Ordinance To Ban Gas Drilling In MLP Introduced By Mayor, Council
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Jan. 13, 2011
The Mayor and Town Council of Mountain Lake Park introduced at its January meeting held last Thursday an ordinance that will make it illegal for the drilling of natural gas within the town limits.
Ordinance No. 2011-01, titled Mountain Lake Park’s Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance, “establishes a Bill of Rights for Mountain Lake Park residents and removes legal powers from gas extraction corporations within the town.”
At the heart of the ordinance is the following statement of law: “It shall be unlawful for any corporation to engage in the extraction of natural gas within the Town of Mountain Lake Park, with the exception of gas wells installed and operating at the time of enactment of this ordinance.”
The bill also recognizes the right of the people to “a form of governance where they live which recognizes that all power is inherent in the people, that all free governments are founded on the people’s authority and consent, and that corporate entities and their directors and managers shall not enjoy special privileges or powers under the law which make community majorities subordinate to them.”
When asked why this measure is being taken, Mayor Leo Martin said, “Our primary duty is to protect the health and welfare of the town, and especially to protect our water.”
Among the complaints and fears about the drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shale is the potential contamination of water supplies by the highly toxic chemicals used in the drilling procedure known as fracking, which is used to free the gas that is contained within the shale and thus make it harvestable.
The Bill of Rights section of the ordinance asserts legal protections for the right to water; the rights of natural communities; the right to local self-government; and the right of the people to enforce and protect these rights through their municipal government.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for February 3, and a vote on passage is scheduled for March 3.
According to Mayor Martin, the bill was modeled after the ordinance adopted on November 16 of last year by the City of Pittsburgh, and drafted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which is based in Chambersburg, Pa..
“If Pittsburgh can do it, we can do it,” Martin said, adding that he believes other Maryland municipalities should take a similar stand.
No Rest For The Weary
Relentless snowfall and high winds of the past several days in Garrett County have kept town and county roads crews out 24 and 7, working constantly to keep the paths open for safe travel. This driver is pictured as he crosses the frozen Little Yough in Oakland. The forecast does not indicate that these folks will get much of a break anytime soon, as snow is predicted every day for at least the next week. All drivers are of course urged to drive with great caution in this weather, and also to give space and patience to the snowplow drivers, who are, after all, out there making the place safer for everyone. Photo by Lisa Rook.
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Remarks You’ve got to see this beautiful 5 bdrm, 4 bath log home. Large walls of windows offer amazing views of Deep Creek Lake. Stone fireplace, hardwood floors, cathedral beamed ceilings and more. Comes with all the amenities Deep Creek Highlands has to offer, like lake access, community pool and tennis courts. Boat Slip available for an additional $75,000. Call today for your personal tour!
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$949,900
Swallow Falls State Park - Video
Md. lawmakers warn of larger classrooms, Medicaid cuts
Associated Press Thu Jan 13, 2011, 07:43 AM EST
— ANNAPOLIS — Legislative leaders warned Wednesday that Maryland’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall could lead to larger K-12 classroom sizes and higher college tuition costs, as well as cuts to health care providers and environmental programs.
But Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch said they have to wait until they see Gov. Martin O’Malley’s budget proposal later this month before knowing what sorts of tax increases — if any — might gain traction this year.
The legislators issued their warnings as the Maryland General Assembly began its 90-day session.
O’Malley has said he plans to close the budget gap with a range of painful spending cuts — not tax increases. However the governor says his budget will only be the start of a dialogue, and he’s keeping an open mind on tax proposals.
See our e-Edition for the rest of this story
Krugman's Straw-Man Market System
Lots of bits relating to Garrett County in here, which I thought was unique. The author is a teacher at Frostburg:
Economics / Economic Theory
Jan 12, 2011 – 12:21 PM
By: William_Anderson
A friend of mine a decade ago was looking to do doctoral work in economics, and one of the places where he inquired was his state’s flagship university. But he decided not to seek his doctorate at that particular place after he spoke to someone who was just about to defend his economics dissertation there.
This soon-to-be PhD, it seems, was not familiar with the term “opportunity cost.” (He was specializing in so-called macroeconomics, which tends to embrace every Keynesian fallacy and a few extras, so perhaps it should surprise no one that this person was not familiar with concepts of scarcity: Keynesians believe that governments create wealth by fiat.)
I recount this story after reading a recent post by Paul Krugman on his New York Times blog, in which he claims that free markets are responsible for the bad food in Great Britain and the lack of central heating in Mexico City. He writes,….
Travellers urged to seek out adventures in Maryland
A little bit of love for Garrett County…from the UK 🙂
12 Jan 2011
Holidaymakers who will be visiting the state of Maryland in the US over the coming months have been encouraged to seek out some of the region’s outdoor activities.
According to the Maryland Office of Tourism, the area around Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County is a ‘focal point’ for winter recreation in the western part of the state.
One location worth visiting in the area is Wisp, a resort that boasts attractions such as the Mountain Coaster, which is described as a ‘hybrid of an Alpine slide and a rollercoaster’.
Visitors can also visit state parks such as Herrington Manor, New Germany and Swallow Falls to explore outdoor trails and take in the scenery.
Read the full article here.
December 2010 Real Estate Market Update - Sales Stats
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4 ‘newer’ homes sold in December (less than 5 years old)
- It appears that 20 or so of these sales were vacation homes
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22 homes sold under $300,000 (last month was 13)
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25 homes sold under $400,000
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After last month’s zero, 3 houses sold over $1million
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3 homes sold for full price (one for 102% of asking price – multiple offers, I believe)
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One house sold for 57% of asking price
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2 – 111 year old homes sold – one in Oakland & one in Friendsville
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The average age of the homes that sold was 34 years
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Another Wisp Hotel unit sold, this time for $51,000
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4 condo’s/townhouse properties sold, (3 last month)
Here are the statistical breakdowns:
Average Sale Price: $327,687 (last month $293,264)
Average Days on Market: 207/270 (last month 244/281) (days on market with current broker/total days on market)
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350
Market for Vacation Homes Is on the Rise
From the WSJ.com:
By S. MITRA KALITA
Sales in many vacation communities across the U.S. soared last year to levels not seen since boom times, driven by deep discounts, cash purchases and buyers’ rising stock portfolios.
On Mercer Island, Wash., waterfront sales nearly tripled in 2010, compared with a year earlier, reaching par with 2006 volume there. Sales on Hilton Head Island, S.C., rose 14% for the year. Palm Beach, Fla., experienced a 40% annual increase and a 54% increase in homes under contract, indicating an especially strong fourth quarter. Palm Beach sales volume now is comparable to its 2007 peak. These figures were gleaned by brokers in each locale.
“The proverbial train has left the station,” said Ned Monell, an agent with Sotheby’s International Realty in Palm Beach. “We haven’t felt energy like this in a long time. Buyers sense that they’ve been on the sidelines long enough.”
The question now is whether the momentum will last. The strength of second-home sales paints a stark contrast to the overall housing market, which is expected to worsen in 2011.
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Lake Access Lot with Boat Slip and Paid Sewer Tap. One acre of peace and quiet overlooking Deep Creek Lake. Walk to your dock slip. Close to all Deep Creek Lake activities. No HOA fees. Potential for BIG views based on home design. Lot 8 Paradise Estates.
Listing # GA7506013
$149,000
