Kent County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Kent County boards review tower, liquor, and park items; commissioners to weigh hazard plan and solar project

Kent County boards met this week to review a range of items, including a wireless tower special exception, liquor licenses, and park projects. No decisions have been finalized from these meetings; minutes have not yet been published. The County Commissioners will hold a regular session on Aug. 25 to consider adopting the 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan, a Verizon lease, and a preliminary report for a proposed solar project.

Board of Zoning Appeals (Aug. 17)

The Board of Zoning Appeals met to review two applications:

• Special Exception 26-04: Towerco/Stephen and Mary Etta Stoltzfus for a personal wireless facility tower on Morgnec Road in Kennedyville (Map 30, Parcel 5).
• Variance 26-32: Carl and Mary Schumaker for a lot coverage variance at 5886 Whale Point Lane in Rock Hall.

The agenda also included approval of minutes from the board's July 20, 2026 meeting.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (Aug. 17)

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board discussed updates on several park projects, including grant-funded work, a dog park, dugouts, the Turners Creek/Toal Park project with Washington College, Still Pond Station, and the Betterton Beach Boardwalk. The board also reviewed recreation items such as the 2026 Fall Program Guide, a tobacco mini-grant update, summer camp and aquatics recaps, and an afterschool program staffing update. New business included an overview of Edesville Park and signage for Still Pond Station Park.

County Commissioners (Aug. 18)

The County Commissioners held a legislative session that included a public hearing on an alcoholic beverage license for DKD LLC, doing business as Pop's Chesapeake Smokehouse (Class B, Beer, Wine, and Liquor). The board also considered special Class C licenses for The Williams Group (Aug. 22, 2026) and the Chestertown Tea Party Festival (Sept. 12, 2026). Other items on the agenda included:

• Resolution 2026-16: Conveyance of Prestwick Subdivision roads (Muirfield Drive, Turnberry Court, Prestwick Drive).
• Approval for use of Opioid Restitution Funds.
• Purchase of a John Deere 5105M Utility Tractor with Alamo Side Mower.

Economic & Tourism Development Commission (Aug. 19)

The commission heard a guest presentation from Victor Sensenig, PhD, Chief of Staff at Washington College, on updates to major projects. The agenda also included rescheduling the November meeting due to the Veterans Day county holiday, a future agenda item for Oct. 14, 2026 (Main Street Chestertown and Town of Rock Hall introductions), and approval of the July 8, 2026 meeting minutes.

Coming up

The County Commissioners will meet on Aug. 25, 2026, in a regular session. Items on the agenda include:

• Resolution 2026-17 to adopt the 2026 Kent County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• A Verizon lease agreement for the Worton Water Tower.
• A FY2027 Yard Waste Grinding Contract.
• A preliminary report for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for MD-Bishopville LLC, a proposed solar project.
• Special Class C liquor licenses for the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Association and Operation Enduring Warrior.

All meetings are open to the public; details are available on the county's official website.

Kent County boards weighed dredging contract, wireless towers, and land-use requests

Over the past two weeks, Kent County boards and commissions were scheduled to act on a Rock Hall dredging tipping-fees contract, two personal wireless facility tower applications, and three administrative land-use variances. Minutes from those meetings have not yet been published, so final outcomes are not yet available.

County Commissioners

The July 21 County Commissioners meeting agenda included consent items to approve minutes, renew a Microsoft volume licensing agreement, and approve a FY2027 vehicle order. A public hearing was scheduled on the Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission.

Department updates covered open-space program funding, an emergency-management grant award, a recommendation to select a consultant for the Kent County Housing Study, and the award of a tipping-fees contract for Rock Hall dredging. The Board was also set to receive reports on ARPA and contingency funds. Minutes have not yet been published.

Board of Zoning Appeals

On July 20, the Board of Zoning Appeals was scheduled to review two Special Exception requests for personal wireless facility towers. One request, Application 26-04, was from Towerco/Stephen and Mary Etta Stoltzfus for a tower on Morgnec Road in Kennedyville (Map 30, Parcel 5). The other, Application 26-27, was from the Town of Galena for a tower at 13265 Augustine Herman Highway in Galena. Minutes have not yet been published.

