Dorchester County Council approves ACIP, residential trash rules, events and procurement steps

At its March 19 meeting Dorchester County Council approved a series of routine but consequential operational items, including the airport capital plan, solid-waste permit conditions, event permits, procurement advertisements and a Comprehensive Water & Sewer Plan amendment.

The Council approved the FY2025–2029 Airport Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) at the request of Airport Director Steve Nuwer; the ACIP lists projects including extension of runway 16–34, phase 3 of a wildlife fence, obstruction removal, and runway 16–34 rehabilitation. Public Works Director Dave Edwards received Council authorization to advertise RFPs for marine facilities trash dumpsters (June 1–Sept. 30, funded by the FY24 operating budget), marine portable toilets (May 1–Oct. 31, funded by a Maryland DNR Waterway Improvement Grant), and a two-year tar-and-chip road services contract (funded by various operational and capital budgets).

On solid-waste policy the Council approved final conditions for the Residential Trash Program to be included on the Residential Permit Application for Solid Waste Disposal; Councilman Pfeffer acknowledged constituent concern about attaching permit stickers to windshields and noted prior sharing of permits. The Council also approved a request to surplus a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria and transfer a 2017 Dodge Durango from the Sheriff's Office to the Department of Corrections.

Event approvals included a Pickleball Fun Day and Fundraiser scheduled April 20 and Baywater Animal Rescue's "Run 'Fur' Their Lives" 5K on June 22; organizers were required to provide certificates of insurance naming the County as additional insured and to coordinate with Sheriff's Office and emergency services. The Council also agreed to proceed with Resolution 660 to amend the 2004 Dorchester Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan to change sewer classifications in McKeil Point sections from "No Planned Service" to "Sewer Available."

The clerk's minutes record several interim poll confirmations: letters of opposition for House Bill 1515 and a federal fisheries addendum, approval of an Administrative Office of the Courts FY25 Juvenile and Family Services Special Projects grant application ($329,000) with no county match requirement, and letters of support for historical-preservation grant applications filed by Applegarth Tubman Medicine Hill Preservation and Education Foundation. Councilman Travers abstained from the vouchers approval where payments were made to Simmons Center Market.