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North Beach featured in national magazine
Friday, Oct. 16, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by DARWIN WEIGEL
North Beach Mayor Mike Bojokles holds up a story printed in National Wildlife magazine that features North Beach.
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Mayor Mike Bojokles announced at the North Beach Town Council meeting last Thursday that the town was featured in the October issue of National Wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation's magazine, in an article about beach erosion titled "Slip Sliding Away." North Beach knows about beach erosion, a problem that plagues the town beach every year, and, occasionally, several times a year, as storms from the northeast bring in tidal surges that take the sand back out to the bay.
Bojokles testified at a Congressional hearing in June titled "Impacts of Climate Change on the Chesapeake Bay" and spoke about how rising sea levels would affect beach communities. After the hearing, he said writers from the magazine spoke with him in Washington, D.C. His testimony was also part of a television program in Copenhagen, Denmark, and he said he is trying to obtain a DVD copy.
"My goal was to try to bring more awareness about this problem," Bojokles said. Regulatory agencies are dragging behind, he said.
"They need to understand the urgency" and lessen the lengthy permit process, he said. This past year the town was fined for not having the proper permits prior to dredging sand to replenish the town beach after storm erosion.
To prevent future erosion of the beach, the town is planning to add an additional timber breakwater that will be placed behind the stone breakwater, town engineer John Hofmann said. It's the strong winds out of the northeast that move sand, he said. The breakwater will be facing the northeast "on a skew," he added.
In other environmental news, the Army Corps of Engineers appropriated $135,000 for a feasibility study for the wetlands on the north end of town, Bojokles said.
"That should be more than enough," he said. This past year the council has discussed creating a wildlife observatory boardwalk in the area and this is one step to further the process.
Group hired to perform traffic study
After discussing the traffic problems at Chesapeake Avenue and 5th Street for several months, the council decided to hire Traffic Concepts of Gambrills for $2,900 to perform a traffic study. Several council members proposed a stop sign on Chesapeake Avenue to make it easier for pedestrians and turning vehicles, Hofmann said.
"These are our streets and it's our decision to make," Hofmann said, acknowledging that the state does not have jurisdiction over the town's streets. The request for proposal asked the firm to study volumes of traffic in all directions and at different times, check sight distance and accident history and provide an opinion after professional observation, he said. They will come back with a recommendation for a stop sign or not, or may have other suggestions, he said.
"We will have all the options on the table," Hofmann said.
At the request of the Burnt Oaks subdivision's board, the Calvert County Sheriff's Office placed a speed board and monitored traffic during 10 days on Frederick Avenue. Cpl. James Wahlgren stated that in 10 days, about 9,600 cars drove down the street and the council was surprised at the number. A resident spoke during public comment and stated that they would have a representative at each town council meeting to share any concerns with the subdivision.
Two council members certified
Bojokles commended council members Jane Hagen and Andrew "Bud" Hunt for graduating from the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance. The collaborative program involves the Maryland Association of Counties, the Maryland Municipal League (MML), the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT), and the Institute for Governmental Service and Research (IGSR) of the University of Maryland at College Park. After saying that the program requires an extensive amount of time and effort, Bojokles said, "I'm proud of both of them."
Dog park idea proposed
Hofmann told the council that town staff is looking at the area at the north end of 3rd Street for a potential dog park. The park will be only for residents and the town is collecting preliminary data on concepts and ideas of a dog park.
"We're trying to provide something that'll be a benefit to town residents," Hofmann said.
Koenig, Brooks named citizens of the month
Carol Koenig and Kathy Brooks were named citizens of the month for taking the initiative to set up a North Beach tourism display at the visitor center in Savage. For three months, North Beach was on display at the center, Bojokles said, and thanked them for their decorating talents.
