Dominic Butchko, Author at Conduit Street

Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: HURs as the Lifeline of Local Roads

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about the history and role of HURs. From enhancing quality of life to driving economic growth, transportation is key to Maryland’s future. With a projected cut to the local share of Highway User Revenue (HUR) funds, state and county leaders face serious questions heading into the upcoming legislative session. This panel kicked off the conversation about the local importance of HUR and the detrimental impact of cutting the…

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December 16, 2025

#MACoCon Recap: Environmental Finance Center’s Rural Offerings

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about how UMD's Enviro. The Finance Center can help rural counties secure additional resources. MACo’s Rural County Coalition provides a forum for Maryland’s rural counties to share their unique perspective on critical state and federal policy issues. At this meeting, the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center walked through services and opportunities to help rural leaders access grant funding and other resources to better serve their communities. Additionally, rural…

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December 16, 2025

Economic Development / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: A Modern Toolkit for County Economic Development

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about different county tools to spur economic development. As economic development challenges grow more complex, counties rely on incentives to attract new investment and sustain local businesses. From tax credits and infrastructure grants to strategic partnerships with state and federal programs, understanding which incentives truly move the needle has never been more important. This session, “Incentives That Work: A Modern Toolkit for County Economic Development”, brought together experts…

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December 15, 2025

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: The Role of Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees learned about the history and role of APFOs and identified areas for improvement. Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances (APFOs) help counties manage growth by linking new development to the capacity of schools, roads, water, sewer, and other services so infrastructure and taxpayers aren’t overwhelmed. They’ve also become controversial, with critics arguing that strict standards or long delays can be used to block housing, drive up costs, or push growth to…

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December 15, 2025

Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Understanding MDOT’s “Project Scorecard”

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about MDOT's proposed changes to its project-scoring criteria for state-funded projects. A common concern, both inside and outside Annapolis, is that the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) project scoring process lacks clarity. For years, counties have submitted applications with little insight into why some projects are funded while others are not, fueling frustration and offering few lessons for improving future submissions. Over the interim, MDOT has met with…

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December 15, 2025

Energy / Environment / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: What Battery Storage Means for Maryland Counties

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees heard about the challenges and opportunities related to battery energy storage systems. County governments sit at the intersection of battery energy storage systems (BESS) and local community priorities, with responsibilities that span land-use review, permitting, and coordination with public safety agencies. Storage projects can affect grid reliability and electricity system costs, and they raise important questions around safety standards, emergency response planning, and ongoing operations and maintenance. As the…

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December 15, 2025

Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Housing at the Crossroads

At the MACo Winter Conference, attendees participated in a robust conversation on Maryland's housing outlook. County governments play a vital role in shaping the look, smell, and feel of our communities. As the level of government closest to residents, counties have been at the table — working proactively with state leaders and stakeholders to advance practical, locally informed solutions that increase housing production. However, amid a national affordable housing crisis, state-level proposals increasingly favor top-down…

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December 15, 2025

Environment

States Approve New Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement

The Chesapeake Bay Program’s Executive Council recently approved the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Earlier this week, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Executive Council approved the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which includes goals that will improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, increase access to nature, and support livelihoods that depend on this nationally treasured resource. The revised agreement supports the environmental and economic future of the Chesapeake Bay, which in Maryland alone generates $3.2…

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December 4, 2025

Environment / Transportation and Public Works

Military Tests PFAS Removal Technologies

The U.S. military is testing new PFAS cleanup technologies that could soon be available to local governments. The U.S. Department of Defense is funding large-scale demonstration projects to test new technologies that can treat and destroy PFAS contamination at military sites, with methods ranging from high-temperature thermal treatment and plasma torches to advanced chemical and filtration systems. These side-by-side pilots are designed to show which options actually work at scale in real-world conditions and are…

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December 3, 2025

County News

EPA Moves to Roll Back Particulate Limits, Clean Air Protections

The EPA’s move to roll back soot-reduction standards could significantly impact Maryland’s air quality, public health, and future environmental regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has asked the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a tougher National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or “soot,” previously put forward by the agency in 2024. That standard would have lowered allowable annual soot levels from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter by…

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December 2, 2025