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Showing posts with label Carroll Co Regional Airport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carroll Co Regional Airport. Show all posts

Monday, October 17, 2011

Westminster Common Council Members Frazier and Whitson weigh-in on incinerator and airport expansion

Westminster Common Council Members Frazier and Whitson weigh-in on incinerator and airport expansion

October 17, 2011

As a citizens of Westminster, we have wondered why some elected officials of Westminster haven’t publicly weighed in on issues that would have a large impact on Westminster.  Now that we are elected Councilmen. we would like to let our views be known on two issues that we believe will impact Westminster.  Here are our observations and concerns.

The first is the “waste to energy” incinerator that the county is currently thinking about building with Fredrick County. We are against it for several reasons:

The first of which is the cost to run it. There is a waste to energy incinerator in Montgomery County and every family in the county is charged a fee of several hundred dollars a year to keep it running. Do we need another fee in Carroll?

The incinerator also needs tremendous amounts of trash to keep it running, and needs the paper, cardboard and plastic that is and can be recycled to keep the operating temperatures high enough to run efficiently.  That means that the paper cardboard and plastic that is currently being recycled in Carroll will be burned and not reused.

This is a linear system and we live in nature, which is a cyclical system. A linear system takes, makes, and wastes. It takes things from the resource base and makes whatever we want to buy and creates wastes along the way. Ultimately what is made is also thrown away and in this case it will be burned. We should try to treat our resources like nature in a close looped system. We need to reuse the paper, cardboard, plastic and other “trash” instead of burning it. 

There are technologies in place that make this a more cost effective solution as well which have been recently shared with us at Council meetings. 

One final note that should put an exclamation point on our reasoning is that the incinerator in Harrisburg is the main reason for the city going bankrupt recently!!

The other issue that we are against that is also being looked at is the airport expansion. I have not seen, read or heard of any way that the airport expansion will benefit the people of Westminster or Carroll County.  If it will not somehow positively impact the welfare of the people than why spend the taxpayers money on it. 

The present airport is continuously operating at a loss  with no reason to think it will start to make a profit.  The present debt is 5 million dollars and counting!

The Federal government wants to invest 73 million in it and make it bigger, but after that we will be in charge of the upkeep, which will cost us more money as well.

Marada,  which was one of the main reasons for the expansion, is out of business!

Businesses are less likely to come to Maryland in general due to the heavy tax burden and our lower taxed neighbors.

If we accept Federal  money,  they will give us more mandates in what is required for the airport and have control, as opposed to local control, and we know how much money the Federal gov’t has right now.  – 14 trillion and counting.  Don’t think Carroll County is high on their priority list.

There are also environmental  concerns relating to fuel being dropped on local fields/noise/ as well as homes/land that people have lived on their whole lives that would have to be condemned and forced to move elsewhere in these difficult times.

There is no reason that a county government should be running an airport in the first place.  Governments are not good at being businesses and shouldn’t try to be businesses. 

4 of the 5 Commmisioners ran on a platform that they were opposed to the airport expansion and they should keep their word!

If a business were running an airport it would be more efficient.  In fact, we would be making money as a county if they turned a profit because the private company would be paying taxes.  Since the county runs the airport there is no tax revenue coming in from the airport! When the county loses money, due to the airport losing money, We the People of Carroll County lose!


*****

Friday, May 22, 2009

It was a lovely day to protest.







It was a lovely day to protest.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Pictured are the airport protesters at the Carroll County office building in Westminster Maryland.

Seems they are also protesting Carroll County commissioners Julia Gouge and Mike Zimmer.

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog
20090521 Airport protesters

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

20080318 In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

March 18, 2008

Recently there has been a push to televise all local government meetings in Carroll County.

And then - last week the story broke that (now former) New York governor Eliot “Mr. Clean” Spitzer, otherwise known as “love client no. 9,” had violated his marriage vows and broken a number of laws by taking “acting lessons” with an “aspiring-singer.”

There is a relationship between the two events and issues. Bear with me and I’ll attempt to make my point…

Governor Spitzer mercifully resigned on March 12 and ended a sensational 48 hours of salacious melodrama of position, power, greed, and human failings.

The ironies abound in this tragedy.

