OAKLAND — The Garrett County commissioners will take action on a number of financial issues relative to the public school system at a public meeting Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. at the commissioners office in the courthouse.
The commission will authorize and designate fiscal 2013 carryover funds and the appropriation level of county funding for fiscal 2015.
The commissioners will hold their regularly scheduled public meeting Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse.
Elaine Blaisdell
MCHENRY — Local dignitaries pushed the button to begin the One Year Countdown Clock for Deep Creek 2014: International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships on Tuesday morning. An unveiling of the clock was held at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be here today to help kick off what is one year out from what will be an iconic event for the state of Maryland, the western region of the states and for the U.S. in general,” said Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Office of Sports Marketing.
The 2014 World Championships will mark the 25th anniversary since they were held in 1989 on Savage River and ICF is excited about coming back, said County Commissioner Gregan Crawford.
“This is the largest inbound international sporting event in the United States in 2014. That is an accomplishment that is second to none” said Hasseltine. “Garrett County is setting itself as an example of sports in the sports marketplace in the United States by hosting this world championship. This is a difference maker in the grand scheme of sports in the United States but we are hosting it here in Maryland.”
An executive committee of about 13 people began preparing in 1985 for the 1989 World Championships, according to Mike Logsdon, executive director of Adventure Sports Center International, who was on the executive committee for the 1989 event. The sport of canoeing and kayaking has changed a lot in the last 25 years and it now has a larger following, noted Logsdon.
“It was a challenge then on how to educate spectators about what they were going to see; now it’s much more understood,” said Logsdon in an interview with the Times-News following the countdown event.
Todd Copley, executive director of Deep Creek 2014, stressed that this is the second time in history for the World Championships in the United States. The 1989 event drew the paddle world to America and really showcased the region, according to Copley.
“That one event, believe it or not, shaped the history of what happened in this region as well,” said Copley. “What followed that was the attraction of the 1992 Olympic trials that came here,” said Copley. “There was a lot of impetus after that event in the founding of Adventure Sports Institute at Garrett College as well as the attraction of a myriad of legacy sporting events.”
The 1989 event led to the hosting of the Savage Man, the Grand Fondo, as well as the Center of Adventure and Experiential Learning at Garrett College, according to Copley.
“That event was one of the defining moments in establishing this region as an epicenter for adventure sports,” said Copley.
During the 1989 event, there were about 10,000 spectators, according to Logsdon. The 2014 event is expected to draw 35 to 40 International teams; 1,200 coaches, athletes and support staff; 35,000 sponsors and will have a $20 million economic impact, according to Crawford. Crawford also noted that the 2014 event will provide the area with some international broadcast opportunities.
Not only will the number of spectators differ between the two World Championships but the venue differs as well. Next year’s world championship will take place Sept. 16-21 in McHenry at ASCI, the world’s only mountaintop whitewater course, which was built to host it.
“The whitewater course was built knowing that it would host a world class canoe competition,” said Logsdon.
“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to build that facility on the hill,” said Sen. George Edwards. “It’s there and look what it’s done, it’s drawn this fantastic event to Garrett County, which is going to benefit this part of the state tremendously. This, as I see it, is maybe the first stepping stone. We can be the epicenter of adventure sports not only in Maryland, and the United States but in the world.”
Minor adjustments are needed to prepare the whitewater course for the event, according to Joe Schroyer, director of operations at ASCI. Other projects at ASCI will include building a natural amphitheater and an 800- square-foot pavillion.
Garrett County was awarded $1 million from the state’s capital budget for upgrades to ASCI. The proceeds will be used as a grant to the county commissioners for the planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction and capital equipping of ASCl. The project will also include upgrading telecommunications and building new and upgrading existing infrastructure and facilities. Delegate Wendell Beitzel was instrumental in securing the funding through Gov. Martin O’Malley’s capital budget, according to Crawford.
“Hopefully, this 2014 event will really set the stage for a lot of future activity and growth in this adventure sports arena here in Garrett County,” said Beitzel.
During the countdown event, Julianna Albowicz, assistant to Sen. Barbara Mikulski, presented certificates to Crawford and Hasseltine in recognition of the one year countdown to Deep Creek 2014.
Copley, who was part of the U.S. delegation to the 2013 ICF World Championships held in Prague, Czech Republic, noted that there was palpable excitement at that event.
“I cannot describe the excitement that exists out there, not only within the management team and the Host Organizing Committee for Deep Creek 2014 but also at the highest ranks in the sporting communities within the ICF,” said Copley.
On Sept. 15, Deep Creek 2014 accepted the ICF flag on behalf of the U.S., the state of Maryland and on the behalf of Garrett County, according to Copley.
