2018Annual Report to the Citizens of Charles County The Charles County Board of Commissioners Amanda M. Stewart, M.Ed. Ken Robinson Peter F. Murphy Debra M. Davis, Esq. Bobby Rucci District 3 District 1 President District 2 Vice President, District 4 Charles County is a code home rule county governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners. The five Commissioners are elected at large to four-year terms of office. The Commissioner President is the presiding officer of the Board at meetings and hearings. The Commissioner President may reside anywhere in the county. The other four Commissioners must each reside in a Commissioner district. Board Responsibilities Town Hall Meetings • Generating revenues to fund the county’s capital and operat- The Board of County Commissioners holds ing budgets, as well as other county departments and agencies. quarterly regional Town Hall Meetings, • Providing for the public health, safety, and welfare with locations rotating throughout the of Charles County residents and visitors. four Commissioner districts. Town Hall Meetings are open to the public, and • Adopting and updating the Charles County Comprehensive provide an opportunity for attendees to Plan, Land Use Plan, and Zoning Ordinance. ask questions and discuss items important • Overseeing the development process. to residents and the community. All five • Establishing, promulgating, and enforcing county rules, elected Commissioners and county depart- regulations, ordinances, policies, and procedures. ment directors are scheduled to attend. • Appointing boards, commissions, and task forces. Commissioner Board Meetings and Town • Fulfilling the mission of Charles County Government. Hall Meetings are aired on Charles County Government Television, which broadcasts Commissioner Board Meetings on Comcast channel 95 and Verizon chan- Charles County Commissioners meetings are nel 10. Board meetings also are streamed scheduled regularly and held in the County Government live on the Charles County Government Building at 200 Baltimore Street in La Plata. website, www.CharlesCountyMD.gov. CONTENTS Highlights of the Board of County Commissioners from Peter F. Murphy, President .........................4 A Message from the County Administrator ...............6 High-Performing Organization ..........................8 Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability ........................................10 Communications and Outreach .........................11 Quality of Life ........................................ 12 Strategies and Solutions for Sewer Overflow ....................................... 14 Snow, Ice, Wind, and Rain ............................. 15 Environmental Resources ............................. 16 Water Quality ..........................................17 Planning and Growth .................................. 18 Pedestrian Safety Improvements .......................20 Public Transportation Services ......................... 21 Roads and Transportation ............................. 21 Charles County Sheriff's Office ........................22 Safe Communities — Opioid Response .................24 Health and Well-Being ................................26 Charles County Government Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report Parks and Open Space ................................28 Production of the Annual Report is managed by the County Administration Office, Media Services Division. Public Education. .30 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Public Libraries .......................................34 Jennifer L. Harris, APR Chief of Media Services Affordable Housing ...................................35 CONTENT MANAGEMENT Aging and Human Services ............................36 Erin Pomrenke Communications Coordinator Supporting Children, Youth & Families ..................38 GRAPHIC DESIGN Economic Development. 40 Tina M. Kozloski Media Specialist Tourism ..............................................42 PHOTOGRAPHY Upgrading Technology. 43 Rebecca Lehman Staff Photographer Human Resources ....................................44 CHARLES COUNTY GOVERNMENT Performance Dashboard ..............................46 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, Maryland 20646 301-645-0550 | [email protected] Budget-At-A-Glance .................................. 