In his previous job as attorney general of New York, he had gained a reputation as a ruthless boar in his relentless crusade against wrongdoing on the part of Wall Street.

To further his own political ambitions, he made it great sport to ruin the reputations of Wall Street executives.

He often used the very same laws that in the end brought about his own demise.

However, anecdotal accounts indicate his unpleasant approaches were not centered on bad folks. He was, by many accounts, an equal opportunity misanthrope, often treating foes and colleagues with equal disdain.

Once he took over the governor’s office he quickly proceeded in going back on as many of his campaign promises as possible and fought with everyone – on both sides of the political aisle.

He raised taxes, added to the state’s payroll, and increased spending by 7 percent. In the paradox of contemporary taxation policy, the more New York raised taxes, the larger the state deficit grew. New York residents and businesses fled the state in astronomical numbers - and as he leaves office, he leaves behind a huge budget deficit and $2 billion in tax proposals.

One of the many golden rules of life is always treat people well when you’re on your way up because you never know when you’re coming down.

In the end, as Governor Spitzer faced a life-altering crisis, he was completely alone with no friends.

I often wonder about this “human” aspect of community leadership when I attend – or watch public hearings on the local Carroll County public access Channel 24 and witness the incivility and hypocrisy.

Locally a leadership void continues to persist. And one wonders why.

Many folks feel disenfranchised and alienated because there are too many “Spitzers” in office, locally, in Annapolis, and nationally, who aren’t doing their job and aren’t honest with us.

Then again, in today’s political environment, why would anyone want to leave the comfort of their families – their jobs, to take on leadership positions in the community where personal attacks and character assassination is a blood sport for those who may disagree with certain decisions?

And astonishingly those who are the most unpleasant are the ones who want others to respect their point of view and have an opportunity to be heard.

Recently there has been a push to televise all local government meetings in Carroll County.

A position I whole-heartedly support because personally attending these meetings is so incredibly unpleasant; why would anyone want to go?

They’re hard enough to watch on television, but at least when we watch them on TV, we can change the channel – or leave the room.

In recent memory I have had a number of folks tell me that they never gave much thought to this or that pressing issue of the day. But after having seen and heard the folks who are against it - - they’re for it.

A case in point is the fella who asked for my position on the airport… I shared with him that both sides have good points – that ought to be heard…

That in the end, the commissioners need to decide what is going to be best the greatest majority of Carroll Countians… That the commissioners are obviously not going to make everyone happy with this issue. There is no silver bullet or win-win.

He told me that he never thought much about expanding the airport until he saw the folks who are against it in action and now he wholeheartedly supports expanding the airport. Hmmm.

And recently in Carroll County; in an interesting twist, some of the folks who have been privately (and publicly) the most unpleasant are now publically claiming they are being bullied and pleading for civility.

I’d rather watch it all happen on TV.

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff http://www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

NBH

20080318 In Carroll County - I’d rather watch it all happen on TV

Thursday, November 15, 2007

20071113 Forest Conservation variance request for Carroll County Regional Airport denied

News Release: Forest Conservation variance request for Carroll County Regional Airport denied

For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton, Public Information Administrator, 410-386-2973

For Immediate Release

Forest Conservation variance request denied

Related:

20070921 Request for variance from the Forest Conservation Code for the Carroll County Regional Airport and Carroll County Regional Airport

Other options would eliminate need for variance

November 13, 2007 – Hearing Officer Steven D. Powell today denied a request from Carroll County Government for a variance to the Carroll County Forest Conservation Ordinance that would have allowed for the harvest of timber at Carroll County Regional Airport. In his decision, Mr. Powell writes that staff should have considered other options:

“The Board of County Commissioners as a matter of policy prefers that all County projects comply with the strict terms of federal, State and County law and that variances be sought in only the most extraordinary of situations. In this case, I believe staff may comply with County law through release of easement and afforestation elsewhere which would obviate the need for a variance.”

The County’s Chief of Administrative Services, Cynthia Parr, requested the variance on September 12, 2007, for the timbering of 3.75 acres of trees in a Forest Conservation Plan easement. Those trees were part of approximately 6 acres that need to be harvested before the Federal Aviation Administration will allow operation of a light system designed to increase safety during landing of aircraft.

