FMD

These cases now move to the Circuit Court where trial dates will be scheduled.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Grand Jury on Friday returned eight indictments.   One was against Hedbby Abddy Ramirez Maldonado, 22, of Frederick. who is charged with possession of a firearm with a conviction of a crime of violence; possession of a regulated  firearm which was reported stolen; unlawful sale of a regulated firearm; having a loaded handgun on his person; having a handgun on his person; and illegal possession of ammunition.

He was arrested on Sunday evening, April 14th, 2024  in the area of South Pendleton Court.   Frederick Police were sent  there for a shots-fired incident. Ramirez Maldonado was observed in that area and tried to flee from officers.

Authorities say he had an active warrant for failure to appear in court.

Another indictment was handed down to Ja Qwan Taylor El, 22, who is charged with use of a handgun for narcotics distribution; use of a firearm for drug trafficking; having a loaded handgun in a vehicle; having a handgun in a vehicle; and possession with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine.

Taylor El was arrested on the evening of April 15th, 2024  following a traffic stop along New Design Road and Guilford Drive.  The Sheriff’s Office says deputies conducting a search of the vehicle where Taylor El was a passenger found a handgun reported stolen in Bowie, four grams of cocaine and a scale.   Authorities say Taylor El was wanted in Baltimore County for attempted 1st-degree murder and a firearms offense.

Other indictments returned by the Grand Jury on Friday include:

*Travis Cortez Weedon, 43, of Frederick, who is charged 1st-degree assault; 2nd-degree assault; and reckless endangerment for an offense which occurred on April 12th, 2024.

*Louis Paul Capps, 37, of Thurmont, Md., who is charged with 1st-degree assault; 2nd-degree assault; reckless endangerment; and seven counts of violating an ex parte/protective orders for offenses which occurred  between April 9th and April 15th,2024..

*Oscar Sanchez, 24, of Frederick, who is charged with 1st-degree assault; 2nd-degree assault; reckless endangerment; 1st-degree rape; and false imprisonment for an offense which occurred on April 22nd, 2024.

*Jacob Bruce Sherman, 18, of Jefferson, who is charged 1st-degree burglary; conspiracy to commit 1st-degree burglary; 2nd-degree burglary; conspiracy to commit 2nd-degree burglary; 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling; 4th-degree burglary of a storehouse; theft between $100 to $1500; and making a false statement to a peace officer for an offense which occurred on March 23rd, 2024..

* Kenzil A. Baptiste, 38, of Frederick who is charged with 2nd-degree child abuse by a custodian and 2nd-degree assault for an offense  which occurred on March 22nd, 2024.

*Brandy Lee Shankle, 37, of Middletown, who is charged with attempted kidnapping of a child under 16 years  of age for an offense which occurred on March 9th, 2024..

These cases will now move to the Circuit Court where trial dates will be scheduled.

The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s; Office says indictments are charging documents alleging criminal conduct, and all defendants are innocent until provide guilty.

By Kevin McManus

A judge said the defendant’s right to a speedy trial were violated.

Baltimore, Md (KM) A federal judge has dismissed an indictment against a Frederick man, stating that his speedy  trial rights were violated.

Robert Krop, who co-owns the Machine Gun nest, was indicted last year, along with Sheriff Chuck Jenkins,  on five counts of conspiracy and making false statements to illegally acquire machine guns. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

The Frederick News Post is reporting that federal prosecutors have three weeks to decide whether to file a new indictment against Krop.

Jenkins is still facing similar charges.

By Kevin McManus

(Hlyton M. Walker – Photo courtesy of the Winchester Star )

Child sex abuse defendant will be retried on all but one count.

Winchester, VA (JK) – A mistrial was declared on Tuesday in Winchester Virginia Circuit Court in the case of Hylton Walker of Winchester.  He is accused of molesting three children over an 8 year period.

Hylton was arrested in September of 2021, and is accused of molesting three female children between 2013 and 2021 according to the Winchester Star.

One of the victims told investigators that Walker raped her and was forced to perform other sex acts. All three children, who are now teenagers, told police that Walker showed them pornography and he would masturbate in front of them.

He has been charged with three counts of indecent liberties with a child, two counts of rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, one count of sodomy, one count of using a sex object for penetration of a minor and one count of showing a child pornography.

