Thursday, March 14, 2019 The County Times 1 FREE St. Mary’s THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 CountyWWW.COUNTYTIMES.SOMD.COM Times Report Highlights Health Care Gaps 2 The County Times Thursday, March 14, 2019 ON THE COVER 14 CONTENTS In St. Mary’s its more than 2,000 patients for every one family doctor LOCAL NEWS 3 COPS & COURTS 8 COMMUNITY 10 ON THE COVER 14 LOCAL 4 A regional agricultural center could find a home at the Charlotte Hall convenience center PAX RIVER 16 EDUCATION 18 ENTERTAINMENT 19 FUN & GAMES 19 COMMUNITY 11 PAX RIVER 16 St. Mary’s College has chosen the architect for a The Navy’s top admiral visited Pax River NAS SPORTS 20 memorial to enslaved peoples OBITUARIES 21 “IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT WE HAVE THE REVENUES TO PAY FOR COMMUNITY CALENDAR 24 THE SERVICES THAT THE PUBLIC SENIOR CALENDAR 25 EXPECTS US TO PROVIDE.” COMMISSIONER TODD MORGAN ON LIBRARY CALENDAR 25 THE COUNTY’S BUDGET SITUATION BUSINESS DIRECTORY 26 WEEKLY FORECAST CLASSIFIEDS 27 Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill In The Mail? P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636 301-373-4125 www.countytimes.net CountySt. Times Mary’s County ● Calvert County For staff listing and emails, see page 26 BRYANS ROAD FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION LEONARDTOWN Give Us A Call The law offices of P.A. Hotchkiss & Associates You’ll Be Glad You Did. Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years AUTO ACCIDENTS Workers’ comp Burris’ Olde Towne Insurance • Divorce/Separation AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE • Support/Custody • Domestic Violence LEONARDTOWN BRYANS ROAD • Criminal/Traffic 301-475-3151 301-743-9000 • DWI/MVA Hearings Scan this “Times Code” Power of Attorney with your smart phone • Name Change • Adoption WWW.DANBURRIS.COM • Wills • Guardianship Accepting: AN INDEPENDENT AGENT REPRESENTING ERIE INSURANCE GROUP 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 Thursday, March 14, 2019 The County Times Local News 3 Commissioners Signal Tax Increases May Be Necessary ing for UCAC but O’Connor and Com- missioner President Randy Guy said that the county’s three-year-old system of scoring applications from non-profits should be adhered to. Commissioners were also concerned with funding an increase in the school system budget, by an extra $6.7 million, mostly to honor a negotiated agreement for pay of school employees. O’Connor said the commissioners should fund it because they had already agreed to do so despite the impact on the budget. The baseline amount the county fund- Hewitt Morgan O’Connor ed the school system in fiscal 2019 was By Guy Leonard “It’s a safety measure for our home- public expects us to provide,” said Mor- $103.8 million; the overall schools bud- Staff Writer owners based on the way our budget is gan. “We’re struggling… and nobody get is $206 million with state funding going.” wants to say we need to raise taxes.” added. Claiming tight fiscal constraints The commissioners meet one hour Morgan said, however, that a “revenue With the Kirwan Commission, which and burgeoning requests for services; earlier than normal on Tuesday to con- enhancement” could be necessary. has endorsed highly increased levels of as well as demands to meet increased duct their budget work session, in which The county’s fiscal 2020 operational funding for schools statewide, bearing school funding to fulfill a negotiated they agreed to slash from the budget budget stands at $245.7 million. down on local jurisdictions, Morgan agreement with system employees, local many requested positions in county de- The county also has about $1.3 mil- said he wanted to wait to see what would elected leaders are saying they may have partments and to streamline positions lion to put towards funding for non- be required of the county once the legis- to raise taxes. that were still vacant. profit groups that help provide county lation enabling Kirwan was passed. “A tax increase is inevitable in St. Commissioner Todd Morgan said the services but they removed the Unified “I don’t believe maintenance of effort Mary’s County,” said Commissioner budget would not cover all that the com- Committee for African-American Con- [baseline school funding] is the answer John O’Connor, who proposed zeroing munity demanded of the county govern- tributions (UCAC) because it scored too today,” Morgan said. out the homestead tax credit for this ment to provide. low on its application form. year. “That’s the only way I can see to “It does not appear that we have the Both Morgan and Commissioner [email protected] protect our property owners. revenues to pay for the services that the Mike Hewitt continued to support fund- E’RE CELEBRATIN W G • • • • • • • • • • • • FRIDAY • MARCH 15TH LUNCH & DINNER SPECIALS SERVED 11 AM - 8 PM CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE WITH BOILED POTATO, CARROTS, & CORN BREAD BRAND NEW - 2 and 3 BEDROOM LUXURY SHEPHERD’S PIE APARTMENT HOMES in LEONARDTOWN WITH CHOICE OF BISCUITS OR CORN BREAD NOW LEASING!! 