Mr. Powell, the County’s Chief of Staff, suggested that the Forest Conservation Easement be released, an alternate site for reforestation be designated so that the harvest can take place. “I believe that the County will actually achieve an overall enhanced environmental benefit in greater harmony with the purposes and intent” of the County’s Code.

Staff has 30 days to appeal the decision, if it should choose to do so, to the Commissioners or to an appeals board appointed by the Board of County Commissioners.

# # #

20071113 Decision on Request for Variance from Forest Conservation

November 13, 2007

Ms. Cynthia Parr, Chief

Office of Administrative Services

225 N. Center Street

Westminster, Maryland 21157

Re: Decision ~ Request for Variance from Forest Conservation

Variance No. V-FC-07-001

Dear Ms. Parr:

On September 12, 2007, you submitted an application for a variance to the Carroll County Forest Conservation Ordinance (Variance No. V-FC-07-001). A copy is attached for reference. Specifically, the application requested a reduction in the final forest basal area from 70 square feet to 25 square feet per the submitted Forest Stewardship Plan in order to accommodate the safe operation of the airport PAPI light system. The Bureau of Resource Management staff summary dated September 21, 2007 additionally summarized that approximately 6 acres of forest were slated for a timber harvest and of that 6 acres approximately 3.75 acres are protected via a Forest Conservation Plan. The State Forestry Board approved the timber harvest with the condition that a variance be obtained to the Carroll County Forest Conservation Technical Manual to allow the post basal harvest area to be 25 square feet instead of the required 70 square feet.

On October 16, 2007, a hearing was held whereby you and pertinent County staff presented evidence and testimony regarding the requested variance. Additionally, members of the public in attendance were permitted to present questions or testimony and evidence regarding the variance as well. Following the public hearing, the public record was left open for a period of 5 business days for the receipt of additional written testimony or evidence from the public.

On October 19, 2007, I submitted a list of additional written questions to staff for consideration based on issues that were raised at the hearing. Staff provided answers to the supplemental questions within 10 days as requested. A copy of my questions and the staff answers are attached for reference.

The variance request in this matter is made under Chapter 115 of the County Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances. Specifically, Section 115-14 states that a variance may be granted if exceptional circumstances exist such that:

(1) Strict adherence to the provisions of this chapter could result in unnecessary hardship or environmental degradation;

2) The project is wholly in response to the regulatory requirements of another federal, state or local law or consent order and is intended to result in impact mitigation or environmental enhancement;

(3) It can be proven that some action associated with the project will result in measurable environmental enhancement that can be equated to the estimated benefit which would have been achieved if the technical requirement that the applicant is requesting relief from would have been accomplished; or

(4) It can be proven that adherence to the technical requirement would not be necessary to fulfill the purpose of this chapter.

Additionally, an applicant for a variance must:

(1) Describe the special conditions or exceptional circumstances peculiar to the property which would cause the undue hardship or that prevent the applicant from complying with this chapter with on-site or off-site mitigation and any evidence that compliance would result in an environmentally degraded condition on or off site;

(2) Demonstrate in sufficient detail that the granting of the variance will not confer on the applicant a special privilege that would be denied to other applicants;

(3) Demonstrate in sufficient detail that the variance request is not based on conditions or circumstances which are the result of actions by the applicant;

(4) Demonstrate in sufficient detail that the request does not arise from a conditions relating to land or building use, permitted or nonconforming, on a neighboring property; and

(5) Demonstrate in sufficient detail that the granting of a variance will not adversely affect water quality or result in an environmentally degraded condition on or off site.

Having reviewed all of the testimony and evidence presented in light of the required variance factors, I hereby make the following findings and decision. Staff presented adequate justification for the need for a timber harvest in the area in question; however, the evidence presented failed to take into consideration the possibility of mitigating the tree harvest to minimize the environmental degradation to occur or to even enhance the environmental status in the area in question. Further, staff failed to consider other administrative processes such as releasing the easement and mitigation elsewhere.

The Board of County Commissioners as a matter of policy prefer that all County projects comply with the strict terms of federal, State and County law and that variances be sought in only the most extraordinary of situations. In this case, I believe staff may comply with County law through release of easement and afforestation elsewhere which would obviate the need for a variance.

Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, the request for variance is hereby denied. It is my understanding that in the instant matter the timber harvest may be accomplished without a variance by amending the existing Forest Conservation Plan to release the harvested area from protection and designating an alternate area for reforestation or afforestation. By conducting the timber harvest in this manner without a variance, I believe that the County will actually achieve an overall enhanced environmental benefit in greater harmony with the purposes and intent of Chapter 115.

Pursuant to Section 115-17, you may appeal the denial of this variance to the Board of County Commissioners or a Board of Appeals appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Any such appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of this decision and must clearly state the grounds upon which the appeal is based.

Sincerely,

Steven D. Powell

Hearing Officer

Encl.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

20070921 Request for variance from the Forest Conservation Code for the Carroll County Regional Airport

Request for variance from the Forest Conservation Code for the Carroll County Regional Airport

Department Planning

Bureau of Resource Management

REQUEST FOR VARIANCE FROM THE CARROLL COUNTY FOREST

CONSERVATION CODE, CHAPTER 115

September 21, 2007

Issue: FOREST CONSERVATION, CHAPTER 115, VARIANCE REQUEST FOR TIMBER HARVEST IN AREA SET ASIDE FOR PROTECTION VIA FOREST CONSERVATION PLAN FOR CARROLL COUNTY AIRPORT PAPI LIGHTS

FILE NO.: E-96-0002

VARIANCE NO: V-FC-07-001

Background: A variance has been requested for a timber harvest of 6 acres of forest. Of the six acres, 3.75 acres have been previously approved via a Forest Conservation Plan designated as a woodland protection area.

Of the 3.75 acres, 1.91 acres are to be clear cut.

Based on Section 3.3.3 (2) (Page 3-39) of the Carroll County Forest Conservation Technical Manual, A Forest Stewardship Management Plan was prepared by the County Forester and submitted to the State Forestry Board.

The Board approved the Management Plan for the incorporation of applicable best management practices, but since said section of the technical manual requires a post harvest basal area of 70 square feet when timbering in areas set aside for forest conservation easement, the Board did not approve the timber harvest plan.

The proposed clear cut would result in a post harvest basal area of 25 square feet.

Based on regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAR 77 and the Precision Approach Path Indicator Obstruction Clearance Surfaces) those areas scheduled for clear cut are areas identified as a hazard to aviation by penetrating into the Obstruction Clearance Surfaces and must be removed for safety of those using the airport.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.

Discussion: The desired action is a requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration for safety of those using the airport and applies to all airports with similar precision approach equipment. In addition, the State Forestry Board has indicated that the Forest Stewardship Management Plan prepared by the County Forester incorporates all applicable BMP’s, as stated in the Custom Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for Forest Harvest Operations.

Recommendation: The request for relief from the Carroll County Forest Conservation Code, Chapter 115 and the Forest Conservation Manual should be granted based on:

(1). 115-14. (1): Strict adherence to the provision of this chapter would result in unnecessary hardship for the County. By granting the variance request the County can remove the designated obstructions and operate the airport per FAA requirements thus creating a non-hazardous condition for precision approaches.

(2). 115.14. (2): The 1.91 acre clear cut will comply with the requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAR 77) and the Precision Approach Path Indicator Obstruction Clearance Surfaces). FAA Object clearing criteria were developed to provide for safe and efficient approach operations at an airport by requiring that certain areas on or near the airport be clear of objects.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

20070822 MDE Investigation Report into Jet Fuel Dumping at Carroll County Regional Airport

MDE Investigation Report into Jet Fuel Dumping at Carroll County Regional Airport

August 22, 2007 – After investigating citizen concerns of fuel being dumped from aircraft using the Carroll County Regional Airport, the Maryland Department of the Environment recently issued a report stating it could find no evidence of such activity. The report is now available online at http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/airport/mde-report.pdf. (Or - -See report keyboarded below…

# # #

Related:

20070817 State to investigate mysterious stains in area near airport by Kelsey Volkmann

State to investigate mysterious stains in area near airport

08/17/2007

Residents’ complaints about fuel leaking from corporate jets have prompted a state inspector to investigate the black spots that dot roofs and sidewalks near the airport in Westminster.



