Dear Senator McKay, Delegate Hinebaugh, and Delegate Buckel:
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the Board of Public Works will be considering several items that impact your Districts 1A and 1B. Specifically:
District 1A:
- A request from the Maryland State Library Agency to approve a $2,655,000 grant under its County Library Capital Project Grant Program to construct a new 4,500 GSF Friendsville Library. This will replace the temporary metal structure that was erected in 1970. The project also received funding in FY 2024 for site acquisition and design (Item 10.3 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
- A request from the Maryland Department of the Environment for new funding up to $782,383 to the Town of Luke for the Luke Water Distribution System Improvements project. This project will replace the Town’s aging water distribution system and ancillary appurtenances. The existing water distribution system is experiencing failures and leaks, and needs to be replaced (Item 13 of the Secretary’s Agenda);
- A request from the Department of Natural Resources to commit $27,000 from the Program Open Space funding allocated to Garrett County to purchase an event stage for use by the Town of Kitzmiller at its former elementary school site. The project includes a mobile stage with electric hookups for use around the campus during various town events (Item 4A of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
District 1B
- A request from the Maryland Historical Trust to approve a $85,000 grant to the Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County under the Maryland Historic Trust’s Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program to restore the historic wood windows of the Allegany County Courthouse (30 Washington Street, Cumberland). The Courthouse, constructed in 1893, has 190 window openings, many of which are filled with historic wood double-hung sash windows (Item 16B of the Secretary’s Agenda);
- A request to provide a $547,524.30 grant to the Allegany County Commissioners from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 230.61-acre conservation easement in the Mountain Ridge Rural Legacy Area (Boswell property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable forest lands. In addition, the easement will protect 1,275 linear feet of forested stream buffers along unnamed tributaries to Jennings Run. A portion of the property is located within Barrelville Woods, an ecologically significant area. The easement will be held by the Board of Commissioners of Allegany County. Easement value: $2370.43/acre (Item 14 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda);
- A request to provide a $229,922.15 grant to the Allegany County Commissioners from Rural Legacy Funds for the acquisition of a 105.43-acre conservation easement in the Mountain Ridge Rural Legacy Area (Statewide Sportsman, Inc. property). Acquisition of this easement will protect valuable forest lands. In addition, the easement will protect 2,050 linear feet of forested stream buffers along an unnamed tributary to Jennings Run. A portion of the property is also located within Barrelville Woods. The easement will be held by the Board of Commissioners of Allegany County. Easement value: $2,075.48/acre (Item 15 of the Department of Natural Resources’ Real Property Agenda); and
- A request to enter into a grant agreement for a $750,000 grant to the Mayor and City Council of Cumberland for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of the Baltimore Street Access Project. There is no matching fund requirement for this grant. The General Assembly previously approved this funding as part of the 2021 Capital Budget (Item 2 of the Department of General Services’ Office of State Procurement Agenda).
Treasurer Davis asked that I keep you informed of these items. If you should have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Joanna
Joanna W Kille
Board of Public Works Liaison
Maryland State Treasurer’s Office
80 Calvert Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
O: 410-260-7588
C: 443-239-2615
jkille@treasurer.state.md.us