Garrett balances budget, develops plan for board
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — The fiscal year 2013 budget was balanced without having to borrow money or change the tax rate, Garrett County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt said during a review of the budget on Tuesday at Garrett College.
“We have been able to keep the tax rate the same and are able to appropriate monies toward the board of education. It’s a really difficult job they (commissioners) have to balance everything. They spent a lot of time on the budget and know it from top to bottom.”
Even though the budget was presented, it is likely numbers will change due to pending state legistlation in the Maryland General Assembly, said Charmian Jim Raley.
The biggest block of funds the county appropriates is for education, said Pagenhardt.
The proposed budget includes an appropriation of $31.3 million to education for fiscal year 2013, with $25.3 million appropriated to the BOE.
“It is important to repeat that ($25.3 million appropriation) because that is the number the board of education has been told to count on for 2014,” said Pagenhardt. “The board of education knows their operating budget for 2013 and also 2014.”
The total appropriated to the BOE includes $500,000 the county put up to reduce the number of cuts to teachers from 40 to 28.
“The commissioners didn’t really usurp power of the board of education. They didn’t say, ‘Here is how you have to spend the money,’” said Pagenhardt. “But they are very cognizant of the closing of the schools and the loss of jobs.”
The board of education voted to close Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools during a special meeting in April.
Because of the school closings, the proposed budget also includes an additional expenditure of about $95,745 for operating expenses, utility expenses and contracted services.
“You will see an increase in operating expenses, utilities and contracted services. Those are almost solely a result of the county having to absorb maintenance and operation of Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools,” said Pagenhardt. “They do become the county’s responsibility.”
During the presentation, both Raley and Pagenhardt stressed that the real property tax rate would remain at $0.9900.
“Next year is the first year that probably anyone can remember that the constant yield is greater than the tax rate,” said Pagenhardt.
In the proposed budget, there is an estimated $975,000 decrease in expenditures overall for the Roads Division for fiscal year 2013, compared to a $17.6 million expenditure in fiscal year 2012.
“We took a long look at that what we were spending in the past,” said Pagenhardt. “That was attributed to having aging equipment breaking down. We feel that we can get by with $250,000 less for next year as opposed to this year.”
Most of the cuts to the budget were from the roads department, because it is the largest department in the county, according to Pagenhardt.
The total projected revenue for the county in fiscal year 2013 is $72,819,058 — about a $13.5 million reduction from fiscal year 2012.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
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Two seek top Garrett schools’ job
Janet Wilson, Jeremy Raley to visit with students, staff, community leaders
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — One of Allegany County’s top public school administrators is a finalist for the superintendent’s job in Garrett County, the Garrett County Board of Education announced late Wednesday afternoon.
Janet Wilson, chief academic officer for ACPS since 2010, is one of two finalists for the position, which has been filled by an interim superintendent since Wendell Teets unexpectedly retired last summer.
The second finalist is Jeremy Raley, a 1992 graduate of Fort Hill High School, who works as assistant superintendent for administration and finance for Shenandoah County Public Schools in Virginia.
In the coming weeks, each finalist will be scheduled to meet with community leaders, teachers, support staff, media, elected officials and administrators, a BOE press release said. Each finalist is to spend a day touring the county, visiting schools and eating lunch with students.
The BOE plans to host a dinner for each candidate following their tours.
Wilson, who has worked as an educator for almost 30 years, has a doctorate from Notre Dame University of Maryland in educational leadership for changing populations. She has a bachelor’s and two master’s degrees from Frostburg State University.
Raley has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia, and earned a doctorate in organizational leadership from Shenandoah University in August 2011.
Garrett County’s search for a new superintendent began last fall and is being coordinated by the Maryland Association fo Board of Educations.
Interim Superintendent Sue Waggoner, who was planning to retire when Teets unexpectedly stepped down last June, did not apply for the position.
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ASCI debt will be paid with rental tax
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — During a budget meeting on Tuesday, Garrett County commissioners discussed the debt accrued by Adventure Sports Center International and residents questioned the county’s decision to acquire that debt.
The hotel tax rate increase from 5 percent to 6 percent will provide the county with funds for the promotion of tourism and economic development, County Adminstrator Monty Pagenhardt said. “The ASCI debt repayment is also to be paid by the hotel rental tax. That is not in this year’s budget, it’s in next year,” Pagenhardt said.
“The commissioners plan to pay ourselves back our assigned fund balance of $600,000 to pay off the $2.2 million of debt.”
In March, the county took ownership of ASCI, paying $600,000 to secure the assignment of ASCI debts from Susquehanna Bank.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Brian Arnett questioned the decision to acquire the ASCI debt.
“It’s great you didn’t raise the tax, but how about a tax cut and just quit doing pet projects,” asked Arnett.
In response to Arnett, Chairman Jim Raley said the budget didn’t really include many capital projects and further reiterated the fact that some of the hotel tax money would be used to pay the ASCI debt.
