Category:garrett county

MCHENRY — The first Garrett County Public Safety Day was held Saturday at the Garrett County Fairgrounds.

Numerous organizations were on hand at the event, which was designed for public education and exposure to what each of the public safety organizations do daily.

The event included various volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, Maryland State Police, Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office with the Bomb Squad and the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office.

The evening started off with an event called a Water Reach, which provided a chance to handle a charged hose line and shoot tennis balls from cones.   Youngsters were able to dress up in firefighting gear and receive a firefighter helmet for their participation.

Maryland State Police brought its K-9 unit and the Crime Scene Unit. Participants also were able to meet the state police canines and their handlers.

On the opposite side of the building, the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office brought its bomb squad robot, which rolled around the building opening tool boxes and picking up cups.

Outside, in one of the other fair buildings, a Hose Maze was set up to demonstrate obstacles that could be present in a house. The object was to follow the hose line to either find the nozzle and fight the fire or follow the hose line and get out of the house. The exercise simulated how a firefighter must go through a burning building and only rely on their sense of feeling to get them out of the building.

An Ultimate Firefighter Challenge occurred in the show ring. While it seemed easy, firefighters that went through the challenge were wearing their personal protective gear and breathing apparatus, which both weigh about 75 pounds. The challenge consisted of an obstacle course of what normal firefighters would do on at a typical fire scene, testing local firefighters for strength and en-durance.

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OAKLAND — Garrett County Public Schools recently launched a new website that features an updated look with better menu options and an easy-to-use navigation bar located at the top of the home page.

The new site is located at www.garrettcountyschools.org or users will be redirected if logging into the former website www.ga.k12.md.us.

It features popular web links under the Resources section located on the left-hand side of the home page and a rotating slideshow of pictures featuring Garrett County Public Schools students, staff and events.

Also featured on the home page are recent items of interest for parents, students, staff and the community. This includes press releases and the latest school system news. Website visitors can also sign up to receive press releases by email, which feature student and staff accomplishments and general informational items. To sign up for press releases, look for the Stay Connected section on the lower right-hand side of the home page and enter an email address.

The website will still be used as a primary notification tool when any changes in the school schedule occur. Located at the top of the home page is a search function users can select when looking for specific information on the site. The site also has a Contact Us form for users to send or questions to Public Information staff.

The Contact Us form is located at both the top and bottom of the homepage.

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OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission approved to allot $25,000 for design concept drawings to revitalize the town of Friendsville with a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Gregan Crawford opposing.

Crawford indicated during the public meeting Tuesday that he thought that it was premature to hold a vote on the funding because Commissioner Jim Raley’s proposal was received two weeks ago and they didn’t have a chance to hold a substantive discussion.

“We don’t know the next step and, to me, if we are going to approach revitalization it needs to be more like a business plan,” said Crawford. “I have a lot of questions about the open endedness of this. What defines success in this matter? We are telling the train to get under way and we will tell you where we are headed when you get there.”

Crawford suggested waiting and holding a future work session on the proposal with staff.

“I think we are just dangling that carrot to get the horse to move,” said Oakland resident Eric Robison.

Crawford said that he felt that the commission was overstepping its authority.

“I think we are overstepping our jurisdictional authority. Friendsville has a Town Council and mayor who set their priorities,” said Crawford.

Commissioner Jim Raley noted that he does have endorsement of the Friendsville Council, which is supportive of the proposal.

Crawford said that the council should have sent a formal letter voicing its support and noted that they weren’t at Tuesday’s meeting.

Robison said that he had spoken with people in Friendsville and they are excited about the project but are also skeptical about the commissioners’ participation.

“There is nothing going on in most of our small communities to that degree and it brings that out and starts that conversation,” said Robison. “I support what Jim (Raley) is looking at and I appreciate it. It always feels better to have a little more policy.”

Crawford agreed that revitalization is a good thing but said that the proposal lacks much-needed framework. He questioned what type of community the revitalization would create — a bedroom or a sustainable community.

“I think we need to work out the details first,” said Crawford. “We are setting in motion a process with no policy framework to guide it.”

Chairman Robert Gatto indicated that the framework could be tweaked as the project progresses.

