McKay revives prayer tradition at commission meetings

Matthew Bieniek
The Cumberland Times-News Fri May 20, 2011, 11:12 PM EDT

CUMBERLAND — Once Mike McKay dug into county records and discovered that county meetings had once opened with prayer, he knew that offering a prayer when he was at the helm of those meetings was a precedent he wanted to follow.

“I personally believe that any important undertaking needs to invoke ... the deity,” McKay said. “I want to stay true to who I am.” McKay found his precedent in the minutes of a 1963 commission meeting. He spent time researching the issue before he became a commissioner, he said.

So at each county commission meeting, after Danny Williams, president of the Mount Savage Water Company, leads the Pledge of Allegiance, McKay asks those present to bow their heads in prayer. It seems that everyone does just that and most present offer a hearty “Amen” at the conclusion of the prayer.

While the pledge is listed on the agenda, the prayer isn’t. McKay said that’s to avoid the appearance that the commission has made a formal decision to offer prayers. The prayer, he said, is his personal prayer. If he’s not present, another commissioner might choose not to offer a prayer, to request a moment of silence, or do nothing at all, he said.

“It’s not a policy or decision of the commission,” McKay said. McKay said there are no plans to have local clergy or others offer prayers.

McKay said his prayer is a nondenominational Masonic prayer. The prayer addresses God as the “Supreme Architect of the Universe,” and asks that the meeting be conducted and concluded in a spirit of peace and harmony.

So far, McKay said one person has lodged an objection to the prayer in an email. McKay said he respects the fact that some people may not approve of his decision to offer a prayer at meetings. Until McKay began offering his prayer, prayer had not been a part of commission meetings for some time in Allegany County, according to officials.

In recent weeks, Frederick County commissioners voted 3-2 to add an opening prayer to their public meetings, The Associated Press reported. Frederick County requires that prayers avoid the mention of any particular religion, denomination or sect.

While McKay is reviving a tradition, there’s nothing new about prayer at local governmental meetings, and there have been few, if any objections to the prayers over the years.

In Garrett County, commissioners have members of the Mountaintop Ministerial Association offer an invocation before each of their regular public meetings. The invocation is listed on commission agendas. Ministers from the association are free to offer whatever prayer they like. If a member of the association isn’t available, Commissioner Robert Gatto leads a moment of silence, said County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt. Pagenhardt said the prayers have been occurring for at least 15 years. “We haven’t had any issues,” Pagenhardt said.

The cities of Frostburg and Cumberland also open meetings with a prayer. John Kirby, the Frostburg city administrator, said there has been a tradition of prayer at the beginning of City Council meetings for decades. Frostburg and Cumberland, like Garrett County, list the invocation on their agendas.

Prayers are usually offered by members of the Frostburg Ministerial Association, or Kirby in their absence. Kirby said members of the Jewish faith are among those who have opened council meetings with a prayer. No guidelines are provided to clergy for their prayers. Kirby said that while he usually uses a prepared text, he sometimes offers an extemporaneous prayer.

Frostburg City Council meetings have recently been opened with the following prayer, Kirby said: “Heavenly Father: We offer our thanks and ask your blessing on this special community, for the time we share together and the bounty of our nation; For the commitment of the people who volunteer their time and talents to make our community a better place to live and to work and raise a family. We ask your blessing because we know that we alone cannot meet the challenges, solve the problems or provide sufficient inspiration. We offer our thanks to you for the beauty, the time and the place that is Frostburg. Amen.”

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

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Write-in Candidate Elected County Commissioner in Garrett County, Maryland

November 11th, 2010

At the November 2, 2010 election, Garrett County, Maryland voters elected a write-in candidate to seat 3 of the County Board of Commissioners. The election is partisan. The county was elected three at-large commissioners. Write-in candidate Bob Gatto received 4,112 votes; Democratic nominee Bill Welch received 2,824; Republican nominee Dennis Glotfelty received 1,947 votes. Two other declared write-in candidates received 170 votes.

Glotfelty had won the September 2010 primary but then had died of cancer only twelve days before the election. Before he died, he asked voters to write-in Gatto, whom Glotfelty had defeated in the Republican primary.

