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New listing! 257 Marsh Hill Road #29 – GA8345407 – $262,500 -lakefront townhouse

Rare 4 level townhome at Deep Creek Village offers year-round enjoyment. Unique placement is technically lakefront, no other properties separating this unit from the waterfront/dock area. Year-round views of the slopes AND lake, wood burning fireplace, dock slip available through the community. Wisp IS your back yard – short walk to the ski slopes, golf course, dining & entertainment. More here.
Listing Information
Property Type: Single Family-Attached
3 3 Full
2,010 (approx) 1989 4
DEEP CREEK VILLAGE
Public
Public Sewer
Room Information
Bathrooms
3
Kit-Dining Combo, Kit-Living Combo
Interior Features
 Electric Heating, Wood, Other, Baseboard
Full, Fully Finished, Heated
 1
 None, Other
Floor Plan-Open, Fireplace Equip., Furniture Conveys, Other, Other, W/W Carpeting, Washer/Dryer Hookup
Exterior / Lot Features
 Deck, Tennis Court, Dock Facilities, Water Access
 Other, Drvwy/Off Str
Wood, Stone, Cedar
Boat Slip
None
Mountain, Water, Scenic
DEEP CREEK LAKE
1
Shows Well
 Deck, Decks-Multiple, Adjac to Glf Crs, Bcks-Opn Comm, Ski in/Ski out, Water Front, Water View, Water Access, Open

Jobs, schools top priorities for Garrett County District 3 commission candidates

Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Garrett County District 3 commission candidates, incumbent Bob Gatto, Jim Hinebaugh, Chad Maroney, Dave Beard and Jeff Haines, address the issues that are facing the county.

Gatto noted economic development and that the issues trickle down from there.

“It’s like a puzzle, it’s not just one piece that you can address,” said Gatto. “We have got a well-trained workforce; we have got to have affordable housing, we have to have all the things associated with what the employers need and then balance it with what we have.”

Maroney and Hinebaugh indicated that one of the biggest issues facing the county is lack of jobs.

“We have plenty of minimum wage jobs, but we need more in the $30,000 range and above,” said Maroney. “Garrett County is a perfect place as far as location. With the near completion of Corridor H, we are poised to see a spike in traffic from Corridor H to Route (Interstate) 68 and vice versa.”

Gatto said that money and jobs would make the county better but that it is about balance.

“Obviously, money and jobs make it better for everything, but at the same time balancing that and spending it correctly and having a vision for the future I think is a better approach,” said Gatto. “We need to grow the pie and at the same time balance it as we go.”

Maroney suggests that all the surrounding counties need to work together to take advantage of what could be a great economic opportunity.

“If we better partner with all the counties that surround us, we could all benefit from this great opportunity,” said Maroney. “If we work together to lure major manufacturing here to our little corner of Appalachia, everyone could benefit.”

Luring manufacturers would bring construction opportunities in housing, business and industrial contracts, according to Maroney.

Hinebaugh indicated that his former position as economic development director would be helpful in addressing economic growth from a commissioner’s standpoint.

“Growing and maintaining a vibrant economy — providing good jobs — is a big challenge. It’s difficult to have a good quality of life, or be happy, if you don’t have a good job,” said Hinebaugh. “This challenge has to be addressed from both a short-term and long-term perspective.”

Beard said the biggest issue facing the county is the state shifting more fiscal responsibilities onto locals. He listed the state taking away the highway user revenues and the wealth formula as examples.

“Garrett County has more problems with the roads than any other county in the state due to the amount of roads and the severe weather in the county,” said Beard. “We have taken a tremendous hit as far as funding for education goes. These issues need to be addressed but there is no easy answer. You don’t know what’s going to transpire until you get into office.”

Gatto agreed that the issues facing the Garrett County public school system are unfunded mandates and the wealth formula. Legislation passed that mandates the state to supplement shortfalls in the state aid formula. A study of the wealth formula is planned to begin in the fall of 2014 and is expected to be complete by 2016.

“Education is a big part of what I believe in and I think that we should keep the schools that we have open,” said Beard, who was an educator for 34 years.

Haines, who said that funding the schools is one of the big issues that the county faces, echoed Beard’s sentiment that schools should remain open.

“Every year the rumors surface on closing another school or raising our tax rate to provide the funding needed. Both solutions are unacceptable,” said Haines.

Haines suggested that reducing the size of local government and eliminating unneeded county facilities would help solve the school funding issues.

“We must become a smaller and more productive local government,” said Haines. “Let’s start running our county with the best interest of our residents in mind and not the best interest of our local government.”

Hinebaugh also stressed the importance of education, noting that educational attainment is a short-term challenge that needs to be met in order to grow the economy.

“There is an abundance of data that supports the importance of education — lifelong learning is a function of educational attainment, the vast majority of future jobs will require education or training beyond high school, etc.,” said Hinebaugh.

Hinebaugh stressed the importance of residents having a marketable skill.

“The county is very fortunate in that it has a great public school system and an excellent community college,” said Hinebaugh. “The best way to address the educational attainment issue is to make sure these institutions remain robust and are adequately funded, and that people understand the importance of education.”

Maroney said that the key to making the county a better place is to work together.

“We have to all work together — Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent or unaffiliated. Local or visitor, old or young, we must unify and make things better,” said Maroney. “If we do not, we will become no more than a footnote in the margin of the book that would be the history of Appalachia.”

Like most rural jurisdictions, the county also faces demographic challenges in the long term, according to Hinebaugh.

“The county’s population is relatively stagnant and aging,” said Hinebaugh. “It will be a challenge to grow — or sustain — the local economy over time if businesses can’t find sufficient employees. … It will require creative thinking and innovative action.”

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

More here.

New listing! 206 White Oak Drive – GA8343843 – $899,500 – Lakefront 5BR

Impressive 5BR chalet with deep water & and long views of the lake. Virtually every room in the home enjoys water views. Spacious bedrooms, 2 massive stone fireplaces, h/w floors, tile, exterior fire pit/sitting area, storage shed, over flow parking lot. You will love the master suite & custom tile bath. Pride of ownership throughout, house shows incredibly well. .50 ac bonus lot included nearby. More info here.
Listing Information
Property Type: Single Family-Detached
5 3 Full/1 Half
39,204 Sq. Ft. 2,640 (approx) 1999
2
WHITE OAK DRIVE FOY TRACT
WAMSLEY
Well,Well Permit on File
Public Sewer

New Listing! 749 Deep Creek Drive – GA8341344 – $399,900 – Lakefront!

Comfy, remodeled 2BR, 2BA cabin RIGHT BY the water on Deep Creek Drive. Bi-level living with living room, kitchen and dining room on lower level. Gas fireplace, fully furnished and type “A” dock. 50 feet of lakefront property. Established vacation rental home ‘Chardelle‘. Property is currently used as residential but is zoned commercial – lots of potential + unique opportunity. More details & photos here.
Listing Information
Property Type: Vacation Rental
2 2 Full
3,890 Sq. Ft. 1,440 (approx) 1962
2
DEEP CREEK DRIVE
Public
Public Sewer

More info here.

ARC funds requested for Garrett projects

Keysers Ridge wastewater treatment plant, Last Mile broadband on list

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners submitted to the Appalachian Regional Commission a $900,000 funding request for a wastewater treatment plant at Keysers Ridge Business Park and a $250,000 funding request for the Last Mile Wireless Network Broadband Phase 3 project.

The preliminary list of projects was presented during the commission meeting Tuesday.

