garrett county commissioners – Page 7

Garrett commission keeps school renovation project

CUMBERLAND — OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners voted Tuesday to allow $582,400 for the design phase of the Southern Middle School Renovation Project to remain intact in the fiscal 2014 budget with the condition that no funds will be spent until further discussion with the board of education. They also approved the fiscal 2014 budget.

“At the present time, the $582,400 will remain in the budget as part of the capital outlay for the board of education and earmarked for the Southern Middle School Renovation Project design,” said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.

The decision to expend the design’s fund money or to remove it altogether from the budget will be made upon mutual agreement between the commissioners and the board of education, officials said.

In a letter to Superintendent Janet Wilson, Pagenhardt requested that the board delay any request for proposals or bid preparations for the design and planning until the commissioners and board conduct a public session on public school funding.

“As in the past … commissioners will be presented with a draft Capital Improvement Plan by the board of education in September or October,” said Pagenhardt in the letter.

“I would also ask that this review and approval include a possible deferral of the Southern Middle School project, be finalized prior to any architectural design funding is solicited by the BOE,” he said.

The estimated debt service obligation to the county for Southern Middle School is $750,000 per year for 30 years, according to Pagenhardt.

“Commitment of the debt is a decision that requires more review and evaluation,” said Pagenhardt in the letter.

The fiscal 2015 funding request for the board of education includes an estimated $5.1 million increase.

“If the county were to fund the BOE at the level that is shown, the combination of any new revenue generated from any revenue source or any increase in the real property tax rate would be obligated to the public school system,” said Pagenhardt. “All other departments would need to be reduced or flat funded.”

In past years, major board of education capital projects have been moved to future budget years due to planned funding shortfalls, according to Pagenhardt.

Commissioner Gregan Crawford initially made a motion to exclude funding for the project, which he later rescinded.

Commissioner Jim Raley wanted to proceed with leaving the project in the budget but to discuss with the board of education the possibility of completing the project in phases.

“We just made room in the budget to hire three school resource officers to keep our children safe,” said Raley during the commission meeting. “It’s easy to say this justifies raising taxes, but when does it end? Let’s pull together and pray our work is making a difference.”

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

More here.

Garrett Co. Officials Review Proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Budget At Public Mtg.

May. 9, 2013

The Garrett County commissioners held a public meeting yesterday evening at Garrett College to review and receive comments on their proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget. About 175 people attended the nearly two-hour event.

County officials have been working on the budget for several months, and the commissioners will officially approve its final version on June 4.

Commission board chair Bob Gatto indicated that the real property tax would remain at the current rate of $.99 per $100 of assessed value for FY ’14. Based on that rate, Department of Financial Services director Wendy Yoder estimates the county’s revenue next fiscal year will be $78.3 million, which is $4.4 million less than in FY ’13.

Most of the county’s revenue is garnered from property taxes, particularly those at Deep Creek Lake. Yoder noted that beginning in January 2014, properties south of the Rt. 219 bridge at the lake will be reassessed.

“This area accounts for about 60 percent of the county’s overall assessable base,” Yoder said.

She indicated this could result in a 15 to 20 percent decline in lakefront property assessments, amounting to about $100,000 per property, in FY ’15. This could equate to an overall 6 percent decrease in county total gross assessable base.

“This decrease translates into a potential loss of $2.9 million in total property tax revenue for the county in Fiscal Year 2015,” Yoder said.

To compensate for the drop in revenue for FY ’14, most county departments can expect to receive the same amount of funding they did in FY ’13, while a few will receive less, in particularly the Roads Department.

County officials are proposing to decrease that department’s allocation by about $156,000. This includes a decrease for winter operations overtime. The department was allocated $490,953 for winter overtime in FY ’13. The proposed allocation for that line item in FY ’14 is $350,000.

Allocations for the Roads Department’s winter abrasive expenses, however, will be increased by $200,000. County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said the increase was for the purchase of additional salt.

The Sheriff’s Office is one of the few departments expected to receive an allocation increase. In FY ’13, the office received $2.8 million, compared to a proposed $3 million in FY ’14. The increase, in part, is the result a new plan to assign resource officers at Southern High School and the Northern High/Middle School Complex. Most of the funding will come from three-year grants.

The Detention Center will also receive increased funding. The proposed FY ’14 allocation is $1.89 million, compared to about $1.82 million in FY ’13. The extra money, in part, is to cover such items as training expenses and increases in medical care for inmates, according to Pagenhardt.

