Jun. 19, 2008
Safety was the topic of the public commentary portion of last Tuesday's Garrett County commissioners' meeting. Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association president Scott Johnson asked the officials to continue their efforts to improve traffic safety. Oakland councilman Jay Moyer asked them to review a police issue concerning Broadford Lake Park.
Johnson thanked the commissioners for previous measures they have taken to address road safety issues, but encouraged them to do more, not only for his road, State Park, but for the entire county.
"People who live here want a safe environment; people who come here to relax want a safe environment," he told the commissioners. "And if we have cars speeding up and down roads that aren't well marked, aren't enforced with speed control, we have a potential to ruin our number one industry, tourism, and to put a negative impact on second-home sales."
Johnson said both tourism and home sales "drive" revenue to the county, which is why it is important to improve safety.
"I would like to continue the dialog outside of this forum, and will assist in any way that I can to bring resources to help resolve what I think is an issue of importance," he told the commissioners.
Johnson indicated that such "stakeholders" as the Chamber of Commerce, Department of Natural Resources, Maryland State Police, neighborhoods, and the media could be recruited to help.
Johnson also suggested that the commissioners expand a traffic flow study being conducted on State Park Road, look into establishing benchmarks to promote safety (speed limits, enforcement, etc.), and indentify problem areas.
Two particular problems are on Rt. 219 at Deep Creek Lake near Uno's and Trader's Landing. Both places have pedestrian crosswalks and businesses with heavy traffic going in and out of parking lots. An accident occurred at Trader's Landing as recently as June 7, Johnson noted.
A driver was traveling north on Rt. 219 and was turning his car into a business entrance when it was struck by a truck that was traveling behind him. The truck driver sustained an airbag deployment injury and was taken to Garrett County Memorial Hospital.
"Everybody knows that's a pretty busy place," Johnson said about the Trader's Landing area.
Commissioner Ernie Gregg noted that the State Highway Administration is conducting safety evaluations in the Trader's Landing and Uno's areas, and that private stakeholders are involved in that process.
"Plans are being made and work is being done to upgrade lighting, particularly in the Uno's area," Gregg said, adding that the state is still evaluating signage issues at Trader's Landing.
Gregg said he has suggested using rumble strips on the highway to help make drivers more aware of the crosswalks.
Commissioner Fred Holliday said drivers in other areas of the country know that they must stop for pedestrians in designated crosswalks.
"[But] in Garrett County, we just don't want to do that," he said. "And I don't understand why we can't get that message."
Johnson said that is why he suggested involving stakeholders, to get help in educating the public about road safety issues.
Moyer said he felt that much of the problem stemmed from people concentrating on their cell phones instead of their driving.
He suggested creating no-cell-phone zones in areas with serious pedestrian/vehicular interactions. Moy-er noted, however, that the state may not allow that to be done. Perhaps, Sen. George Edwards could look into the issue, the councilman said.
Moyer was at the commissioners' meeting to address another public safety issue: police enforcement at the Broadford Lake Recreational Area.
The lake is owned by the town of Oakland, but is in the jurisdiction of Mtn. Lake Park, which does not have its own police force. As a result, legal issues concerning police enforcement are complicated.
Currently, an Oakland officer can enforce laws/make arrests only if a county deputy is present or if the sheriff's office has specifically requested that the town handle a case, Moyer explained.
Garrett County sheriff Gary Berkebile also noted that if Oakland officers see a violation occur, Maryland emergency situation laws allow them to act.
Recent vandalism at the lake has prompted Oakland officials to readdress a mutual aid agreement between the town and county and to clarify jurisdictional issues.
"There are some things we need to start enforcing, like trespassing," Moyer said, adding that theft was also increasing. "Just recently, the sound system was taken out."
Gregg said there were all kinds of extenuating circumstances, but if the law allows it, he personally would like to see Oakland Police have the authority to make arrests.
Berkebile indicated that the county is the one that has to decide who has "blanket authority" over the lake. He suggested that the commissioners forward the issue to county attorney Mike Getty to see what the county's involvement is and to see how Mtn. Lake Park enters into the matter.
"Because you may have a conflict of issues," Berkebile said. He added, however, that he had no objection to Oakland having authority at the lake.
The commissioners agreed to have the county's attorney look at the issue.
"We'll try to expedite this," Gregg said.
The commissioners did not hold a public meeting this week. Their next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 24.
