FY2014 DEPARTMENTAL HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AIRPORT
Rehabilitation of Runway 5-23
The Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico County Airport (Airport) was able
to proceed with rehabilitation of all paving and subsurface,
improvements in edge lighting and airfield signage, safety areas and
drainage.
Rehabilitation of Airport Terminal Road
The Airport received a grant from MAA for $186,400 for the rehabilitation
of the Airport Terminal Road.
The project is scheduled to begin
construction in March 2015.
Rehabilitation of Vehicle Parking Lot
The Airport began resurfacing of the Terminal Building Vehicle Parking Lot
and completed two-thirds of the project before work had to be stopped
in anticipation of winter weather. The project will resume in March 2015.
CORRECTIONS
Jail Information Management System
A new information management system for the jail was launched. The
system captures all offender information from booking to release.
Variable Drive Chiller Unit
A new 160-ton chiller unit installation was completed. The efficiency of
this Technology will reduce operating costs and resulted in a $40K plus
rebate from the utility.
Turnover Rate
Recent data reflected that hiring initiatives and new salary structure
appear to have had a significant impact on Corrections ability to hire and
Retain qualified individuals reducing the turnover rate.
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Continuity of Operations
Emergency Services completed plans for the continuance of operations
at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center if operations cannot be
continued at normal locations.
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CritiCall Software
This software was purchased to assist in 9-1-1 Operator training with
funding from Emergency Number Systems Board. No County funding was
used.
Risk Management Program
The county’s first Risk Management and Safety Manual was adopted on
October 7, 2014. The manual was done to ensure compliance with
established safety standards enacted by OSHA.
HEALTH
Local Overdose Fatality Review Team
The Health Department was one of three pilot jurisdictions in the
development of a Local Overdose Fatality Review Team to address the
overdose issues occurring in the community.
Crisis Intervention Team
The Health Department assisted in the development of the Crisis
Intervention Team for Wicomico and Somerset Law Enforcement to better
train them in managing the mentally ill.
PLANNING, ZONING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Comprehensive Plan Update/Priority Preservation Plan/Tier Map
This past year, the Planning & Zoning Commission forwarded to the
Council a complete update of the County Comprehensive Plan. For the
first time, this included a Priority Preservation Area Element.
Stormwater Improvements
The County was awarded $602,010 from the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources and the Chesapeake Bay Trust for water quality
improvements in Wicomico County. The financial award from the
Department of Natural Resources, as well as County funding will be used
to construct eight (8) stormwater retrofit projects on five (5) highly-visible
demonstration sites including: Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional
Airport; Arthur W. Perdue Stadium; Pemberton Historical Park; Schumaker
Park; and Upper Ferry.
As progress continues towards completion of the first phase projects, the
County embarked on a second round of projects consisting of seven (7)
stormwater retrofits on four (4) publicly-owned sites including: East Little
League Complex at Winterplace Park; Wicomico County Roads Division,
Wicomico County Detention Center / Sheriff’s Office; and Wor-Wic
Community College.
These 15 projects demonstrate the County’s ongoing commitment to
improving local water quality by reducing the amount of sediments and
nutrients from entering our creeks and rivers.
Housing Rehabilitation/Homebuyer Assistance
The County applied for and was awarded $550,000 from the State of
Maryland Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to provide the
following programs to county residents:
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Housing Rehabilitation Program - $350,000; funds will be used to continue
the County’s housing rehabilitation program for eligible homeowners.
Down payment Assistance for the Homebuyer Program - $200,000; funds
will be used to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to
eligible homebuyers.
These efforts demonstrate the County’s ongoing commitment to helping
local residents to retain and acquire quality housing.
Impact fee – Employment Incentive Program
The FY15 County Budget established the Employment Incentive Grant
Program for Economic Growth. The amount of each award is $5321. This
offsets payment of the Education Impact Fee.
The first 5 months of the fiscal year saw an increase of roughly 70% in the
construction of single-family homes, compared to the same period last
year.
These grants clearly have had a direct impact on spurring local
construction activity. This benefit has been felt Countywide, with most of
the construction taking place in the unincorporated parts of the County,
as well as in 5 of the cities and towns.