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LOCATED IN OLD DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON PARK OUTSIDE GATE 2 PAX NAS 4 Local News The County Times Thursday, March 14, 2019 “I’ve journeyed to 7 continents in 7 I run for distance.“I’ve journeyed to 7 continentsdays to in run 7 7 marathons - just to I run for distance. days to run 7 marathons -pushjust tothe limits of mind and body. Commissioners to DecideI also run on for Hospice. Whetherpush the limits ofto mind and But body. there are many reasons to run I also run for Hospice. But there are many reasonsfor to Hospice run – including the best for Hospice – including thepost best-event brunch on earth! But Compete for RegionalWhat Ag do Center YOU run for?post-event brunch on earth!the bestBut reason? All net proceeds What do YOUIf the commissionersrun for? decide to com- Farmers Marketthe best on Route reason? 235 inAll Lexing net proceedshelp- Hospice of St. Mary’s provide pete against Calvert, Charles, Anne ton Park, Sasscerhelp Hospice said. of St. Mary’scare provide to those facing a terminal Arundel and Prince George’s counties If the countycare tocompetes those facing for and a terminalwinsillness. Not a runner? No worries and win, it would bring a long-awaited the grant, theillness. facility Not would a runner? be located No– worriesmany participants do the Fun meat processing facility to St. Mary’s on land where– many the Charlotte participants Hall convedo theWalk- Fun – a great way to start your that would benefit local livestock produc- nience center currently operates; Lettie ers in bringing their products to market. Marshal DentWalk Elementary – a great School way to would startown your journey” Donna Sasscer, agricultural specialist also be closeown to the journey” facility. with the county’sLegendary Department Ultra Runner of Eco Michael- The Wardian construction of the RAC would Legendary Ultranomic Runner Development, Michael Wardiansaid the Regional fall to the county’s Department of Public AgriculturalWorld Center’s Marathon (RAC) Challengemeat pro- ChampionWorks and Transportation; public works World Marathoncessing Challenge facility3X Run Champion would for Hospiceprovide cutting,participant chief John Deatrick talked about the po- 3X Run for Hospicewrapping, participant smoking and curing services tential project Monday before the plan- for meat producers as well as a sales ning commission. point for someth of those meats. The project is part of the county’s cap- th The24 facility wouldannual also have spaceRun for ital construction & Fun budget plan. Walk for Hospice 24 annualtraining inRun meat processing & Funand retail Walk“Public works for will build Hospice it,” Deatrick sales of other “value added” farm prod- told The Countyth Times Wednesday. ucts such as jams andSaturday, jellies.th AprilSasscer 13 said, a2019 slaughter Leonardtown,house in the MD Land at the Charlotte Hall Convenience Center could be used for a new Regional AgriculturalSaturday, April 13 , 2019 Leonardtown, MD Center. There would be no slaughter of live- local Amish community that is working stock at theThe RAC, regionsSasscer said, withbiggest through and being certifiedbest byRun the U.S. & DeFun- Walk is now By Guy Leonard million grant to build a RegionalThe Agri regions- much of biggestthe meat sales and being best shifted Runpartment & ofFun Agriculture Walk could is givenow St. Staff Writer cultural Center. to a new farmers market to be built on Mary’s an edge in the competition. The grant comes fromRated the Southern ‘One ThompsonsRated of Corner the Road. ‘One Best of Races the“We’re Besthoping in thethis Raceswill Nation’give us a in the Nation’ The Commissioners of St. Mary’s Maryland Agricultural Development This would replace the farmers market strong advantage,” Sasscer said. County are slated to decide next week Commission (SMADC) and offers an next to the Charlotte Hall Library with a whether they wish to compete with other extra $800,000 to purchaseRegister equipment newtoday buildingRegister similarat to the today Homegrown at [email protected] Southern Maryland counties for a $1 for the facility. www.runforhospice.org All pre-registeredAllentrants pre-registered are guaranteedentrants a tare-shirt guaranteed and our famous a t-shirt brunch! and our famous brunch! I run for distance.