Read more about the article Not Just a Rural Issue: Urban Counties Struggle with Fire/EMS Recruitment & Retention
County News / Emergency Management / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor
Not Just a Rural Issue: Urban Counties Struggle with Fire/EMS Recruitment & Retention

Urban and rural counties across Maryland are reporting difficulties in recruiting and retaining career and volunteer firefighters.  Earlier this week, the Baltimore Sun reported that the Baltimore City Fire Department was struggling with firefighter and EMS shortages, pushing many in the department into overtime shifts. The article details how city officials are being forced to contend with record vacancy rates and a need to balance coverage in the state's largest city. Unfortunately, this story is…

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June 1, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 NACo Achievement Awards: Spotlight on Maryland County Winners in Risk and Emergency Management
County News / Emergency Management / Health and Human Services / NACo Achievement Awards / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections / Risk Management
2023 NACo Achievement Awards: Spotlight on Maryland County Winners in Risk and Emergency Management

Introducing Our Celebratory Blog Series: Showcasing the Remarkable Achievements of Maryland's Award-Winning Counties! Join us on an exciting journey as we embark on a special blog series dedicated to honoring the exceptional accomplishments of the counties that triumphed in the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2023 Achievement Awards. Each week, we will shine a well-deserved spotlight on a few remarkable counties, delving into their accomplishments, innovative initiatives, and the profound impact they have had on…

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June 1, 2023
Read more about the article WashCo Transitions Volunteer EMS into County Staff
Emergency Management / Intergovernmental Relations
WashCo Transitions Volunteer EMS into County Staff

Washington County recently approved a plan to transition Volunteer Emergency Medical Services companies' career staffing into County Employment. Last month the Washington County Board of County Commissioners approved a transition plan to shift the Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) companies' career staffing into County employment. The Division of Emergency Services is authorized to transition the Volunteer EMS companies' career staffing into County employment in the late Spring of 2023. The voluntary transition will begin by…

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May 10, 2023
Read more about the article Calvert Dept. of Public Safety Delivers Briefing on Lithium Ion Batteries
Emergency Management / Energy / Intergovernmental Relations / Public Safety and Corrections
Calvert Dept. of Public Safety Delivers Briefing on Lithium Ion Batteries

Earlier this week, the Calvert County Department of Public Safety briefed its Commissioners on the challenges with lithium-ion battery fires.  Long-time readers of Conduit Street will know that lithium-ion battery fires are a considerable concern for county public safety professionals. As the transition toward electrification intensifies, Maryland will become increasingly reliant on a whole host of energy storage technologies. While this is a necessary step to help blunt the worst effects of climate change, it…

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May 4, 2023
Read more about the article Washington County to Transition from Volunteer to Career EMS Program 
County News / Emergency Management
Washington County to Transition from Volunteer to Career EMS Program 

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners approved a transition plan to shift the Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) companies career staffing into County employment. The Division of Emergency Services is authorized to begin transitioning the Volunteer EMS companies career staffing into County employment in the late Spring of 2023. The voluntary transition will begin by transferring staff from Williamsport Fire and EMS and Smithsburg EMS into County employment. Furthermore, the County will begin to evaluate…

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April 25, 2023
Read more about the article Maryland Flood Awareness Month
Emergency Management
Maryland Flood Awareness Month

April is Maryland Flood Awareness Month! Counties are encouraged to communicate with residents about flood risk, insurance, and providing tools for communicating. Flooding is the number one natural hazard in Maryland and are four times more likely to occur than a fire. There are over 61,000 flood insurance policies in Maryland covering over $15 billion; over $325 million in flood claims have been paid.  Just one inch of water in a home can cause up…

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April 20, 2023
Read more about the article Check Out the Baltimore Sun’s Session Wrap Up Infographics!
Emergency Management / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations
Check Out the Baltimore Sun’s Session Wrap Up Infographics!

The Baltimore Sun recently ran an article outlining the progress of this past legislative session using some pretty nifty infographics.  Annapolis insiders are no strangers to large mountains of data. The entirety of Maryland's annual legislative sessions revolves around sifting through bills, examining reports and committee findings, getting input from stakeholders, and so on. This data crunch doesn't end at Sine Die either. As longtime readers know, MACo publishes a wrap-up of every year of…

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April 18, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups
Bill Hearing / Business Affairs / Cannabis / County News / Education / Elections / Emergency Management / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Feature / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony / Parks and Recreation / Pensions & Public Funds / Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works
2023 Session: Recap and Wrap-Ups

Catch up on all of the latest outcomes of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session with wrap-ups on important county-related bills in each policy area. In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, comptroller, attorney general, and legislators alike, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. With the 2023 session in the books, it's time to take stock. As…

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April 14, 2023
Read more about the article 2023 Session Wrap-Up: Intergovernmental Relations
Bill Hearing / Emergency Management / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Testimony
2023 Session Wrap-Up: Intergovernmental Relations

The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s work in the area of intergovernmental relations in the 2023 General Assembly.  In addition to the swearing-in of a new governor, the 445th legislative session kicked off with more relaxed health and safety measures compared to the turbulence of the last few years. This enabled MACo's policy team to dynamically engage with private-sector stakeholders, legislators, and representatives from all divisions of government. Under these more conventional…

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April 13, 2023
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