CUMBERLAND — Allegany County is running out of money to pay for repairs related to a May flood that devastated much of the area.
The county Board of Commissioners Thursday approved more than $500,000 for more needed work.
The latest round of bills brings the county “to a running total of $3.9 million,” said Adam Patterson, the county’s director of public works.
Commissioner Creade Brodie asked if more help could come from the state, or whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reconsidered providing aid.
“We can’t continue to go this route,” Brodie said of draining county funds.
Soon after the flood, Gov. Wes Moore announced the first-ever use of a State Disaster Recovery Fund that provided $459,375 to help Western Marylanders impacted by the disaster.
In July, Moore announced an additional $1 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds for families in Garrett and Allegany counties.
Around that time, President Donald Trump rejected Maryland’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the flood.
Moore in August said the state formally appealed Trump’s denial.
Meanwhile, the county continues to accumulate post-flood bills.
There’s been “nothing from FEMA on our appeal,” county Administrator Jason Bennett said.
“The state’s been very helpful to us as far as staffing and giving us money to give back to residents, which is great,” he said. “No one to date has helped us with infrastructure dollars.”
The county spent all of its lottery proceeds to cover flood repair work, Bennett said.
“Now we’re truly eating fund balance,” he told the BOC, adding that without more state or any federal help, “we’ll be here before too long asking you to (approve) borrowing.”
Program Open SpaceThe BOC heard recommendations for use of funding from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for planning, acquisition and/or development of recreation land or open space areas.
Under the program, DNR reimburses 90% of project costs, which require a 10% match from an applicant.
“Allegany County received $289,184 for the fiscal year ’26,” said Andrew Cowan, the county’s recycling coordinator.
“Ten projects were submitted for funding.”
A local Program Open Space committee approved nine of the projects including $101,408 for Willowbrook Outdoor Wellness, $60,000 for ball field lighting at the Cresaptown Sports Complex, and $30,171 for athletic field renovations at Bishop Walsh School.
The city of Cumberland requested $54,000 for a pavilion and picnic tables at the Gene Mason Sports Complex.
“The committee recommended not funding the project this year,” Cowan said.
County officials will collect public comments on the plan, then present it for BOC approval at an upcoming meeting.
Water rate meetingThe next public BOC meeting will be at 3 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds multipurpose building, followed by a 5 p.m. meeting for commissioners to hear from residents of the Bel Air, Pinto, Glen Oaks and Highland Estates areas regarding the high cost of their water bills.
“We’re gonna have federal, state and American Water representatives there, tentatively,” Bennett said.