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Del. Beitzel, Sen. Edwards Secure $1 Million For ASCI Improvements

Apr. 11, 2013

The 2013 Maryland General Assembly adjourned Monday evening in Annapolis. During the 90-day session, Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Beitzel saw several of their bills make it to governor’s desk for signing into law, while a few pieces of proposed legislation died in committee chambers.

One of the local lawmakers’ more notable achievements was securing a total of $1 million for the Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI) in McHenry. Beitzel explained that he worked with the capital budget subcommittee to include $500,000 in the state’s capital budget on the House side, and Edwards was able to secure an additional $500,000 in the budget on the Senate side.

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The funding will be used for improvements at the whitewater course, including upgrading telecommunications, building new facilities, and upgrading existing infrastructure to prepare for the International Canoe Federation’s Deep Creek 2014 Canoe Slalom World Championships.

“These whitewater course improvements will benefit the facility for many years to attract new visitors to our region of the state,” Beitzel said in his weekly newsletter to constituents.

The championships are expected to generated $20 million for the local economy.

The lawmakers were also able to secure a $15 million bond bill for renovation/expansion work at Garrett County Memorial Hospital. Gov. Martin O’Malley signed Edwards’ SB 369 on Tuesday, which enables the Garrett County commissioners to borrow money on behalf of hospital officials for the $23.5 million project.

About $7.5 million of its cost will come from hospital operations and cash reserves, and $1 million will come from donations. The hospital will be solely responsible for paying off the bond’s debt service, which will be at a rate of 5.25 percent over a 20-year period.

The governor is also expected to sign HB 504/SB 370 – Garrett County Commissioners – Industrial Wind Energy Conversion Systems. This legislation authorizes the commissioners to enact ordinances pertaining to setbacks and the decommissioning of wind turbines.

“As you may know, Garrett County is the only county without countywide zoning,” Beitzel said in his newsletter. “I am pleased to announce that after six consecutive years of introducing this bill, it finally made its way out of the House and Senate, and is currently sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting [his] signature.”

HB 828/SB 766 – Oil and Gas Land Professionals – Registration was also approved by the House and Senate and awaits the governor’s signature.

“This is the second year that I have sponsored this significant legislation,” Beitzel said. “This bill requires that a person seeking to obtain any oil or gas leases from a property owner must provide proof to the property owner that the person is registered as a land professional in the state of Maryland.”

Under the pending law, a person may not operate as a land professional in the state unless he/she is registered with and Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation and is issued a certificate by the department.

Beitzel said a “land professional” is defined as a person, acting on their own behalf or on behalf of a prospective lessee or buyer, who negotiates with a property owner for the acquisition of mineral rights in oil or gas. He added that “mineral rights in oil or gas” means property rights, including an oil or gas lease, that allow the holder of the rights to enter into or under the property of another person for the extraction of crude oil, natural gas, or the constituents of crude oil or natural gas.

Also approved during this year’s General Assembly were bills that Edwards and Beitzel introduced on behalf of the Garrett County Liquor Control Board. One piece of legislation clarifies Sunday alcohol sales regulations that are already in place in the county. Another bill allows establishment of a beer festival license and the off-premise sales of special commemorative bottles or special event bottles of alcohol on a licensed Class C premise.

Some of the local lawmakers’ bills did not receive favorable reports from House and Senate committees, most notably HB 451/SB 310 – Garrett County – Coal Combustion Byproducts – Storage. The Garrett County commissioners requested the legislation. They asked that the state amend COMAR to allow the county to stockpile coal combustion byproducts, which are used locally as a road abrasive in the winter. The county has stored bottom ash at its three roads garages for numerous years, but the Maryland Department of the Environment cited the county last year for not having the piles covered, as required by COMAR.

MDE told county officials they must either cover the piles with a tarp or construct buildings to house the abrasives. Local officials, in turn, pointed out that the tarps would have to be one acre in size and buildings would be greatly cost prohibitive.

Edwards’ SB 204 – Bowhunting – Possession of Handguns for Protection received an unfavorable report from the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee.

