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Issue #63 
June 2014
 
Board Approves FY 2015 Budget
County Services Maintained with No Tax Rate Increases

 

The Board of County Commissioners approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budget June 3. The $242.9 million budget, up 4.5 percent from FY 2014, is structurally balanced with no tax rate increases and maintains a high level of county services.


This budget represents our commitment to public education, public safety, growth management, the promotion of homeownership, fiscal responsibility and an investment in our future. More than half of this budget -- $125.3 million -- is dedicated to the operations of our public school system. Continuing our practice, we are providing $2.4 million above the state-required "maintenance of effort" funding for education to be used as the Board of Education decides. 

The overall budget increase is largely due to four factors:

  • Increased funding of $1.9 million for the Board of Education
  • Increased costs for public safety of $1.5 million
  • Increased funding totaling $0.9 million for county employee salaries to include a 0.5 percent Cost of Living Adjustment and a delayed step effective January 2015
  • Increased costs for expenses like debt service, pensions and Other Post-Employment Benefits

 

Included in the budget is a one-time use of $5.9 million of prior years' fund balance. These funds cover $2.4 million of capital project pay-go costs and a $3.5 million contribution to the Other Post-Employment Benefits Fund.


The FY 2015 capital projects budget totals $28.4 million. Project highlights include: 

  • The renovation of Northern High School
  • Road improvements for Boyds Turn Road, Dowell Road, Mt. Harmony Road, Pushaw Station Road and the Prince Frederick Loop Road
  • An upgrade and expansion of the public safety digital communication system
  • Water and sewer improvements at Paris Oaks, Kenwood/White Sands, the Cove Point Community and others

We thank you, the citizens, for continuing to work with us to ensure funding is placed in line with the county's highest priorities. Your efforts and contributions have afforded us the opportunity to present this structurally balanced budget.
For the full budget document, visit online.

 

Important Polling Place Information
  
A printer error resulted in the wrong polling place being listed on some sample ballots recently mailed to county voters.
  
Only the polling place information is incorrect. The sample ballot listing candidates is accurate.
  
A postcard will be mailed to voters informing them of the polling place error on the sample ballot as well as the correct polling place.
  
To ensure you are voting at the correct polling place, call the Election Board office at 410-535-2214 or 301-855-1376, or go to the Maryland State Board of Elections website Voter Services Page to view your voter data which includes your polling place and a copy of your ballot.
  
The Calvert County Election Board apologizes for any inconvenience.
Winners Announced for 26th Annual Historic Preservation Awards
  
The restoration of a tobacco barn, the educational efforts of a local museum and an archaeology project involving high school students all received recognition in the 26th annual Historic Preservation Awards hosted by the Calvert County Historic District Commission. The winners were announced at the May 20 Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Brisco Tobacco Barn D
Gregory and Judith Coffren and Solomon Esh won the Project Award for their restoration of Briscoe Tobacco Barn D. The Coffrens purchased the property on which the barn stands and Esh was retained to restore it with the trappings of tobacco culture intact.

Grace Mary Brady received the Service Award in recognition of her efforts as president of the Bayside History Museum in North Beach. The museum has fostered the preservation of local history and, under Brady, partnered with other institutions to present lectures and educational activities about local history.

Kim Popetz and Patricia Samford received the Education Award for their work with Huntingtown High School students on an archaeology project at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM) in St. Leonard. The students analyzed artifacts from a site in Baltimore, conducted research and created exhibits, interpretive posters and reports. Popetz is administrator of education at JPPM and Samford is the director of the facility's Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory.
  
The Historic Preservation Awards recognize outstanding achievements and excellence in protecting and preserving Calvert County's cultural heritage. For more information, contact Calvert County Historic Preservation Planner Kirsti Uunila at 410-535-1600, ext. 2504, or via email.
  
Be Prepared for Hurricane Season
  

The 2014 mid-Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1 and county residents are urged to be prepared.

 

 In the event of a major coastal storm, county emergency management staff will provide information, precautionary advice and public safety instructions through local media, the county website, Facebook and the Calvert County ALERT notification system. Residents should bear in mind that sometimes the best course of action may be to shelter in place at home or work. At other times evacuations may be necessary and the amount of time available to leave may be limited.

 

Visit online for preparedness tips and ensure your information is updated in the Calvert County ALERT system. If you have questions about hurricanes or other disaster preparedness, please contact the Calvert County Division of Emergency Management at 410-535-1600, ext 2638, or via e-mail. Further hurricane preparedness information is available through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency online. 