After closing remarks, the jury retired.  After some length of time, they returned and proceeded to tell Judge Brian Madden that they could not reach a verdict on any of the cases. Madden then ordered a mistrial.

The judge continued the case until May 23rd,  The prosecution dropped one of the indecent liberties counts, but  Walker will be retried on all of the remaining charges.

(Michael Antonio Hill – photo courtesy of the Winchester Star)

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Michael Antonio Hill changes plea to guilty in the middle of his trial for second degree murder.

Winchester, VA (JK) – 55 year old Michael Hill of Winchester, Virginia suddenly changed his plea to guilty of one count of second degree murder and one count of murder with a knife.

The Winchester Star reports that the change was made on April 30th, the second day of his trial.

Hill was arrested in June of 2022 for the murder of 67-year old Rufus Holland of Kernstown Virginia.

An argument between the two men escalated into a physical altercation.

Holland was apparently having sex in exchange for drugs with the same woman that Hill had a romantic relationship with. Deputy Commonwealth’ Attorney Andrew Robbins described Hollands death as a brutal slaying brought on by a trifecta of money, drugs and love.

Hill and Holland were related by marriage. Holland was found a day after the altercation with 36 knife wounds.

Sentencing is set for July 9th. Hill could face a total of up to 45 years in prison.

(Photos courtesy of Pennsylvania State Police)

Chambersburg, Pa. (BW)- Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the suspect involved in a retail theft in Chambersburg.

On April 8, an adult male left the Walmart at 1730 Lincoln Way E with over $400 worth of merchandise he failed to pay for.

He left the Walmart in a white van.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police at the Chambersburg Barrack at 717-264-5161.

All tips can remain anonymous if the caller wishes. Anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the suspect could be eligible for a cash reward.

It received a nearly $1-million grant to pay for it.

Frederick County receives EPA Grant to fund Green Homes Program  (Photo from Frederick County, Md_

Frederick, Md (KM) A new initiative to assist Frederick County Residents who want to lower their energy costs has been launched.  During a public information briefing on Thursday, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater said the Green Homes Program can assist residents in accessing local, state and federal programs to improve their home environment, lower energy costs and live sustainably.

“Through educational  outreach and accessible program, we aim to promote environmental literacy and civic engagement, empowering residents to live sustainably and create agency    over the environmental issues that affect their neighborhoods,” says Fitzwater.

The program is funded by a nearly $1-million grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program. “This initiative demonstrates our commitment to ensure that our efforts to address climate change and increase the resilience of Frederick County truly involves everyone in our community,” says Tiara Lester, Sustainability Program Administrator in the County’s Division of Energy and the Environment. “We’re working to give voice to and effect positive change for environmental justice populations in Frederick County.”

“Climate change does not impact everyone equally,” Lester continues. “We recognize that there are those in our community who face greater challenges in dealing with things like rising temperatures, risk of floods and extreme weather events.”

She says the Green Homes Program has several initiatives to lift up people who have been burdened by ‘”systemic inequality, engaging them in our environmental work, and ensuring that a sustainable, resilient future is attainable by everyone.”

The program consists of the Green Compass which provides assistance to residents in finding, understanding and benefiting from local, state and federal programs to help them improve their home environments, lower energy costs and help them live sustainably.

Another part of the program is the Green Challenge which is a guide to sustainable living. It provides those taking part with incentives and defined actions  to support energy savings, make environmentally friendly choices, and using renewable energy.

The final part of the program is Green Partnership to make sure all Frederick County residents can benefit from sustainable living. Working with local organizations and community stakeholders, it makes “going green” more possible for underserved and overburdened communities.

“By helping households reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, we not only mitigate the effects of climate change, but we also help alleviate the financial strain on households already struggling to make ends meet,” says Lester.

Fitzwater added: “Its initiative will contribute to making Frederick County healthy, resilient and more inclusive by assuring that our work to address climate change neglects no one.”

The County Executive’s Office says Frederick County was one of 88 Environmental Justice grants awarded nationally, and one of only four awarded to the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

By Kevin McManus

It’s now expected to held in June.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Asian American Center of Frederick says the Asia on the Creek event has been rescheduled. It was supposed to take place this Saturday, May 4th, 2024. . But due to rain in the forecast for that day, the event will now take place on Saturday, June 1st, 2024.