[...]



Westminster activist Mary Kowalski, an outspoken opponent of a planned runway expansion, contacted the state to request a probe after the Carroll County Health Department determined that the substance probably was not jettisoned fuel.

Kowalski also suggested the spots could be oil residue from jet exhaust. “I think that’s a real concern as well,” she said.

Nancy Frick, a grandmother who lives along Snowfall Way, eagerly awaits results of the state investigation.


http://www.examiner.com/a-885776~State_to_investigate_mysterious_stains_in_area_near_airport.html



####

MDE Investigation Report into Jet Fuel Dumping at Carroll County Regional Airport

Martin O’Malley

Governor

Anthony G. Brown

Lieutenant Governor

Shari T. Wilson

Secretary

Robert M. Summers, Ph.D.

Deputy Secretary

Field Observation Report

http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/airport/mde-report.pdf

Per your (Herbert Meade) request, I recently took the opportunity to strive to evaluate the complaint received by your office (OCP) with regard to the possible airborne discharge of fuels by aircraft utilizing the Carroll County Municipal Airport located just north of Westminster.

I received your referral by e-mail late on WED15AUG07

I contacted Mrs. Mary Kowalski, via telephone, the morning of THU16AUG07 to discuss the nature, basis and background of the complaint.

It was during this conversation that she indicated it was her belief, that aircraft (primarily jets) were "dumping fuel" while approaching the airport from either direction.

She indicated that she lived northwest of the airport and was experiencing the problem, but that the problem was more prevalent in a residential neighborhood, southeast of the airport called "Autumn Ridge" and gave me the name address and phone number for a resident of that development who would act as a point of contact and point out the symptoms.

The concerns were primarily related to staining on dwelling roofs and the sidewalks that surrounded those dwellings.

We also decided during this conversation, that due to the rain that was falling as we spoke, any attempt at the evaluation of her complaint on this day would be futile.

Every effort humanly possible was made to respond on FRI17AUG07, but multiple response request in other jurisdictions, of a more acute nature, necessitated putting of the evaluation one more day.

At 1200hrs. on SAT18AUG07, I arrived in front of the dwelling designated as the point of contact in the Autumn Ridge development. The neighbor hood is all single family dwellings with incorporated garages, each enclosing and estimated 1500 to 2,000 square feet of living space, on parcels of land that would appear to average approximately 10,000 square feet.

The poc address is located on Snowfall Way not far from Bonfire Court (ADC12G13CL & ADC19G1CL)

To the west and northwest of most of the residences along Snowfall Way, is a common use green area for the residents. To the north east and east is a cornfield.

Beyond the common green area and on the way to the landing field is undeveloped and developed commercial property. The airport itself resides on the opposite side of MD route 97 from the autumn ridge development. (ADC12E11CL)

Initially, I walked around the poc address and adjacent addresses an looked at roofs. The use of binoculars made visualizing the roof surfaces, shingles and stains much easier.

Not all the roofs had stains. Those that did were interspersed with those that didn't with no apparent pattern or continuity that would suggest the cause of the stains came from above. If the source came from an aircraft moving above, one would not reasonably expect the intermittent skipping of roofs and that more roofs than not, were without stains that could be visualized.

The stains themselves seemed dry, very dull with diffuse, difficult to discern edges , which is the opposite if the shiny, almost wet looking stains with clearly defined edges that have been observed in previous cases.

Some of the dwelling shingles also show signs of lateral distortion. The edges of some of the shingles had lifted and curved creating the impression that they had some how gotten longer , or expanded lengthwise. This could be attributable to petroleum swelling or just temperature expansion

After some time inspecting roof surfaces from the ground, I spent quite a bit more time walking in and beyond the common green space to the rear of the dwellings and the partially developed commercial property beyond, looking for signs of "petroleum Distillate Induced Distress" (pDID or DID) in the surrounding flora.

There's an abundance of trees and shrubbery of varying age and size, deciduous and evergreen, in the common green area breaking up a great deal of grass. The partially developed commercial property is primarily grass, bordered by trees to the northeast and east. Cornfields can be seen to the east.

The expected dead topping or dead siding of trees and shrubs, along with the dead spotting of well rooted grass, nor any other sign of pDID, could not be observed.

