Door Entry Systems and School Resource Officers in Garrett County Public Schools
Garrett County Public Schools have been proactive in implementing additional security measures in all
schools over the past six months. New door security hardware and the incorporation of School
Resource Officers (SROs) have been put in place for the opening of schools on Monday, August 26
The school system has placed cameras and video recording equipment, access control door entry
systems, and entry intercoms/buzzers at all schools to provide additional security for the students, staff,
and visitors. Also, the security software will allow for a keyless entry system for all employees and
will allow the schools to be locked at all times during the school day.
Parents and guardians who want to access a particular school will need to ring the buzzer at the front
door entrance. Office staff will communicate through the intercom system and, if approved, will grant
access to the building. A photo identification may be required.
The Garrett County Commissioners have funded two full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) for
the upcoming school year: one for the northern end of the county and one for the southern end.
Sheriff Robert Corley will have the overall responsibility for Lt. Clark Warnick and Deputy Tim
Sanders. Lt. Warnick and Deputy Sanders are full time law enforcement officers of the Garrett County
Sheriff’s office and will have offices in the schools. Their daily law enforcement and educational
activities will be coordinated with the local school administration staff.
Mrs. Cynthia Downton, President of the Garrett County Board of Education, stated, “The safety and
security of our students and staff are paramount to the Board of Education. We appreciate the support
of the Garrett County Commissioners, Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State
Department of Education for their support of these important safety initiatives. In addition to these
measures, we remind our school staff and community members to continue to be vigilant regarding
strangers around school grounds or in our schools.”
Deep Creek Lake POA - Commissioners' Comments
Some of the that our county Commissioners made at the latest DCLPOA meeting:
1. Odor on Lake Shore Drive. I was not aware that the odor was again a problem at this location or any other station. The County has taken preventative measures and invested capital into control (not totally eliminating) this. Here is more detail about how this is controlled:
Odor Control
The Deep Creek Lake sewage collection system is predominately a series of pressure sewers and force mains, with a few areas of conventional gravity collection lines, that transport wastewater via seventeen major pumping stations to the wastewater treatment plant located on Mayhew Inn Road. The collection system consists of approximately 40 miles of pipeline and is essentially a closed system except at major pumping station wet wells, at points of discharge into gravity sewer segments, and at air release valves.
Since the spring of 1985, the Garrett County Sanitary District/Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has been addressing sewer gas odors. Odorous conditions are caused primarily by the generation of hydrogen sulfide from sulfate compounds naturally occurring in domestic sewage. Odors are created when oxygen levels are depleted in the wastewater due to naturally occurring bacteriological action and hydrosulfide is converted from a liquid form to hydrogen sulfide gas. Anaerobic bacteria which grow in slime coatings inside sewer pipelines also reduce sulfates to sulfide to obtain oxygen for metabolic processes.
There are three basic approaches to correction of hydrogen sulfide odor problems – masking, removal and prevention. Masking entails the addition of deodorant chemicals to hide the odor; removal is generally accomplished by adsorption into activated carbon; and prevention is accomplished by maintenance of aerobic conditions in the collection system and retardation of slime growth.
Since system initiation, DPU has tested and utilized numerous methods for odor control including:
- *Activated Carbon Canisters at the major pump stations and treatment plant
- *Injection of Hydrogen Peroxide
- *Injection of Potassium Permanganate
- *Injection of Ferric Chloride
- *Installation of Iron Oxide & Wood Chip Media Filters at major pump stations and air release vaults
- *Injection of Sodium Hypochlorite
- *Injection of Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide)
- *Sealing of infrastructure with a silicone caulking
- *Installation of rubber seals on major pump station vault lids
- *Installation of waterless vapor odor control units utilizing odor neutralization products
- *Citrus based floating degreaser in major pump stations
- *Citrus based air enhancing products
- *Injection of an iron enriched mixture to bind water phase sulfides in the collection system
- *Injection of a naturally-occurring, non-pathogenic bacteria that changes the biofilm in the collection system to reduce noxious and corrosive gas production
- *Installation of dry-chemical media scrubber units
We are currently utilizing the iron oxide and wood chip media filters, seals on pump station vault lids, citrus based air enhancing products, and the dry-chemical media scrubber units. The recently added dry-chemical media scrubber units capture the odorous air being emitted from the system and permanently remove gases from the air through chemisorption. During this instantaneous process, gases are adsorbed, absorbed and captured throughout the entire volume of the media. The gases are then chemically transformed into harmless solids that remain trapped inside the media.
