition of this easement will protect productive agricultural and forested lands.  The property includes approximately 1,320 linear feet of existing riparian buffers along Brown’s Branch, a tributary to Southeast Creek and then the Chester River.  The easement will be held by the Department of Natural Resources and the Board of County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County, with the County paying administrative and program compliance costs.  Easement value: $4,188/acre (Item 6A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $150,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Haven Ministries, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of Haven Ministries’ Housing Assistance Program Facilities.  The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Washington
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $40,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 3.5 acres (Tedrick property) in Washington County. This mostly forested property includes road frontage along the Old National Pike (U.S. Route 40) and will be managed by the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service as an addition to the Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area. Acquisition will expand access and public recreational opportunities and prevent residential development near the hunting area (Item 3A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Requests to provide grants to Washington County from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of the following two conservations easements in the Mid-Maryland Washington Rural Legacy, both of which will be held by the Commissioners of Washington County:
      • $114,043.51 for the acquisition of a 43.89-acre conservation easement (Kraft property).  Acquisition of this conservation easement will protect productive agricultural and forest lands and 1,100 linear feet of forested and grassed stream buffers along Dog Creek, a tributary to Antietam Creek.  Easement value: $2,390/acre (Item 7A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • $582,535.07 for the acquisition of a 184.12-acre conservation easement (Olden property).  Acquisition of this conservation easement will protect productive agricultural and forest lands and 1,600 linear feet of forested and grassed stream buffers along unnamed tributaries to Antietam Creek.  Easement value: $3,671.55/acre (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • Talbot
    • A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $157,087 to Martingham Utilities Cooperative for its Distribution Pump Replacement project. This project entails the replacement of water distribution pumps and associated appurtenances at the Martingham Utilities Cooperative Water Treatment Plant. The existing pumps currently operate 24 hours a day to maintain pressure in the distribution system, leading to high energy demand. The new pump skid will utilize energy efficient pumps with variable frequency drives and a pressure tank to enable the pumps to shut off intermittently while meeting the community’s current and permitted water demands.  This project is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act’s statewide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 (Item 4 of the Secretary’s Agenda)
  • Washington
    • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $500,000 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new Washington County Public Service Academy, including an Incident Command Room. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • Wicomico
    • A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new grant funding up to $653,630 to the Town of Pittsville for its Water Treatment Plant Renewable Energy (Solar) project.  This project entails constructing a solar panel system, necessary site work associated with installing the panels, and associated appurtenances to generate renewable energy at the Pittsville Water Treatment Plant.  The system will be interconnected with the electrical grid and net-metered against the water treatment plant electricity consumption in order to save electrical costs for the facility.  This project is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act’s statewide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 (Item 5 of the Secretary’s Agenda)
  • Worcester
    • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to provide a $482,337 loan from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund to Worcester County to retrofit the existing Bainbridge Pond and associated outfall channels within the Ocean Pines development.  Additionally, new interconnections for runoff to access a larger pond network will be added to improve flood protection resiliency.  The Trust Fund helps Maryland accelerate Bay restoration by focusing limited financial resources on efficient and cost-effective non-point source pollution control projects.  Projects are awarded primarily on the cost-effectiveness defined as cost per pound of reduction per state dollar, geographic targeting, and readiness and ability to proceed.  The inter-agency and third-party review panel also consider co-benefits such as habitat creation and environmental justice (Item 7 of the Secretary’s Agenda)

Listen to the meeting.

See previous Conduit Street coverage: January 27 Board of Public Works Meeting: What Counties Need to Know

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