The county will allocate the same amount of funding to the Board of Education in FY ’14 as in FY ’13, $26 million.

“I’ve never seen our financial situation in such a state,” said Garrett County Education Association president Mike Pula, noting that the local public school system continues to see “devastating” funding cuts from Maryland.

He said his group recognizes the commissioners’ financial assistance. Pula noted, however, the “grim” statistics: three schools have been closed, salaries have been frozen, classroom sizes have increased, people have been laid off, and 90 positions have been lost through attrition.

“The long and short of the budget story is: What you’ve done is not enough,” Pula said.

He indicated the BOE will continue to lose millions of dollars from the state and asked the commissioners for their help in maintaining high quality education.

“We’re in serious need of help, and there is just no where else to turn,” Pula said. “We need the board of commissioners to commit to making the school system in Garrett County its priority before anymore of it disappears.”

Commissioner Gatto indicated the commissioners would be meeting with school superintendent Dr. Janet Wilson and the BOE in June to discuss funding issues for FY ’15 and beyond.

“I spent 31 years in the public education system, so I know an awful lot about public schools and I know an awful lot about what teachers face,” Commissioner Jim Raley said. “I also spent 14 years on the school board, so I know an awful lot about the school board’s budget.”

He indicated the key to the county’s revenue woes and increasing its population. More here.

Garrett OKs funding to help stabilize banks of Savage River

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Board of Garrett County Commissioners voted on Tuesday to appropriate $3,200 to the Savage River Watershed Association’s stabilization/restoration project, slated for this summer, with several conditions, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.

Over the years, flood events have caused the banks of the river to erode and sediment is being carried downstream, which could impact native brook trout spawning beds. There is also potential for floodwaters to compromise a septic system.

“One of the important things for us about working on the Savage River is that it is such a great trout stream,” said Todd Miller, an aquatic restoration director with the Canaan Valley Institute. “So, that’s important from a habitat and fishery perspective.”

The $3,200 appropriation allots $1,600 for each parcel and the per parcel amount is consistent with the Garrett County Shoreline Stabilization and Erosion program for Deep Creek Lake property owners. Commissioner Gregan Crawford recommended that funding be provided consistent with the program, which funds have already been designated for.

Commissioners voiced their disappointment that the Metz family or someone from the watershed association wasn’t in attendance at the meeting, Pagenhardt said. Commissioners also voiced their disappointment that property owners Fred and Susan Metz were not required to co-share in the project.

“I guess the way we think of it is, they’ve tried. They’ve done what they could in terms of trying to plant things and stabilize the banks,” said Miller during an April 2 commission meeting where the funding request for the project was made. “They are not contributing cash to the project, they are certainly the impetus behind this. I think their support has been critical in getting the grants.”

The Metz family has lost about 40 feet of bank and has tried to stabilize it by planting vegetation on it. Since the banks are so eroded and undercut, the roots of the vegetation that Metz planted didn’t go down deep enough to keep the vegetation in place, Miller said.

Metz has signed a maintenance agreement to maintain the vegetation, said William Postlethwait, Canaan Valley Institute stream restoration specialist

During the April 2 meeting, Canaan Valley Institute requested $10,000 in funding that could include a cost share on material or other in-kind services. About $197,000 in a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant will be used toward construction activities. Grants for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Environment and Chesapeake Bay Trust will also be used for the project and the $10,000 is needed to match the project, Postlethwait said. The project on the Metz property will cost about $275,000.

The project for the Metz properties requires a final permit approval from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency through a conditional revision for the flood insurance rate, flood boundary and floodway maps. One of the commission’s conditions is that the project must secure final permit approval.

In 1996, a storm caused erosion and private property damage to portions of the Savage River and the county had to move a road and clean up the debris from the river, said Dwight Emory, county Department of Engineering. Some work was done on the Metz property following the storm.

“Just over time the river seems to wander back and forth between the mountains in the valley,” said Dwight during the April 2 meeting.

During the project, J-hook rock structures will be used to redirect water flows from the outside bend of the river and a planting project will be done.

The commission also approved/discussed the following:

• A recommendation from the county LEAN Committee to amend the Reimbursable Travel Policy.

• A contract amendment, contract awards, contract extensions for the county Purchasing Department.

