Category:garrett county

Garrett defers school project

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — During the Garrett County Commission meeting on Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously to defer the Southern Middle School renovation project funding of $582,400 for one year.

Commissioners also agreed to continue to work with the board of education to develop a plan for fiscal 2015 for the school project.

“I think this is a sound approach,” said Commissioner Jim Raley. “We are going to get through this. It really comes down to, in my opinion, the taxpayers and citizens of Garrett County telling us what they want their school system to look like.”

Raley said it’s up to citizens whether they want to continue to maintain community schools or to consider a larger approach.

Without cuts to the budget, the project would cause an increase in taxes, according to Raley.

“Unless we are going to start cutting money out of the budget, we are not going to afford that project without a tax increase that covers the cost of that debt service,” said Raley. “I don’t often get people coming up to me saying, ‘Please raise my taxes.’”

The debt service on the project would have to be paid back and would cost about $750,000 per year, according to Raley.

“Currently, the county has no debt, so there is no money to roll into that. In order to fund that debt service, the county has to come up with that $750,000 to make that payment. The real reason for the request of the deferal (of the project) is to see if we can get the budget more in line,” he said.

Raley said he didn’t foresee any new revenues coming to the county.

There will be a $1.7 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2015 for education.

“The $1.7 million that the board is asking for is just to remain at status quo,” said Raley. “It doesn’t do anything to enhance the system or to meet some of those needs. I continue to argue that we have a stagnant population, we have a declining student population.”

In order to recover from decline in student population, Raley believes the trend needs to be reversed.

“It needs to happen no matter what our decisions are in moving forward with Southern Middle School,” he said, adding that planning needs to take place with the future in mind. “I don’t know what our county will look like 10 years from now.”

Commissioner Gregan Crawford said he would like to see an independent group develop creative ideas for the direction of the school system.

It is estimated the county will lose $2.7 million in revenue in fiscal 2015 because of the readjustment of the assessable tax base and because, Raley said.

In addition, planning will also have to occur for the shift of teacher retirement costs to county government.

“The biggest problem I see are 2015 and 2016 are going to be critical budget years,” said Raley.

Raley, who worked in the Southern Middle School building for 14 years, said he was concerned about the erosion of the building if the project didn’t move forward.

Southern Middle School was built in 1977.

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

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Garrett County commissioners OK transportation plan

Priority list now includes Route 135/Sand Flat Road intersection

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners approved the county planning commission’s recommended priority list for nine projects, one of which is new, to the State of Maryland Consolidated Transportation 2014 Plan. The planning commission recommended that a new project, state Route 135/Sand Flat Road intersection, be added to the list for safety reasons, according to John Nelson, director of planning and land development.

“The planning commission noted a number of accidents at that intersection recently, many which resulted in serious injuries and/or fatalities,” said Nelson at Tuesday’s commission meeting. “The problem seems to be one of sight distance, speed.”

The planning commission asked that the intersection be reviewed by experts with the Traffic Safety Engineering Division of the Maryland State Highway Administration.

The remainder of the priority list is similar to last year’s list. On the list again is the U.S. Route 219 North project (North/South corridor) from Interstate 68 to Pennsylvania, which is a No. 1 priority and is part of the state’s CTP. The state doesn’t have most of the funding for the project because it is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System, according to Nelson.

“The problem still lies with the Pennsylvania (line) to Meyersdale section. Pennsylvania argues they don’t have the funding in place for that section,” said County Commissioner Jim Raley.

A letter from Gov. Martin O’Malley agrees to allocate all the Appalachian Regional Commission funds for that project to be complete in Maryland but the project is being held back because of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation planning initiatives, according to Nelson.

The section of the North/South corridor from Somerset to Meyersdale, Pa., is getting ready to go out to bid, according to Raley. The alignment of the section from Pennsylvania to Maryland to where it comes into I-68 still has to be determined by the Maryland impact study, according to Nelson.

The second project on the list is the Oakland bypass, which would relocate U.S. 219 from north of Oakland to state Route 135 (2.4 miles). Elected officials and residents ex-pressed concerns about the bypass during a Maryland Department of Transportation tour last year.

Even though both the North/South corridor and the bypass are on the CTP, there is no capital funding for them or any projects throughout the state, according to Nelson.