“We need to form partnerships. I think it’s very necessary and very timely,” said Gatto. “I know we got hurdles to work through and we got some other towns that need the same kind of help but hopefully this will guide our way to helping others as well.”

Raley agreed that there are details that still need to be ironed out.

He stressed the importance of moving the project forward due to the loss of students in the school systems. While some schools throughout the county have lost students, Friendsville Elementary has grown by eight students, according to Raley. A total of 130 students left the school system with 100 of them moving to another area in the state or out of the state.

“I don’t think we can afford to wait another year or two and lose another 130 or 200 kids without some deliberate efforts,” said Raley.

Raley noted that the proposal isn’t going to solve all the problems with people leaving the area.

“The proposal is not designed to be some false sense of hope. $25,000 isn’t necessarily going to save our schools or grow our population,” said Raley. “What I do believe, is that we can’t sit back and watch the erosion of our population, especially our young population.”

The proposal matches the Garrett County Economic Development strategy that was adopted in 2011 under the auspices of the commissioners. The vision of the county for 2025 projects a growing, thriving rural community that is made up of successful farms and businesses as well as vibrant towns and user-friendly public parks and forests.

Raley indicated that he would like to see the county obtain the vision of the strategy before 2025.

He met with the town’s governing board, investors, developers, business owners, entrepreneurs, Habitat for Humanity, Community Action and other individuals who are interested in the project. The economic development office completed a relocation kit designed to attract people to stay in the area.

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

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MCHENRY — Facility Engineering Associates, P.C. will share the results of the elementary school facility needs assessment and master plan study for Garrett County Public Schools in a public meeting Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex at Garrett College.

FEA was engaged by the school system to provide an in-depth study to provide information on the best options to cost-effectively meet the instructional needs of the students in the county. In three years, declines in revenue and student enrollment have brought about reductions in the work force, the closure of three schools and the elimination of programs, according to a news release. Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools closed last year as a cost-cutting measure and Bloomington Elementary was closed in 2011.

The school system estimates losses of $1.5 million for fiscal 2015 due to the state’s wealth formula which is, in part, based on enrollment.

The school system will not have available $700,000 that was received from a legislative hold harmless initiative used to balance the current year’s budget, according to the news release.

Sen. George Edwards recently wrote to Gov. Martin O’Malley requesting him to put in an administration bill, support one that Edwards puts in or request through the budget process to hold counties harmless from losing any money until a new wealth formula is complete. The wealth formula will be looked at in the fall of 2014 and won’t be included until 2016.

If O’Malley doesn’t provide emergency action, process for school closures will begin in the fall, Edwards said.

Given the financial challenges ahead of the school system, the results of the study will provide data to help identify short- and long- term facility plans to meet the needs of the students enrolled in the school system, according to the Garrett County Board of Education.

The scope of the study includes the assessment of elements required by the Code of Maryland Regulations, which governs school closings should the board vote to move in that direction.

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CUMBERLAND — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected only one of the three off-road vehicle trails proposed for state-owned lands in Western Maryland. St. John’s Rock in Garrett County’s Savage River State Forest was the single property selected for ORV use based on gathered during the recent public input period.

“We are thankful to the citizens who took the time to share their input through the public process both at the meetings and through our online system,” said DNR Secretary Joe Gill. “This is a great example of the department working with our professionals in the field to craft sound proposals and using public input to help guide the ultimate outcome. We also recognize the great work of the ORV Stakeholder Workgroup in helping lead us to this proposal phase and promise to continue coordinating with them to find alternative locations for this type of recreation.”

Ecologists and trail experts will work to establish paths and boundaries for ORV use to develop a system for St. John’s Rock that will have minimal impact on surrounding natural resources, DNR said. The system, slated for completion in the summer of 2014, will be monitored and its regulations enforced to ensure ecological best management practices.

“Our trails team is looking forward to implementing the new paradigm of ORV management on St. John’s Rock,” said John Wilson, manager of the Statewide Trails Development Office. “Working with our peers in land management, enforcement and information technology, we are confident that this trail, and all future ORV trails, can be well-regulated, safe and sustainable. We are committed to that end and look forward to demonstrating our plans for success.”

