Garrett officials to address Adventure Sports Center takeover
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — Operations and management of the Adventure Sports Center International will be addressed by the Garrett County Board of Commissioners next week when a press conference is held Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the commission’s public meeting room.
The commissioners and Wendy Yoder, director of the county’s department of financial services, and Scott Weeks, assistant director, held a discussion about ASCI on Monday and then went into executive session to discuss economic development and financial and personnel matters pertaining to the sports center.
The commissioners previously discussed ASCI’s $3 million debt obligation at a February meeting. In January, the sports center’s board of directors proposed to convey all of the center’s facilities, assets and operations to the county. The offer was contingent upon the county assuming ASCI’s liabilities, according to a previous statement released by the commissioners.
During the February meeting, the commissioners made it clear that they would not consider the conveyance if the debt obligations remain.
Also at Monday’s administrative meeting, the commissioners:
• Approved an appropriation of $500 to the town of Kitzmiller for the 2012 Annual Homecoming Festival.
• Discussed the funding of an events coordinator. The commissioners had previously approved in August 2011 the funding of $20,000 to serve as a cost share with the Chamber of Commerce. Commissioners and members of the chamber agreed to place the employment of an independent contractor on hold with the final decision to be made as part of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.
• Reappointed Donald Stemple to the Garrett County Civil Service Commission.
During the public meeting, the commissioners:
• Approved a bid award to Winters General Contractor Inc. for $46,950 for an airport parking area expansion.
• Provided an update on legislative matters relative to the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly.
• Heard an update from Richard MacLennan, president of Garrett College, on the Garrett County Scholarship Program.
• Executed a proclamation celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouts in the United States.
• Recognized Austin Shaffer of Southern Garrett High School as the 2012 State Wrestling Champion.
The next public meeting will be held April 3 at 9 a.m.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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3-20-12: To the Bear’s Lair
Every year, in the early spring, scientists from the state’s Department of Natural Resources visit a selection of bear dens across western Maryland. The researchers venture under brush, around trees, and occasionally, under a porch, to check the health of hibernating mama bears they’ve been monitoring with radio collars. The idea is to get an idea of the bears’ health and growth.
Maryland ‘s bear population lives mainly in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick Counties. Harry Spiker, Maryland’s Principal Bear Biologist, has been spending time going to lairs in western Maryland. Here, he talks about the survey with Sheilah Kast.
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Reports Track Child Care Costs and Availability, County-by-County
March 20, 2012
BALTIMORE – Maryland families putting together child-care budgets can get a good idea how much it will cost, thanks to new research from the Maryland Family Network.
The prices vary widely around the state. Care for two children, an infant and a preschooler, would cost a family about $9600 a year in Garrett County – and $25,000 a year in Montgomery County.
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Senate Passes Legislation To Allow U.S. 219 Upgrade To Move Forward
Mar. 15, 2012
In a vote taken yesterday, the United States Senate passed its version of a new transportation bill which contained legislative language written by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) that would allow the U.S. 219 construction project from Somerset to Meyersdale, Pa. – just north of Grantsville – to move forward.
Senator Cardin, who praised Senate passage of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill known as MAP-21, championed three separate provisions in the bill designed specifically to aid the completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) and assure federal support for access roads in Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties.
Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Patrick Toomey (R-PA) joined in the effort to get the legislation passed.
Specifically, the prohibition on “toll credit” usage for the 13 Appalachian states of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and their ADHS was reversed.
Toll credit usage for the required state match was begun in 1992, but was removed for the ADHS projects in 2005. Without it, PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) has refused to move on the U.S. 219 project, citing that provision and the lack of state matching funds, even with the $35 million bond bill for the project. PennDOT has consistently stated it needed another $35 million, or the toll credit language changed, to allow it to offset its required state match with toll credits.
“I have heard from business and civic leaders in western Maryland about the importance of the ADHS to economic growth in the region,” said Cardin, “and keeping residents connected to the rest of the country. That is why I made the preservation of this program and the development of important incentive provisions to facilitate the completion of the ADHS a top priority of mine during the Senate’s consideration of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.”
This change, if passed by the House of Representatives, will allow PennDOT to immediately proceed with the Route 219 construction project from Somerset to Meyersdale, PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch told the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce last January.
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BOE Hears School Closure Committees
Mar. 15, 2012
The Garrett County Board of Education heard three advisory committee reports on Tuesday concerning the proposed closure of three county elementary schools – Dennett Road, Friendsville, and Kitzmiller. All three committees made appeals to the board to keep the schools open and operating.