• Heard an update on Deep Creek 2014 and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championship.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

Garrett facility waits to develop its tech

County: With money, center can become state-of-the-art

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — A new emergency operations center has been established in a conference room at the Garrett County Airport. As money becomes available, features will be added to make the center a state-of-the-art facility, according to John Frank III, Garrett County’s director of emergency management.

In the case of an emergency, the facility will be used as a meeting place for all those involved.

“The entire project is in the fledgling stage and is under development,” said Frank. “It’s centrally located at the Garrett County Airport, which is owned and operated by the county. If there is a major event in the county, we can expand to use the airport terminals.”

Frank said that, in the future, as monies became available, he hopes to install interactive smartboards, video monitors and a terminal for tablets and smartphones.

Also, in the future, the center could be used as a classroom and may expand to include a backup 911 center, according to Frank.

County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt is working on fine-tuning the budget to see what monies are available for the center.

“(The center) is a priority now for the county. It’s going to be a top-notch center,” said Pagenhardt.

The need for a center was determined last year and previously a makeshift command center at the courthouse was used. However, the makeshift center didn’t entirely meet the county’s emergency needs, said Pagenhardt.

“John has been in contact with the Governor’s Office and everything has been coming together for the center,” said Pagenhardt.

Federal Emergency Management and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency have been helpful in moving the process along, according to Frank.

The center will eventually have broadband once the countywide broadband project is complete, according to Pagenhardt. Currently there is broadband up to Mosser Road where Garrett College is located.

Frank said he will have a satellite office at the center.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

GC Commissioners Approve Recycling Plan Amendments

Mar. 7, 2013

The Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved three amendments to the county’s 10-year Solid Waste Management and Recycling Plan (2004–2014). As required by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the new regulations pertain to methods for recycling in public schools, recycling light bulbs, and recycling electronics.

Manager Dave Baker, Garrett County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling, noted that though the amendments are new state requirements, his department has already implemented them.

“They’ve been up and running for some time,” Baker said.

Kim Madigan noted that one of her first jobs as recycling coordinator for Garrett County was to start a school program.

“We’ve been recycling since 2005 in our schools,” she said.

Working in conjunction with school and board of education personnel, Madigan said it took her a little over a year to get the initiative up and running. She described the end result as “excellent.”

“I’m very proud of that program,” Madigan said.

The 10-year plan calls for Garrett County schools to collect, but are not limited to collecting, #1 and #2 plastics, cardboard, mixed paper, tin cans, aluminum cans, magazines, and newspaper. The Board of Education is responsible for picking up the materials biweekly from each school.

Garrett College is also required to collect office paper, #1 plastics, aluminum cans, toner cartridges, light bulbs, motor oil, tires, and batteries.

Madigan said her department also came up with a strategy to collect fluorescent light bulbs (4-inch lamps, 8-inch lamps, and U-tubes), compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), and non PCB ballasts for recycling. That program has been in place since May 2010.

Currently the program is limited to individuals (Garrett County residents), not businesses. In addition, because of potential mercury exposure, bulbs (unbroken) are only accepted at the county landfill. The bulbs must be given to a landfill employee, who then places them in a properly ventilated 10-foot by 10-foot shed. The materials are stored in the MDE approved shed until they are ready for shipment to a recycling contractor for processing and recycling.

In the event of bulb breakage, landfill staff must contact MDE and follow guidelines set forth in the Mercury Spill Emergency Response Manual.

Baker indicated that it is currently cost prohibitive for the county to construct bulb collection sheds at all of the county’s refuse collection sites.

The county has also been accepting electronics for recycling for several years. This initiative started as a pilot program through a grant from MDE. Madigan noted that electronics are accepted at four of the county’s refuse collection/recycling sites.

More information about recycling in Garrett County is available at garrettcounty.org or by calling Madigan at 301-387-0322.

More here.

Garrett County recycling plan focus of March 5 public hearing

State requires program needed for schools, fluorescent light bulbs

From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the county’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan on March 5, according to a news release.

Amendments for recycling electronics, fluorescent light bulbs and recycling in public schools will be discussed. Although a program for recycling the items is already in place, it has never been adopted formally into the plan, according to Dave Baker, manager of the Garrett County Department of Solid Waste And Recycling. State law requires counties to have a plan that has been formally adopted, according to the news release.

The Maryland Department of the Environment requires that a recycling program be provided for schools and fluorescent light bulbs; the county is adding the recycling of electronics into the plan, said Baker.