Special attention was paid to the evergreens because they are the least likely to hide the dead spots that occur as a result of pDID. No vegetative distress of any kind, beyond some slight browning that is attributable to ground thicket or our present lack of rain could be observed.

All of this was also true for the area around the Westminster Community Pond and the facilities and areas at Corporate Center Court, which were inspected on the way to the airport.

Prior to arrival at the airport, I was informed by MEMA that Mrs. Kowalski wished to speak with me. During my telephone conversation with Mrs. Kowalski, she expressed her concern that I was not approaching this assessment in the manner that she desired.

She was informed that the assessment would progress in a manner that I determined was appropriate to circumstance.

She also retracted her earlier statement that the area around her dwelling, northwest of the airport was affected by fuel dumping.

Upon arrival at the Airport, I was allowed to inspect the grassy areas prior to both ends of the runway approaches for pDID and could observe nothing out of the ordinary.

I had the opportunity to interview a representative of airport management, a flight instructor, two pilots and the gentleman who actually operates the fuel truck that fills the jets when requested.

They indicated that the need to jettison fuel was related to an aircraft's ability to take off at a weight that exceeded it's certified landing weight. This is

a status normally associated with military and larger commercial aircraft.

They further indicated that none of the two jet and three turbo-prop aircraft that are based at this airport have the ability to jettison fuel.

They went on to say that the jettisoning of fuel is an emergency procedure only, and that the airport hasn't had a declared emergency in several years.

They admitted that there are visiting jet aircraft whose ability to jettison fuel is unknown, but they also theorized that discharging jet fuel into the 190 MPH

slip stream of an approaching aircraft, would almost certainly cause immediate dispersion, dissipation and evaporation, and the probability of fuel hitting the ground was virtually non-existent

I also learned that because these aircraft had much higher approach and landing speeds , they were using instruments to line up on the runway from a far greater distance than the smaller, gasoline powered aircraft I was observing in operation during my visit.

Based on this fact, I deduced that if the roof stains were attributable to aircraft losing fuel, dwellings in areas outside the two flight paths approaching the runway would not be stained.

I drove to and through the residential neighborhoods:

South of Route 140 and west of Route 31. (centerADC19B3CL)

Route 31, Main Street and Route 27 (centerADC19F6CL)

West of Sullivan Rd. (centerADC19J1CL)

In all of these locations, I could observe some houses with similar stains and lateral distortion of the shingles with no discernable patterns or pDID to vegetation.

Not being able to reasonably assign any value to the possibility of winds, blowing perpendicular to the approach path, having the potential to carry jettisoned fuel to these areas, I then drove to the town of Manchester, approximately ten miles northeast of the airport (centerADC14D1CL) where I could also observe houses with similar stains and lateral distortion of the shingles with no discernable patterns or pDID to vegetation.

Upon return to Westminster, I presented to Mrs. Nancy Frick, the poc for Autumn Ridge.

We had a long discussion and I explained all of my previous observations with regard to the unexplained roof staining. I informed her that based on all of my observations that there was no reason to believe or conclude that these stains were a result of the airborne discharge of jet fuel and, nowhere did I visualize any circumstance or condition that gave me the remotest inclination to sample for petroleum products.

Mrs. Frick then took me for a walk from her dwelling, up the street to Bonfire Court and down Bonfire Court . All along the way she was pointing out some charcoal colored staining on the sidewalks, indicating that they had been there for at least two years.

As we walked, I expressed to her that it was my observation that the stains were dry in appearance, not wet like an oil stain. They were propagated in a manner and direction that was consistent with the direction of the flow of cascading water during a rain event, following only the grade of the concrete which was at times in opposition to the predictable splash or spatter patterns one would expect from a passing aircraft.

I also pointed out to her that the presence of the charcoal colored stains on the sidewalks were uniformly, consistently and without exception interrupted by driveway ramps and parking pads, as well as sidewalk blocks that were not original to the development.

Everywhere there was concrete , original to the development, that was intended for pedestrian traffic only, one could discern some charcoal colored dry staining. Wherever the concrete was intended for vehicular traffic or was replaced subsequent to the original installation the stains did not exist.