Administrative Hearings

On July 22, the Kent County Department of Planning, Housing, and Zoning was scheduled to consider three administrative applications: a special exception for a large accessory structure at 10271 Rileys Mill Rd, Chestertown (Second Election District, zoned RCD); a variance for a manure storage setback at 5643 Crosby Rd, Rock Hall (Fifth Election District, zoned RCD); and a variance for a front yard setback at 8668 Elm Rd, Chestertown (Sixth Election District, zoned CR). Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 5 — Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council (virtual):** Informational reports on overdose statistics, prevention efforts, and coordination programs. No votes or binding actions are scheduled. Scheduled speakers include Pete Landon, Director of Kent County Office of Emergency Services; Katie Dilley, CEO of Mid Shore Behavioral Health; Nikki Clark, Big Brother Big Sisters Eastern Shore Outreach Coordinator; Melanie Jones-Dalziel on Care Coordination/Overdose Fatality Review; and law enforcement updates from Sheriff Hickman and Chief Dixon.
• **Aug. 5 — Administrative Charging Committee:** The agenda consists of procedural boilerplate, with no specific decisions, proposals, or substantive items listed.
• **Aug. 6 — Planning Commission:** Major site plan review (preliminary and final) for Jones Farm Station/Lester C. Jones & Sons, Inc. to process and sell animal products at 32545 Galena Sassafras Road; a lot coverage variance request for Carl and Mary Schumaker at 5886 Whale Point Lane; and submission of the 2025 Annual Report Form to the Maryland Department of Planning.

Kent County Commissioners approve $550,000 Millington property purchase; zoning board to weigh two wireless tower requests this week

The Kent County Commissioners approved a $550,000 property purchase at 373 Cypress Street for the Millington Wastewater Treatment Plant on July 7, along with a slate of public safety contracts and grant acceptances. All items passed 7-2.

County Commissioners — July 7

The Commissioners approved eight consent items and acted on several infrastructure and public safety matters, each by a 7-2 vote.

Key decisions included:

• **Resolution 2026-15**: Purchase of property at 373 Cypress Street for $550,000.00, with general fund money designated for the acquisition.
• **Law enforcement radios**: Approval of a Motorola Solutions quote for fifty portable radios and equipment.
• **Detention center contracts**: A five-year food services contract with Trinity Services Group, Inc. and an updated Master Services Agreement with Pay Tel Communications.
• **Overdose response grant**: Acceptance of a $224,520.75 grant from the Maryland Office of Overdose Response.
• **Housing donation**: A $16,200.00 donation to Kent Attainable Housing.
• **Older adults plan**: Approval of the Supporting Older Adults with Resources Annual Plan.
• **Personnel**: A conditional employment offer for a Child Development Specialist vacancy.
• **Legislation introduced**: Code Home Rule Bill 3-2026, set for public hearing.

Economic & Tourism Development Commission — July 8

The commission's agenda included a presentation by Chestertown Town Manager Dr. Chad P. Rooney on town initiatives and consideration of June 10 meeting minutes. A future August agenda item is scheduled: Victor Sensenig of Washington College will present updates on major college projects. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

County Commissioners — July 14

The Commissioners' agenda called for review of a FY2027 Recidivism Reduction Project grant agreement, a change order request for the FY2026 Dixie Land Energy contract, and a hiring request for two Correctional Officer I positions at the Kent County Detention Center. The agenda also listed a public hearing notice for the Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission tied to Code Home Rule 3-2026, plus ARPA and contingency fund reports dated June 23, 2026. Minutes have not yet been published.

Local Management Board — July 16

The Kent County Local Management Board was scheduled to approve a scope revision for the CRRF Judy Center Grant and May meeting minutes. The director's update was set to cover a Student Housing Action Team RFP, KNOCK! Action Planning, a training, and a staff position. Discussion items included the status of small rolling grants under CRRF, new state guidance for CRRF, and an updated eligibility map and proposal for the ENOUGH Partnership. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

Board of Zoning Appeals — Monday, July 20: The board will consider two Special Exception requests for personal wireless facility towers. Application 26-04 covers a tower on Morgnec Road in Kennedyville (Map 30, Parcel 5), requested by Towerco/Stephen and Mary Etta Stoltzfus. Application 26-27 covers a tower at 13265 Augustine Herman Highway in Galena, requested by the Town of Galena.

County Commissioners — Tuesday, July 21: The agenda includes renewal of a Microsoft Volume Licensing Agreement, a FY2027 vehicle order, and award of a tipping-fees contract for Rock Hall dredging. The Board will hold a public hearing on the Community Reinvestment and Repair Commission. Department updates cover open-space program funding, an emergency-management grant award, and a recommendation to select a consultant for the Kent County Housing Study. ARPA and contingency fund reports are also scheduled.