In accordance with MDE regulations, counties are required to conduct a public hearing prior to amending their Solid Waste Management plans.

“There is a growing concern regarding the disposal of computers, electronics, covered electronic devices and video display devices in landfills,” said the news release. “These devices can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium in circuit boards, batteries and cathode ray tubes.”

A program for the separate collection of electronics from residents, municipalities and businesses is needed to reduce the quantity of the electronics being sent to the landfill. A program may include computers and monitors, laptops, TVs, PDAs, peripherals, telephones, printers, fax machines, copiers, VCRs, camcorders, DVD players, CD players, calculators, typewriters and cell phones, according to the news release.

The county plans to use funding from grants or the solid waste and recycling enterprise fund budget to operate a permanent collection program for electronics.

“A permanent program should be initiated at one refuse and recycling collection site in Garrett County,” states the news release.

If funding is not available for a permanent program, annual one-day events to collect electronics for recycling will be planned if its economically feasible.

The county has a fluorescent, compact fluorescent and non-PCB ballast recycling program and plan in place, which has been approved by MDE. The department plans to use enterprise funds also to operate a collection program for residents for those items. The recycling program is free to county residents, however this may or may not change based on market conditions, according to the news release.

Immediately upon collection, all fluorescent bulbs, tubes and non-PCB ballasts will be placed directly into prepaid mailing containers provided by an independent recycling contractor; this method of storage will eliminate breakage, according to the news release. When the containers are full, they will be sent to the recycling contractor for processing.

All county public schools and Garrett College have recycling plans in place and are participating in a recycling program.

The board of education is responsible for scheduling the pickup of all recycling materials from each school in the public school system.

Copies of the language contained in the amendment and the proposed resolution are available for public review at the Ruth Enlow Library, county commissioners office, and the landfill. The information is also available at www.co.garrett.md.us.

More here.

Garrett dissolves fracking advisory group

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County commissioners have decided to discontinue meetings of the Garrett County Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Advisory Committee until the state completes its work.

The advisory committee will meet on an as-needed basis, which will be determined by Bob Gatto, county commission chairman, the commissioners announced during Tuesday’s public meeting.

Commissioner Jim Raley, who serves as an ex-officio, or nonvoting, member on the advisory committee and is on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, indicated that the committee should continue to meet to discuss the issues surrounding shale drilling. The best practices management report from the state will be out soon, according to Raley.

“I would love for the local committee to make sure they look at it (the report) and see if they view anything that has been missed,” said Raley. “There are things I think the committee can do. I don’t believe in meeting just to meet. The jury is still out on whether (shale drilling) is an economic boom or economic bust.”

A survey that was sent to the 22 advisory committee members indicated that 62 percent wished to discontinue the meetings while the state and others try to develop best practices and 38 percent wanted to continue as is, according to Gatto.

No one favored the option of disbanding the advisory committee.

Raley stressed that there shouldn’t be gaps in the regulation of Marcellus shale.

“In the wind industr,y there are gaps and we are facing the consequences of those gaps because the state put nothing regulatory in place. Now we are backpeddling, trying to fill that gap,” said Raley. “I don’t want to see that happen with shale gas development.”

Rodney Glotfelty, advisory committee chairman, asked that the commissioners communicate the mission of the advisory committee again.

“The majority of the public comments (during the meetings) have been very useful, making sound recommendations,” said Glotfelty. “I think there is an expectation on some of the public’s part that the committee should recommend to you to ban hydrofracking in Garrett County. That is really not our purpose. The committee was established to look at the process of permitting hydrofracking in Maryland and in Garrett County specifically.”

If fracking were to come to the county, the committee would look at what could be done locally to mitigate any environmental impacts and what could be done to maximize the economic benefits.

“As long as that is the mission of the committee, I think we won’t get bogged down in some of these inflammatory arguments that go on,” said Glotfelty.

Raley agreed with Glotfelty and said the commissioners would give the advisory committee direction at times.

“Obviously, it’s a sensitive issue. When you try and put the committee together it’s virtually impossible to find someone who is totally neutral,” said Raley. “The public has not been as kind and considerate some nights.”

Raley stressed that he hopes information would continue to be provided via the advisory commission website.

Eric Robison, president of the nonprofit group CitizenShale, said the advisory committee should be looking at local issues such as emergency management, road bonding, gas pipelines and tourism.