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Hearing Slated On Proposal To Prohibit Turbines

Photo Courtesy of FreePhotoBank.com

Hearing Slated On Proposal To Prohibit Turbines

Jun. 19, 2008
The Garrett County commissioners will hold a public hearing next Tuesday, June 24, at 10:30 a.m. in their meeting room at the courthouse on a proposal to amend the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance.
The proposal was submitted by Nancy-Elizabeth Nimmich, Pleasant Valley, and Barbara Boone, Oakland, to establish "performance zoning" throughout all of Garrett County.
Under the amendment, a new Article 12 would be added to the ordinance that would define and prohibit commercial wind turbine structures. It would also define the territorial jurisdiction of the new article to include all lands in Garrett County except incorporated municipalities.
All interested persons may attend the hearing to voice their views on the subject or submit written testimony to the Garrett County commissioners.

Performing Arts Center Board Asks

Performing Arts Center Board Asks

Jun. 12, 2008
Members of the Garrett Performing Arts Center Inc. (PAC) board of directors asked the county commissioners this week for continued support for the proposed PAC project.
"We understand that funding is tight at this time but sincerely hope that you will support us in the future," said PAC representative Bob Huebner.
In March 2006, a previous board of county commissioners voted to match any state funding for the facility, up to $1 million, provided that the PAC group could get commitments of at least $3 million prior to using county money. Those commissioners who approved the county match were Ernie Gregg and Dave Beard. Fred Holliday opposed.
Incumbent Gregg sound-ed optimistic on Tuesday that a performing arts center could still be built in the county.
"Truly this will happen; if not now, in the future," he told the PAC board.
Gregg was a member of the original PAC committee, which was formed in 2003 by the commissioners to study the center's feasibility, location, design, and funding options. The committee later became a not-for-profit incorporated board.
Incumbent Holliday and new commissioner Denny Glotfelty were cautious Tuesday about making any financial commitments to the PAC board.
"I think it's a good project; I think it will work at some point in time," Holliday told the members. "But I'm not sure that time is right now. I don't want to give you false hope."
Holliday noted that because of state funding cuts, the county is nearing a structural deficit and "taking a look at" its budgetary process. As a result, he said, the county has deferred some of its own projects to later years, including the new detention center.
Holliday indicated that county funding may be available for the PAC project in the future. "But for the next couple years," he said, "I can't see it [hap-pening] because of our financial situation."
"Clearly, it's not going to happen overnight; we all recognize that," said Huebner about the center.
He said it would take the board a couple of years to reach the point where it could actually spend mon-ey. But, Huebner stressed, the board could not wait until it had money in hand for each phase. Because of state and county funding cycle issues, the project could be delayed further if the PAC board waited.
The group has worked on the initiative for several years. In 2005, with funding supplied by the county, the PAC committee hired an architectural firm to prepare a schematic design.
Plans called for a 48,500-square-foot auditorium with 800 seats to be built in conjunction with a proposed exhibit hall/trade center in the Thayerville area. The exhibit hall, however, will now be built at the McHenry fairgrounds. As a result, the PAC board is looking for an alternative location.
Owners of another Thayerville site indicated they would donate property for the PAC. The board hired an architect and an engineer to study the feasibility of that site. They found it was possible to build a center there, but a multi-level structure would have to be built to accommodate parking, Huebner said.
"As soon as a location is pinned down," he said, "we will need to again employ an architectural firm to do a schematic design suitable for the new location so that we can then effectively begin to raise capital funds."
The PAC representative noted that his board has tentative commitments for two large donations: one for $5 million and another for $2 million.
With the support of the county commissioners, Sen. George Edwards and Del. Wendell Beitzel submitted a $1 million bond bill to the 2007 legislative session for architectural and engineering expenses for the center. But because of a state shortfall that year, the board was granted only $50,000 of its request.
The county commissioners did not support a bond bill for the center this year. But they did ask Edwards and Beitzel to introduce a $10 million bond bill to help fund county capital projects.
"Needless to say," Huebner told the commissioners, "we were disappointed when you decided not to support [our] bond bill request for the 2008 legislative session." He said the board would like to submit another bond bill next year.
"I think the commissioners' could voice support for this [project] even though at the present time you're not able to fund it," said local resident Troy Ellington. "I think that would go a long way toward helping to raise private funds as well. If you don't have the voice, support, of the commissioners, I think you'll have a lot of trouble."
Gregg said he had a good point. "We need to bear in mind," Gregg said, "financial commitment from the county is not going to be required anywhere in the near future, and I'm talking maybe something as long as five years."
Commissioner Glotfelty asked if the auditorium had to have 800 seats. He said it would be nice to know if this was more capacity than was needed. It was noted that Frostburg State University's main stage auditorium seats 350.
"Do we need 800 seats here, or do we need 350 or 400?" Glotfelty asked. "I'm not saying one way or another. But I think we need to look at all aspects."
Just because the center can be built, does not mean it can be filled, he said. Glotfelty added that the PAC was a good project, but that it was also important to consider such aspects as maintenance costs.
Huebner said the 800 seating number was needed to draw "top-notch" performers.
Board member Moe Turrentine noted that a recent Pittsburgh Symphony pops concert at Wisp Resort had more than 800 people in attendance. Many others had to be turned away because there were not enough seats. Turrentine added that the symphony wants to make Deep Creek Lake its "summer residence."
Gregg said the original PAC Committee spent much time reviewing the seating capacity issue. Many members thought that 500 was adequate, he said, but professionals in that venue indicated that 800 was the "magic number" needed for operational and efficiency reasons.
The PAC board gave the commissioners a folder containing 13 letters from residents supporting the project, including school superintendent Dr. Wendell Teets, Chamber of Commerce president Charlie Ross, and Director Jim Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development.
"As the letters indicate, such a facility will provide an economic benefit to the county; but even more important, it will provide a place which is sorely needed by the schools and the children of our county," Huebner said.
He asked that the commissioner consider verbally supporting the project, even if they could not support it financially

