By Connie Connolly
DENTON – The Caroline County Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Denton to discuss and pass legislation, hear potential plans for a property on Meeting House Road, and discuss updating the county’s emergency response radios, among other agenda items.
Following are highlights of the meeting:
- Department of Emergency Services personnel proposed updating public safety radios at a 3-year, phased-in cost of $3.7 million. The county has already set aside $906,000 for the first phase. The current system is 10 years old and needs upgrading.
Phase 1 would include the replacement of 911 center consoles and radios for the Department of Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Office. Phase 2 would focus on volunteer fire companies in the county, and Phase 3, Public Works and Corrections.
- Cheryl Beulah, Robert Iacono, Rick Carver and Beth Brewster presented ideas for redeveloping a 13.7-acre property where Meeting House Road meets State Route 404 west of Denton. The property is owned by C.O. Russell Metals of Mississauga, Ontario. “We're just looking to build a true, true hub in Caroline,” Beulah said.
Proposed is a community resource center, which would include space for Aaron’s Place, His Hope Ministries homeless shelter and a food processing and distribution project. The proposed cost is $10 million. The EPA is currently conducting an environmental study.
- The Commissioners heard an update from DES Office Manager Kelli Schanken, who manages the Caroline County Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP). So far, 109 people could be eligible for tax credits based on property ownership in Caroline County, should the Commissioners decide to institute the credits. Volunteer fire companies are encouraged to submit monthly reports to lessen the record-keeping burden on county staff.
- Legislative Bill 2025-011, introduced in September, was further refined. The proposed legislation will create a fund for compensatory preservation fees solar energy companies would be assessed if they proposed to develop projects on the valuable farmland in Caroline County. The fund would purchase agricultural land preservation easements. The bill will be read for the fourth time with potential enactment at the Commission’s next meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21.
- Legislative Bill 2025-010, modifying the composition of the Caroline County Agricultural Reconciliation Committee, was enacted. “Basically, all we're doing is removing the criteria for membership, and we can appoint anybody to be on the reconciliation board,” said Commission President Travis Breeding.
- Legislative Bill 2025-012, Compliance with the 2025 Maryland Renewable Energy Act, and Bill 2025-013, Amend Wastewater Facility, were introduced. County Attorney Stewart Barroll said the latter was “a grandfathering ordinance that was passed which allowed a facility that otherwise would not be allowed to exist in the R district to be permitted, if it met certain criteria.”
To watch the entire livestreamed meeting, visit https://carolinecountymd.new.swagit.com/videos/357934.