Also not winning approval were SB 298, which would have allowed the speed limit on I-68 to be increased up to 70 mph; and SB 286, which would have changed the definition of a “school vehicle.”

Water Line Work Resumes Along Glendale Road

Apr. 4, 2013

Installation of the water line along Glendale Road resumed on Monday. The work was stalled because of inclement weather.

The roadway will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and only school buses and emergency vehicles will be allowed to enter the work zone and cross Glendale Bridge.

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All other traffic will be redirected to detours. Access will be permitted to residences and businesses located in the work zone, but delays may be experienced.

Daily updates will be posted on the Department of Public Utilities web site at www.co.garrett.md.us/public-utilities. Questions may be directed to 301-334-6983.

Short sale – 1200 MOUNTAINVIEW DR – GA7815223 – $849k

At one point, this was listed well over $1 million dollars and has one of the best views you can find of Deep Creek Lake:

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PRICE REDUCTION! Breathtaking Views of Deep Creek Lake distinguish this 4 bdrm. 3 1/2 bath Contemporary home at the top of Mountainside from all others. Features include designer Kitchen with Sub-Zero, Luxor cabinetry, “lite touch” whole home halogen illumination, Viking range. Totally upgraded home with outrageous views, cherry flooring, incredible MBR/MBA. Shown by app’t only.

http://www.deepcreeklake.com/RealEstate/JayFerguson/detail.aspx?id=GA7815223

New listing – Lakefront chalet – 345 HINES DR – $549k – GA8046033

345 HINES DR
SWANTON, MD 21561

deepcreekrealestate-GA8046033

Lakefront chalet with 5 bedrooms in a peaceful, quiet cove with 161 feet of frontage on Deep Creek Lake. Incredible lake and mountain views, hot tub, boat slip, located on an oversized/wooded 1.65 acre lot. Incredible lakefront value! Great location for families and friends!

 

Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.

 

Listing # GA8046033

   

GC Commissioners Approve State's Purchase Of 600 Acres Of Local Land

Apr. 4, 2013

 

The Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the sale of three privately owned parcels of land totaling more than 600 acres to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. According to law, state acquisitions over 100 acres require the approval of the commissioners, explained DNR western region program administrator John Braskey, land and acquisition and planning.

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Located on Backbone Mountain beside Potomac State Forest land, the first property is a 315-acre tract currently owned by Mountain Maryland Minerals LLC/Thomas Moran. The tentative purchase price is $615,000.

The second property is located along Pea Patch Lane. Owned by Robert Rounds, this site is 106 acres of farmland that is surrounded by the Savage River State Forest. The proposed price is $405,000.

The third tract, owned by Gerard Kursvietis, is 181 acres and is located in the Spring Lick Run area of Savage River State Forest. Braskey said this property is still under negotiations.

“All of these properties would be open, of course, to the public,” he said. “All these properties would increase hunting opportunities in Garrett County. They will be managed like our other properties.”

He added that Rounds’ property is near a wildlands, but has been assured by Forest Service officials that the site will not become a wildlands.

Commissioner Bob Gatto asked if the state approaches landowners about purchasing their properties.

“I don’t go out and try to solicit any properties,” Braskey said. “One other thing, the Department of Natural Resources does not do condemnation, eminent domain. We only buy from willing sellers.”

He estimated that 95 percent of the acquisitors are initiated by real estate agents, land managers, or the property owners themselves. Braskey added that the state is often the only party interested in purchasing the properties. He noted that the state tries to get the mineral rights to the properties that it purchases.

Braskey is a former Garrett County commissioner and was instrumental in getting the state law passed in the 1980s that requires the commissioners’ approval of DNR acquisitions over 100 acres. He said the law also applies in Allegany County.

More than 86,500 acres, or 18 percent, of Garrett County land is now owned by the state. Commissioner Jim Raley indicated this is the highest percentage of all Maryland counties.

“These properties are being purchased with POS (Program Open Space) funds, which gives certain rights for the properties being open to public use,” he said about the Moran, Rounds, and Kursvietis lands.

