Conduit Street Podcast

In this episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson chats with Mo Hasan, who will deliver keynote comments at the upcoming MACo Summer Conference. Mo Hasan and his company, Intupower, are harnessing generative AI as a tool not just for tech-inclined people but for everyone - including local governments. On the podcast, he talks about thinking of AI as a tool for everyone and spells out its transformative potential. You...

On this week's podcast, MACo's Executive Director, Michael Sanderson, sits down with his predecessor, longtime Director David Bliden. They talk through issues facing counties back in the 80s and 90s, and note how many of them continue to resonate today. David also talks through his beginnings at MACo, and his vision for MACo as a vibrant and well-respected voice for county services. Great stories about former Senate Presi...

In this week's episode, MACo's Michael Sanderson connects with his Pennsylvania counterpart, Lisa Schaefer. She guides the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, which serves and represents its 64 county members. They compare and contrast the two states: the budget process (where PA is still haggling over their state budget that starts on Monday), the legislative calendar, the crisis in local jails, addressing ...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Montgomery County Council Member Dawn Luedtke and Captain Jason Cokinos of the Montgomery County Police Department join Sarah Sample to discuss the use of drones as first responders. Tune in to hear how Montgomery County designed and implemented a plan to put drones to use for the safety of their residents.

The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, A...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Amy Moredock joins Dominic Butchko to discuss Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—what they are, why they're a hot topic, and the counties' role in zoning.

Amy Moredock is a professional planner with 20 years of land use experience on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. She has been directly involved in local and state planning efforts with a long history of drafting and implementing ...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Ted Zaleski and Robbie Sandlass join Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss pressing budget and finance issues for the State of Maryland and county governments. Topics include the intricacies of bond ratings and how they affect financial health and borrowing capabilities, increasing pressure to fund public schools, why distinguishing between one-time and ongoing costs is...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis joins Kevin Kinnally to recap Maryland's primary election and look ahead to the general election in November. Plus, a discussion on election security and the impacts of new technology on the electoral process.

Counties administer and fund elections at the local level, overseeing polling places and coord...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally dive deep into the financial challenges facing Maryland counties. They discuss the phased implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and its effect on county budgets, highlighting the need for innovative revenue-raising options beyond property taxes. 

The conversation underscores the progressive goals of the Blueprint, focus...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, we delve into Maryland's groundbreaking court-ordered mental health treatment program, making the state the 48th to establish such a program. Joining the podcast is Marie Grant, Assistant Secretary for Health Policy at the Maryland Department of Health, alongside host Sarah Sample, to discuss the implications for Maryland, county governments, and mental health treatment access statewide...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Dominic Butchko and Shantelle Malcolm-Lym are joined by Elizabeth Malasky, Queen Anne’s County Public Information Manager, and Sara Shelley, Co-Founder and President of Plastic Free QAC. They discuss Queen Anne’s County’s innovative program addressing boat plastic shrink wrap recycling, aiming to reduce the 30 tons of plastic waste generated annually. The program, a partnership with th...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, hosts Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson welcome Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman to discuss her role as a statewide fiscal and policy leader. They delve into the role of the Comptroller, Maryland's uniquely positioned Board of Public Works, and the Revenue Estimating process, as she shares some takeaways from research into Maryland's economy and underlying demographics. Be...

Join Dom Butchko from the MACo Policy Team on a special Earth Week episode of the Conduit Street Podcast as he welcomes Kristen Harbeson and Rebecca Rehr from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (LCV). They discuss LCV's mission, priorities, and their impact on local governments, highlighting areas that overlap with county missions. The conversation delves into hot topics like solar siting, tools developed by LCV for co...

In the latest Conduit Street podcast episode, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson welcome back a popular guest, Dr. Mileah Kromer of Goucher Poll fame. Dr. Kromer talks through the findings and "vibes" from her recent polls, both statewide and in Baltimore. What issues are on the minds of Maryland voters as they consider elections ahead? What do they think of the current direction of Maryland and its economy, and how do ...

This week on the Conduit Street Podcast, Dominic Butchko from the MACo Policy Team is joined by Lisa Ochsenhirt from AquaLaw and Erik Michelsen from Anne Arundel County Dept of Public Works for a timely discussion on all things water. They'll discuss the latest on "forever chemicals," stream restoration, and the recently passed Whole Watershed Act of 2024. Plus, learn about the effects of sea level rise on Maryland&a...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, join Sarah Sample and Dominic Butchko from the MACo Policy Team as they take listeners on a 'rapid round ride' through MACo's major portfolio of issues from the just-wrapped 2024 legislative session. From affordable housing to public safety, firefighters, and health, they'll highlight MACo's big wins and key county concerns. Plus, don't miss their sn...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson is joined by Shantelle Malcolm-Lym from the MACo team. They discuss the ongoing policy debates in Annapolis, particularly focusing on transportation funding cuts and their effect on local communities.

This special episode highlights an audio excerpt from a January 16, 2024, briefing in the Appropriation Committee. It features Mayor Brandon Scott discus...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson talk through the Senate actions regarding the State's fiscal plan for the year ahead - the budget and accompanying reconciliation bill.

Cuts to Highway User Revenues (but not the deepest cuts on the table), some restored funding for our community colleges, and... some more work to do on county priorities. They discuss the two wa...

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Shantelle Malcolm-Lym welcome guest Cathy Muse from the National Association of Counties Edge program. She talks through the various cost-saving tools available to all Maryland counties through NACo's partnerships that can help develop attractive employee benefits, manage public funds, and recruit top talent to the public sector.

Muse draws on ...