“With us not having the ability with comprehensive zoning, we have got to be looking at how permitting is going to be able to address those types of things,” said Robison.

The committee has made recommendations to commissioners on emergency management and pipelines, according to Glotfelty.

Robison suggested setting standards or guidelines that are specific to the gas industry.

“This is the industry that may impact us more prominently than the wind turbines,” said Robison. “I am really bothered that we are going to shelve this temporarily until we find items that need to be addressed. There are items that need to be addressed right now.”

The committee has been meeting for more than two years and was formed around the same time the governor’s commission was formed, according to Gatto.

“I’m very proud of the work the committee has done in the last two years,” said Glotfelty.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

More here.

Garrett schools due extra security

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — In response to concerns expressed by students, staff, parents and community members in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., shooting, the Garrett County Board of Education has reprioritized some of its fiscal 2012 carryover funds to provide for extra security, according to a news release.

Every public school building will have door entry access control systems and video intercom systems, bus camera surveillance and archive GPS systems.

“Bus cameras have been proven to reduce acting out behaviors on buses, allowing students to experience a safer, more enjoyable ride to and from school,” stated board president Cynthia Downton.

The estimated cost of the door security and bus camera systems is $260,000, according to Superintendent of Schools Janet Wilson.

“I am thankful for the board’s support,” said Wilson. “The time to do this is now and the board is doing the right thing for our school communities. Installation of the door entry systems will be the first priority and will begin as soon as contracts are completed.”

The board appreciates the county commissioners’ support to provide two school resource officers through Sheriff Rob Corley’s office but believes that on-site door access control systems must be put into place immediately.

“When it comes to the safety of our children, waiting for someone else to make a decision is not a viable option,” said board member Rodney Reckart.

Board member Tom Carr echoed Reckart’s sentiments.

“We need to have technology work for us — when we can neither afford nor depend on human security always to be in the right place at the right time when some unfortunate event is about to happen,” said Carr.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed fiscal 2014 budget includes money for school security, but detailed information regarding the timing or intent of those funds is not readily known at this time, according to the news release.

“We place student safety and staff security topmost on our list of how to best serve our students and community,” said Downton. “We have learned hard lessons from other schools, such as, a matter of 10 to 12 seconds can make a huge difference in the number of survivors of a random act of violence. Our students need to know that while they are in our schools, their main focus should be on learning, and not worrying about whether or not they are safe.”

Having originally earmarked a majority of the carryover funds for instructional materials, the board now plans to place that request in its fiscal 2014 budget.

More here.

Garrett commissioners adopt watershed ordinance

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a Department of Planning and Land Development recommendation to rectify a conflict in the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning ordinance.

“Apparently, there have been over the years a course of hundreds of text amendments that have been made to the Deep Creek zoning ordinance,” said Commissioner Jim Raley during a public meeting held Tuesday. “I don’t want to see us be inconsistent with state law. I don’t want to see us doing things that are procedurally incorrect.”

The purpose of the amendments is to change two sections to make the ordinance consistent with Land Use Article 66B.

“I also want to make it perfectly clear that I want a full review, to the extent possible, of any text amendment that comes before us,” said Raley. “Obviously, I know there still has to be a public hearing.”

Raley asked the planning commission to review his comments and see if procedurally something could be put into place place to add a small hurdle to a text amendment.

“I don’t want to see the text amendment becoming a substitute for something more comprehensive,” said Raley. “… it can be easier to go with a text amendment change than it would be with a full zoning amendment. I do see some future text amendments on the horizon that I think can be very substantive.”

Both Chairman Robert Gatto and Commissioner Gregan Crawford echoed Raley’s sentiments.

“This doesn’t mean we are going to rubber-stamp every text change that comes through,” said Crawford.

The commission also voted, with Crawford abstaining, to adopt the Deep Creek Lake Shoreline Stabilization Projects Incentive Program. Crawford said the decision should have been tabled until the results of Phase II of the Deep Creek Lake sediment study are known.

“Without knowing the results … we’re looking at what we could do up front,” said Raley.

The program is similar to the sprinkler incentive that was adopted by the commission several months ago. The program will provide a $1,600 incentive payment for construction of a structure for shoreline stabilization, according to John Nelson, director of Planning and Land Development. The incentive will be paid with carryover funds from last year.

“I think the intent of the Board of Commissioners wasn’t necessarily to try to come up with incentive to cover the cost of the permit fee but actually the cost of that construction,” said Nelson.

