Cecil County Month in Review - December 2006

 Commissioners' and County Administrator's Office

New Commissioners take office - Three new Commissioners were sworn into office on Monday, December 11 at 4:00 p.m. in Courtroom 1 in the County Courthouse:  Commissioner Rebecca J. Demmler - District 2; Commissioner Brian Lockhart - District 3; and Commissioner Wayne L. Tome, Sr. - District 4.  The new board held several transition meetings throughout the month with county departments and agencies. 

 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon - The Commissioners' sponsored a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun for volunteers who are appointed and serve on the various boards and commissions throughout the county.  

 New County Government Building - Construction has started on the new County Government Building in the Upper Chesapeake Corporate Center on Route 40.  The 83,103 square foot, two-story building, is being constructed in the incorporated town limits of Elkton on an approximate 11.3 acre parcel.  The following county departments/offices will be located in the new building: County Commissioners, Administrator, Budget Manager, Human Resources, Permits and Inspections, Electrical Board, Public Works, Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation, Election Board, Liquor Board, Maintenance, Senior Services and Community Transit (including Senior Center), Purchasing, Treasurer, Information Technology, Economic Development, Housing, and Extension Office.  This project will enable county government to provide our citizens improved accessibility to comprehensive county services, while providing the Circuit Court system much needed additional space for expansion and parking at the Courthouse.

 Capital Facilities Administration

Meeting with MDE - A meeting was held with the MDE Secretary and staff regarding the County's proposed downzoning nutrient offset proposal related to the NAR and SAR Districts. 

 Test Well Drilling - An agreement was executed with John and Darlys Cooke to permit test well drilling on their old Elk Neck Road property to support the Commissioners' plans to provide infrastructure along the Route 40 corridor.

 The following reports have been posted on our web site:

• Arro Consultants report regarding feasibility review of the Principio Creek and Elk Mills Quarry Reservoir was presented to the Commissioners.
• GTA report on feasibility of acquiring groundwater resources in the existing Meadowview Utilities service area.

 Emergency Services Department

Automatic External Defibrillator - A new defibrillator was installed at the Emergency Operations Center in order to be prepared in case of a cardiac arrest emergency.  Similar devices are being placed in public schools and other public facilities.  DES staff is available to work with other agencies and businesses to install the device and train their personnel.  Contact Captain Richard Koch at 410.392.2024.

 CPR Training - DES has re-instituted a campaign to train county citizens in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  The department is an American Heart Association Training Center and will be scheduling training classes as needed based on registration.  Contact Captain Richard Koch at 410.392.2024.

 Planning and Zoning Department

New Employee - Adriene Stiffler joined the staff of Planning and Zoning to fill the Planner 1 vacancy on December 11, 2006.

 December Planning Commission Meeting - The December Planning Commission subdivision agenda was a record 30 items and had to be split into 2 sessions.

 Transfer of Development Rights - The new ordinance goes into effect on January 1, 2007 and will change the density in the Northern Agricultural Residential (NAR) and Southern Agricultural Residential (SAR) zoning districts.  A copy of the new ordinance is available on the Planning and Zoning Department section of this website.

 Public Works Department

Deaver Road Bridge Opens - On December 21, 2006, the Commissioners and Public Works Department sponsored a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Deaver Road Bridge replacement project.  Area residents attended the event and were excited to have the bridge open to traffic again.  Public Works Director Scott Flanigan stated that this bridge opening is only the first in an aggressive strategic plan recently implemented to address bridge improvements throughout the county. 

 Employee Recognition - Public Works employee Tanya Adams was recently named the Recycling Coordinator within the Solid Waste Division.

 Solid Waste Division Updates

• Solid Waste Management Division has implemented a system of 100% ID checks at the Cecil County Central Landfill and transfer stations.  The purpose of the checks is to ensure that only waste generated within Cecil County is disposed of at County solid waste facilities as specified by the County code.  Temporary residents (such as those who own summer homes) can obtain permits for use of the landfill and transfer stations at the Solid Waste Management Division offices at the Central Landfill.
• Solid Waste Management Division converted to Single Stream Recycling effective December 1, 2006.  Previously, residents were required to separate paper and cardboard from co-mingles (plastic bottles, glass containers, metal cans).  Under Single Stream Recycling, residents still must separate their recyclables from their trash, but they can mix together paper, cardboard, and co-mingles; the materials are separated at the County recycling contractor's processing facility.
• The scope of Solid Waste Management Division's electronics recycling, or "e-cycling", program has been expanded to include not only computer equipment, but also cell phones, televisions under 25 inches in size, radios, and other electronics.
• Solid Waste Management Division has implemented an ink jet cartridge recycling program.  Residents can dispose of ink jet printer cartridges in special recycling containers at the Central Landfill, transfer stations, and other County facilities.

 Roads Division Updates

• Roads Division completed repairs to the historic stone arch culvert on Lewis Shore Road enabling it to be reopened to two-way traffic.  Traffic had been restricted to one-lane across that culvert due to scouring that had occurred underneath the structure.
• Roads Division completed Phase I of the FY07 Asphalt Overlay program.  Harrisville Road, Firetower Road, and Principio Road were milled and repaved Phase II will commence in the spring.
• Phase I of the Winding Brook Street Improvements CIP project has been completed.  This phase consisted of the replacement of failing catch basins and the construction of additional catch basins at the southern intersection of Chestnut and Willow Drives, and the replacement of a failing outfall pipe.  Eventually, all roads in the Winding Brook area (Chestnut Drive; Willow Drive; Beech Drive; Willow Court; Maple Court) will be reconstructed.  The street improvements, however, must be synchronized with a major project to upgrade the water distribution and sewer collection systems in the Winding Brook area and so will be done in phases over the next several years.
• Major DPW-related contract awards:
• • Contract 06-35 for renovation of the Washington Street Pump Station was awarded to Johnston Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,235,935.00.
  • Contract 07-32 for construction of a replacement salt storage barn at the Roads   Division's Nottingham Yard was awarded to McComsey Builders, Inc. in the amount of $130,593.00.

 Senior Services and Community Transit

Ceremony - The Department of Aging name was officially changed on December 5, 2006 with the unveiling of their new sign.

 Fitness Center - The Healthy Lifestyles Fitness Center has opened at a new, larger facility located at 55 Augustine Herman Highway in Elkton. (next to the Royal Farms). 

 Employee Recognition - Community Transit driver Lisa Gray received the Transportation Association of Maryland Paratransit Driver of the Year Award for 2006.