I ask that she consider the possibility of two different grades or qualities of concrete being used when the development was built.

One lesser quality intended only for sidewalks and pedestrians, the other, better quality concrete intended for driveway ramps and pads, and that the staining was a result of a filler or undesirable contaminate incorporated into the aggregate that constituted the original sidewalk concrete that was not present in the driveway or newer concrete.

In conclusion, as hard as I tried, I could make no observation that remotely suggested the recent deposition of any form of petroleum oil, from any source, at any location I visited.

Bob Swann MDE-ERD

Saturday, August 18, 2007

20070817 State to investigate mysterious stains in area near airport by Kelsey Volkmann


State to investigate mysterious stains in area near airport

(Arianne Starnes/Examiner) “I just want to know what it is,” Westminster resident Nancy Frick says as she points out black stains on the sidewalk in her neighborhood, where she is worried be jets may be dumping fuel.

Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner

2007-08-17

WESTMINSTER, Md.

Residents’ complaints about fuel leaking from corporate jets have prompted a state inspector to investigate the black spots that dot roofs and sidewalks near the airport in Westminster.

[…]

Residents say the black substance has fallen onto eight houses along Sullivan Road, Snowfall Way and Bonfire Court.

But Les Dorr, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said that without tangible evidence planes have leaked fuel, the residents may be “kind of reaching for something that may not be there.”

Pilots dump their fuel only to lighten their loads to make an emergency landing, and when they do, they are instructed to do so in unpopulated areas and at an altitude of at least 2,000 feet, said Arlene Salac, an FAA spokeswoman.

Most of the time, the fuel dissipates in the air, and with the cost of it, pilots wouldn’t dump fuel needlessly, she said.

Airport manager Dean Leister said few of the aircraft that fly into the airport – mostly corporate jets and recreational planes – have the capability to dump fuel.

[…]

Westminster activist Mary Kowalski, an outspoken opponent of a planned runway expansion, contacted the state to request a probe after the Carroll County Health Department determined that the substance probably was not jettisoned fuel.

Kowalski also suggested the spots could be oil residue from jet exhaust. “I think that’s a real concern as well,” she said.

Nancy Frick, a grandmother who lives along Snowfall Way, eagerly awaits results of the state investigation.

Read the entire article here: State to investigate mysterious stains in area near airport

Monday, August 13, 2007

20070813 Westminster Common Council Meeting Minutes

Westminster Common Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of City Council Meetings | Agenda for next City Council Meeting

For posts and information about Westminster Common Council meeting agenda on “Soundtrack” click here: Westminster Common Council Mtg Agenda

For posts and information about Westminster Common Council meeting minutes on “Soundtrack” click here: Westminster Common Council Meeting Minutes

Minutes of City of Westminster Council Meeting

August 13, 2007

QUORUM:

A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the John Street Quarters of the Westminster Fire Company, 28 John Street, on the evening of August 13, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Ferguson, Council President Chiavacci; Council Members Albert, Wack, Utz, and Pecoraro; City Administrator Wolf; Acting Director of Planning and Public Works Glass; Chief Spaulding; City Treasurer Unger; City Attorney Walsh; and City Clerk Taylor were present.

Council President Chiavacci introduced Steve Powell, Chief of Staff for the Carroll County Board of Commissioners; Cindy Parr, Chief of Administrative Services for Carroll County; and Ashish J. Solanki, Director of the Office of Regional Aviation Assistance for the Maryland Aviation Administration. Mr. Powell, Ms. Parr, and Mr. Solanki gave a presentation on proposed expansion of the runway at the Carroll County Regional Airport ..

Mr. Powell began by reviewing the history of the airport from the 1960’s to the present. On June 12, 2007, the Commissioners voted to move forward with an environmental assessment of the proposed expansion. Ms. Parr summarized a tentative schedule for the study.

In response to questions from Mayor Ferguson, Mr. Powell described current plans to ensure adequate emergency services, to create an additional ingress and egress to the airport, and to make other road improvements. Mr. Powell added that the County does not plan to allow scheduled commercial flights.