The location will still be at  the Carroll Creek Amphitheater from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

The event is part of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month  which usually occurs in May.

By Kevin McManus

He is currently behind bars on a no-bond status.

Christopher Love    (Photo from Montgomery County Police)

Gaithersburg, Md (KM) Montgomery County Police have arrested a suspect in connection with an attempted sexual assault last month. Christopher Love, 27, who has no fixed address, was taken into custody on Wednesday, May 1st in the 11400 block of Lockwood Drive. He is charged with attempted 1st-degree rape, home invasion, 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault, and 3rd-degree sex offense.

Love is currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit. .

Police say on April 23rd, Love allegedly entered a home on 2nd Avenue in SIlver Spring at the same time a woman who lived there also went inside. . He is accused of physically assaulting her, and tried to rape her, but she fought back.

The suspect fled the home.

By Kevin McManus

There will be a celebration.

Middletown Branch Library  (Photo from Frederick County Public Library SYstem_

Middletown, Md (KM) The new Middletown Branch Library will officially open at 10′:00 AM on Saturday, May 4th,  and there will be a celebration.

The Frederick County Public Library System says the new facility at 31 East Green Street is 15,000 square feet, and will contain a community room, quiet study spaces, areas dedicated to children and teenagers, and a drive-though book drop. It will also have two outdoor patios, and the first set of outdoor book lockers.

The new library replaces a one-room library site at 101 Prospect Street.

There will be a grand celebration from 11: AM until 4:00 PM, featuring live music, a magic act and a critter show. There will be tours of the new branch library every 30 minutes.

County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Councilman Jerry Donald, Middletown Burgess John Miller, Library Board of Trustees Chair Jenny D’Agostino, and Frederick County Public Libraries Director James Kelly will deliver remarks.

“We’re thrilled to open this new library and we greatly appreciate the incredible support we’ve received from the Middletown Community,” Kelly says , in a statement.

For more information, go on lien to www.fcpl.org/middletownlibrary.

By Kevin McManus

No injuries are reported.

Hagerstown, Md (KM) The cause of a house fire in Washington County Wednesday evening is under investigation.

At around 6:40 PM, fire fighters were dispatched to 19524 Portsmouth Road in Hagerstown for a two-story, single family home on fire. They spent 12-minutes bringing the flames under control There were no injuries.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office says the damage is estimated at $25,000 to the structure, and $5,000 to the contents. . The fire originated in a second-floor bedroom.

The home’s occupants were displaced by the fire, and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

By Kevin McManus

(Photos courtesy of Montgomery County Police)

Gaithersburg, MD (JK)- Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who allegedly broke into the Sunshine Smiles Dental Care. Detectives have released photographs of the suspect.

On Friday, April 5, 2024, at approximately 2 p.m., 3rd District officers responded to the dental office, in the 900 block of Bonifant St., for the report of a burglary.

The preliminary investigation by detectives has revealed that the unknown male suspect broke into the office and stole property before leaving.

The suspect tried the door handles of other businesses in the area but was not able to get in.

Detectives obtained surveillance photos of the suspect.

The suspect is described as a Black male, in his 30s, with a light beard, wearing a black Adidas tracksuit with a grey shirt underneath and white slide Adidas sandals with purple socks.

Anyone with information regarding these suspects or this crime is asked to visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, MD website at www.crimesolversmcmd.org or call 1-866-411-8477. Tips with information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward from $250 up to $10,000. Tips may remain anonymous.

There are four early voting sites in Frederick County.

Frederick, Md (KM) Maryland residents can take advantage of early voting which gets underway on Thursday, May 2nd, and continues through Thursday, May 9th

Frederick County Election Director Barbara Wagner says there will be four polling place in the county for voters  to cast ballots in the Maryland Primary. They are  the Prospect Center, 585, Himes Avenue; the Middletown Volunteer , Fire Department Activities Building, 1 Fireman’s Lane; the Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amuelung Street; and the Thurmont Regional Library, 76 East Moser Road. “So we’ve been preparing for those sites, getting our equipment ready to go in and training election judges. Over 900 election judges will be trained for election day, and we will use 700 of those judges in early voting alone for eight days,” she says.