DPU has also retrofitted the influent piping in the major pump stations to minimize turbulence in order to inhibit release of odorous gases and installed odor logging units that continuously sample and record the levels of odorous gases in the system.
All major pump stations are manually checked on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends. In order to manually view the sewage levels in the pump station vaults and to break up any mat that forms on top of the wastewater or to perform any maintenance on the pumping system, the vault lids must be opened which will allow gases to escape from the vault when open. Once maintenance procedures are completed, personnel are instructed to close and secure vault lids.
2. Public Hearing on September 24, 2013 that will allow pubic commentary on request for a permit for commercial personal watercraft by Bill Meagher. The Board of County Commissioners will take all public commentary including that of Mr. Meagher, the Planning Commission, Deep Creek Watershed Board of Zoning Appeals, and Department of Planning and Land Development under advisement. I would encourage members of the POA to submit their opinion to my attention and attend the hearing.
3. Realignment of Route 219 – Oakland (Bypass). Commissioner Raley spoke to this question by stating that this project was moved to #2 on the Board of Garrett County Commissioners Capital Transportation Plan. The 3 mile section of Route 219 from the PA line south to Interstate 68 is the #1 Project for the County and this project will begin construction this fall. Questions on this plan should be addressed to John Nelson with the County Department of Planning and Land Development.
4. Thayerville Water Project. The question on different ad valorem tax rates for different sanitary districts in the Deep Creek Lake Watershed. This is a question that will require an extensive answer and I would happy to facilitate such an response or session to meet. In short, there are many water and sewer projects with different costs and distinct debt service obligations and terms of repayment. If members would like me to compile a financial report let me know. The County’s General Audit will show this in brief and a copy of this can be sent to anyone if needed.
5. Thayerville Water Project. Questions and on real property taxes and ad valorem tax rate for the Thayerville Water System. I am not sure if there was question on this or just a comment. In any event I will be available to further talk about this.
6. Marcellus Shale. and questions on an economic development survey. Commissioner Raley serves on the Governor’s Advisory Commission and I will speak with him about this and I will assure that information is posted on the County’s website.
7. Glendale Road – Thayerville Water Project. Request for a Public Hearing to receive public commentary on the financial impact (long term) for property owners who must connect to the System. I am not certain a public hearing is what should occur due to the fact that all legal requirements have been met. However, the Board of County Commissioners is certainly open to set up a work session to listen and provide clarification. I am not sure who would facilitate this on behalf of the person who asked today’s question or if the POA wants to take the lead but I will do what I can on behalf of the County.
8. “Western Conveyance” In 2003 the Board of Garrett County Commissioners began the process of extending the boundaries of the Deep Creek Lake Sanitary District in order to provide public water and sewer service to Shingle Camp Terrace, Brenneman Drive, Sandy Shores, Stockslager Road Extension, Penelacres, Slide Hollow, and Marsh Hill Subdivision. Public Hearings and Public Informational meetings were conducted as required by the Environmental Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland in 2004 and 2006 and the project has been under engineering design since 2007. During the period of 2007 to the present the Department of Public Utilities and the County Attorney have been securing easements and rights of way for all service lines. At this time plans are to finalize project engineering design this summer and fall, solicit bids for the project over the winter months, and begin construction in the spring/summer of 2014. The Board of County Commissioners would like to provide all property owners who would be in the service area with updates on the project status, a timeline for all phases of planning and construction, public hearing notice, system connection cost estimates, and other pertinent information. The County would like to develop an email distribution list to provide this information. Interested parties should contact County Administrator, Monty Pagenhardt to be added to the mailing list for this project.
Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association - August 2013
Some info from the latest meeting of the Deep Creek Lake POA:
The General Membership meeting was opened with words of greeting from Senator George Edwards and Delegate Wendall Beitzel. Then the County Commissioners – Chairman Bob Gatto, Gregen Crawford and James Raley – came to the microphone and offered their . A separate eBlast is being issued concurrently with these notes which reports on their . David Myerberg, Chair of the Policy & Review Board [PRB] and also Chair of the Deep Creek Lake Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee [WMP] reported on the working of both groups and then responded to questions from the membership. He mentioned the upcoming meeting on September 11, of the WMP, which will be held from 1 to 4:30pm in Conference Room 107, Garrett County Health Department, at 1025 Memorial Drive, Oakland.
County schools get good progress report
New security measures, resource officers in place in Garrett County schools
For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — Garrett County Public Schools have installed new door security hardware and incorporated school resource officers for the opening of schools.
The school system has placed cameras and video recording equipment, access control door entry systems, and entry intercoms/buzzers at all schools to provide additional security for the students, staff and visitors. The security software will allow for a keyless entry system for all employees and will allow the schools to be locked at all times during the school day.