“The other projects can be debated. Some of those projects we inherited,” said Raley. “Some of those projects people believed would be an economic boost to the county. It’s our job now to make those things work. I think you will see that we have really cut our capital projects way back.”
The hotel rate increase will also cover promotions of the 2014 World Championship Canoe and Kayak Slalom Races and will provide an extra $5,000 to the Garrett County Historical Society. The $118,000 expenditure in promotions for the races is from seed money, Pagenhardt said.
During Tuesday’s commission meeting, commissioners approved a resolution to increase the hotel tax rate, effective July 1.
During the public comment portion of the budget meeting, Jim “Smokey” Stanton, thanked commissioners for holding a public meeting on the budget. Stanton suggested the county hold back 5 percent to 6 percent of budget in every department, which would amount to a contingency plan.
“So that the managers of that department are managing to that reduction,” said Stanton. “If we find that things are going more down hill than we believe, or we need to have money accrued for next year, we have a mechanism to do that.”
Stanton also said he wasn’t a fan of earmarking and suggested that performance evaluations be required for the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.
“Earmarking means that it becomes a birthright,” said Stanton.
“Obviously, that is a good suggestion and one I think we do have to look at,” said Raley. “Especially in light of the fact that not only we can we anticipated the loss of revenues in the property adjustments over the next couple years. We also know that we will be facing a million dollar liability in teacher pensions over the next four years.”
The state will be responsible for the first four years of the teacher pension, leaving the county responsible for the last year, according to Raley.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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Garrett County, Md., boosts hotel tax
Posted: May 17, 2012 9:42 AM EDT Updated: May 17, 2012 9:42 AM EDT
OAKLAND, Md. (AP) – Garrett County officials say a boost in the local hotel tax will help pay for the county’s recent acquisition of a manmade whitewater course in western Maryland.
The Cumberland Times-News (http://bit.ly/La2wIY ) reports that the county commissioners voted Tuesday to raise the hotel tax from 5% to 6%, effective July 1.
County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt says some of the new revenue will reimburse the county’s $600,000 expense for paying off loans on which the Adventure Sports Center International had defaulted.
Pagenhardt says the higher hotel tax will also fund tourism promotion and economic development.
One event the county is promoting is the 2014 world canoe and kayak slalom championships at the whitewater course near McHenry.
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Community Calendar - 5/19/2012
It’s getting closer to summer and there are some great events taking place this weekend! I’ll be working at the Garrett County Home & Garden Show tomorrow from 10am-12pm @ the new Exhibit Hall at the Garrett County Fairgrounds – stop by to visit!
Garrett County Home & Garden Show
Date: May 19, 2012 Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
http://www.hbawmd.org
Event Description
Bringing together businesses, vendors and service providers for the public to visit with, ask questions, gain valuable information and take advantage of services and offerings exhibitors provide.
Exhibitors will be diverse combination of businesses and provide a great array of resources for anyone already or possibly having interest in home ownership, recreation, outdoors, Real Estate, decorating, electronics and numerous other traditional and non-traditional type home and garden products and services.
Event is family oriented, fun and will provide food, activities and prizes.
This is a NO admission cost event.
Interested exhibitors please contact HBAWM office at 301-722-4343 or 240-580-0779 (cell) or email – hbuilder@atlanticbbn.net
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1st Annual Home Brew Competiton
Date: May 19, 2012 Time: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
http://www.MountainStateBrewing.com
Event Description
In honor of AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK!
Details: Beers must be registered by May 4th for the judged event. The judged event will begin at noon, and the people’s choice will start at 2:30pm. There is a $5 dollar entry fee to be collected on the day of the event. Get there early to get your beer registered and tagged!
To Register: Bottle identification forms should be sent to info@mountainstatebrewing.com by May 4. You can download the form here.
Prizes will be awarded for both judged and people’s choice events, and all participants get 20% off of any food purchases for the day! We’ll also have a pig roast that starts at noon.
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Oyster Bay Wine Tasting at the Savage River Lodge
Date: May 19, 2012 Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
http://www.savageriverlodge.com
Event Description May 19, 2012: On May 19 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., we will tasting six different wines from Oyster Bay Winery in New Zealand. The cost is $35 per person, including paired appetizers.
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Wisp XC Challenge Cross Country Mountain Bike race
Date: May 20, 2012
http://www.wispresort.com
Event Description Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association Race – long sections of single and double track challenging rock gardens and of course some thrilling descents! We are
putting together an awesome XC loops that we have you asking for more!
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Celebrate the Youghiogheny
Date: May 20, 2012 Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Youghiogheny River Watershed Association
Event Description Art and Photo Contest sponsored by Youghiogheny River Watershed Association and Garrett County Arts Council. Celebrate with us by viewing the local art of “What the Youghiogheny Means to You!” Kids can join the Fisheries Biologist to fish in the lake and make a fish print craft to take home. Also visit us for the Scales and Tales program from 3 to 3:30 pm.
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More details on all of these events here.