A plant is needed at the business park to serve both residents and businesses for the future development of the park. Currently, residents are using septic systems and businesses are receiving wastewater service from Bruceton Farm Service, a private entity that no longer wants to provide those services, according to the preliminary project description.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a complaint and consent order tothe Bruceton Farm Service wastewater treatment plant, which is located on National Pike in Grants­

ville.MDE has determined there was failure to comply with permit discharge limits for contaminants, including ammonia-nitrogen, from 2007 to 2013 to an unnamed tributary of Puzzley Run. Bruceton must pay $40,000 in penalty fees to MDE and will pay additional significant penalty fees for any additional violations of its renewal permit.

Since Bruceton’s service is antiquated, the commissioners are proposing a new $1.8 million wastewater treatment plant to terminate discharges from the Bruceton plant. The $900,000 ARC funding request will be met with a $900,000 state/local match. Matching funds for water infrastructure are being secured from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development and a discharge permit has already been obtained from MDE.

The new plant will service 50,000 gallons per day to meet the needs of the business park and 23 residential customers.

“There has been recent significant investment into the Keysers Ridge Business Park, accentuating the need for this project,” states the preliminary project description.

In April 2013, the Maryland Economic Development Corp. transferred more than 180 acres of land valued at $2.5 million to the commissioners to develop the park. In September 2013, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development entered into an agreement with the commissioners, providing $625,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to partially finance the construction of a 12,000square-foot building in the park.

More here.

Commission candidates weigh in on biggest issues facing Garrett County

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Garrett County Commission candidates for District 2, Paul Edwards, Tim Thomas, incumbent Jim Raley and Gary Barlow address the biggest issues that the county is facing.

Edwards said the lack of quality economic development is the biggest issue.

“The only thing I can do to address that is to point to the track record in Grantsville, which has been the fastest-growing town in the county,” said Edwards, Grantsville mayor. The town will welcome 10 new businesses this year. “We’ve been able to do that by working together with community business, state and local officials, creating a financial climate that is conducive to businesses.”

Thomas said the county needs to grow economically by 1 percent to 3 percent a year.

“We can do this by creating the opportunities for companies to move into the county,” said Thomas. “We need to be working on programs that will help with lowering property taxes to entice the primary home market as well as the secondary market, too.”

Grantsville has the lowest tax and utility rates around, according to Edwards.

“We have a target marketing campaign for businesses that fit and it’s been very successful for us. It’s something we can take countywide,” said Edwards.

Thomas said the biggest issue is the lack of good quality jobs.

“I strongly believe that we need to get proactive about jobs that will support a family environment, allowing the communities to grow, our tax base to grow and preventing a raise in taxes,” said Thomas.

Thomas, Raley and Barlow are in agreement that budgetary issues are also important.

“Our budget is underfunded, causing a shortfall for many programs, like education, road maintenance and overall growth to name a few,” said Thomas.

The county’s budget issues stem from the state passing down more costs, like the loss in highway user funds and the costs associated with the teacher pension passback, to the locals, according to Raley. In addition to budgetary concerns, young families are leaving the area due to lack of jobs that provide a living wage, said Raley.

“We have got to grow our economy and our tax base, and the best way to do that is to bring in more young families,” said Raley.

The Friendsville revitalization project, which is aimed at drawing young families into the area, could be used in other towns throughout the county, said Raley. Friends-ville has the capacity to become a millennial community because of its community trails and other amenities, said Raley. In October, the commission voted to allot $25,000 for design concept drawings to revitalize the town.

Barlow said that the biggest issue the county is facing is the funding of the schools.

“I do not believe enough good jobs or, more importantly, enough families with children will move to Garrett County to save our schools,” said Barlow. “Our problem is not that we don’t collect enough taxes, it is that we are not managing the amount we collect. Our operating costs are too high,” said Barlow.

Barlow said that the board of education increased costs by hiring unnecessary employees and by giving generous retirement health care benefits along with retiree supplemental insurance during a time when tax revenue and funding was strong.

“These benefits are better than state and federal workers, not to mention most private employees get no health benefits upon retirement. Instead of planning for our kids’ future, they planned their own future,” said Barlow. “Instead of combing schools on the east side of the county and building one in a more centralized location to serve those communities.”