Residents can vote at any one of the early voting centers. The hours will be from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM each day at each site, including Saturday and Sunday.

If you are not registered to vote, you can do so during early voting days, and vote on the day your register. “We have same day registration at early voting. And also for those people who have moved and have not changed their address, we can do an address change at early voting,” Wagner says.

Early voting has been around for a few years, and Wagner says it has proven to be very popular. “We probably get– between mail-in ballots, on election day and early voting,–we probably get a third of our voters through early voting. So it’s getting quite popular, yes,” she says.

For those who want to use mail-in ballots, Wagner says they have until May 7th to request one. . “A little bit over 29,000 people have requested a mail-in ballot. We’ve gotten probably a little bit less than half of those back as of now,” she says.

Residents who request a mail-in ballot can fill it out in the comfort of their own home, and send it  out through the US Postal Service, or place it in one of ten drop boxes around Frederick County. if mailed, these ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, May 14th 2024.

Primary election day in Maryland is Tuesday, May 14th. Wagner says there will be 55 polling places around the County for those who want to cast their ballots on that day. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

By Kevin McManus

The closure is expected to last two weeks.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Department of Highway Operations say Pear Lane north of Frederick city will be closed for approximately two weeks beginning on or about May 13th. This will allow crews to remove and replace a deteriorated metal pipe culvert with a concrete culvert.

The project is expected to last two weeks weather permitting.

Motorists are asked to follow a signed detour route which includes Opposumtown Pike and Ford Road.

By Kevin McManus

The closure is expected to last two weeks.

Frederick, Md (KM) The Frederick County Department of Highway Operations say Pear Lane north of Frederick city will be closed for approximately two weeks beginning on or about May 13th. This will allow crews to remove and replace a deteriorated metal pipe culvert with a concrete culvert.

The project is expected to last two weeks weather permitting.

Motorists are asked to follow a signed detour route which includes Opposumtown Pike and Ford Road.

By Kevin McManus

Real Estate Professional Shannon Flannery morphs Facebook page into Frederick centric meeting place and store.

Frederick, MD (JK) – The Everything Frederick and More meeting place and store has opened this week at 401 North Market Street.  The brainchild of Shannon Flannery, local real estate professional, is modeled after her successful Facebook Page.

The store acts as a local meeting place, coffee shop, productivity center and features and has an environment that stimulates discussion and ideas.

With over 127,000 followers to her Facebook Page, Flannery hopes the success of the page translates to a community meeting place where people can meet, chat, charge their phone, do work, and purchase Frederick centric artwork and swag.

The Everything Frederick and More Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1621709304656307/

Everything Frederick and More meeting place is open Wednesday through Saturday,

Lawmakers announce over $11 million in total to reconnect communities across Maryland, secured through the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressman David Trone (all D-Md) announced $485,000 for the City of Frederick’s Golden Mile Multimodal Connection Planning Project. The funding will help the city design safe pedestrian and bicycle connections between the residential and commercial areas that are divided by West Patrick Street/U.S. Route 40 in Frederick’s Golden Mile Corridor.

The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and provided through the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Grant Program, which the lawmakers worked to create and fund through the Inflation Reduction Act. This grant is complemented by a $380,000 direct federal investment that the federal lawmakers secured for the City of Frederick and the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Reconnecting West Patrick Planning Project through the recently enacted fiscal year 2024 appropriations package. That funding will be used to create preliminary plans for the reconfiguration of the West Patrick Street, in order to improve equitable access to downtown for disadvantaged communities.

“West Patrick Street on Frederick’s Golden Mile was designed to handle heavy vehicle traffic, but providing for pedestrian and cyclist safety has fallen behind. That’s why we worked to deliver these federal funds to begin the planning process for a safer, more accessible Golden Mile Corridor. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re investing in projects like this across our state and our country to improve infrastructure for our communities,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Frederick’s Golden Mile Corridor is a major gateway to the city, and it needs infrastructure that allows multimodal access for the rapidly growing community. This federal investment will support critical improvements along US Route 40 that create safer pathways for bicyclists and pedestrians, improve connectivity and accessibility and help bolster economic development that benefits residents, businesses and visitors,” said Senator Cardin. “It is just another example of how President Biden’s investment in community-driven transportation projects continues to deliver meaningful improvements for communities throughout Maryland and across the country.”

“Dollar by dollar, project by project, the Inflation Reduction Act is changing Marylanders’ lives for the better – and I was proud to vote for it. This investment will be a gamechanger for Frederick’s Golden Mile Corridor, driving increased economic activity and improving public safety in the community,” said Congressman Trone. “This is what Team Maryland is all about, and I look forward to working with our local, state, and federal leaders to continue these investments and build a better tomorrow for our state.”

“We are thankful to our federal congressional delegation for securing this funding for The City of Frederick and our residents,” said Mayor Michael O’Connor. “These projects represent an exciting opportunity to improve mobility and safety on the west side of our city, bringing us closer to our vision of a more connected and accessible community. This investment will not only enhance the quality of life for our residents but also support the ongoing redevelopment efforts along the Golden Mile.”

“We’re proud to support Frederick County in their efforts to enhance safety for vulnerable road users and reconnect our communities,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “Thanks to Maryland’s federal delegation, this funding will help upgrade pedestrian and bicycle access at the US-15 and West Patrick Street interchange and will further support the state’s goal to rapidly reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.”

West Patrick Street from U.S. 15 to Waverly Drive is Frederick’s busiest surface road, accommodating over 48,000 cars per day. With its current design prioritizing passenger vehicle traffic, it is difficult and unsafe to travel on foot or by bicycle, while public transit busses move slowly with stops between multiple retail centers. As part of this project, the City of Frederick will engage surrounding neighborhoods to plan for people-centric crossing improvements that enable safe and efficient access within and through Golden Mile.

This award is one of six federal grants totaling more than $11 million that the lawmakers are announcing for Maryland to address infrastructure that has divided communities in our state. The awards are funded by both the NAE Program and DOT’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program – an initiative the lawmakers fought successfully to include in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The RCP provisions in the infrastructure law were modeled off of legislation authored by Senator Van Hollen and introduced as a bill by Senator Van Hollen and Senator Cardin. Cardin championed the legislation in his role as the Chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure in the Senate, and led in part by Congressman Trone in the House.

Maryland State Police arrested a man in connection with a shooting that occurred on Sunday in Carroll County.

The suspect, identified as Jose Manchame, 41, of Manchester, Maryland, was arrested on scene the night of the incident. He is charged with first-degree assault.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on April 28, 2024, the Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack received a call for a report of an adult male victim that had been struck by gunfire during a party at a residence in the 4900 block of Hanover Pike (Route 30) in Manchester, Maryland. The victim is not being identified at this time. The victim was flown by Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 3 to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland for treatment of his injuries.

Route 30 was closed for several hours for the investigation. Personnel from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration responded to the scene to assist with the road closure.

Assistance in this investigation was provided by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick City Police Department K-9 Unit, Carroll County Department of Fire and EMS of Maryland and the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper First Class Noah Potvin at [email protected]. This investigation is active and ongoing.

(photo courtesy of Frederickrunfest.com)

Over 4500 visitors will come to Frederick to participate in annual event.

( Frederick, Md (JK) – The 22nd annual Frederick Running Festival will be at the Frederick Fairgrounds this weekend. The event will feature a variety of races and events. Participants can compete in a half marathon, team relay, a 5 kilometer race and there is even a kids fun run. The festival will draw over 4500 visitors from 33 states.

Lee Corrigan, President of Corrigan Sports Enterprises said “We invite everybody to run, cheer or volunteer. The idea is we got something for everybody.”

Corrigan added that there will be the traditional races plus some special challenge races to benefit Special Olympics and other charitable causes.

In the challenge events, Corrigan Sports will donate $2 to a charity for every runner that is passed by a special participant in the race who will start the race dead last.

This festival has a significant economic impact on the Frederick County community. The expected visitors will contribute over $3.5 million dollars into the local economy.

Registration for the races can be done online at Frederickrunfest.com. Corrigan also mentioned that “the packet pick up is at the Frederick Fairgrounds. We also have a couple of remote packet pickup sites in Rockville and Howard County”. Registration, schedule and more information can be found at the web site at www.frederickrunfest.com.