“In order to get to that moment, it took years of dedication but most importantly a grandiose vision on the part of numerous individuals,” said Copley.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Certain sessions of the meeting may be conducted in Executive Session
Agenda Session Times except Public Hearings are Approximate
3:00 Administrative Session
4:00 Call to Order of Public Session, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance
4:02 County Administrator – Additions/Deletions and Approval of Public Meeting Agenda
4:03 Approval of Public, Administrative, and Executive Meeting Minutes
4:04 Update on Boards, Committee, and Commission Meetings Attended
4:05 Proclamations: “Economic Development Week”
“Workforce Development Professionals Month”
4:10 Board of County Commissioners Statement– Denial for Participation in Maryland Counties Movement to Secede for the State of Maryland
4:15 Garrett County Purchasing Department
RFP Awards:
·Architectural/Engineering Services – Deep Creek 2014 Capital Improvements
·Declaration of Surplus County Equipment
4:20 Board of County Commissioners Boards, Commissions, and Appointment Schedule
4:30 Executive Session – Economic Development
5:00 PUBLIC HEARING: Amendment – Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance
Request to amend Section 157.024 (c) 23 to add a new category of use for “boat rental including boat rides and/or boat tours a separate service business and not offering any other services associated with a marina” and other advertised relevant sections
5:45 Public Commentary
6:00 Adjournment of Public Session
Public Issues or concerns that are to be presented to the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during any Public meeting should be scheduled with Carol Riley-Alexander, Executive Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners/County Administrator.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners will hold their next Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 beginning at 9:00 A.M.
ROBBIE FEINBERGCapital News Service
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency’s restrictions on new coal and natural gas power plants meant to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change would be a disaster for Western Maryland’s coal mining business, industry representatives said.
The new regulations, announced Friday by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, would allow new coal-powered plants to emit up to 1,100 pounds of carbon per megawatt-hour. Natural gas plants would be allowed to emit between 1,000 and 1,100 pounds of carbon per megawatt-hour, depending on their size.
“They’ll have a devastating effect on us because they want to eliminate the coal-powered plants, and all of their actions will do just that,” said Adrienne Ottaviani, the executive director of the Maryland Coal Association. “It will be probably more of the coal companies in Maryland closing their doors. They just can’t continue with the regulations being placed upon them.”
According to the latest annual report from the Maryland Bureau of Mines, mining companies employed 373 workers in Allegany and Garrett counties in 2011, producing about 3 million tons of coal that year. That number put Maryland 18th in the nation in total coal production.
On my way to work this morning, I noticed the following additions to the Chamber of Commerce and…the Face at Wisp! They are still adjusting, but its exciting! #DeepCreek2014
Deep Creek 2014 will play host to the 2014 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in McHenry, Maryland September 17-21, 2014. The Adventure Sports Center International is the prestigious venue for the event and is the only mountaintop whitewater course in the world.
“Head to Deep Creek Lake in Maryland to enjoy gorgeous views by car along 2 fall foliage heritage tours. Motor along Route 219 up to the Deep Creek Lake overlook in McHenry for a look at the lake, ski slopes and breathtaking autumn foliage before heading back to the visitors center as part of a 90-minute driving loop.” — Erin Gifford, Family Travel Expert, Kidventurous.com
Garrett College has historically pursued a course of connecting with the adventure industry, and the administration has long recognized the need for the development of additional programming in the college’s academic plan. To meet this need and to expand educational opportunities, the Center for Adventure and Experiential Learning (CAEL) at the college has been established and will operate under the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Division.
College president Dr. Richard MacLennan, who says he is committed to moving this program from concept to reality, remains actively involved as an advisor in the development of CAEL, and said he sees it as a logical step for the college in the spirit of the Garrett College Aventuresports Institute (ASI) and the heritage of Garrett County.
“CAEL has developed into a strong component of the college’s strategic plan,” he said. “Through it we will provide educational opportunities to enhance the long history of outdoor adventure recreation in this region. We are moving along a continuum of creating the programs of study that embrace our area’s greatest assets of wildlife, forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes, as well as rugged venues for outdoors adventure experiences.”
Recently named to the post of program director for CAEL, Michael White has been working with a group of advisors to build the foundations upon which the program will grow. The vision for CAEL was the creation of a program at Garrett College that will become the portal to custom-designed education, training, and recreational experiences in Garrett County, and the surrounding region, he explained.
“The stated mission of the CAEL program is to provide high-quality, adventure-based programing to individuals and organizations with an educational and personal development focus,” White said. “In order to accomplish this undertaking, CAEL will coordinate efforts in the region to utilize the expertise of ASI trained students and other local partners. Using members of the local workforce to implement the educational programs builds an economic development component into CAEL.”
While developing the concepts that would enhance the educational opportunities in the adventure industry, Dr. MacLennan also saw that CAEL would positively impact workforce development and thereby contribute to economic growth in the area. He discussed the perceived benefits with former Garrett County Economic Development director Jim Hinebaugh.
Hinebaugh agreed that the CAEL program being developed has potential to provide a beneficial economic stimulus, which would dovetail well with Garrett County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, a plan that acknowledged the need for such growth. This discussion helped to create the connection for the development of the blueprint that would become part of the county plan.
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