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Just Listed - 630 Paradise Rdige Rd - GA7844475 - $299,900
Immaculate Mountaineer log home in Paradise Ridge community. Well maintained inside/out, owner pride is evident. Tongue and groove wood walls, beamed ceilings and loft – spacious master suite. 2 car attached garage, level lawn & unique views from the property – you will never get tired of the mountains & water views this property offers! One of the best lake access areas at Deep Creek Lake!
Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.
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Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
Western Maryland whitewater course opening for season
Posted: 8:37 am Fri, May 11, 2012
By Associated Press
MCHENRY — A western Maryland whitewater course is opening for its first season under public ownership.
Garrett County officials say the Adventure Sports Center International near McHenry will open Saturday. The county acquired the manmade course in March after the nonprofit developer defaulted on more than $3 million in bank loans.
In a bid to boost sales, the county is offering reduced rates to residents of Garrett County. Instead of the regular preseason rate of $45 per person, county residents can ride in inflatable rafts for $25, or just $10 for those who bring their own boats.
The course has averaged about 11,000 rafters a year during its first five seasons. That’s far below the 25,000 that operators projected when the course opened in 2007.
More here.
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Mary S. 'Molly' Jameson, aided homeless
She established two outreach programs at her city church
May 08, 2012|By Frederick N. Rasmussen, The Baltimore Sun
Mary S. “Molly” Jameson, who established and directed two outreach programs at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore, died Sunday of breast cancer at her Lutherville home. She was 81.
The daughter of a building contractor and an educator, Mary Smart was born in Garrett County and raised in Oakland, Friendsville and Grantsville.
After graduating from Oakland High School in 1948, she enrolled at what is now Towson University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1952.
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Potential developers should proceed with percolation tests pronto
Garrett County commissioners point to grandfathering provisions
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — Recently passed legislation limiting septic systems for housing projects in Maryland contains grandfathering provisions, and Garrett County leaders have suggested that property owners take advantage of them.
Time is running out for potential developers, with the first step in the process a percolation test.
“If you have your application in to the Environmental Health Department by July, that would give you some grandfather rights to go ahead and create a subdivision that would be larger than seven lots, which would be considered a major subdivision,” said John Nelson, director of the Department of Planning and Land Development, during a recent commission meeting.
As soon as percolation test results are approved, property owners have 18 months until preliminary application can be made for subdivision plat approval, according Nelson.
“If property owners make application by July 1, 2012, we stand ready to do the necessary soil and percolation tests to meet the required plat approval deadlines,” said Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty in a news release.
It is important to have the application for the major subdivisions in the hands of the proper officials prior to the deadline, according to Glotfelty.
If application for the percolation test is not made by July 1, preliminary plans for a major subdivision that is utilizing an on-site sewage disposal system must be turned into the Department of Planning and Land Development by Oct. 1. These plans must be in by Oct. 1 to have exemptions for more than seven lots, according to Nelson.
Oct. 1, 2016, is the date to have subdivision preliminary plan approval from the county’s planning commission, for major subdivision utilizing an on-site sewage disposal system, according to the news release.
The Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 (Senate Bill 236), which was passed by the Maryland General Assembly, amends both Maryland health and land planning statutes, according to a county news release.
Nelson described the intent of SB 236, which is essentially a spetic bill.
“The intent of the bill is to minimize the number of new housing starts that will be allowed on septic systems,” said Nelson, “It really affects primarly rural counties more so than metropolitan counties where they do have infrastructure, water, sewer and those types of amenities.”
Areas currently served by public sewer are not impacted by this bill, according to Nelson. Instead, the bill will affect areas that are not currently served and planned areas.
The septic bill was based on recommendations from the governor’s Task Force on Sustainable Growth and Wastewater Disposal to minimize the amount of harmful nitrogen loads from septic systems that enter the Chesapeake Bay watershed, according to a news release. The Maryland Department of the Environment was required to come up with regulations for nitrogen offsets, according to Nelson. Currently, the septic systems leach out higher levels of nitrogen than are typically allowed on any public sewer system.
“If you are going to be creating a subdivision even a minor subdivision there will be nutrient requirements by MDE,” said Nelson. “What that means is your spetic systems are going to have to be designed as such, that they will virtually take out all nitrogen from the systems. We don’t know what those design systems are going to be it’s to premature.”
Nelson noted that the design systems are going to be more expensive and that MDE has until then end of the calendar year to come up with the regulations for the offsets of nitrogen.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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Poppy Seed-Sized Beetle Threatens Livelihood Of Md.’s Aging Hemlock Trees
May 11, 2012 6:03 PM
Alex DeMetrick
GARRETT COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)—They are some of Maryland’s oldest living things.
Alex DeMetrick reports that despite centuries of growth, the state’s old growth hemlocks are being threatened by an invasive bug the size of a poppy seed.
You have to get off the main road at New Germany State Park in Garrett County to reach those performing a kind of tree triage. Only in this case the medicine is pesticide.
“The chemical will be released into the tree slowly through the injectors,” said Donnie Oates, Maryland park ranger.
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