Building & Energy Codes
The County continues to move forward with State required updates of our
Building Codes.
Economic Development Action Team
The County joined with the City of Salisbury and the Salisbury Area
Chamber of Commerce to review the existing County/City permit
processes, in order to determine the best ways to streamline review and
permitting.
PUBLIC WORKS
Solar Farm
Commenced installation of a solar farm that will reduce the price paid for
electricity by 50%.
Road Preservation Program
The Road Preservation Program covered substantially more of the 700 mile
road network in Wicomico County than in most previous years.
Westside Collector Road
Public Works completed the construction of the 1.7-mile Phase #2 of the
Westside Collector Road.
Tar and Chip Operation
The implementation of an in house tar and chip operation kicked off with
crews covering 7.5 miles of county roads at a savings to the county.
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GPS Fleet Tracking System
A division wide GPS Fleet Tracking System was implemented to improve
effectiveness and coordination of winter and emergency operations
around the county.
Mattress Recycling Program
A mattress recycling program was developed with an Eastern Shore
based company that has diverted nine tractor trailer loads of mattresses
from the landfill in less than three months. The mattresses are now
providing economic benefit to a local business.
Recycling Increase
Processing of recyclables has increased from 2200 tons in FY2013 to 3100
tons in FY2014 that resulted in a reduction of per ton processing.
Yard Waste
A program has been developed to separate yard waste that allows
woody waste to be separated from leaves to reduce the processing costs
and improve mulch quality.
Dredge Site
The Sharps Point Dredge Site has been prepared for this spring’s dredging
ahead of schedule and under budget.
PURCHASING
Online Bid Postings
The implementation of new technologies to allow online posting of bids,
proposals and bid results is creating better transparency.
State’s Attorney’s Office Relocation
Purchasing and General Services completed the relocation of the State’s
Attorney’s office.
RECREATION, PARKS & TOURISM
Recreation Program Registrations
Program registrations exceeded 16,000 in 2014. Over 200 activities were
offered accounting for 290,000 visits.
Park Expansion
$1 million was obtained from the State of Maryland to expand the Henry S.
Parker Athletic Complex.
Land Preservation and Recreation Plan
Prepared and adopted the County’s Land Preservation & Recreation
Plan.
Program Open Space Funds
Maryland Program Open Space funds were used as follows:
 To complete tennis court reconstruction and landscaping at
Centennial Village and Crooked Oak playgrounds
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Replace sports lights on the fields at Cope Bennett Park in
Sharptown and the Hebron Lions Club fields that were removed a
year earlier due to the failure of the wooden light poles
Replace fence fabric on the softball and baseball fields at the
Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex
Nanticoke Harbor
Maryland Waterway Improvement funds were obtained to restore the
Nanticoke Harbor’s boat slips.
Schumaker Park Septic System
A new environmentally sensitive septic system was installed at Schumaker
Park to reduce the potential nutrient runoff into Schumaker Pond. A grant
from the Board of Health paid for this project.
Tourism Events
Thirty-four events attracted nearly 200,000 visitors. Events ranged from the
USSSA Girls Softball World Series, Governor’s Challenge Basketball
Tournament and Autumn Wine Festival to the Potomac Youth Religious
Conference.
Wicomico County formed an official partnership with Ocean City and
Worcester County called the Mid-Atlantic Amateur Sports Alliance
(MAASA) to leverage assets in order to attract large-scale amateur
sporting events to the region. The Maryland Office of Sports will market
this brand.
The Visitor Center welcomed 26,173 people; making it the most
frequented Visitor Center in the State of Maryland.
Four signature events were held including the Autumn Wine Festival and
Pork in the Park BBQ festival.
Civic Center Events
The Wicomico Youth & Civic Center hosted 772 events ranging from
Disney on Ice to the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Association’s Eastern Nationals
to Broadway. Attendance exceeded 240,000 visits. Highlights are as
follows:
Ninety (90) cultural entertainment events were held.
Group sales efforts resulted in over 4,800 tickets sold for a gross of $84,000.
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