News Release, Charles County Public Information Office
La Plata- MD– On Tuesday, May 5, the Board of Commissioners received an update from the Maryland Department of Health on how county nursing homes are being impacted by COVID-19. Dr. Howard Haft, executive director at Maryland Primary Care Program of the Maryland Department of Health, shared information on the Governor’s Executive Order, an update that all Charles County nursing facilities are using technology to connect senior citizens to connect with loved ones, and confirmed that all county nursing home residents were tested for COVID-19 last weekend, and staff will be tested soon.
Department of Emergency Services Director Michelle Lilly provided an overview of the Emergency Operation Center’s (EOC) work. She also reported that additional statistics have been added to the daily Situation Report sent to elected and executive leaders. A kickoff meeting was held last Thursday by the New Normal Taskforce, which has been charged with developing a plan for re-opening County Government. There have also been more than 1,800 cloth face masks and large number of Tupperware soup bowls donated from community members to support local first responders.
Budget Work Session
The Board of County Commissioners held a budget work session to review the fiscal 2021 General Fund Recap and Special Revenue Funds. Fiscal and Administrative Services staff also provided follow-up on the Enterprise Funds and fiscal 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Projects, which included Board consensus on swapping the Billingsley Road Safety Improvement Project for the Billingsley Road Realignment Project and included a discussion on the Bryans Road Senior and Recreation Center and a homeless shelter.
- Deputy County Administrator Deborah Hall and Chief of Information Technology Evelyn Jacobson provided a presentation on the Rural Broadband Task Force, including the awarded grant announcement from the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program which will serve Cobb Neck and Nanjemoy.
- Charles County Charitable Trust provided an update on the Charles County COVID-19 Grant Relief Program for Non-Profits which distributed grants to 21 nonprofit recipients. The Economic Development Department provided an update on the Charles County COVID-19 Loan Relief Program for Small Business. The department has received 115 requests for applications and 14 applications have been submitted, although some applications are incomplete. The Business Loan Committee will meet and make decisions on eight completed applications on Thursday, May 7. Economic Development staff is reaching out to all businesses that have requested applications to offer assistance in completing and submitting their requests.
Commissioners approved the following items:
- A budget transfer request of $59,000 and a budget transfer request of $95,000 to fund overtime costs for the Emergency Medical Services Division that are estimated to exceed the budget.
- A contingency transfer request of $225,000 for the Mattawoman Wastewater Treatment Plant Final Filter upgrade project to complete the rehab of all filters and place them back in service.
Public Hearing
Commissioners held a virtual public hearing on the fiscal 2021 Operating Budget and fiscal 2021-2025 Capital Budgets. Comments are accepted May 5, starting at 8 a.m. through May 7, ending at 5 p.m. by using:
- E-Comment: www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/government/public-comments-for-fy2021-operating-and-capital-budget-public-hearing.
- Phone: Call 301-645-0652 to leave a message.
Written comments must be received no later than May 11, 2020 via:
- Mail: Send to Commissioners of Charles County, 200 Baltimore Street, Maryland, 20646.
Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.