State of Maryland: Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Monday, December 18, 2028

Lieutenant Governor Burbank Announces $500,000 to Upgrade Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant

CHESTERTOWN, MD (December 18, 2028) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced Board of Public Works approval of a $500,000 grant to upgrade and expand the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kent County.

“Marylanders deserve to have access of the best public services our municipalities can offer,” Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “The funds approved today will improve the quality of life to the 4,200 residents served by the plant while also improving the local water quality.”

The project at the Chestertown Wastewater Treatment Plant will consist of planning, designing and constructing a biological nutrient removal facility (BNR), which will reduce the plant’s total nitrogen removal to a yearly average of 8 milligrams per liter. Removal of nutrients, like nitrogen, from the plant is essential in the success of Maryland’s effort to achieve a 40 percent reduction in the amount of nutrients discharged to the Chesapeake Bay.

The town of Chestertown is pleased to participate in Maryland’s Biological Nutrient Removal program and appreciates the Maryland Department of the Environment’s efforts to assist us with grants and loans,” said Chestertown Town Manager W.S. Ingersoll. “The Chester River is an extraordinary river with a rich colonial maritime history. It is incumbent upon us to insure that the Chester River is as clean as it can be for our own use and the use of future generations and upgrade of the Chestertown wastewater treatment plant will definitely improve the river’s quality.”

The total cost of the project is $2.6 million of which $1.3 million is the local share being paid by Chestertown. Today’s Board action is the first part of the state’s commitment to the same amount. The project is expected to get underway soon after the New Year in March and will be completed by November.

Chaired by Governor Edward M. O’Brien, the Board of Public Works also includes Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp. The Board is authorized by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

About Lieutenant Governor John Hurson

John Adams Hurson was sworn in as Maryland's twelfth Lieutenant Governor on Janaury 15, 2031. Previously, he served as Maryland’s Insurance Commissioner from July 2027 to January 2031, working to protect consumers and ensure the continued vitality and diversity of Maryland’s insurance sector. Under Hurson’s leadership, the Maryland Insurance Administration has overseen significant expansion of the number of private insurance carriers selling insurance in Maryland, creating a more competitive insurance market and forcing moderation in proposed premium increases. Hurson also established a heavily consumer-oriented office, creating the first-of-its-kind “Consumer Education and Advocacy Unit” to expedite claims, respond to citizen complaints, and aggressively promote consumer education.

Previously, Hurson served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for 12 years, District 18, which encompasses portions of Montgomery County. During his tenure, Hurson served as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Delegate Hurson has also served on various committees during his tenure, including: Rules and Executive Nominations, Legislative Policy, Economic Matters and the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. He also served as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. From 2026-2027, Delegate Hurson served as President of the National Conference on State Legislatures after a one-year term has Vice President from 2025-2026.

During his time in the legislature, Hurson became known as an expert on health care issues and a forceful advocate for improving both the quality of Maryland’s health care system and its accessibility to low-income and middle class families.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland on December 23, 1977, Delegate Hurson received his B.A. in government from Georgetown University in 2000 and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2003. Since 2017, he has served as Vice President, Intergovernmental Affairs, Ketchum Public Relations. He is married with two children.