HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Washington County commissioners face a packed June 9 agenda that touches on public safety, county finances, transportation infrastructure and economic development, with a proposal to seek federal funding for 24 additional firefighters standing out as the meeting’s most consequential item for residents.
The board is expected to consider authorizing the Division of Emergency Services to apply for and accept a FEMA SAFER grant that would fund the hiring of 24 additional firefighters. County officials say the added staffing would help address ongoing shortages that leave some fire apparatus and departments struggling to field adequate crews for emergency responses.
If awarded, the grant would support a multiyear expansion of career staffing throughout the county’s fire service system. The proposal carries long-term budget implications, with annual costs eventually reaching several million dollars once grant funding phases out.
Commissioners also will review the county’s annual property and casualty insurance renewal package, a recurring expense that affects virtually every department and government operation. The presentation comes as local governments across the country continue grappling with rising insurance costs and liability exposures.
Several major infrastructure projects for Hagerstown Regional Airport are also slated for action, including rehabilitation of Runway 2-20, demolition of an aircraft rescue and firefighting building, and realignment of airport fencing and access gates. Together, the projects represent a substantial investment in the airport and its role in the county’s economy.
Economic development also returns to the agenda through a proposed Appalachian Regional Commission grant for the Fort Ritchie sewer project. Expansion of water and sewer infrastructure is often a prerequisite for future commercial and residential development, making the item particularly important for long-term growth in the Cascade area.
The commissioners also will publicly acknowledge an Open Meetings Compliance Board decision issued June 2. State law requires the board to announce and summarize the finding at its next open meeting.
Other notable agenda items include:
• Approval of 2026 budget adjustments for Washington County Public Schools.
• Several Board of Health presentations involving substance abuse services, care coordination and non-emergency medical transportation.
• Property acquisitions involving Longmeadow Road, Paradise Church Road and Appletown Road.
• A contract award for renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
• Updated recommendations for FY 2027 community organization funding.
• Approval of the annual Program Open Space funding package, which includes recreational projects across several municipalities.
The meeting will conclude with a closed session covering volunteer board appointments, an open county position, potential business development opportunities and legal matters involving the county.
The commissioners are scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. June 9 at the County Administration Building in Hagerstown. For the full agenda, click here.