Safety was the topic of the public commentary portion of last Tuesday's Garrett County commissioners' meeting. Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association president Scott Johnson asked the officials to continue their efforts to improve traffic safety. Oakland councilman Jay Moyer asked them to review a police issue concerning Broadford Lake Park.
Johnson thanked the commissioners for previous measures they have taken to address road safety issues, but encouraged them to do more, not only for his road, State Park, but for the entire county.
"People who live here want a safe environment; people who come here to relax want a safe environment," he told the commissioners. "And if we have cars speeding up and down roads that aren't well marked, aren't enforced with speed control, we have a potential to ruin our number one industry, tourism, and to put a negative impact on second-home sales."
Johnson said both tourism and home sales "drive" revenue to the county, which is why it is important to improve safety.
"I would like to continue the dialog outside of this forum, and will assist in any way that I can to bring resources to help resolve what I think is an issue of importance," he told the commissioners.
Johnson indicated that such "stakeholders" as the Chamber of Commerce, Department of Natural Resources, Maryland State Police, neighborhoods, and the media could be recruited to help.
Johnson also suggested that the commissioners expand a traffic flow study being conducted on State Park Road, look into establishing benchmarks to promote safety (speed limits, enforcement, etc.), and indentify problem areas.
Two particular problems are on Rt. 219 at Deep Creek Lake near Uno's and Trader's Landing. Both places have pedestrian crosswalks and businesses with heavy traffic going in and out of parking lots. An accident occurred at Trader's Landing as recently as June 7, Johnson noted.
A driver was traveling north on Rt. 219 and was turning his car into a business entrance when it was struck by a truck that was traveling behind him. The truck driver sustained an airbag deployment injury and was taken to Garrett County Memorial Hospital.
"Everybody knows that's a pretty busy place," Johnson said about the Trader's Landing area.
Commissioner Ernie Gregg noted that the State Highway Administration is conducting safety evaluations in the Trader's Landing and Uno's areas, and that private stakeholders are involved in that process.
"Plans are being made and work is being done to upgrade lighting, particularly in the Uno's area," Gregg said, adding that the state is still evaluating signage issues at Trader's Landing.
Gregg said he has suggested using rumble strips on the highway to help make drivers more aware of the crosswalks.
Commissioner Fred Holliday said drivers in other areas of the country know that they must stop for pedestrians in designated crosswalks.
"[But] in Garrett County, we just don't want to do that," he said. "And I don't understand why we can't get that message."
Johnson said that is why he suggested involving stakeholders, to get help in educating the public about road safety issues.
Moyer said he felt that much of the problem stemmed from people concentrating on their cell phones instead of their driving.
He suggested creating no-cell-phone zones in areas with serious pedestrian/vehicular interactions. Moy-er noted, however, that the state may not allow that to be done. Perhaps, Sen. George Edwards could look into the issue, the councilman said.
Moyer was at the commissioners' meeting to address another public safety issue: police enforcement at the Broadford Lake Recreational Area.
The lake is owned by the town of Oakland, but is in the jurisdiction of Mtn. Lake Park, which does not have its own police force. As a result, legal issues concerning police enforcement are complicated.
Currently, an Oakland officer can enforce laws/make arrests only if a county deputy is present or if the sheriff's office has specifically requested that the town handle a case, Moyer explained.
Garrett County sheriff Gary Berkebile also noted that if Oakland officers see a violation occur, Maryland emergency situation laws allow them to act.
Recent vandalism at the lake has prompted Oakland officials to readdress a mutual aid agreement between the town and county and to clarify jurisdictional issues.
"There are some things we need to start enforcing, like trespassing," Moyer said, adding that theft was also increasing. "Just recently, the sound system was taken out."
Gregg said there were all kinds of extenuating circumstances, but if the law allows it, he personally would like to see Oakland Police have the authority to make arrests.
Berkebile indicated that the county is the one that has to decide who has "blanket authority" over the lake. He suggested that the commissioners forward the issue to county attorney Mike Getty to see what the county's involvement is and to see how Mtn. Lake Park enters into the matter.
"Because you may have a conflict of issues," Berkebile said. He added, however, that he had no objection to Oakland having authority at the lake.
The commissioners agreed to have the county's attorney look at the issue.
"We'll try to expedite this," Gregg said.
The commissioners did not hold a public meeting this week. Their next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, June 24.
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