He indicated, however, he has concerns about how accessible those properties will actually be to the public.

“They say they are going to be free access to everybody – they’re free access with a whole set of rules and regulations that come down, that sometimes change in the future,” Raley said. “That’s been part of my frustration, of finding that limited access sometimes does take place.”

He said he has several specific examples of this problem that he plans to share with the DNR secretary, John Griffin. The commissioners will meet with Griffin on April 12 in Annapolis to discuss a variety of issues.

The commissioners’ next public session is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, at 4 p.m. at the courthouse.

Log chalet for sale 229 ROCK LODGE RD – GA8043935 – $349,000

229 ROCK LODGE RD
MC HENRY, MD 21541

deepcreekrealestateGA8043935

Rock Lodge Road, 3-Level Log Home with beamed cathedral ceilings. 5 BR 3 baths with plenty of room for entertaiing and enjoment!, Wood floors throughout & 2-stone faced gas fireplaces. Large Front Deck, partially covered with hotub, and grilling area. Enjoy summertime nights at the firepit in the back yard. Dock slip rental available through owner. 2013 rental fee paid. Established Vacation Rental

 

Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.
Listing # GA8043935

   

Through portrayal of Marylander, actress will revive War of 1812, its importance

Garrett County youngsters will attend performances Friday

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area in Garrett County and Garrett Lakes Arts Festival will present a Star Spangled 200-sponsored event, Maryland in the War of 1812 — A Living History Event.

The project focuses on bringing the commemoration of the War of 1812 to Garrett County middle school students and also provides opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in Maryland’s Star Spangled 200 activities. The project is made possible by the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

Award-winning actress and Smithsonian scholar Mary Ann Jung, playing Rosalie Stier Calvert, will provide an interactive presentation. The performance will  explain the importance of the War of 1812 and how that era affected the newly independent United States of America.

On Friday, performances will be held at Garrett College for fourth-, fifth- and eighth-grade Garrett County students.

Rosalie Stier married George Calvert in 1799 and became mistress of his plantation, Mount Albion. When her father died, he left his plantation in Bladensburg, Riversdale Plantation, to her — not her husband, which was the custom. Participants will learn what it meant to be in charge of two growing plantations in early 1800s Maryland.

Audience members will become the British versus the Americans to better understand the important war and relive the dramatic Battle of Bladensburg — and find out how close it came to Calvert’s beloved Riversdale. “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key, who married Calvert’s friend Polly, will be included in the performance.

Educational resources re-lating to the war will be purchased for middle school teachers, including books, videos and a traveling trunk, created by the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. The trunk focuses on life during the war for all Marylanders and contains 11 lesson plans and many hands-on objects, including flint and steel kits, period clothing and games, and books.

The Maryland in the War of 1812 — A Living History Event will be the grand finale for the project. The free celebration, scheduled for May 17-18 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, will include War of 1812 speakers and re-enactors; period music performed by musicians and singers in period garb; and displays and education information, including a U.S. Navy display covering its involvement with the War of 1812. Event hours are 5 to 8 p.m. May 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18.

More information is available online at www.visitdeepcreek.com or by calling 888-387-5237.

More here.

Land Purchases Would Expand Md. State Forests

Posted: Apr 03, 2013 8:42 AM EDT

OAKLAND, Md. (AP)- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is considering land purchases that would add about 600 acres to state forests in Garrett County.

Land conservation specialist John Braskey said Tuesday that the three proposed purchases may come before the state Board of Public Works for final approval this summer or fall.

The Garrett County Commissioners signed off on the offers Tuesday.

The commissioners’ meeting minutes indicate that a parcel owned by Mountain Maryland Minerals LLC would add about 315 acres to the Potomac State Forest near Altamont. It’s appraised at $615,000.

Two other parcels held by individuals would add a total of 287 acres to the Savage River State Forest. They include a 181-acre parcel near Grantsville appraised at $405,000. The price of the smaller parcel is under negotiation.

More here.