Commissioners Hear Staff Reports; Lowe's To Open Later This Year

Commissioners Hear Staff Reports; Lowe's To Open Later This Year

May. 29, 2008
The Garrett County commissioners held their monthly staff meeting on Tuesday, hearing reports from eight departments and agencies. Among the topics discussed this month were economic development projects, farming, tourism, the county tax sale, rabies cases, and the county's scholarship program.
Economic Development
Assistant director Frank Shap, Economic Development, reported that the deal with Lowe's has been finalized and work has started at the proposed store construction site north of Oakland.
"That's good news," Shap said, adding that the store's opening is scheduled for "very much" later this year.
He also reported that a company is interested in operating a deep mine in the Grantsville area. Shap said he did not know the specifics, but Economic Development director Jim Hinebaugh was looking into the proposal.
"We'll keep you posted as that moves forward," Shap told the commissioners.
The assistant director also reported that a company contracted to build 500-kilovolt power lines was interested in locating in the Southern Garrett Industrial Park. The lines will run through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and a small portion of Garrett County as part of the PJM grid extension project.
Shap said the company wants a building in the Oakland area to use as its headquarters/maintenance facility while employees would be working in West Virginia.
"That will be a multi-year construction job in support of that operation," he said.
Economic Development is also working with several local businesses to expand their facilities and employment base, Shap said.
He concluded his report by noting that the county's unemployment rate had improved. Between January and April of this year, the rate was 5 percent, compared to 5.5 percent for the same period last year.
"So, we're holding on well with the unemployment situation, considering the challenges that everybody's facing," Shap said.
Extension Office
Agriculture/natural resources educator Willie Lantz, Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, reported on farming in the county.
"It's been raining, and that's not making farmers very happy, especially this time of year," Lantz said. "However, I think it was a good weekend. A lot of people got some corn in."
He noted that the cost of farming was up, including diesel fuel, which is more than $4.50 a gallon, and fertilizer, which is running anywhere from $600 to $800 a ton.
"Which means for a farmer to plant an acre of corn this year, the out-of-pocket costs alone are over $300," Lantz said. He noted, however, that commodity prices were "pretty high," with corn being around $5 a bushel.
"We are going to see more corn profit in Garrett County this year than we've ever seen in recent history," Lantz said, noting that some farmers have "switched over" from raising hay to corn because of the market price.
"But it is making it pretty risky," he said, "when you think about folks sitting around with fertilizer, seed, and those kinds of costs at $300 per acre. That's quite a few dollars when you're looking at a 100 to 200 acres of field crops."
Lantz said milk prices have been fairly good in the county for the past 18 months. Though the price has dropped a little recently, farmers are still getting $20 per hundredweight. He noted that the break-even point for dairy farmers is now about $15-$16 a hundred. A few years ago, it was $12-$15.
The educator added that farmers were also paying more for feed. As a result, meat prices will probably go up for consumers.
Lantz also reported that the aerial gypsy moth suppression spray program had started in the county. The helicopter companies, he said, are hoping to finish this week, but because of rainy weather, that may not happen until the first part of next week.
"At this point," Lantz said, "we're hoping for Mother Nature to cooperate a little bit so that they can continue to spray. Then, in a few months, we'll know where we stand for next year."
He noted, however, that the rainy weather may help increase a natural enemy of the gypsy moth, a certain type of fungus that lives in soil.
"The fungus is here," Lantz said. "It's just a matter of how fast it will catch up to the [gypsy moth] population."
