Page 5 - February Banner 2018_Neat

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F r o m the M a y o r
Emmitsburg
Mayor Don Briggs
The New Year comes with
traction. On January 3, the first day
of business, we had a meeting with
the executive director of the Frederick
County Boys and Girls Club. We have
been working with the club for some
time. Things seem to be moving in the
right direction for a youth program in
Emmitsburg, possibly in the fall. On
January 4, I attended the St. Elizabeth
Ann Seton Memorial Mass and
reception at the basilica. The main
celebrant was Archbishop William E.
Lori of the Baltimore Diocese. The
service was a solemn tribute and very
well attended. On January 6, Lib and
I were among the 245 people who
attended the 134th Annual Vigilant
Hose Company 6 Banquet, which also
included Ambulance Company 26.
The banquet was held at the facility
on Creamery Road.
Inspirational is the best way to
describe how the two companies
joined together to better serve our
community. The merger that began
last July was completed officially on
January 1. From what I have heard,
if and when other fire and ambulance
companies should choose to merge,
this is the county’s official template.
Congratulations to Leo “Mike”
Boyle on receiving an award for his
sixty-five years of service and support
of the company. Well done. Also,
congratulations to the company.
The 2017 statistics are more than
compelling. For the year, Vigilant
Hose responded to 534 calls, on
average (over 10 a week or almost 1.5
a day). EMS calls for both (including
Station 26, up until July 1) totaled
1,139 calls for the year (almost 22 per
week or over 3 per day). Since July
1, the dispatch arrival average time
to “its first due area response area”
(Emmitsburg) averaged 6.54 minutes.
On January 11, I attended the
monthly County Executive – Mayor/
www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper February 2018 Page 5
F r o m the M a y o r
Burgess meeting. The main topic of Thurmont (https://www.facebook.com/Town-
discussion was updating all those who Mayor John Kinnaird of-Thurmont-390226201124250/)
or my page (https://www.facebook.
attended on the status and priorities
of the Maryland State Highway com/john.kinnaird.3) to see if
Administration for improvement The cold weather not only anyone has reported an issue. It is
to U.S. 15 and Interstate 270. The brings snow, sleet, and rain, but important that our residents are
time table has been moved up on the it also causes issues with our informed of any infrastructure
construction of additional lanes south infrastructure! I am sure that issues we may be experiencing, and
of Frederick to 2025 completion; everyone is aware of the electric and we keep an eye on Facebook for
there will be four lanes each direction, water issues we have had recently, reports of questions about issues
of which two, each way, will be toll. many caused by the weather. and we attempt to provide updates
To everyone’s dismay, the widening of The freezing weather can cause as they are available.
U.S. 15 through the City of Frederick residential water lines to freeze and Currently, the Town of Thurmont
has been pushed back to 2030. can be a prime factor of breaks in is making sewer line repairs to
Upgrading of Biggs Ford Road at U.S. our water mains, both of which Rouzer Court, and will be working
15 interchange timetable is scheduled we have experienced recently. We in the coming weeks on repairs
for 2040. have also suffered power outages and improvements at locations
On January 13, Lib and I attended caused by high winds, freezing on Apples Church Road, Mantle
the Emmitsburg Lions Club Banquet, precipitation, and circuits under Court, and Moser Road. Please be
commemorating its 35th charter strain, due to increased electric aware of these ongoing projects and
year. It was very well attended. heating demand. When power goes be careful while driving where sewer
Congratulations to Gene Rosensteel out or water service is interrupted, line work is being completed.
on receiving a special award for we encourage residents to call our This summer, we are planning to
assisting in the Emmitsburg Lions office at 301-271-7313 and report start work on waterlines on North
Club formation. these issues. After hours, there Church Street, between Emmitsburg
Late Christmas present for are instructions for reaching staff Road and Rt. 15. This project will
Emmitsburg and a prize indeed for during these emergencies. When see the replacement of water mains
the community: A fire company- the office is closed, please listen and the installation of new service
themed glass etching done by to the recorded information. The lines. The work is expected to cause
nationally renowned artist William instructions will tell you to dial disruption to traffic, with narrowed
Cochran is coming to the Frederick 1 for emergencies; you will then or closed travel lanes. During this
County Fire Rescue Museum. The be instructed to dial option 1 for project, be sure to allow more time
three-panel, 15-foot x 8-foot, 120 electric, option 2 for sewer, option if you are passing through the work
square-foot etching is presently 3 for water, and option 4 for area or plan on taking alternate
displayed at the Firehouse Financial streets and parks. When following routes. There will be flagmen
Center on W. Church Street in these instructions, your call will directing traffic and, as always, be
Frederick, the old Independent Hose be transferred to one of our staff. sure to pay close attention to the
Company building. It was done in Please keep in mind that once an directions they are giving traffic.
the mid-1980s to commemorate the issue has been reported, the person Finally, I want to thank our
Independent Hose Company that answering the phone is most likely residents for your patience and
had moved to its present location on working on the problem and may understanding during the recent
Baughman’s Lane. not be able to respond to all calls. water and electric issues we have
This fall, the Mount will field It is a safe bet that once several been addressing. Our staff is
a men’s soccer team, men’s and people have noticed an issue, town dedicated to restoring service as
women’s golf teams, and women’s staff has been made aware of the quickly as possible whenever there
bowling team to take the university situation. You are free to call, but if is an outage or loss of services.
to twenty NCAA teams. your call is not answered promptly, Please feel free to contact me
From last December: I forgot it is probably because the staff with any questions or concerns at
to mention that on December 18, person is working to repair the jkinnaird@thurmont.com, by calling
Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike problem. You can also check out the me at 301-606-9458, or through my
Gill visited the Mount to learn more Town of Thurmont Facebook page Facebook page.
about the Mount’s newest majors:
entrepreneurship and cybersecurity. Reference our Calendar on pages 46 & 47 to find events of interest.
I participated in the meeting with
President Timothy E. Trainor,
Ph.D., Chief of Staff Wayne Green,
Christine Adamow, Director of the
Palmieri Center for Entrepreneurship,
Professors Nick Hutchings and
Donald E. Butt, Jr., Jane Graves,
DC, Board Chair of Seton Center,
Inc., and Sr. Martha Beaudoin, DC,
Director of Seton Center, Inc.
Like all, I am hoping for some
warmer weather so the State can get
back to work on the square. It would
make a wonderful Valentine’s Day
gift. Thank you to everyone for your
patience for any inconvenience the
square/sidewalk project has brought
about, but when finished this spring,
we will have something special.