Improvements in store for local park

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

On Tuesday, June 24, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners authorized the removal and eventual replacement of two weather-beaten signs in the park, which residents had been complaining about, according to the commissioners.

In addition, the commissioners voted to award a contract to construct a gazebo to Grandpa’s Place Woodworks, an Amish-owned business. The gazebo will be constructed using lumber, grown in Calvert County and donated by the Forestry Board, with cedar shingles, according to documents. Its $9,500 cost will be covered by donations from the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs — the Kiwanis club had originally agreed to construct the pavilion itself but was unable to find a contractor.

‘‘We’ve all seen the Amish at work,” said Commissioner Linda Kelley (R). ‘‘This thing should be up and done in about a week once you turn those folks loose.”

When completed, the park will include gardens and a walking trail. The total cost to complete the park, excluding the pavilion, will be about $53,000, according to the Board of Public Works.

In other business, the commissioners:

* Presented an award to Calvert County volunteer fire chiefs in recognition of volunteers’ service and a good response record in 2007;

* Approved a budget adjustment of $191,545 to pay the county’s 29-percent share in the cost of purchasing a parcel of land adjacent to the Chesapeake Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, to be used to construct a holding tank to prevent sewage overflows — the plant has been plagued by the release of partially- and untreated sewage in the past. Kelley dissented, saying the price was too high;

* Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Small Business Development Center at the College of Southern Maryland — $20,400 in county funds is allocated to the group;

* Approved an adjusted restricted funds budget from the Calvert County Board of Education of $11.9 million;

* Awarded a contract to Garden State Highway Products of Vineland, N.J., for traffic and street signs for $69,000;

* Awarded a $10,868 Historic Preservation Tax Credit to Linda Hesh and Henricus Margry for their repair of Flippo’s guest cabin in Port Republic;

* Awarded an $837.50 Historic Preservation Tax Credit to Arthur R. and Lauren B. Masoero for repair to a tobacco barn at the Highlands;

* Awarded 2 Þ Transferable Development Rights to the owners of a lot in Cape Leonard. Kelley dissented;

* Forgave a $48,165.12 balance on an agreement with the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad to enable the department to replace Tanker 6.