Parents and guardians who want to access a particular school will need to ring the buzzer at the front door. Office staff will communicate through the intercom system and, if approved, will grant access to the building. A photo identification may be required.
The Garrett County commissioners have funded two full-time SROs — one for the northern end of the county and one for the southern end. Sheriff Robert Corley will have the overall responsibility for Lt. Clark Warnick and Deputy Tim Sanders, who have offices in the schools. Their daily law enforcement and educational activities will be coordinated with the local school administration staff.
“The safety and security of our students and staff are paramount to the board of education,” said Cynthia Downton, president of the Garrett County Board of Education. “We appreciate the support of the Garrett County commissioners, Garrett County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Department of Education for their support of these important safety initiatives. In addition to these measures, we remind our school staff and community members to continue to be vigilant regarding strangers around school grounds or in our schools.”
Deep Creek Lake Management Plan Steering Committee Meeting
The Deep Creek Lake Management Plan Steering Committee will be holding its first meeting on September 11, 2013 at the Garrett County Health Department Conference Room (RM 107) located at 1025 Memorial Drive, Oakland, MD 21550. The public is invited to attend. Please click on the following link for more information: Steering Committee Meeting
Fall Foliage Forecast: Best Chance for Vibrant Display in Mid-Atlantic
By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
August 28, 2013; 7:41 AM
As summer comes to a close and fall weather ushers in the changing of leaves, this year’s most vibrant display of foliage will occur across the mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, surrounding regions may be hindered by flooding rain and unseasonable temperatures.
“Most important is really what happens at the end of September and beginning of October into the middle of October. That’s really the crucial period,” according to Dr. Marc Abrams, professor of Forest Ecology and Physiology at Penn State University.
Abrams began observing how weather conditions affect fall foliage more than 25 years ago.
The AccuWeather.com 2013 Fall Forecast predicts near-normal temperatures and precipitation for the mid-Atlantic region, allowing bright, colorful leaves.
Deep Creek Property Owners Association elects officers
For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — The Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake Inc. elected officers and board members during the general membership meeting Saturday.
Robert Hoffmann was elected president, Karen Smith secretary and Tom Myers was re-elected treasurer. Susie Crawford was elected first vice president and Ed Neff was elected vice president for communications. Chris Nichols was re-elected vice president for membership and assistant treasurer.
Newly elected board members include Anthony M. Lombardi, Barbara Hafer and Lauren O’Brien. Robert Hoffmann, Susie Crawford, John Quilty and Katheryn Gemberling were re-elected to three-year terms. Three past presidents — Roger Titus, Scott Johnson and Lou Battistella — were awarded emeritus status, joining two other past presidents as members of the emeritus board.
Lombardi is the CEO of Monongahela (Pa.) Valley Hospital and has owned a home on the lake since 1991. Now retired and a former treasurer of Pennsylvania, Hafer has owned her lake home since 1986. O’Brien is the manager of Silver Tree Marina and was raised in her family’s home at the lake.
During the general membership meeting, state and county leaders were given an opportunity to comment on issues that affect the membership. Topics covered included the watershed management plan, Thayerville water line project and related traffic issues, the recent sewage spill at the northwestern end of Marsh Run Cove and the proposed western conveyance line.
Board members presented reports on the upgrading of the POA website, an update on the mini-marina zoning issue, the safe drilling issue related to Marcellus shale and the mapping of the lake and members’ dock locations. Outgoing president Troy Ellington reported on the work of the various committees of the board and moderated a question-and-answer session.
The POA was formed in the early 1940s and was incorporated in 1949. It continues to represent its members in front of the various boards, commissions and governmental organizations that have control of the lake and the watershed around it.
The mission of the POA is to bring together the property owners of the Deep Creek Lake area to promote, preserve and protect the quality of life, environment, recreational opportunities, historic sites and historic areas in, on and around Deep Creek Lake.
For more information, visit http://www.deepcreeklakepoa.com.
Lakefront mobile home $89,900! 50 feet to the water, Wisp views, dock slip! ga8165849 108 Walton Rd
The true address is 108 Walton Rd. Conveys turn-key, everything you see. Likely a cash deal required, as financing is scarce. Ground rent & dock slip additional costs, but the views are amazing!
Well maintained Lakefront mobile in Walton’s. Just 50′ from dock, this 3 bedroom, 2 bath unit offers large deck, master suite, fireplace and Wisp views to go along with the great Lake View.
http://deepcreeklake.com/RealEstate/JayFerguson/detail.aspx?id=GA8165849