“The incentive requires full construction and requires that the structure pass inspections by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources,” said Raley.

The program is for the current fiscal year and, thus far, eight to 10 applications have been made for shoreline stabilization projects, according to Nelson. The program will encourage people to stabilize the shoreline to protect it from further erosion and sedimentation that is caused by the surface of the lake, said Nelson.

The commission also voted to give $500 to the Northern High School agriculture department to grow grass for the shoreline project and to allow Southern High School to be included, if interested.

Commissioners expected to decide on Deep Creek watershed zoning amendments

Plans for proposed wind project to be reviewed

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will decide today whether or not to move forward with a planning commission’s recommendation to amend the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance. During the recent circuit court hearing on Bill Meagher’s mini-marina, it was noted that there was a conflict in the ordinance and that some changes needed to be made.

“This conflict between the ordinance and the state statute was discovered during the current litigation involving the zoning text amendment for the boat rental service business approved earlier this year,” wrote John Nelson, director of Planning and Land Development, in a December letter to the commissioners. “The Planning Commission has concluded that the discrepancy should be rectified.”

The commissioners voted at the Jan. 8 meeting to hold the public comment period open and delay the decision until today.

St. Moritz Properties LLC, Bill’s Marine Service Inc. and Silver Tree Marine LLC are suing the Garrett County Board of Zoning Appeals, county commissioners, Lakeside Commercial Properties LLC and William Meagher, owner of the Lakeside Creamery, in regard to previous amendments in the ordinance.

“Had the findings of fact been performed correctly and in a timely fashion, then the county would not be facing a lawsuit today,” wrote Carol Jacobs, president of Aquatic Center Inc. in a letter to the commissioners. “The findings of fact are required in every county in Maryland. If findings of fact had been performed prior to making a decision, in the mini-marina case, then the outcome might have been different.”

One of the proposed changes to the amendments would require the commissioners to make findings of fact that include present and future transportation patterns on the highway in the area where the purpose and effect of the proposed amendment is to change the zoning classification.

“The transportation pattern and the carrying capacity of the lake should have been studied,” wrote Jacobs. “The transportation pattern and accidents on Garrett Highway should have been evaluated. Public safety is now at risk.”

Aquatic Center Inc., Bills Marine Service Inc., Deep Creek Lake Enterprises Inc., Silver Tree Marine LLC and St. Moritz Properties LLC filed a petition for a judicial review of the county’s decision to amend text in the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance for boat rentals. The mini-marina doesn’t offer any of the services associated with a marina. During a hearing in December in circuit court, Judge Jim Sherbin dismissed the judicial review. Also during the hearing a declaratory judgment and an administrative agency appeal were consolidated and a hearing was set for March 29.

Also on the agenda for today’s meeting, the Department of Planning and Land Development will hold a county review of concept and site development plan of the proposed Fourmile Ridge wind project in eastern Garrett County near Frostburg. Synergics has submitted both a concept plan and site development plan.

Both plans are part of the county’s stormwater management ordinance process, which requires three phases of submission.

On Jan. 14, Synergics Wind Energy LLC and Fourmile Wind Energy LLC filed a request for a waiver of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity requirements for a tap line to serve the project, according to a Maryland Public Service Commission filing. Synergics is requesting the waiver be granted by April 1 to allow construction to begin immediately on the line.

Also on the agenda the Department of Public Utilities will provide a review of the western conveyance water and wastewater; approval of the Garrett County Hazard Mitigation Plan; and adoption of the Deep Creek Lake Shoreline Stabilization Projects Incentive Program policy.

The meeting will take place at 11 a.m. in Room 207 in the Courthouse.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

Category: garrett county commissioners

Garrett commission keeps school renovation project

Garrett Co. Officials Review Proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Budget At Public Mtg.

Garrett OKs funding to help stabilize banks of Savage River

Garrett facility waits to develop its tech

County: With money, center can become state-of-the-art

GC Commissioners Approve Recycling Plan Amendments

Garrett County recycling plan focus of March 5 public hearing

State requires program needed for schools, fluorescent light bulbs

Garrett dissolves fracking advisory group

Garrett schools due extra security

Garrett commissioners adopt watershed ordinance

Commissioners expected to decide on Deep Creek watershed zoning amendments

Plans for proposed wind project to be reviewed

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