The board has doubled administrative costs from $1.3 million in 2009 to $2.6 million in 2013, with almost $700,000 in one year, according to Barlow.

In December, the commissioners voted to give the board $2.2 million for fiscal 2015.

“The current commissioners took money from an account supposed to fund the retirement health care benefits so the schools could remain open,” said Barlow. “It just happens to fund the schools past the election. I believe the residents of Garrett County are already set up for a tax increase to fund the schools in 2016.”

Barlow vows to end the pensions for the commissioners office only.

“My opponents seem to think that asking people who don’t have pensions to pay for theirs is somehow all right. Keep in mind two of them already have taxpayer-fund pensions; they would like a second. Commissioner Raley’s actions have given us many problems,” said Barlow. “I don’t see Paul Edwards standing up to his direct boss, the superintendent of the schools, or fixing our operation costs. But if you feel compelled to vote for him and his lofty plans don’t work, then what will he do?”

Both Edwards and Raley said that people should vote for them because of their experience in local government. Edwards has 15 years in municipal government in Grantsville and Raley has been on the commission for four years and served on the board of education for 14 years.

“I have a record of accomplishments and experience that I can point to. I have a track record of working with people and sitting down at the table to solve problems,” said Edwards.

Raley said that he is committed to giving people a seat at the table even if their opinion differs from his.

“Under my administration everyone has a seat at the table and everyone’s opinions matter,” said Raley.

Raley said that he has knowledge of how the two biggest budgets — county and school — work.

“I demonstrate a good knowledge of what needs to be done in the county. We have a more open, transparent and honest government than we have ever had in the past,” said Raley. “I am a full-time commissioner and I have no conflicts that some of the other candidates may have because of their ties to other organizations.”

Thomas said that his experience operating his own company for the past 18 years gives him a unique business sense for solving problems.

“I am very outgoing, energetic and willing to work out the problems and solve the issues that are affecting our county,” said Thomas. “I believe it’s time that we work to save what so many have come to call our family, our friends, our home — Garrett County.”

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

More here.

From ducklings to alpacas, Garrett livestock auctions offer diversity

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

GRANTSVILLE — Area residents interested in buying or selling livestock can go to either one of two places in Garrett County — Friend’s Stockyard in Accident or Grantsville Stockyards. Both are managed by Vice President Joe Friend Jr.

“I like coming here (Grantsville) because there is a variety of animals, it’s a good place to make friends and they have a good restaurant,” said Kerm Yoder, who has been attending livestock auctions for 20 years.

Yoder buys livestock in the spring and sells in the fall.

“I buy lay hens for $10 and sell them for $2,” said Yoder, who sells the hens back after they’ve laid their eggs.

A livestock auction is held every Monday at Friend’s Stockyard and an auction is held every Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at the Grantsville Stockyards. The two livestock auctions differ because Grantsville is more diversified, said Friend.

Sam Jinks, who owns a petting zoo at Blackwater Falls, W.Va., comes to Grantsville to purchase calves, pigs and lambs for the petting zoo.

“I like this auction better because this one has more quality animals. Sometimes they even have alpacas, ” said Jinks.

The Grantsville livestock auction starts with the smaller animals — ducklings, hens and rabbits. The auction for the smaller animals keeps going until all the animals are sold or until 1 p.m. when the large livestock is auctioned, according to Yoder.

During the smaller animal auction bidders hold up their cards and during the large animal auction bidders just provide the auctioneer with a last name.

Friend’s Stockyard has special feeder calf sales in the spring and fall, according to Friend.

Both auctions get about 200 sellers a week and Friend makes 3 percent of each sale.

“We survive off of it, but we don’t get rich,” said Friend.

The livestock auctions are the only ones of that magnitude in the area. The Grantsville auction is better attended because it’s held on the weekend, Friend said.

More here.

Garrett school system asks commissioners for funding bump

Elaine Blaisdell

Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Public School system is requesting $26,179,897 from the county for fiscal 2015, according to a budget presentation made by Larry McKenzie, director of finance.