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The advisory committee representatives made their respective cases in the cafeteria of Southern Middle School, a venue selected by the board to accommodate the larger than usual crowd expected.
The groups cited the stress that would be placed on children by longer commute times, the loss of educational programs, and the damage that would be done to the surrounding communities as reasons to not close the schools.
It was also generally believed by the advisory committees that eliminating the three schools would cause crowding at other facilities and also adversely affect Garrett County’s ability to attract new industries and businesses.
“Class size is important,” stated Leo Martin, Mtn. Lake Park mayor, during the public comment forum.
“If we close these schools what do we do with the buildings? You simply create another burden for the tax payer. Like it or not, Garrett County will develop – what do we do then without adequate space for students?”
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"Uncle WiFi Is In The Iditerod!"
Mar. 15, 2012
Indeed, the uncle of this local litter is currently competing in the annual 1,000-mile Iditarod race in Alaska and Canada as a member of musher Karen Ramstead’s team of pure breed Siberian huskies. The brother of WiFi and the “dad” to these pups is Slider, owned by Linda and Mike Herdering of Husky Power Dogsledding in Accident. According to the Herderings, there are only one or two teams of pure breed Siberian huskies (known as “pretty sled dogs”) because the Alaskan husky is faster.
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Ramstead says she runs the Siberian team not to win, but to prove that show dogs can also perform and succeed in an athletic competition. As of yesterday afternoon, Ramstead and her team had just left the checkpoint of Shaktoolik. Thirteen teams had finished the race, and 40 were still racing. The four Siberian pups above are not only four completely different colors, but they sport four completely different eye pairings. The differences in deep Siberian coloring (red, black, blonde, and grey) prompted the Herderings to name them “The Metal Litter.” From left are Copper, Steelie, Goldie, and
Silver.
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Garrett sizes up parts of setback ordinance
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — On Thursday, Garrett County commissioners discussed possible setback regulations on industrial wind turbines, meteorological towers and gas industries during a discussion of the Land Use Management Ordinance draft, facilitated by John Nelson, director of the Department of Planning and Land Development.
The draft ordinance regulates MET tower height to 50 feet and states that the wind turbines must be 2,000 feet from a residence, church, school or other occupied structure and 1,000 feet from a property line not owned or leased by the company installing the wind conversion energy systems.
It also states a wind turbine blade can only measure 375 feet at its highest point.
Nelson said he believes current wind turbines are 410 feet.
“The number may or may not go out to the public,” said Raley. “We may go back and say, ‘Well, they are already 410 then we may as well put them as 410. That is a discussion we will have.”
Residents questioned Nelson as to where he got the setback numbers for the wind turbines and said the setbacks seem anti-wind.
“I can tell you setback letters are coming in both ways,” said Raley. “One person says they are too restrictive and another person said I live there and they are not restrictive enough, and I’ve been to the Pinnacle Wind Farm (on Green Mountain in Keyser) and I do believe it imposes on people.”
All discussions of the draft ordinance have been held in public and will continue to be, according to Raley. The next discussion will be held April 10 at 10 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room in the courthouse.
One resident questioned whether wind turbine substations would be permitted under the draft ordinance.
“Those would be permitted as well, automatically, by right under the utility provision. The setback requirements don’t apply to the substation, just the wind turbines itself,” said Nelson.
Clipper Windpower Development voluntarily offered a minimum setback before its project was constructed, according to Nelson. The setback was 1,000 feet, according to a Clipper employee who was in attendance.
The draft ordinance also contains proposed language that addresses the underground disposal of hydraulic fracturing water associated with Marcellus shale drilling.
Nelson said that it would be advantageous to have a stakeholders group that could review the ordinance, work on the details and provide a much more public process where the details could be discussed and debated.
Once the draft ordinance is complete, it will be placed on the county’s website and in the public library before a public hearing is held.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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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!
Maryland Home Sales Improve in February
March 15, 2012 (Shirley Allen)
Monthly sales of existing single-family homes and condominiums improved from January to February in Maryland while home prices edged downward but still remained above last year’s levels according to the latest housing data from the Maryland Association of Realtors® (MAR).
An estimated total of 3,255 existing single-family homes and condos were sold in the Old Line State in February. That was 5.9 percent higher than the 3,074 homes sold in January and 2.4 percent higher than the 3,179 homes sold in February 20http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif11.
The median sales price for an existing home in Maryland fell by 3.3 percent in February to $212,301, down from $219,500 in January, but was still 2.0 percent higher than the median price of $208,238 in February of last year.
Of the 24 counties that provide data for the monthly report, 14 of the counties reported gains in home sales over the previous year with Garrett County (+77.8 percent) reporting the largest increase while Somerset County (-72.4 percent) posted the largest monthly decline in sales.
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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!
Seven injured in Wisp Resort race
Posted: 03/17/2012
Last Updated: 6 hours and 11 minutes ago
MCHENRY, Md. – Seven people were injured in a sledding race at Wisp Resort in Garrett County on Saturday.
The accident happened during Wisp’s annual ‘Beachin Weekend’ during which the Cardboard Box Derby serves as a fundraiser for a blind skier program. The event which is open to adults and children involves racing a decorated cardboard box down Wisp’s tubing lanes. According to derby rules, the contestants’ “vehicles” must be constructed with cardboard boxes, tape and string.
A Wisp spokesperson said a derby participant called the “Dragon Wagon” was carrying fourteen people down a steep snow covered tubing lane. Halfway down, the box lost control and collided with metal pipes that support a snowmaking machine.
Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/state/accident-at-wisp-resort#ixzz1pa6M0HlK
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Park Service Superintendent Cancels State Park Walkway Canopy Project
Mar. 15, 2012
by Renée Shreve
The Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers learned last Friday that an initiative they have dreamed about, promoted, and raised money for since 2005 may never become a reality. Western Regional Park Service manager Cindy Ecker, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, explained during the group’s quarterly meeting at the Discovery Center Tuesday evening why the Deep Creek Lake State Park Forest Canopy Walkway (FCW) has been canceled.
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“It’s been a rough couple of days,” Ecker said. “I know that you all are very emotional about the Forest Canopy Walkway; you’re passionate about it; I’ve known that since I’ve taken this position.”
The DNR has modified the project several times since the volunteers proposed it, but its basic concept involves a boardwalk to allow public access to the upper parts of the park’s forest canopy – where flora and fauna can be viewed – and to provide an outdoor nature classroom. The 20-foot high wheel-chair accessible walkway would begin off the rear deck of the Discovery Center and loop around the park.
Included in the current design is an 80-foot observation tower. That structure is why Park Service superintendent Nita Settina has axed the entire project. Ecker explained that stricter Americans With Disabilities Act regulations regarding new projects constructed by state and local governments become mandatory on March 15. As a result, new Park Service projects and alterations must be fully and physically accessible.
“The requirements of the law to provide full accessibility to people with disabilities to all levels of the 80-foot Forest Canopy Walkway tower made the project impractical from a construction and maintenance standpoint,” Ecker said.
The DNR Engineering and Construction Division, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, Maryland Department of Disabilities, and the U.S. Access Board recently reviewed the tower to see how it fared under the new law.
“Based on the new regulations and guidance from the U.S. Access Board, it is our opinion that you will have to include an elevator to the upper levels of the Forest Canopy Walkway observation tower to meet current regulations or only build as high as the planned accessible ramp and boardwalk,” Director Jordan Loran, DNR Engineering and Construction Division, informed Settina in a memorandum dated March 12.
Ecker told the volunteers, however, that the DNR feels it is not practical to build the tower with an external elevator. She added that providing a remote video station at the bottom of the tower with cameras at the top of the structure was not approved by a U.S. Access Board specialist. All observation levels of the tower would have to be physically accessible, Ecker said.
In addition, Settina will not approve a 20-foot high walkway without the tower, as the project would not fulfill its original mission of providing an observation component, Ecker indicated.
The estimate for the current draft design of the walkway and tower is about $989,000. An alternative, incomplete design concept is estimated at $289,000.
Approved by the DNR in the 2005-2006 time frame, the walkway was to be built and maintained by the volunteers. The group raised more than $100,000 prior to 2011, according to WGCSPV president John Pucciano.
“Much of that money (about $75,000) went toward design and engineering studies,” he wrote in an e-mail prior to Tuesday’s meeting. “In 2011, coinciding with the kickoff of the Decorated Bear fundraising event, Brookfield Energy donated $50,000 to the project, with a promise of $50,000 more. The Decorated Bear project netted just over $40,000. So, as you can see, the organization was well on its way to raising the money needed to build the project.”
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