Inside Your County Government

Latest Episodes:

Commissioners Meeting Update: September 29, 2026 Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Here's a brief update from the September 29, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Affordable Housing Pilots Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

"Affordable housing" is a phrase everyone throws around — but what does it actually mean for Charles County? In this episode of Inside Your County Government, host Doria Fleisher sits down with Joel Binkley, Planning Supervisor with the Department of Planning and Growth Management, and Jake Dyer, Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, to break it down.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Commissioners Meeting Update: September 22, 2026 Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Here's a brief update from the September 22, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Commissioners Meeting Update: September 15, 2026 Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Here's a brief update from the September 15, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

988 and Suicide Prevention Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

This episode discusses suicide, which can be a sensitive topic for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support.

September 8th is 988 Day, and September is Suicide Prevention Month — but the resources in this episode are here for you all year long. Host Doria Fleisher sits down with two local experts to break down what 988 actually is, how it works, and how it's different from (and connected to) 911.

Joining the conversation:

Janay Tyler, Crisis Response Coordinator with the Charles County Department of Health's Local Behavioral Health Authority, and Southern Maryland Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Coordinator
Adrianna Fotso, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Diversion with Community Crisis Services Incorporated (CCI)

In this episode, you'll learn:

What 988 is and how it differs from calling 911
How confidential and anonymous a call to 988 really is — and why it almost never involves law enforcement
What "suicidal ideation" means, and why having thoughts of suicide doesn't always mean someone has a plan
How to call 988 on behalf of a friend or family member you're worried about
What Charles County is doing for Suicide Prevention Month, including free Mental Health First Aid and QPR trainings
The many local crisis resources available, including the CIT program, the mobile crisis team, and the Urgent Psychiatric Care program

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Call or text 988 anytime, 24/7, for suicide prevention and crisis support
Free Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings through the Charles County Health Department
Charles County Local Behavioral Health Authority — Charles County Department of Health https://charlescountyhealth.org/local-behavioral-health-authority/
Community Crisis Services Incorporated (CCI) https://ccsimd.org/

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Commissioners Meeting Update: September 1, 2026 Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Here' a brief update from the September 1, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Preservation Matters Magazine: What's Inside the 250th Anniversary edition Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Host Doria Fleisher sits down with Cal Carpenter, preservation planner, and Esther Reed, Charles County's one-and-only county archeologist, both from the Department of Planning and Growth Management. Together they unpack what it really takes to protect the county's history, farmland, and stories — from courthouse records to muddy dig sites.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

The making of Preservation Matters, the county's annual preservation magazine, and this year's tie-in to the America250 celebration
Thomas Stone, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the historic site named in his honor
The wild true story of the "Traitorous Tailor" of Port Tobacco, a Revolutionary-era smuggler who got caught
How agricultural preservation easements keep working farms from disappearing into subdivisions — including the fight against shoreline erosion at Lower Cedar Point
The rise and decline of tobacco farming in the county, and a new farm museum at Serenity Farm
The devastating 1926 La Plata tornado and why remembering local disaster history still matters today
How residents can get involved — from Monday public archaeology digs in Port Tobacco to reporting finds on their own property
Friends of Rich Hill Event on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1pm https://richhillfriends.org/events-page/ Say Their Names: Remembering the Enslaved African Americans at Historic Rich Hill
Historic Rich Hill 9135 Bel-Alton Newtown Road, Bel Alton, Maryland
For more information on Historic Preservation and to see the Preservation Magazine visit : https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/planning-and-growth-management/preservation-and-long-rang...

Want to get involved? Contact the Department of Planning and Growth Management through the Charles County website, or come out for public archeology on Mondays in Port Tobacco.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Comprehensive Plan Engagement Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Join host Doria Fleisher as she sits down with Charles County's Comprehensive Plan team — Joel Binkley, Long Range Planning Supervisor; Amy, Project Manager for the Comprehensive Plan update; and Tony Phelps, Assistant Chief of Planning. This episode breaks down what a comprehensive plan actually is, why it guides nearly every decision the county makes (from zoning to roads to where tax dollars go), and where Charles County stands in its current 20-year planning process. Hear about the extensive public engagement effort already underway, the common themes residents are sharing from Bryans Road to Waldorf, and what happens next as the plan moves into the drafting phase. Whether you've never heard of a comp plan or you've been following the process closely, this conversation will help you understand why your voice matters and how to stay engaged.

00:00 – Welcome & Meet the Comprehensive Plan Team 01:31 – What Is a Comprehensive Plan? 03:23 – Why It's the Community's Plan, Not Staff's 04:14 – Where the Process Stands Today 04:21 – How the County Has Gathered Public Input 05:36 – Common Themes Residents Are Sharing 11:27 – Bridging Charles County's "Two Counties" 11:48 – Why Every Voice Needs to Show Up 12:43 – How to Stay Updated on the Plan 12:59 – What Makes This Plan Different 14:16 – Reaching Residents Beyond the "Loud Voices" 16:05 – Housing: A Growing Priority 16:50 – Related Listening: Affordable Housing Explained 17:08 – Final Thoughts: Why Staying Engaged Matters 19:48 – How to Ask Questions & Get Involved 20:24 – Join the Citizens Academy

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Commissioners Meeting Update: July 21, 2026 Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Here's a brief update from the July 21, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Commissioners Meeting Update: July 7, 2026 Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

Here's a brief update from the July 7, 2026 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Thanks for listening.

If you like this podcast and want to hear more, search Charles County Government on Apple Podcast, Spotify or where ever you get your podcast - and be sure to like and subscribe.

We’re also available on YouTube. Search Charles County Commissioners

And Stay Connected for all County news, information, and programs by visiting www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/StayConnected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Inside Your County Government

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected