The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners heard much about progress in their county Tuesday, March 2. The detention center project is moving along, according to Dept. of Public Works and Transportation Director George Erichsen, who said an executed contract from the architect was in hand and the design stage would start soon.

 
The board authorized the execution of a $438,000 EmPOWER block grant and heard Erichsen’s explanation of how the federal funds can be used for many different projects leading to a reduced carbon footprint in St. Mary’s. He suggested limiting this funding to larger projects that have larger impacts, perhaps retrofitting county buildings or implementing alternative energy sources.
 
Commissioner Jarboe agreed and further suggested seeking improvements with the best paybacks, to save money in future operating budgets.
 
The Dept. of Economic and Community Development staff was on hand to present the 2010 Technology Handbook and recognize the winning cover designer, Edward Holton, Jr. DECD Director Bob Schaller told the board that better than a third of companies in this year’s book are “truly homegrown.” The publication, created with the support of the Patuxent Partnership, is also available online here.
 
The County’s Deputy Attorney David Weiskopf updated the commissioners on the proposed legislations they supported sending to Annapolis and informed them of some new ones they were unaware of.
 
The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding among the St. Mary’s Transit System and Human Services Agencies, enabling the two to provide rides for those with transportation disadvantages. The BOCC also authorized what County Administrator John Savich referred to as, “forty pounds of STS grant applications,” totaling more than $2.5 million.
 
For the County’s growing tourism interests, the board was informed of the Tourism Division’s plan to promote War of 1812 maps and guides and Recreation and Park’s grant application for another phase of the Three Notch Trail. 
 
Public Information Officer Karen Everett announced that all St. Mary’s residents are eligible for a prescription discount card, designed to help uninsured and underinsured citizens of all ages and levels of health afford medications. The cards, a benefit of the county’s membership in the National Association of Counties (NACo), are available at public libraries, Social Services and Human Services sites, SMC Hospital and can be printed online

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