The meeting opened at 10:00 a.m. with an invocation by Pastor Angel Cartagena of Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the amended agenda. Public service announcements included a reminder about a hurricane in the Atlantic (expected to remain a "fish storm"), an upcoming Ag Preservation Program meeting on August 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Harriet Brown Community Center, a community quality-of-life survey, a notice that tax bills will be mailed by the end of the week, and the introduction of adoptable cats Bendy and Sheila from the county animal shelter (free adoptions through the end of the month). No public comments were received.
All four consent items were approved unanimously without objection.
Note: Meeting minutes were not available for this session. All votes were recorded as unanimous voice votes.
So good morning, everybody. We'll welcome you to the August 19th, 2025 meeting of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. At this time, I'd like to ask Pastor Cartagena if he would come forward and give us an invitation, please. Good morning. Before I begin, I wish to apologize for my attire. It was a long day of ministry yesterday, which became a long night of ministry, which became a early morning of ministry, and I've not had time to change, and so it does not reflect the deep respect I have for this body. You're by let's pray. Thank you. Gracious and merciful Father. In the season of challenge and difficulty, those who are called to take on the mantle of leadership need you more now than ever before. As we balance the needs of our community, let us, Lord, lead with firmness but also grace. That we may, Lord, be convicted but also show love. And in the midst of everything, Father, more than anything else, we need your wisdom and your discernment to know how best to care for those who have entrusted us through their votes. Lord, I pray for this esteemed body and all those who support them. For I know, Lord, that the burden is heavy. And while they smile and they often give us their very best whenever we see them in the community, we know, Father, that there are times when they take these matters with them to bed. When Lord, they are carrying the wants and the desires and the needs of people who depend on them. And so, Lord, in the midst of everything, may we be mindful of you and know that we always have you as our ultimate resource for everything that we need. Father, bless them in the name of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. God bless you. Thank you. So, Pastor Cartagena comes to us from the Chesapeake Church in Huntington. I want to thank you for that prayer. You fully encaptured what we go through, and I greatly appreciate it. Welcome, sir. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is to approve the agenda. Are there any corrections or additions to the agenda as presented? No, and I move that we approve and adopt the agenda as submitted. Second. The amended agenda that is as submitted. Have a motion and a second to approve the agenda as amended. Any discussion on that motion hearing none. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. So I gotta get a little organized. Staff meeting ran until 9 59, so it takes a second. Um just want to make people aware that uh as if you've been watching following the weather, there is a major hurricane in the Atlantic. That's going to be a fish storm, which means it's not going to make landfall. At least that's what they believe at this time, but uh coastal areas could see some significant flooding, a little bit of storm surge. Those people that live in low-lying areas know that happens on occasion, so and they know how to prepare for that. So we just want to remind everybody that um just pay attention to the weather, and uh hopefully by the end of the week this thing will be out in the middle of the Atlantic and become a little storm that nobody's talking about.