Hogan proposes millions for Hagerstown area projects. Will Moore, Legislature agree?

Two major projects planned for the Hagerstown area over the next few years, as well as other projects in Washington County, are in line to receive millions of dollars in state funding in Gov. Larry Hogan's budget recommendations for the next fiscal year.

But that proposal for 2023-24, which includes $10 million for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine and $2 million for the Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility, has to get the OK from Gov.-elect Wes Moore, as well as the General Assembly, which meets for three months starting Jan. 11.

Also included in the proposal is $2 million for the recently opened Washington County Public Safety Training Center; $2.5 million for Hancock; and $1 million each for Williamsport and Boonsboro.

Hogan announced his budget suggestions during a Thursday presentation in Annapolis.

Hogan, Moore teams working on budget plan

Hogan’s budget team has been working with the incoming administration on the budget for the next fiscal year. Moore, a Democrat, will submit the budget plan to the General Assembly on Jan. 20, two days after he takes office.

Brian Jones, a spokesperson for Moore's transition team, said the incoming administration appreciates Hogan's suggestions and will continue to work with his administration on the transition. He said the incoming administration's final budget proposal will reflect Moore's “vision and priorities to move Maryland forward with bold and disciplined investments in transportation, strengthening our competitiveness, and providing Marylanders with a world-class education.”

Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller is a member of the transition team's steering committee.

After Moore proposes the budget next month, the General Assembly will work on the state spending plan in their 90-day session.

Governor already familiar with Meritus medical school

In early July, Meritus announced plans to officially move forward with the accreditation and licensure process to open a medical school in Hagerstown. On a whirlwind trip to Western Maryland in October, Hogan participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the new school.

On Thursday, Hogan said his budget proposal included $220 million for health care aimed at improving care and access in rural communities. Dr. Maulik Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health, was among several health and education leaders in Annapolis for the governor's presentation.

Background:Meritus holds groundbreaking ceremony for new medical school in Hagerstown area

“To advance Meritus Health’s new school of osteopathic medicine in Hagerstown, which will educate and prepare the next generation of physicians to serve patients and help improve access to quality care in Western Maryland, this budget includes $10 million,” Hogan said.

Joshi said in a Meritus Health news release that the proposed school will reduce the growing physician shortage in the region, state and nation, while providing local opportunities for tertiary medical education.

As of right now, Washington County has a current physician shortage of 52, and one out of every three physicians in Maryland is older than age 60.

"We are grateful for Gov. Hogan’s visionary leadership in advancing health and healthcare in Maryland,” Joshi said in the release. "The proposed Meritus Medical School will be a game changer for access to care for everyone in underserved rural Maryland and in communities like us across America. This tremendous support will make an impact on health for generations to come."

Downtown stadium project has significant state funding

Work has already started on the Hagerstown Multi-Use Sports and Events Facility, being built at Summit Avenue and West Baltimore Street downtown. On his October visit, Hogan participated in a ceremonial ground-breaking for it, too.

Related:Play ball? Not yet, but ceremony held for new baseball stadium

Close to $70 million in state funds already had been allocated for the stadium, which is expected to become the home of a new Atlantic League of Professional Baseball team. The stadium, planned for completion in mid-2024, is also expected to host concerts and festivals. The Maryland Stadium Authority was given approval by Hogan and the Legislature to oversee the project.

Al Tyler, vice president of a capital projects group for the stadium authority, said in a September story that he anticipated a proposed design of the stadium would be presented early next year.

Turner Construction Co., an international firm that has experience in stadium work, was selected by the authority to design and build the stadium. The state Board of Public Works on Aug. 31 signed off on the authority's decision to go with Turner.

Demolition of Auto Spa and Lube Center, D&P Coin Operated Laundry and a county government building have already taken place. Part of the new facility will be built in the parking lot of the former Herald-Mail building, which the Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation, also known as CHIEF, helped acquire for the stadium. As the owner of the stadium, CHIEF is to lease it to Downtown Baseball LLC, a local ownership group led by led by Howard “Blackie” Bowen, Don Bowman, James Holzapfel and Frank Boulton.

Plans call for emergency training center to expand

Though it officially opened in September, the Washington County Public Safety Training Center on Sharpsburg Pike is meant to expand beyond its academic building.

Preparing for emergencies: County cuts ribbon on new Public Safety Training Center

The county paid $528,000 for the land, and the site work and building construction has cost about $12 million. The county received $1 million from the state to help construct the academic building, which started in 2020. The county also has another $1.5 million budgeted for a burn building and a training tower.

Hogan is recommending a $2 million grant for the training center.

Washington County Emergency Services Director R. David Hays said that would go toward creating a defensive driving track for police, fire and EMS training. The recommended grant would cover the lion's share of what was anticipated to be a $2.5 million cost, still not knowing the full impact inflation could have, Hays said.

County officials are "incredibly appreciative" and hope the grant proposal goes through, he said.

Future expansion training center plans at the 48-acre site also call for an indoor shooting range and a tactical village where emergency workers could simulate real-world conditions.

The building, which covers about 35,000 square feet, was built to accommodate a second floor, should that expansion become necessary. Among other amenities, it includes classrooms, offices, a break room, locker rooms and an audio-visual space, complete with medical mannikins, to simulate fires and other emergency situations.

There's also a fitness room with weights and cardio machines for physical training.

Towns looking for help with water, sewer project costs

Details about what town projects the recommended grant funding is for was not immediately available from the governor's office Friday.

Hancock Town Manager Mike Faith said he believes that with the mayor and council's approval, some of the recommended $2.5 million capital grant for the town would go toward the cost of a new sewer treatment facility. Some of the money also could be reserved to address blighted properties.

Town officials are hopeful about reaching an agreement with the Lanco Pennland cheese plant regarding annexation and joining the town's utility system in the next couple months, Faith said. Once they know how big a sewer treatment facility is needed, design work can proceed.

Design and construction of the facility could range from $15 million to $20 million and the town could still be dealing with unknown inflation factors, he said.

Hancock is still using an old lagoon system, under a Maryland Department of Environment consent order, while the town works toward replacing it with an upgraded treatment facility, Faith said.

If the town gets the $2.5 million, some of it also could be reserved to address longstanding blighted properties. No town officials want to exercise eminent domain, but that power could be used to encourage "bad actors" to finally bring some rundown properties up to code, Faith said.

Williamsport and Boonsboro are each recommended to get a $1 million capital grant.

Williamsport officials could not be immediately reached Friday for comment.

Boonsboro requested $11.2 million in state funds for several water and sewer projects.

Town Manager Paul Mantello said the town is anticipating $5 million in federal funds to help cover the cost of replacing its old reservoir. The reservoir project cost, with issues such as inflation, has increased to $6.5 million and could exceed $8 million, Mantello said. The design work is about 60% complete and construction is expected to begin in the summer.

The federal legislation with the additional reservoir aid, as of Friday, was awaiting President Joe Biden's signature.

Once that money is secure, the mayor, council and Utilities Commission would need to prioritize the remaining water and sewer projects to determine what the potential $1 million state grant would be used for, unless it's earmarked by the state for something specific, according to Mantello.

The other projects include addressing leftover lead components in the drinking water distribution system; looping the Alternate U.S. 40 water line to prevent stagnancy since the town is now flushing the line daily; replacing undersized sewer lines; and installing a new water main parallel to the Crestview subdivision to address pressure and leak issues, according to the town's water and sewer priorities report for fiscal 2024.

"Like a lot of small municipalities, we have a lot of infrastructure needs right now," Mantello said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: State funding budgeted for Meritus medical school, Hagerstown stadium