“We don’t foresee those projects having any additional funding associated with them,” said Nelson. “The other five remaining projects are essentially community safety enhancement projects.”

Also on the list are the state Route 546 bridge project which goes over I-68 in Finzel and the U.S. 219 resurfacing project that is currently under way from Oak Street to East Lake Street.

The planning commission noted minor changes to those projects on the priority list.

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

Maryland's 'lawless sheriffs' are upholding our constitutional rights

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-cardin-arpaio-20130622,0,3381459.story#ixzz2XQACjj44

Court reverses Garrett County decision expanding boat-rental competition on Deep Creek Lake

Circuit Judge James Sherbin ruled that the permit was improperly issued.

The county’s planning director says the ice-cream shop can appeal the decision.

More here.

Garrett County will hold tire recycling event

Cumberland Times-News

Garrett County couple win $1 million top prize on scratch-off lottery ticket

Payout for residents who want to remain anonymous is $506,242

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

GRANTSVILLE — A local Garrett County couple recently won the $1 million top prize from the Maryland Lottery’s Double Dollar Fortune scratch-off ticket. The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, bought the winning ticket at Chestnut Ridge Liquor Store.

“We are very excited. I’m in shock,” said the winner. “When I found out, I ran two laps through the house.”

The couple plan to use the money toward retirement and traveling. They plan on continuing to work.

The winner purchases scratch-offs about twice a month and had previously won $150 on Powerball.

The Double Dollar ticket costs $20 and has three top prizes of $1 million, seven prizes of $50,000, 17 prizes of $10,000 and many smaller prizes, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency. The other two $1 million prizes still remain to be drawn.

The couple who won chose the cash option prize of $764,140. The payout after taxes were collected is $506,242. The winner can also choose an annuity that is paid out over 20 years.

The estimated probability of winning a prize in the game is 1 in 2.71.

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

Sheriff's refusal to enforce gun law is a victory for the people

Fun things to do this weekend in Garrett County

Redneck Dayz kicks off tonight at Long Branch:

Friday – June 14th, 2013 – Long Branch Saloon   The official redneck games.  Teams of four compete for prizes.                 

Saturday –  June 15, 2013 – Broadford Lake Park, Oakland, MD 21550 8:00 am to midnight. 

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Deep Creek’s Got Talent – Honi Honi Bar June 15th

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Garrett County Home Show:

2013 Garrett County Home & Garden Show June 15 & 16 2013.
Exhibit Hall at the Garrett County Fairgrounds,
Route 219, McHenry (Deep Creek Lake), Maryland

Saturday, June 15, 2013
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday, June 16, 2013
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Rain or Shine • No Visitor Admission Fee • Ample Free Parking

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Spruce Forest Artisan Village Family Day June 15

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Taste of Garrett County 2013! June 17, 6 -9 PM, WISP Resort

If this is your first time hearing about this event, the Taste of Garrett County is the major fundraiser for Garrett Trails. All proceeds go toward progress on our trail construction plans such as the Meadow Mountain Trail resurfacing and construction, the continued construction of new hiking and biking trails at the Fork Run Recreation Area, and engineering for the Yough Lake Trail and bridge spanning the Yough in Friendsville.

The event is packed with restaurants from all around Garrett County, MD. Patrons pay $30 entry fee and then immerse themselves in special cooking demonstrations from some of the area’s best chefs, prizes and raffles, live entertainment and delicious new offerings and classic favorites from Garrett County’s most popular dining establishments! This year we are accepting credit cards at the door ($1surcharge applies). More here.

Bear Carving Stolen from New Germany State Park, Ultimately Recovered

6/11 ***Update: The bear is now home safely after employees with the State Highway Administration discovered it in a ditch. New Germany State Park staff extend a huge thank you to all who helped spread the word!***

When staff arrived to work at New Germany State Park on  June 6, they discovered the park’s bear statue had gone missing. The chainsaw-carved bear that once stood at the entrance welcoming visitors had apparently been stolen overnight.

The carving (pictured) was donated to the park in 2010 by a local artist named John “Sacco” Carter.  Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 1-800-825-PARK or 1-410-260-8888.

More here.