[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6749822,"mediaKeyId","2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e","parentId",2330827,"title","Commissioners approve consent agenda, OK Cherrywood Solar road‑use agreement with conditions","audioSeconds",373,"startMs",5944000,"endMs",6317000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e&start=5944&end=6317","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e/thumbnail_5944000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6749822/Caroline-County/Maryland/Commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-OK-Cherrywood-Solar-roaduse-agreement-with-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749822-041a8ccbcffc34611e82287b3835e406/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050720&Signature=QOdYT1w2k6ZO4-HBUIZQz4g0RiysG4Cb7JeiGXn7LO6HA5Awxeba8344vOHv9QAQ-3Rs8EbYTIrR7BIcDdAdI7fxy~SgT-aH8BNHEVZBpBmjpu8XZ91eIeBgzOmWmOPdP2MXHDGh9FHzdvmZ9K~muzmzhneJb035e65er7eXEsHuvh6G50hWMlWLYpQJ2AZjKB~sFboFpS5l9pP~je446Wn8mCfk4d~GFkcbfrwnx06y7JWrEEopOGLpqRK080qoDSZwf~D8ymDvxksHZBDJxuOKLu5Cu-Fq8hv7TJt~p4XqR2ad~k56UNXGe-pOU0fhQjGO7g0ipcnqCocGRjXpKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Caroline","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Caroline County commissioners approved the consent agenda on Feb. 18, 2025, including a road‑use and maintenance agreement with Cherrywood Solar LLC, subject to three contractual amendments requested by commissioners.

The board directed that the Cherrywood Solar road‑use agreement be amended to: (1) prefer installation of underground cables in conduit by directional drill where feasible in county right‑of‑way; (2) require the operator to enroll as a member of Miss Utility of Delmarva (so the operator receives and can respond to locate requests); and (3) require the operator to maintain permanent markers indicating the presence of underground cables and any required tapes in trenches. The board approved the consent agenda with those amendments by voice vote.

The motion to approve the consent agenda as amended carried unanimously; commissioners announced the vote during the meeting without a roll‑call record of individual positions in the transcript.

Why it matters: the requested changes are intended to reduce future utility‑locate conflicts and to make the presence of buried infrastructure easier to find for county crews and future utilities projects. The county attorney and public‑works staff will finalize the language and implement the amended agreement before final execution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Caroline - Caroline County Commissioners Meeting - Feb 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Caroline County commissioners approved the consent agenda on Feb. 18, 2025, including a Cherrywood Solar LLC road‑use and maintenance agreement conditioned on specific contract amendments.","taxTitle","Caroline County, Maryland","taxId",61674,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6749826,"Caroline County outlines $79.7 million in FY26 requests; staff warn of multi‑million dollar shortfalls tied to state cuts",3616,681000,4297000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e&start=681&end=4297","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e/thumbnail_681000.jpg","/articles/6749826/Caroline-County/Maryland/Caroline-County-outlines-797-million-in-FY26-requests-staff-warn-of-multimillion-dollar-shortfalls-tied-to-state-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749826-5b199184b4dda22c14b6a8b49179634c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050720&Signature=TGvMO1hm1uxpDsolsNkZTramco8ttAVq5zOWQLn8Eb6d4E2j3-h8FYD6WuUplyWTenNwkzPyNkjbw9BsRNqGKrPUGwRHUMa692hSr4g6PPH6Oca7xnTyNm2WyhhoPfTTh-S43l09naC5o4OEEEwwN9Pf-3-~~tA4T-EHmwyNNxCVZA4XK2sjQIE1yWVItV4AClNMYnxbNAtbFH0d6AjwsMYvfxdlSN6OftcvQA6p81DMXbf8Sf6AO8mWexVwpZyfbxupdYkrZQOZCWX1oO4VIw~zrrNJY6C4kgMi-XIxnGVVbxhU2TBAba3AGeb-LCYzc1zLc-5TW~5rG5DSGxaNtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County Deputy Administrator Daniel Fox and budget staff presented commissioners with department and agency FY2026 capital and operating requests totaling about $79.7 million during a workshop on Feb. 18, 2025. The capital packet totals roughly $11 million, and staff said the county faces a roughly $3.7 million gap on capital needs alone.