   

Calvert County's Tap Water Wins Taste Award

Water and Sewerage Division Chief Wayne Raither, right, accepts the award from MRWA Executive Director Jack Bowen.
Employees of Calvert County Water and Sewerage Division did not have to go far to pull a sample for a water taste contest. They walked downstairs and filled a bottle with tap water from a faucet in County Services Plaza.

With that sample, the division won first place in the "Toasting the Tap" water taste competition conducted at the Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA) annual conference, held May 4-7 in Ocean City. The MRWA holds the water taste competition to promote the high quality of drinking water provided by small and rural water utilities.

 

Judges of the competition looked for water that had the best taste, odor, color and clarity. Calvert County's winning sample was taken from the Prince Frederick water system, which comes from the Aquia aquifer and serves 1,442 customers. In all, Calvert County Water and Sewerage operates 21 water systems in the county, serving 5,142 customers.

 

Calvert County Water and Sewerage is now qualified to enter the National Rural Water Association taste competition at the NRWA Rural Water Rally in Washington, D.C., in February 2015.

 

For more information about the Calvert County Water and Sewerage Division, call 410-535-1600, ext. 2329; send an e-mail; or visit online.

 

  
In This Issue
Board Approves FY 2015 Budget
Winners Announced for 26th Annual Historic Preservation Awards
Be Prepared for Hurricane Season
Calvert County's Tap Water Takes First Place in Taste Competition
Changes in the County Commissioner Election Process
Buy Local Week is July 19-27
Quick Links
Star-Spangled Celebration is June 21-22

 

   

 

This summer marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 battles in Southern Maryland. The Star-Spangled Celebration commemorates the anniversary with exhibits and events, culminating in a stirring Tall Ship Invasion and the thrilling 1812 Fair and Re-enactment June 21-22.


The 1812 Fair and Re-enactment
Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, June 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum

St. Leonard

 

Travel back to the early 1800s and the Battle of St. Leonard Creek, the largest naval engagement in Maryland's history. Enjoy 1812 re-enactor encampments, skirmishes and living history. See battle demonstrations Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. On Sunday the battle re-enactment at 2 p.m. includes tall ships. Tavern Night, held 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 21, will feature beer, wine and food for purchase. 


The Tall Ship Invasion
Saturday-Sunday, June 21-22
Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons

The Calvert Marine Museum has enlisted four tall ships to participate in the bicentennial celebration. The ships start arriving June 17 and will all be docked at various ports around Solomons Island by Friday, June 20. On Saturday, June 21, the museum is open free to the public and all ships are offering free "Open Ship" tours from 9 to 11 a.m. 

 

Changes in the County Commissioner Election Process

 

  

 

Beginning with the 2014 election cycle, Calvert County's method for selecting commissioner candidates changes.

 

The five county commissioners are elected for four-year terms and the elections occur on the same cycle as the gubernatorial race. In previous elections, the candidate with the most votes from each of the county's three election districts was elected to serve that district, while the remaining top vote-getters won the two at-large seats. Under the new system this year, candidates filed to run in an election district - District 1, 2, or 3 - or "At Large."

 

The voting process, however, did not change. Candidates are still voted countywide. Regardless of the district in which they live, voters may vote for any of the commissioner candidates.

 

The 2014 primary is June 24. Early voting for the primary is June 12-19. Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election is Oct. 23-30. The Early Voting Center is in the lower level conference rooms of the Community Resources Building at 30 Duke Street in Prince Frederick. 

 

For more information about elections, candidates and registration, visit the election board online or call 410-535-2214. 

 

Buy Local Week is
July 19-27

 

buy local logo  

 

Calvert County will join the state of Maryland in celebrating local agricultural products July 19-27 during Buy Local Week. The event highlights the benefits of buying local products from area farms, farmers markets and farm stands.

 

As part of the week's celebrations, residents can shop at a temporary produce stand on the lawn of the Circuit Court on Main Street in Prince Frederick, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every Wednesday in July except
July 2.

 

The county's annual farmers markets are also open during this week and throughout the summer: 

 

Tuesdays, 3 to 7 p.m.

Calvert Memorial Hospital parking lot in Prince Frederick

 

Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.

Solomons Riverwalk

 

Fridays, 6 to 9 p.m.

5th and 7th streets and Bay Avenue, North Beach

 

Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to noon

Calvert County Fairgrounds,

Prince Frederick

 

The Calvert County Agriculture Commission offers a wealth of information about the county's farms, including when and where to buy local produce and meats and the location of local farm stands.

 

Maryland's Buy Local Challenge is also online. 

 

 

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Thanks for reading Calvert Currents. We want to hear from you. Click the feedback link to send us your questions or story ideas.

Sincerely,
Pat Nutter, President
Steven R. Weems, Vice President
Gerald W. "Jerry" Clark
Susan Shaw
Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr.
Calvert County Board of County Commissioners