The funding request is $820,897 more than the prior year’s request. The additional funding is needed to pay a portion of the costs associated with the teacher pension passback, which increased to more than $1 million, McKenzie said during a county commission meeting Tuesday.

“Since I’ve been here I have been accused of running the school system like a business — actually it is,” said Superintendent of Schools Janet Wilson. “It has to be run that way with our bottom line being very different.”

Capital requests include $582,400 for the design phase of the Southern Middle School renovation project, which is set to begin next year. In January, the commissioners approved the money for the design phase. The renovation will include a performing arts venue, a third of which will fit in the original footprint of the building, according to Wilson.

“This would be for a facility that looks like Mountain Ridge’s (performing arts venue) in terms of its size,” said Wilson.

Mountain Ridge has the capacity to seat 500 and is 9,000 square feet, according to Bill Swift, director of facilities, maintenance and operations at GCPS.

“We are the only county in the state that does not have a performing arts center,” said Swift.

Capital requests also include $415,000 for the Dennett Road maintenance pole building and $213,000 for lighting projects at several middle schools.

“It’s important to understand that $213,000 and the $582,400 were basically appropriated for in fiscal ’14,” said McKenzie. “Those aren’t really new requests.”

Aging Schools and Qualified Zone Academy Bond funds have been appropriated in the fiscal 2015 budget for several school-based maintenance and operations projects. The school system has applied for and received QZAB funds, according to McKenzie.

Funding sources include 54.25 percent local, 39.08 percent state, 6.33 percent federal and 0.34 percent miscellaneous funding. The 54 percent local puts the county over the maintenance of effort, which requires that the level of state and local funding remain relatively constant from year to year, according to Commissioner Gregan Crawford. The school system expects to receive $19,254,093 in state aid, which is similar to the amount received in 2005, according to McKenzie.

Locally, the county has increased funding to almost $8 million since 2005, according to Commissioner Jim Raley.

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

More here.

Boating, Whitewater Rafting, Hiking, And More At Maryland's Largest Freshwater Lake

Garrett County is home to Maryland’s largest freshwater lake, Deep Creek Lake, and it’s one of the best ways to get out of D.C. and enjoy some much-need summertime activities.

The Deep Creek Experience is authentic adventure awaiting every member of your family. There’s everything from boating and fishing to kayaking, watertubing, wakeboarding, swimming and canoeing—so much that Budget Travel listed the Deep Creek Lake area and the town of Oakland as one of America’s Best Summer Lake Towns.

September will also see the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, but even with 65 miles of shoreline, it isn’t just about summer activities; Garrett County is host to Wisp Resort, the state’s only ski resort, making it a great way to get in your skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing without making the trek to Vermont or beyond!

So take the three-hour trip to Garrett County for Deep Creek Lake, the state’s highest waterfall at Muddy Creek Falls, 90,000 acres of public land, and simply kick back with your loved ones on a beautiful summer weekend. Log onto visitdeepcreek.com to plan your Deep Creek experience! 

More here.

Garrett to consider wind project easements

15 Fair Wind turbines expected to be spinning next year

Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on a memorandum of easement with Fair Wind Power Partners, LLC for the Fair Wind project on Backbone Mountain. The commissioners, acting as Garrett County Sanitary District Inc., will also vote to grant a collection line easement and easement agreement.

During an administrative meeting in December, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved Fair Wind Power Partners’ application to construct up to 15 wind turbines on Backbone Mountain — but with conditions.

Also in December, the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the wind turbines that are part of the Fair Wind project are no hazard to air navigation, but turbines must be marked and lighted with white paint and synchronized red lights.

The project, which would generate 30 megawatts of electricity, is slated to be operational next year.

Other agenda items include a presentation by the board of education on the fiscal 2015 budget, a public hearing on the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Block Grant applicants, a review of Appalachian Regional Commission preliminary project descriptions and a departmental update from the Garrett County Health Department.

More here.