The presentation covered each department’s capital asks — servers for IT; a proposed rear parking expansion and ballistic windows for the Circuit Court; a transport van and control/intercom updates for corrections; ambulance and cardiac-monitor requests tied to the county’s BLS fund; bridge-design set‑asides to meet future 20% matching requirements; and school and college capital items, including local Board of Education HVAC planning and a multi‑year funding request from Chesapeake College for the Queen Anne’s Technical Building. \"We\u0000are about $3,700,000 short in what's been requested in capital,\" Daniel Fox said during the presentation.

On the operating side, staff reported projected revenue of about $78.8 million and department requests of roughly $79.68 million, leaving a narrow operating gap even before accounting for uncertain state actions. Fox and Grant Coordinator Stacy Seward told the board the county’s most significant fiscal risks are state‑level changes: the governor’s budget proposal could reduce county income‑tax revenue by an estimated $1.4 million and would cut the teacher retirement supplement in half for FY26 with a planned phase‑out in FY27. Those shifts combined with other proposed state cost transfers would raise mandatory local spending for education and retirement supplements.

Administration proposed implementing a merit pay scale for county employees with a 2.5% cost‑of‑living adjustment and one step on the new scale; staff estimate that translates to typical pay increases of about 3.5%–4.5% depending on current placement. Other operating requests called out in the packet included sheriff and animal‑control vehicle replacements, a corrections request for a new investigations sergeant and higher food/medical contract costs, a request from volunteer fire companies for LOSAP eligibility changes and additional training funds, and nonprofit funding increases for certain social‑service providers.

Staff estimated local revenue gains from utility personal property (notably solar projects) but cautioned these are volatile and tied to development timing. Fox also recommended considering budgeting multi‑year projects — such as Chesapeake College’s request — up front rather than spreading funding over several annual budgets.

Commissioners repeatedly raised the difficulty of finalizing a budget while the state budget and several bills remain unsettled. Staff scheduled a department roundtable next week (HAPS Building) to allow commissioners to question agency representatives directly and said they would update the budget as state decisions become clearer.

What happens next: staff will host a roundtable with departments and agencies, revise estimates as state legislation moves, and bring a proposed operating and capital plan back to the board for hearings and adoption on the statutorily required schedule.","Caroline County Deputy Administrator Daniel Fox and budget staff presented commissioners with department and agency FY2026 capital and operating requests totaling about $79.7 million during a workshop on Feb. 18, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6749811,"Commissioners voice concern over Annapolis bills on solar preemption and education funding; plan testimony and coordination",1227,5136000,6363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e&start=5136&end=6363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e/thumbnail_5136000.jpg","/articles/6749811/Caroline-County/Maryland/Commissioners-voice-concern-over-Annapolis-bills-on-solar-preemption-and-education-funding-plan-testimony-and-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749811-810c3267de854f200084dad90a674f0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050720&Signature=NNrT3O6oqWoxwx5ljHruBxHUod923X3zTxKej4DkBcH-NYuR-KG1HnVPW~cLGGJ6XaN4gKyqtWUj7vJwrzmcZyWUvijueEPM6xc0l4nPgXcYPthSg1FKUaospgGjIOtY77JcN2Qn72z1l~BAVlHo8EL2ZiPQuSCG-W-IboLU6Gyt3bYYvySkmAylNzLSp5Ena---havaVQnn7RIE0OitfdWshiWch1qYpsObEoY2VC46EjSeSCKbU6636mezrDZP4hOxwydWUN~8F2JpyMkQLWBA8wyIYRziHHb0K05gtwEmHntKWq~VienVei0hiZegPPblpTtoBCwUIWxGAHpLMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent a segment of the Feb. 18 meeting reviewing key bills before the Maryland General Assembly and how those measures could affect county authority and finances.

