(11/2021) County Unveils Legislative Priorities

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner has announced her legislative priorities for the upcoming session of the Maryland General Assembly. She will request four pieces of legislation, including measures to protect seniors and forested land.

"Public input is essential to providing good government," Executive Gardner said. "Frederick County is unique among charter governments with our process, which ensures everyone has an opportunity to weigh in on our legislative package."

Executive Gardner’s first bill, Forest Conservation – Forest Conservation Fee, would keep the state’s long-standing forest banking program in place until 2024 so that existing forested land can continue to be preserved. Last year, the program was effectively halted while a review is conducted. Forest banking has preserved more than 2,500 acres of forest in Frederick County. Up to 80 property owners who began the process to preserve environmentally sensitive areas in Frederick County are currently unable to finalize their plans because of last year’s changes. The proposed bill would also extend the timeline by which local governments can use deposited money in the Forest Conservation Fund.

The second proposed piece of legislation, Tax – Property – Third Party Tax Bill Notification, would protect the most vulnerable homeowners from the potential loss of their homes. The bill allows seniors and individuals with physical or developmental disabilities to designate a third-party adult to receive copies of their property tax bills and any notices of unpaid property taxes. This safeguard measure means a family member or trusted adult can provide reminders so a person does not forget to pay a bill.

Legislation has also been proposed to redirect a portion of the marriage ceremony fee to Heritage Frederick, which maintains marriage records for numerous places of worship. That bill is entitled Frederick County – Disposition of Marriage Ceremony Fee. The final proposal, Abandoned Burial Lots – Termination of Ownership Rights, would help cemeteries maintain contact with owners of burial lots. In cases where a lot has been abandoned for 50 or more years, ownership would return to the cemetery.

The Executive also outlined requests from the County Council and community organizations for items to include in the 2022 legislative package. The County Council supported a measure proposed by Council Member Steve McKay to change how vacancies are filled on the Board of Education. That draft legislation, along with all submitted requests, can be found on the County’s website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/Legislative.

The public is invited to comment on any of the proposals, or suggest additional topics for consideration. For more information, contact Government Affairs Director Joy Schaefer at 301-600-1621 or via e-mail at jschaefer@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

FY23 Community Partnership Grant Program Application Process Opens

Frederick County has opened the application process for the FY23 Community Partnership Grant program that awards competitive grants to non-profit organizations serving the needs of county residents. The grants can be used for community needs, seniors and housing.

"Our human service nonprofits do an amazing job connecting people with the resources they need," Executive Gardner said. "The benefits to our community have been clear, especially during the pandemic. Together, the County and our nonprofit partners are able to leverage our efforts to provide effective services so we can all flourish and share in Frederick County’s prosperity and high quality of life."

This year marks the eighth round of the grants program. Grants can be for operating expenses or for one-time purchases. Examples of one-time projects funded in the past include HVAC equipment replacement for a transitional housing shelter, commercial washer and dryers at a homeless shelter, and computer and audiovisual equipment at a community hub center for program participants, among others.

The link to the online application portal will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on Nov. 10 at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPG. We have scheduled a virtual pre-application meeting for Nov. 9, 9 – 10:30 a.m. The link to the Microsoft TEAMS meeting for this session will be posted in advance at https://www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPG.

While the pre-application meeting is optional, it is highly recommended for all agencies to attend for a thorough understanding of application requirements and funding priorities.

The deadline to submit an application is Dec. 14. Final funding awards will be considered in the county budget process and announced in April 2022, with funding available beginning July 1.

For more information and program updates, visit the website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/CPG or contact Citizens Services Director of Operations Kelli Goetz at 301-600-1410 or via e-mail at kgoetz1@FrederickCountyMD.gov

Agriculture Innovation Grant Recipients Announced

Frederick County’s agriculture industry is creating value-added products and services to ensure the industry thrives into the future. To support their efforts, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner and County Council President M.C. Keegan-Ayer announced $198,000 in Agriculture Innovation Grants to 10 farming operations. The competitive grant program, which began earlier this year, provides funds twice a year to encourage diversification and innovation in farm operations.

"Frederick County’s agriculture community has embraced this new grant program as a way to ensure the long-term economic viability," Executive Gardner said. "These grants help to ensure the county’s distinctive agricultural identity for future generations."

The projects selected for funding are anticipated to create 26 full-time and 25 part-time positions. Grant recipients include Catoctin Breeze, Thurmont, for soil study to determine the most sustainable variety of grapes to grow; Deer Run Farm, Emmitsburg, for a no-till planter drill that can be rented out to other farms; District Farms, outside of Adamstown, for a feasibility study and design work on a new cooling system for their greenhouses; Eater Acres, on Old Annapolis Road, for upgrades needed to add a retail space; Fitzgerald’s Heavy Timber Construction, Thurmont, to construct a timber frame barn for a sawmill; Fox Haven Organic Farm, Jefferson, for an electrical system upgrade to install a walk-in freezer for its production garden operation; Grossnickle Farms, Walkersville, to install well and septic for an on-farm market; Moo Cow Creamery, Middletown, for a generator and logo wrap for a new ice cream truck; Off the Grid Farm, Woodsboro, to add a saw mill; and Richvale Farm, Middletown, for commercial grade freezers to allow them to sell beef.

More than 30 applications were received for the second round of Agricultural Innovation Grants. Grants are awarded for $5,000 or more to help farmers expand or diversify their business operations to remain profitable and viable. Funds may be used for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures, or processing facilities. To be eligible, applicants must be a crop or livestock producer, a value-added producer, an agricultural cooperative, a seafood processor, or a primary or secondary timber products processor. Information on the program is available by contacting Katie Stevens, Associate Director of Agriculture Business Development, at 301-600-3037.

A review committee scores applications based on established metrics and then recommend awards to the County Executive. Funding for the grants comes from dedicated revenue from the county’s recordation fee.

The Frederick County Creek ReLeaf Program

Frederick County's Creek ReLeaf Program is a reforestation program designed to increase forest acres in Frederick County and to meet goals for clean streams. The program is an integral part of County Executive Jan H. Gardner’s efforts to reverse the trend of tree loss in Frederick County. Trees are planted on both private and public land. The Creek ReLeaf Program plants eligible areas with native trees/shrubs and provides the first five years of maintenance to ensure successful planting efforts, at no cost to the landowner.

Forested lands provide stormwater control, reduce temperature impacts on county streams, and increase wildlife habitat. The area that is planted will have lasting protection by a permanent conservation easement, which will continue even if the property is sold. If accepted into the program landowners will receive payment for the permanent conservation easement, which is based on 75% of fair market value of the land to be planted, up to $9,000 per acre. The landowner still owns and uses the land under an easement as long as the use does not violate the terms of the easement. Selective harvesting is allowed as part of a forestry management plan under certain conditions, which may provide long-term revenue to the landowner from having a healthy forest.

The application period for the 2021 Creek ReLeaf Program will run through December 1. Plantings are tentatively scheduled for spring/fall 2023.

To learn more visit: https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/reforest. For more information, contact Linda Williamson, project manager at Phone: 301-600-1741 or 240-608-7426 or by email: LWilliamson1@FrederickCountyMD.gov.