The Frederick Running Festival starts at 10 AM on Saturday May 4th with the Health and Fitness Expo, the Team Relay and Half Marathon is at 7 AM on Sunday, and the awards ceremony for the Overall Winners, Half Marathon and Team Relay is at 9:15 AM Sunday.

It would allow residents to raise chicken on properties of less than three acres

Frederick, Md (KM) Raising backyard chickens could be expanded in Frederick County. The Council on Tuesday discussed a bill sponsored by Councilman Mason Carter to allow residents to own  eight or fewer chickens on lots of  30,000 square feet. Roosters would be prohibited, and any chicken coop, pen or stall could only be placed no closer than 25 feet away from a lot line.

Carter says this legislation came about after he spoke with a constituent who wanted to keep chickens on property of less than three acres, which is the current requirement. “In this current process, he has a residentially zoned property under three acres. To have a farm animal on your property, such as chickens, you would need to submit a written application, attend a Board of Appeals meeting, and request approval,”; he says.

But some Council members raised concerns about this bill. Councilman Steve McKay said if this legislation passes, it may not take precedence over regulations drafted by a Homeowners Association which prohibits raising backyard chickens in their neighborhoods. “The county may pass this law which enables and allows you to do it on a smaller property.; However, if you live in an HOA that does restrict that, those more restrictive covenants will override,” he said.

Councilwoman Renee Knapp said she’s concerned about the disposal of carcasses after these chickens die. “I’m a little concerned with avian flu. What could we do to protect the County from burying dead chickens. We don’t know how deep into the ground. So I would definitely want to see some additional language about  what to do with deceased  chickens, especially if there’s eight,” she said.

Her  colleague, Councilwoman MC Keegan-Ayer, said there doesn’t appear to be a provision in the bill which requires chickens be penned. “I know that there is a house within the city of Frederick and it’s on a major road that has free range chickens. Many of those chickens have met their demise because they’re free range chickens and it’s on a busy road,” Keegan-Ayer says.

Councilman Carter said he wanted to keep it simple. “We’re putting this forward because we want this be used. We want this to be accessible,” he says. “Bringing down from three acres to 30,000 square feet is going to open a number of properties across the county.”

Another fellow Councilman, Jerry Donald, raised  another concern. “They do make noise, even without a rooster there. There will be some people who will have a problem with it. Just letting you know. Forewarned.,” he said.

The City of Frederick allows residents to raise no more than six hens on residential property with certain restrictions.

By Kevin McManus

Final adoption is expected on May 21st.

Frederick, Md (KM) The next phase of drafting a fiscal year 2025 budget is before the Frederick County Council.

Last week, the Council heard from county agencies seeking additional funding than what was proposed in the spending plan put together by the County Executive.  Brad Young, Council President, said now it’s time for Council members to propose amendments to the budget. “Each of the Council members has the right to propose amendments to the budget which is to go through line-by-line and cut requested positions or supplies that particular departments are getting and the Council would vote on them individually,” he says.

Young says last year, the Council cut about $4 million from budget requests.

During the budget workshops last week, Young says the Council considered funding requests from county agencies. One of the  largest came from Frederick Community College which is seeking $2 million in additional funding. The County Executive is proposing $1.5 million in additional funding.    The School System is asking for $60 million over maintenance of effort, the amount the School System would receive to maintain its level of funding from the previous year. The County Executive has proposed $10 million over maintenance of effort.

“FCC pretty much is asking just for approval of the $1.5 million,”  Young says. “Obviously, FCPS is still lobbying that the Council consider increasing the school budget above and beyond what the County Executive proposed.”

The County Executive has also proposed a five-cent increase the property tax rate, setting it  at $1.11 per $100 of assessed value. “I’ve gotten some folks that have approached about the proposed tax increased to say ‘we don’t like it, but if that’s what it takes to improve our schools, we’re okay with,'” says Young. ” But I’ve gotten others who’ve expressed concerns that it will certainly impact their budget by increasing the taxes on their property for that.”

The additional revenue is expected to be used to pay for school construction and renovation projects.

A public hearing on the proposed property tax rate increase is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th at Winchester Hall beginning at 7:00 PM.

Young also expects to see budget amendments to be presented next week, and on May 14th. He says the plan is to adopt the fiscal year 2025 budget by May 21st.  The new fiscal year begins on July 1st, 2024.

By Kevin McManus