The other two proposals — Sideling Hill North and South trails, within the Woodmont Natural Resources Management Area near Hancock — have been withdrawn and removed from further consideration as ORV trails.

The former ORV trail at Green Ridge State Forest remains closed.

DNR will continue to fortify efforts to develop public/private partnerships on potential private land ORV trails, and further evaluate opportunities to acquire access to other private land locations for multiuse recreational facilities.

A number of ORV trails developed within the state forests in the mid 1980s had to be closed in 2011, as some of the activity began to threaten environmentally sensitive areas. With only a few small ORV trails still open, DNR began a comprehensive two-year study to assess its landholdings and develop a plan that would incorporate these trails in a manner that would have minimal impact on sensitive natural areas.

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OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve the county board of education’s request to retain $820,868 in carryover funds. The funds, which were from fiscal 2013, can be used as a one-time expense only for prioritized projects, according to commission chairman Robert Gatto.

Leaky roofs at both the former Dennett Road Elementary School and Southern High School are the No. 1 prioritized projects, according to Janet Wilson, county superintendent of schools. The board requested $315,000 for replacing a section of roof over the information technology department that the county and board share at the former school. The request also includes an $18,800 roof repair over the media center area at Southern High School where a hot asphalt treatment is needed immediately to repair it, according to Wilson. The repair will last two to three years.

“We maintain Dennett Road because we have some debt on it,” said Wilson. “That has turned out to be a huge community asset. The gym is used daily, the cafeteria is used a significant amount. One of the things we said, we will put the roof on that portion of the building because we maintain, we own it, we understand we are responsible for it.”

Dennett Road has a $140,214 construction debt that has eight years remaining.

Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools closed last year as a cost-cutting measure.

Another project high on the priority list is a $45,270 air conditioner replacement/repair at Yough Glades and Bradford elementary schools. Also high on the priority list is a $5,000 architectural study of Southern Middle School and its viability to potentially support elementary and middle school students.

During the meeting, one resident suggested looking at the salaries that make up 80 percent of the board’s budget. The board was able to save money through unemployment, insurance benefits, instructional supplies and materials, substitutes and salary savings.

“When I came aboard, I asked that all staff positions be held until I could review them,” said Wilson.

The fiscal 2013 budget planned for unemployment for about 35 staff members who were subject to reduction in force and that money wasn’t used, according to Wilson.

“I think that it’s very important that all of us are good stewards of taxpayers’ money,” said Wilson “I think it’s important that when we have extra money to let county government know.”

The board is again facing financial difficulties because of the state’s wealth formula. The commissioners met with Lillian Lowery, Maryland state superintendent of schools, in the spring and sent a letter to her asking her to look for short-term solutions. The wealth formula will be looked at in the fall of 2014 and won’t be included until 2016, and contingency plans need to be made in case it doesn’t come through, according to Wilson.

Sen. George Edwards has also sent a letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley asking for short-term and immediate solutions prior to the legislative session. Wilson worked on the letter with Edwards and included the fact that the county has lost nearly 20 percent of its state funding since 2009.

State funding is eroding because of the enrollment numbers, which have dropped, according to Raley. The school system is facing a potential $2.2 million loss in state funding, according to Wilson.

Several residents at the meeting indicated that they would leave the area or home school their children if things don’t improve with the school system. Some residents voiced concerns about overcrowding at Broadford Elementary and the commissioners agreed to visit the school in the future.

“I think it’s important that we have schools that attract people to the area,” said Charlotte Sebold, board member. “It’s very important that we all go out and tell people how great our county is.”

The letter also mentions the hurdle that the school system faces in the geography and topography of the county, 600 miles of county roads translate to 6,000 miles a day for bus services and high transportation costs.

“That’s a standard that sets Garrett County apart from most other jurisdictions,” said Wilson. “Moving down the road, if we again have to do a reduction in force and cause further building closures I can only anticipate transportation costs will increase.”

Jeff Connor of Fike, Conner & Associates CPAs urged everyone else to send a letter to O’Malley.

“We can’t keep doing this over and over. So we are going to have to go to the state level,” said Conner. “More school closings or school consolidations are just not palatable.”

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

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