OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will conduct a public hearing Sept. 24 to review a petition submitted by Bill Meagher to amend the Deep Creek Watershed zoning ordinance to include a new category of use for boat rentals not offering any services associated with a marina.
In July, the Garrett County Planning Commission voted to recommend that county commissioners endorse Meagher’s petition.
The public hearing will take place at 5 p.m. in Room 203 of the courthouse.
Flash flooding occurred in several areas of Garrett County last evening, as a hard rain fell for some time on the already well-saturated ground, causing streams and rivers to back up. Low-lying areas became temporary ponds, including places along roadways. This is B Street in Mountain Lake Park in the early evening. Matthew Friend, a resident of the area, came upon the sight as he headed home and took the picture. A number of other photographs popped up on Facebook over several hours last night, as residents found similar scenes across the county. The waters have receded today, and a partly sunny weekend is in the forecast, although more thunderstorms may also come by.
Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — An emergency operations center proposed at the Garrett County Airport has hit a few snags and isn’t operational yet, according John Frank III, county director of emergency management.
The county roads department and public utilities have been working to get fiber optics to the center.
“This is a very important link for an emergency operations center to be able to have … the fiber optics and the capability of interoperability with federal and state agencies,” said Frank during Tuesday’s commission meeting.
“It is just something I’m really, really concerned about being able to have … because we put a lot of investment in it.”
There has been some difficulty getting the fiber optics from a pole to the airport, as well as issues coordinating with the power and phone companies, according to Frank.
“The next problem, once we get it up to the building, is to tie it in and hook it up with the phone system,” said Frank.
The conduit for the fiber optics is encased in concrete and a new conduit was started but not completed.
If a subcontractor is needed for the project it could cost $100,000 or more, according to Frank.
“I’m not sure where we would be able to come up with that,” said Frank.
Once the fiber optics is installed, the EOC will have 22 stations with phones and Internet, according to Frank.
The center will have improved communication capabilities once the countywide broadband project is complete.
The EOC was created in the wake of Superstorm Sandy so that the county could be better prepared for emergency situations.
October marks the anniversary of the storm.
Commissioner Jim Raley indicated that he and County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt would like to be updated on the status of the fiber optics at the EOC.
“If we are running into hurdles we may have to go another route,” said Raley. “From my vantage point, I want to see that project completed before the real heart of inclement weather. I think it’s something critical that needs to be in place this year.”
Previously, a makeshift command center at the courthouse was used.
A generator is also needed and generators have been approved for the airport and the former Dennett Road Elementary School.
Frank has applied to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for a grant for the generators. During Superstorm Sandy some generators failed.
In other Department of Public Safety news, Frank asked for the commissions to adopt an EOC essential staff policy and to support a Mid-Atlantic Communications Partnership governance.
The staff will be comprised of 19 individuals who are essential during an emergency situation, according to Frank.
In the event of a full-scale activation, all primary and support agencies will be notified via email.
In addition to the staff being notified of all EOC activations, members are required to attend a minimum of two training sessions and/or exercise events per year.
The training sessions will be coordinated by Frank.
The MACP makes and implements decisions pertaining to interstate interoperability communications in the event of an act of terrorism or other disaster, according to its bylaws.
Plans and policies developed by the MACP will not interfere, contradict or supersede those developed by the states of West Virginia and Maryland.
Supporting the MACP governance would enhance the county’s ability to partner with West Virginia counties for mutual aid and to share communication assets.
Garrett County and Preston Count in West Virginia held a discussion about the possibility of placing a Garrett radio on the Gregg’s Knob radio tower site in Preston County, according to Frank.
It would allow the county do away with the Thayerville tower.
“It will enable us to have better communications in the Friendsville, Sang Run Road area,” said Frank. “This could potentially save us a lot of money in Garrett County.”
The Department of Public Safety will host a public safety day at the fairgrounds Oct. 19. The event will include a hose maze, K-9 and equipment demonstrations, helicopter tours and tours of fire trucks and the rescue squad.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
The new owner of Hidden Family Resort in Somerset County said it will continue to be “a great family-oriented resort,” an “ideal place” for children and their parents to learn how to ski and snowboard, play golf and pursue other outdoor activities.
Bob Nutting, chairman of neighboring Seven Springs Mountain Resort, recalled the joys of improving his skiing as a youngster at Hidden Valley and then watching his three daughters polish their snow-sliding skills at the resort.
“We are committed to the long-term success of Hidden Valley as a family destination,” he said. “We look forward to upgrading the resort, offering additional programs and adding employment opportunities.”
Mr. Nutting said both resorts “are strong and important establishments with long histories and bright futures. We will work to ensure that [they] grow and thrive as family destinations.”
Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — A portion of Senate Bill 370, which deals with setback requirements for wind turbines, was deemed unconstitutional by Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler because it would have given adjacent neighbors zoning authority.
Gansler sent a letter in May to Gov. Martin O’Malley saying that certain provisions of that bill are unconstitutional and can’t be enforced, said Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, during the commission meeting on Tuesday.
“The bill will proceed, as it was written into law during the last session, except those certain provisions of the bill that were declared unconstitutional,” said Pagenhardt.
“There is a bill right now that is ready to be drafted by the department of legislative services that will address the certain provisions that pertain to setbacks and variances. That will be amended during the 2014 General Assembly,” he said.
The provision of the bill that was deemed unconstitutional deals with an adjoining property owner’s consent to a variance for a wind turbine setback requirement, according to the letter.
“While it is our view that this consent provision is likely to be unconstitutional, we believe that it can be severed from the bill,” wrote Gansler. “There are also other legal problems relating to this variance provision that should be corrected in the next session of the General Assembly.”
By requiring the consent of all adjoining property owners prior to applying for the variance, the bill has given neighboring property owners the power to determine whether or not a variance from setback requirements for wind turbines would be detrimental to the public health and welfare, according to the letter.
“Thus, it is our view that such delegation of zoning authority to individual landowners is of doubtful constitutionality,” read the letter.
Gansler suggests that, should the county approve the bill in spite of the defect, that they should administer the law as if adjoining property owners’ consent is not required.
State Sen. George Edwards is aware of the defect with the bill and indicated that the matter should be placed on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting and open to public comment, according to Pagenhardt.
Commissioner Jim Raley stressed that all the setbacks in the bill are legal but the variances aren’t.
The bill provides for a minimum setback for a wind turbine of, “no less than two and half times the structure height,” in the county.
“I think (Edwards) views that (the bill is) salvageable, there are certain sections that are already enforceable on new future projects,” said Raley.
The portions of the bill that are enforceable don’t apply to wind systems that have submitted a specified interconnection application to the PJM before March 1.
Oakland area resident Eric Robison, who testified for the bill, suggested that additional language in the bill should be amended.
Robison suggested that a portion of the bill dealing with the definition of setback distance be amended to non leased property line.
The current definition of a setback distance is the distance measured from the base of the tower of a wind turbine in a wind system to any residential, commercial, public or agricultural building in all directions.
“This would allow those property owners that didn’t enter into a lease the full lease of their land,” said Robison. “I think that the county should open this back up to some type of transparent stakeholder participation in how that language would come forward.”
Robison suggested that the county utilize the same process that the Department of Planning and Land Development uses when when determining wind turbine setback regulations.
Edwards negotiated the terms for setbacks in the bill with the Maryland Energy Administration and in doing so changed the initial setback, according to Robison.
The setback was changed from property line to occupied structures, buildings and out buildings.
The change in the initial setback allows for energy development to occur at a property line which in turn allows for wind turbines to go in adjacent property close enough to experience possible ice throw from the turbines, according to Robison.
Robison said that after looking at any documents in the county pertaining to setbacks that they were all done within the property line, with the bill being the exception.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Frostburg resident recently transferred to Deep Creek Lake
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Maryland Park Ranger David Best, who recently transferred to Deep Creek Lake State Park, was among several staff members of Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary’s County who were honored with Maryland Park Service Valor Awards for their quick response in aiding a park visitor who suffered a life-threatening laceration.
The incident occurred in August when the victim dropped a razor-sharp fillet knife that lacerated his lower right leg.
Best, a resident of Frostburg, initiated a team response and rapidly located the victim at a campsite in the Hoffman area of the park after park staff received an emergency call for an unknown injury in the park. Park rangers were assisting a tractor-trailer that was stuck in a ditch when the emergency call was received. The only word heard by responders was “man” before the call was lost.
Responders, campground Host Ed Dugans and seasonal ranger Joe Raley found the 79-year-old victim sitting upright and bleeding profusely.
While Dugans and Raley worked to cut off the blood flow, seasonal employee George Gatton arrived with Best and began more extensive first aid. Park Rangers Bill Moffatt and Cliff Puffenberger provided escort for responding Natural Re-sources Police officers and the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad. The victim regained full consciousness and was transported to a nearby hospital.
Individuals awarded recently at the Maryland Park Service Employee Field Day at Gunpowder Falls State Park in Baltimore County included Best, Raley, Dugans and Gatton.
Maryland Park Service Superintendent Nita Settina said, “Once again, we see why it is so important that our Maryland Park rangers are trained as first responders. I’m very proud of the rangers’ quick thinking and action, which helped to save a life.”
The Valor Award is presented to individuals who perform an extraordinary action which is attributable to saving a life, attempting to save a life, preventing or attempting to prevent property or revenue loss, or involving public safety.
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350
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