The board discussed proposed energy legislation that would preempt local authority on solar siting, decommissioning and taxation; commissioners described the package as a \"triple‑header\" and said they planned to coordinate testimony and county positions through regional partners. They also reviewed a housing bill described by staff and some regional partners as potentially affecting local land‑use authority; commissioners asked staff to continue vetting the proposal and to coordinate with neighboring counties before taking any positions.

Several commissioners expressed frustration about state budget negotiations and possible education funding changes that would shift costs to counties, noting that proposed changes to Blueprint/Kirwan funding and the teacher retirement supplement could consume much or all local revenue growth. Staff said they will continue to update the board as bills move through committees and asked commissioners to identify representatives who will testify or attend key hearings.

Procedural note: staff identified a March 3, 2025 virtual Public Service Commission public comment hearing for Chaberton Solar; commissioners and staff said they would circulate the Zoom link and consider participation or comment.","During the Feb. 18 meeting commissioners discussed energy and housing bills at the Maryland General Assembly that they say could limit local permitting authority and shift costs to counties. They signaled plans to coordinate regional testimony on solar‑siting and to monitor state budget moves that could impose",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6749817,"Commissioners halt action on regional detention center pending financial data from Queen Anne County",592,6384000,6976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e&start=6384&end=6976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2330827-87a70c5df6856539076f1aea96c4789e/thumbnail_6384000.jpg","/articles/6749817/Caroline-County/Maryland/Commissioners-halt-action-on-regional-detention-center-pending-financial-data-from-Queen-Anne-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6749817-513f0c27835ae33aa06c6557cff2bb90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050720&Signature=Z0NL6u~7MI~KKhrYfTuOJrVcipbdhXhFtbsArZBDeT8fhsl5-iy6wwdSMEu0Enav~gGdgBqYsFERXdkkErOdkIYxYag6lOWeXgc0st5xAVzRalA~AFFoCQgwNKH~atpcp38xwnrGYiU4zGgt32FOzFvZo72IEUpktJxFbw7UE9B-neCXIxAN6F1s0h3R7V26gAr~l2jA2vQKVFwxD0yZ0qimKAxSf1gQvcrSoVVFX8Mfa1ss0bPilYcZG6Bwxi4ETnYsXJoDFjFuJ0uUQtBaqUgW9UU3zw3QILo2jIgKTC8ah-ofz8NsVI4VQaMSZzX7zDikXZCa40zmeiHmGCFR5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Caroline County commissioners said they will not move forward with a proposed regional correctional center agreement until Queen Anne County supplies detailed operating and financial information the board requested.

Commissioner Porter told the board he had asked for the data on Jan. 27 and had not received a substantive response; he said the absence of information prevents him from telling county taxpayers the county will realize savings or operational benefits by joining the regional center. \"At this point, I can't say that. I had no information to say that, and I take exception to that,\" Porter said. He added, \"Till we do, this is a dead project to me.\" Several other commissioners agreed that the board needs the figures before scheduling public hearings or committing the county to an intercounty agreement.

Staff noted they have received an appraisal and have held follow‑up conversations with potential developers and state agencies about grants and site work, but the board emphasized that Queen Anne County must provide the operating‑cost model and assumptions currently being relied on by that county’s staff. Commissioner Porter asked staff to transmit the board’s concerns in writing to Queen Anne County and to set a short deadline for a response so Caroline County can determine whether to continue considering participation.

Why it matters: joining a regional correctional facility would shift capital and operating responsibilities off the county but could also require up‑front capital contributions or contractual commitments. Commissioners said they require transparent, verifiable cost and savings estimates before moving forward.","Commissioner Porter said Caroline County will not proceed with joining a proposed regional correctional center until Queen Anne County provides the requested operating and budget detail. He described the current lack of information as a dealbreaker and recommended the county prepare separate renovation cost estimates for its own facility in the","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve consent agenda, OK Cherrywood Solar road‑use agreement with conditions

Caroline County outlines $79.7 million in FY26 requests; staff warn of multi‑million dollar shortfalls tied to state cuts

Commissioners voice concern over Annapolis bills on solar preemption and education funding; plan testimony and coordination

Commissioners halt action on regional detention center pending financial data from Queen Anne County