January 5 Board of Public Works Meeting: Here’s What Counties Need to Know

The Board of Public Works (BPW) — a three-member panel including Governor Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot, and State Treasurer Dereck Davis — reviews projects, contracts, and expenditure plans for state agencies, many of which affect county governments.

The BPW considered and approved the following requests and recommendations at its meeting on January 5, 2022:

Note: This is a list of county-specific items, not a comprehensive list of BPW actions.

Allegany County

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $72,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 30 +/- acres (Smith property) in Allegany County. This mostly-forested property contains a headwater tributary to Fifteen Mile Creek and will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service as an addition to Green Ridge State Forest. Acquisition of this property completes a vast north-south forest corridor along Polish Mountain for species migration and enhances long-term water quality that protects downstream populations of native fish, plant, and animal species. The acquisition will also allow for future expansion of trail networks into Pennsylvania (Item 8A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $188,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Allegany County to renovate the baseball field at Allegany College (Item 1A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $750,000 grant to the Greenway Avenue Stadium Capital Improvement, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of infrastructure improvements at Greenway Avenue Stadium. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 5 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Anne Arundel County

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $25,000 grant to the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Tick Neck Park. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 15 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Chrysalis House, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Chrysalis House facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Baltimore City

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $45,000 grant to the Heritage Crossing Resident Association, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Heritage Crossing Community Facilities, including landscaping. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 12 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $300,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to provide additional funding to reconfigure fields to accommodate three baseball fields and one artificial turf multipurpose field with sports lighting at Gwynn Falls Park. Pedestrian walkways, fencing, a scoreboard, and spectator seating will also be added (Item 7A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $250,000 to the Board of Directors of the Forest Park Senior Center, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Forest Park Senior Center, including roof repairs. 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 Department of Natural Resources to commit $250,000 from the Program Open Space Statewide – Baltimore City Direct Grant funding for additional funding to install a new tot playground and other amenities at DeWees Park (Item 7A.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the League for People with Disabilities, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of an expansion at the Cold Spring Lane facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 16 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $387,330 grant to Total Health Care, Inc. to assist with the renovation of a portion of its headquarters building at 1501 Division Street. The property will be used to create a new modern, state-of-the-art, efficient, ADA-compliant primary care clinic and pharmacy to serve area citizens. The total project cost is $779,307 (Item 18 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $300,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Baltimore City to dredge and rehabilitate the Boat Lake area of Patterson Park. In addition, the project will address aerator issues, replace the boardwalk decking, and repair the brick wall and picket fence (Item 7A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $1,750,000 to the Board of Directors of the Baltimore Children’s Museum for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Port Discovery Children’s Museum and Atrium Redevelopment, including fabrication and installation of exhibits. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 9 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Baltimore County

  • A request to encumber funds for a $4,214,000 grant to the Community College of Baltimore County – Essex Campus for a design/construction/equipment project at its Wellness and Athletic Center. The project entails the construction of an 8,500 GSF addition to the Wellness and Athletics Center for a new Fitness Center and renovation of 11,500 GSF on the existing mezzanine level to create two large dance studios with changing space, a small restroom, and two faculty offices. Additional renovation on the main level will reorganize the Athletics Program Support Spaces, corridors, and lobbies to integrate with the new Fitness Center (Item 17 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Caroline County

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $350,000 from the Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Caroline County to design and construct pedestrian crossings, overlooks, shelters, signage, landscaping, and playground equipment consistent with the National Playground Safety Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act at North County Regional Park (Item 2A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $400,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Compass Regional Hospice, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of a new Hospice Center in Denton. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 10 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Cecil County

  • A request from the Department of Housing and Community Development for approval to provide a $3,000,000 loan under the Neighborhood BusinessWorks program, which is a Smart Growth tool for revitalization through business creation or expansion in designated revitalization areas. This particular loan will be made to Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., a biopharmaceutical drug discovery firm located in a federally designated Qualified Opportunity Zone in Cecil County, to support its expansion into the formerly vacant 74,210 square foot W.L. Gore building in Elkton. The funds will be used to purchase the required equipment for the production of pharmaceutical drugs to treat Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and Parkinson’s. The company will be investing approximately $100 million over the next four years to renovate and complete multiple production lines. Clene expects to hire nearly 500 people by the end of 2025. If Clene’s clinical development milestones are reached as scheduled, Clene may further expand its manufacturing operations on the 10-acre parcel next to the existing W.L. Gore facility (Item 7 of the Secretary’s Agenda)

Dorchester County

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Board of Directors of Alpha Genesis Community Development, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the new Harriet Tubman Mural Pavilion in Cambridge. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 14 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Frederick County