He noted that the spray program is designed to not only suppress the population to help protect trees, but to also help the natural enemies. About 42,000 acres will be sprayed in Garrett County this spring, compared to 15,000 that were treated last year.
Lantz also reported that the Maryland Department of Agriculture was conducting an emerald ash borer study in several western counties.
Purple box kite shaped traps have been placed in trees throughout Garrett County to see if any of those green insects are here. If they are, the pests will be attracted to a scent located inside the traps.
Lantz said the borer has "wiped out" ash trees in the Michigan/Wisconsin area.
"So it is a very big concern," he said. "It has come into the state (Maryland) a couple of different times, mostly on firewood."
Most notably, the borer has been found in Anne Arundel County. Ash trees within a two-mile radius of the discovery there have been burned to try to contain the pests.
Lantz said most people do not realize there is ban on bringing firewood into Maryland.
Chamber of Commerce
"Indicators, at least so far, for tourism season are up," reported Charlie Ross, president/CEO Chamber of Commerce.
According to local rental companies, advance reservations for this summer are up 6 to 15 percent. At the same time, Ross noted, numbers from the Eastern Shore show that reservations are down 50 percent for Ocean City establishments.
Ross said the chamber thinks part of the reason for the local increase, despite the high cost of gas, is that Garrett County is a "reach-able destination." Area vacationers can get to Garrett County easier and quicker than to destinations in the eastern part of the state, Ross indicated.
He also reported that a contract would be awarded this week to a company to conduct a tourism survey for the chamber. The last such survey was conducted in 1996.
Ross indicated that the new survey will provide reliable data from all four seasons of the year to help improve local tourism efforts. The chamber needs the data for all its future baseline operations, rather than relying on speculations, he said.
An Appalachian Regional Commission grant will be used to pay for the survey work.
Financial Services
Director Wendy Yoder, Financial Services, reported that the county's delinquent properties tax sale was held on May 9. Twenty-seven properties were sold during the event. She added, however, that as of Tuesday, five of those properties have been redeemed.
"The total assessable base of the properties sold amounted to about $2.8 million, and the taxes collected were just over $67,000," Yoder said.
The director noted that her department continues to work on the county's fiscal year 2009 for final approval and adoption next Tuesday, June 3.
Health Department
"We are running a little bit ahead of last year, as far as the number of cases of rabies in raccoons [is concerned]," reported health officer Rodney Glotfelty. There have been four confirmed cases so far this year, compared to eight total last year, he noted.
Rabid raccoons have been discovered along Oak Street in Mtn. Lake Park, Lynndale Road in Pleasant Valley, Crellin, and the Sang Run area, the health officer said.
The Health Department held its first series of low-cost rabies clinics in late April and early May. Glotfelty said the clinics were successful, with 454 animals being vaccinated.
Another round of clinics is scheduled for the northern end of the county at the following locations: June 16, Bittinger fire hall; June 17, Garrett College maintenance building; and June 19, Eastern Garrett fire hall. All clinics will be held from 5 until 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per cat, dog, or ferret.
"That's an important way to protect families from rabies," Glotfelty said about vaccinating pets. "It creates a barrier between domestic pets and wild animals harboring rabies."
For more information about the clinics, persons may call the Health Department at 301-334-7777 or 301-895-3111.
Scholarship Program
Prior to hearing the monthly staff reports, Commissioner Denny Glotfelty announced a change to the Commissioners' Scholarship Program. He said the commissioners had unanimously decided to change the name to the Garrett County Scholarship, since the taxpayers are the ones "footing the bill" for the program.
"We just think it's more appropriate," Glotfelty said about the name change. "And we appreciate the taxpayers helping their own children."