47 Equal Opportunity Employer Dear Charles County residents, As our Board of Commissioners completes its term as your local elected representatives, we are proud of the many projects, programs, and plans that have successfully been completed or put into place for our future. Our county government has achieved milestones that we can all celebrate and have helped us to leverage the assets our county has to offer. We are especially pleased to report the accomplishments that will pay dividends for years to come. Over this past term, the Board has concentrated on executing positive results that impact growth in the county, transportion, safety and well- being issues for our citizens, as well as signed agreements to improve the quality of life by creating opportunities for new parks, trails, and recreational opportunities. And so, with such great promise for our future, I thank you most sin- cerely for your support and collaboration in helping this Board’s vision become a reality for everyone that calls this community their home. Sincerely, Peter F. Murphy Commissioner President FINANCIAL STABILITY PUBLIC SAFETY Awarded AAA bond ratings for the past Increased the number of Sheriff’s three consecutive years — property tax officers and financed adigital forensic rates were not raised, and residents’ home lab for faster criminal investigations. values consistently increased. Established a Protection Plus program to procure paid locksmith services PLANNING AND GROWTH for victims of domestic violence. MANAGEMENT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Passed the 2016 Comprehensive Plan to ensure responsible and sustainable growth policies. Opened a medical and dental clinic to provide Approved the Watershed Conservation District affordable healthcare to Nanjemoy residents. to prevent urban sprawl, soil erosion and flooding Initiated “Backpacks of Love” program while protecting the Mattawoman Watershed. to provide support to children Funded fiber broadband in Indian Head to entering emergency foster care. provide internet/cable access for residents. Developed a Drug Take Back program to help reduce opioid accessibility. Expanded ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Narcan supplies to save lives. Continued to work to implement the development QUALITY OF LIFE of Waldorf Station, that include a mixed-use town center for retail, entertainment, office, Supported Charles County’s hotel, residential, and civic elements. nonprofit sector by establishing the Funded and planned the new Army Reserves Charles County Charitable Trust. Training Facility, which will generate Launched plans for a new La Plata Library, economic benefits to the county in the form and supported a mobile library that travels of hotel room nights, food and beverage throughout the county to make public library expenditures, and other direct spending. resources accessible to all residents. EDUCATION Launched plans for the Waldorf Senior and Recreational Facility, and dedicated the site Charles County Government Annual Report Allocated substantial funds to pay for enhanced for the new Charles County Animal Shelter. school security, and to complete construction Honored veterans by transferring the property of the Billingsley Elementary School, and for the Maryland Veterans Museum, as also pursued opportunities to renovate and well as by establishing a first-everCharles modernize older schools within the county. County Commission for Veterans Affairs. Allocated funding to ensure Charles County teacher salaries are the highest in the region. PARKS AND OPEN SPACE TRANSPORTATION Opened the Port Tobacco River Park and Tom Roland Natural Resources Center Addressed commuter concerns with the opening of to expand parks and open space. the Billingsley Road roundabout, Western Parkway Transferred management of Chapel Phase II, and beginning construction on Western Point State Park to the county from the Parkway Phase III. Addressed the designation Department of Natural Resources. • Fiscal 2018 Year of $13 million in state funding to expand the US Launched plans for opening the Popes Creek Route 301/Maryland Route 5 interchange. Rail Trail. We remain confident that the Upgraded VanGO buses and expanded county will also receive the National Marine the number of bus routes. Sanctuary designation for Mallows Bay. / 5 Charles County Board of Commissioners • Fiscal 2018 Year Peter F. Murphy Bobby Rucci Ken Robinson Debra M. Davis, Esq. Amanda M. Stewart, M.Ed. President District 4 District 1 District 2 District 3 Vice President Charles County Government County Administrator Charles County Government Annual Report Michael D. Mallinoff, Esq., ICMA-CM Deputy County Administrator Deborah E. Hall, CPA Media Services Division Central Services Division Clerk to the Commissioners Internal Audit Office Commissioners Office Staff Office of the County Attorney Community Services Economic Development Rhonda L. Weaver, County Attorney Dina Barclay, Director Darréll A. Brown, Esq., Director Emergency Services Fiscal & Administrative Services Human Resources Bill Stephens, Director Jenifer Ellin, Director Paul M. Rensted, Director Planning & Growth Management Public Works Recreation, Parks & Tourism Steve Kaii-Ziegler, AICP, Director Bill Shreve, Director Eileen Minnick, Director 6 / www.CharlesCountyMD.gov Charles County is pleased