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $1,026,597 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Frederick County for the following projects:
    • Pinecliff Park:
      • $80,820 to construct a new basketball court (Item 3A.15 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • $764,777 to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing consistent with National Playground Safety Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act (Item 3A.16 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Monocacy Village Park: $181,000 to convert the existing tennis courts into six pickleball courts (Item 3A.17 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $1,148,217 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure funding allocated to Frederick County to purchase and install new playground equipment and safety surfacing at the following parks, which is consistent with National Playground Safety Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act:
    • Ballenger Creek Park: $955,855 (Item 3A.12 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Green Hill Park: $192,362 (Item 3A.13 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $1,216,585.09 from Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure and Program Open Space Local funding allocated to Frederick County for the following projects:
    • East End Park (Thurmont):
      • $262,000 to design and construct a new regulation-sized baseball/softball field. The project includes fencing, backstops, dugouts, a gravel driveway, a parking lot, stormwater management system, and an ADA compliant walkway (Item 3.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • $111,613.09 to install new athletic field lights for the baseball/softball field (Item 3.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • $17,500 to construct an ADA-compliant walking trail (Item 3.11 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Woodsboro Town Park:
      • $18,075 for a new ADA-compliant walking bridge (Item 3.3 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • $60,304 to construct a stage with a bandshell for community events (Item 3.4 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • New Market Community Park: $240,000 to design and construct a partially enclosed pavilion with ADA accessibility and restrooms (Item 3.5 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Windy Ridge Park (Mt. Airy): $50,000 to design new trail and stormwater management systems (Item 3.6 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Emmitsburg Parks:
      • Eugene Myers Community Park: $187,980 to construct a new ADA-accessible restroom/concession stand at the south end of the park (Item 3.7 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • Eugene Myers Community and Memorial Parks: $73,300 to purchase and install bleachers and concrete pads at the baseball/softball fields (Item 3.8 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • Eugene Myers Community, Memorial, and Rainbow Lake Parks: $7,500 to purchase and install message centers to provide information about the park and upcoming events (Item 3.9 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
      • Memorial Park: $58,000 to pave the existing gravel access road and parking lot with asphalt. This includes striping, bumper blocks, and parking spaces (Item 3.10 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Kemptown Park: $450,313 to install new playground equipment and safety surfacing consistent with National Playground Safety Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act in two locations (Item 3.14 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)

Garrett County

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit a total of $123,580.80 from Program Open Space funding allocated to Garrett County for the following projects:
    • Yough Glades Elementary School: $74,080.80 for new playground equipment and safety surfacing consistent with National Playground Safety Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act (Item 4A.1 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
    • Oakland Glades Park: $49,500 to resurface the existing tennis and basketball courts and add a pickleball court (Item 4A.2 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to grant $85,000 of Program Open Space statewide funds for the acquisition in fee simple of 55.39+ acres (Wilhelm property) in Garrett County. The property is adjacent to Savage River State Forest and contains approximately 1,200 feet of Pine Swamp Run. This native brook trout stream is part of the Savage River special catch and return fishing area, one of Maryland’s top brook trout fishing destinations. The acquisition will provide additional access from Pine Swamp Road, expand recreational angling opportunities, provide reforestation opportunities, and protect water quality and stream habitat. The property will be managed by the Maryland Forest Service (Item 9A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to provide a $221,478.65 grant to Garrett County from Rural Legacy Funds to acquire a 106-acre conservation easement in the Bear Creek Rural Legacy Area (Margroff Enterprises, Inc. property). Acquisition of this easement will protect productive agricultural and forest land and provide permanent protection to 3,600 linear feet of stream buffers to unnamed tributaries of the South Branch of Bear Creek. The County will hold the easement. Easement value: $1,875.02/acre (Item 10A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into grant agreements for grants totaling $9,900,000 to the Board of Trustees of Garrett Community College, Inc., d.b.a Garrett College for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of renovations and an expansion to the 800 Building on Garrett College’s main campus, which will become the Community Education and Performing Arts Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 4 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Harford County

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $250,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Cedar Lane Sports Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Coppermine Edgewood Athletic Facility, including site improvements and the installation of the eight artificial turf fields. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 13 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Montgomery County

  • A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $2,025,925 in Program Open Space funding allocated to Montgomery County to acquire 17.07 acres (Kimble property) to add to Olney Manor Recreation Park (Item 5A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $65,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Montgomery County Homeless Youth Drop-In Center. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 7 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $100,000 grant to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Long Branch Stream Valley pedestrian community connection bridge. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 6 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request from the Maryland Department of Health to approve a $123,225 grant to Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children, Inc. to assist with acquiring a property located at 9409 Oak Grove Lane, Montgomery Village. The property will provide housing for three individuals with developmental disabilities. The contract sale price of the property is $176,864 (Item 19 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

Washington County

  • A request to certify matching funds and enter into a grant agreement for a $50,000 grant to the Board of Directors of the National Road Heritage Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the National Road Museum. The Grantee has submitted documentation of sufficient funds to meet the matching fund requirement for this project (Item 8 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)
  • A request to approve the Maryland Stadium Authority issuing $59,500,000 in bonds (Series 2022A Bonds) to partially finance acquisition, construction, and renovation costs and related expenses in connection with the Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility (Item 13 of the Secretary’s Agenda)

Worcester County

  • A request to enter into a grant agreement for two $50,000 grants ($100,000 total) to the Board of Directors of Believe in Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation, Inc. for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Believe in Tomorrow House at the Beach facility. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant (Item 11 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda)

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