Mr. Solanki spoke concerning several aspects of the project. He observed that the project would be funded by the federal government at 95 percent, by the State government at 2 ½ percent, and by the County at 2 ½ percent. He explained that the runway would be moved west approximately 350 – 400 feet, that the existing runway would become a taxiway, and that the types of aircraft using the airport would remain the same.

In response to questions from the Mayor and Council members, Mr. Solanki explained that the term “reliever airport” does not mean an airport becomes a backup for commercial jet traffic, but provides another location for smaller aircraft so they do not have to use major airports. He further described several expansion projects at other airports in the state.

Mr. Pecoraro recommended that the County consider establishing an airport advisory committee comprising representatives from all stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the City and local residents. Mr. Powell indicated that he would convey the suggestion to the County Commissioners.

Council President Chiavacci thanked Ms. Parr, Mr. Powell, and Mr. Solanki for their presentation.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

Mayor Ferguson summarized the qualifications of Elizabeth Trescott and Kevin Beaver to serve on the Historic District Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission, respectively. Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Utz and unanimously passed, Ms. Trescott’s appointment was confirmed. Upon Motion of Mrs. Albert, seconded by Mr. Utz and unanimously passed, Mr. Beaver’s appointment was confirmed.

MINUTES:

Mrs. Albert moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of July 9, 2007. Doctor Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

CONSENT CALENDAR:

Council President Chiavacci noted that the Consent Calendar consisted of the approval of the June Departmental Operating Reports and approval of an Employee Assistance Program contract with GHE HealthCare, Inc. Mr. Utz moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Dr. Wack seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:

Mr. Pecoraro remarked that representatives from the State Department of Housing and Community Development recently visited several City projects that the State helped fund.

Mr. Utz reported on his recent meeting with the Executive Committee of the Westminster Fire Company.

Council President Chiavacci complimented Chief Spaulding for achieving many of the Police Department’s strategic planning goals.

NEW BUSINESS:

Manager of Planning and Development Davis summarized Good Cause Waiver GCW 07-8, which would permit the occupants of 815 Washington Road to tap into the City water system. Mr. Pecoraro commented that the Committee on Growth and Annexation has recommended that water allocations for smaller parcels not be delayed pending adoption of the permanent water allocation policy. Upon Motion of Dr. Wack, seconded by Mr. Pecoraro and unanimously passed, the Good Cause Waiver was approved.

Mr. Glass summarized the terms of a new lease for T-Mobile to use space on the Sawgrass Water Tower for its wireless communications business. The lease provides for an initial term of ten years at a rent of $2,000.00 per month for the first year. Thereafter, unless terminated, the rent increases by three percent per year. Dr. Wack moved to approve the lease. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:

Ms. Wolf reported further on the walking tour with the representatives of the Department of Housing and Community Development. She thanked City residents Rebekah Orenstein, Darcel Harris, and Alissa Derr for assisting and summarized the locations visited.

Ms. Wolf announced that the State Highway Administration would present its study and recommendations concerning the Route 31 corridor on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. in Room 003-004 of the County Office Building. The Administration has been conducting a safety study for several months, particularly in the area where Route 31 intersects Tahoma Farm and Long Valley Roads.

Mr. Unger reported that training on the Eden Systems software was continuing.

Mr. Glass noted that mosquito surveillance would begin on August 20, 2007.

Council President Chiavacci introduced Chief Alexander, Assistant Chief Bangert, and President Cull of the Westminster Fire Company. Mr. Cull advised that the company has been complying with the code yellow voluntary water conservation measures.

CITIZEN COMMENTS:

Several City and County residents spoke against the proposed expansion of the runway at the Carroll County Regional Airport: David McElroy, Rebekah Orenstein, Edmund Kleve, Laurie Walters, Mary Kowalski, Pat Annis, Judy Spindler, Gary Johnson, Dr. Brink, Henry Hepner, and Steven Dodson. The concerns they expressed included increased traffic and noise, potential environmental problems, and a potential inadequacy of emergency services.

Ms. Orenstein observed that truck traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue has increased. Mayor Ferguson advised her that the City is preparing to study possible measures to limit truck traffic on City roads.

City resident Anna Deveney commented on the recent death of a sixteen-year old City resident.

Council President Chiavacci adjourned the meeting at 9:37 P.M.

Laurell E. Taylor

City Clerk

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