County Commissioners Hear Update Report From Public Utilities Director

May. 22, 2008
Table Rock Road residents are now connected to the Gorman Water System, Director Linda Lindsey, Garrett County Department of Public Utilities (DPU), told the county commissioners on Tuesday. The recently completed line extension project "went really well," she said.
The residents had been without water for several years because coal mining activity had affected their private wells. They had to rely on bottled water and portable water "buffaloes" supplied by Mettiki Coal.
Lindsey also updated the commissioners on several other water and sewer projects, including the following:
McHenry Water Extension
A contract was recently awarded to Robert D. Beitzel Excavating to extend the McHenry water line south along Deep Creek Drive, crossing Rt. 219 to Gravelly Run Road and a portion of that road. Lindsey noted that the completion date is June 19, but work will most likely be finished next week for this phase of the project.
"We're far ahead of the completion date," she said.
The next phase was to include construction of a chlorination station and connection of the existing well along Gravelly Run Road. But, Lindsey said, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will not issue a construction permit until the final well production report is completed and the appropriation permit obtained.
A change order, therefore, has been proposed to the Beitzel contract to extend the line along Gravelly Run to the connection for the Ridgeview Valley development. Lindsey noted that this change will accomplish two things: provide water service to the two dwellings in that development and allow roadwork, which has been held up because of the line project, to finally be completed.
Future contracts that still need to be bid out include those for the water treatment plant and water storage tank.
Mtn. Lake Park Water
Improvements
Lindsey also reported that steps to improve the Mtn. Lake Park Water System at Landon's Dam were proceeding well. She said Casselberry & Associates is currently completing a report on new wells that were drilled. Four of the six wells, she said, produce a total of 191 gallons per minute, or 275,000 gallons per day, of good quality water.
"Our current need right now is around 250,000 gallons," the director said.
Commissioner Fred Holliday asked if the springs that the system currently relies on will be eliminated once the new wells are connected to the treatment plant.
Lindsey indicated that her department wants to use some of the springs. Additional testing of spring number one (Tile Spring) is being conducted, she said.
"It appears that the spring will produce between 35 to 50 gallons per minute," Lindsay said.
She noted that Tile Spring, one of the first in the Mtn. Lake Park system, was built in the early 1900s in a unique way. The original plans for the spring were recently discovered and show that it was designed to correspond to the needs of the water storage tank.
"So, when the tank level drops, the spring production increases," she said. "As the tank level increases, the spring production decreases."
Casselberry recently lowered a camera down inside the spring to see its condition.
"It's as pristine as the day it was constructed," Lindsey said. "It's just remarkable."
She noted that if Tile Spring passes the GWUDI test (ground water under direct influence of surface water), the MDE will allow it to be used in conjunction with the new wells.
Holliday said that is good, because the wells alone will only provide about 25,000 gallons above the projected need. "And that's not much," he said.
Lindsay said Tile Spring would help provide an additional 50,000 to 72,000 gallons per day above the need. She added that spring number three is being evaluated in order to determine if it can be retrofitted and pass the GWUDI test for possible usage as well.
The director also reported that an in-line booster pump station manufacturer has been located. The device would provide a continuous water supply for the Southern Pines development, a portion of which experience outages when the water tank level drops. DPU is obtaining information on the station for the Purchasing Department to review.
Thayerville Water System
"A test well was drilled on property owned by Mountainside Developers, which did not produce," Lindsay said about the Thayerville Water System project. "A well was then drilled on the Mountainside Marina Club property, approximately 24 feet north of the original well."
She said yields at the second well exceeded 400 gallons per minute. Further tests will be conducted and data collected this month.
Once the hydrologist's report is completed, minor changes will be made to the Preliminary Engineering Report and a public hearing scheduled to present the report to the public for review and comment.
Lindsey noted that Mountainside residents are very anxious to have water.
Crellin Water
Improvements
Well number two will be connected to the Crellin Water System as an alternate supply, the director reported. DPU is proceeding with the design of an iron removal system and related improvement to the water treatment plant, she added.
Friendsville Sewer
The director reported that Friendsville sewer system experiences inflow and infiltration, which has limited the availability of additional connections.
"Currently only five ERUs are available for new connections," she said.
System improvements were designed by the EADS Group, and the project was bid in December 2005. Lindsey noted, however, that bids exceeded the town's affordability level.
After exploring various funding options, the project has been split into phases. Proposed funding sources for Phase 1 will be in the form of grants from the Appalachian Regional Commission, MDE, and the Community Development Block Grant program, Lindsey noted.
"Additional grant funding will be sought for Phase II, with the possibility of a small loan," she said.
Western Conveyance
System
The Garrett County Department of General Services is currently obtaining appraisals of the mainline easements that are still required to the Deep Creek Lake Sewer Western Conveyance System, Lindsay reported.
The director concluded her report by noting that a contract was awarded to Whitman, Requardt, and Associates (WRA) to update the county's Water and Sewer Master Plan. The chapters have been drafted and are being reviewed by DPU.
"Myself and David Nixson from WRA have met with the towns of Accident, Oakland, and Grantsville in order to review their systems' information," she said. "We will meet with Mtn. Lake Park and Loch Lynn Heights on Tuesday, May 27."