Page 4 - October Banner 2018_Neat

Page 4 October 2018 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com

T o wn H all R epor ts Thurmont

S e p t emb er 2 0 1 8 For more information on the Town of Thurmont, visit www.thurmont.com
by James Rada, Jr. or call the town office at 301-271-7313.

Emmitsburg Town Gets ADA Curb Update
The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners received an update on the ADA-
For more information on the Town of Emmitsburg, visit www.emmitsburgmd. compliant curb project that was undertaken this summer. This summer, forty-one
gov or call 301-600-6300. ADA-compliant curbs and ramps were installed in twenty locations. Some of the
locations include Frederick Road at Moser Road, Summit Avenue at Thurmont
Town to Start Relining Old Sewer Pipes Middle School, Community Park at Frederick Road, the municipal parking lot,
The Town of Emmitsburg has been noting a problem with wild water getting and Locust Drive at Apples Church Road.
This project cost $87,804, of which $84,000 was paid for with a Community
into the sewers (called inflow and infiltration [I&I]). Once the water is in the Development Block Grant. With the project’s completion, all of the town’s major
system, it winds up being treated for an estimated cost of $2.00 per 1,000 pedestrian crossings have been made ADA compliant in the last three years.
gallons. This covers the cost of chemicals, staff time, power, and wear and tear
on the system. It has become a costly problem for the town, costing around Town to Pave Weddle Alley
$40,000 a month in May and June of this year to treat I&I. The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners approved the paving of Weddle
“This year we’ve had a lot of precipitation, which will cause the I&I to Alley during a recent town meeting. The alley runs behind seven homes from
spike and cause your costs to spike,” Town Manager Cathy Willets told the North Carroll Street to Radio Lane.
Emmitsburg Commissioners in September. “It’s our last gravel-based alley in town,” Chief Administrative Officer Jim
The commissioners approved an $80,575 bid from Mr. Rehab to begin Humerick told the commissioners.
relining sewer pipe on East Main Street and Creamery Road. The money will The commissioners debated whether such a small alley was a priority. Mayor
come from the town’s sewer fund. The process does not require digging or traffic John Kinnaird pointed out that this was a project that had been talked about in
control. Also, it is estimated to take only a week. the past and could be done now with Highway User Revenues. Other projects
This should be the beginning of what is estimated to be a ten-year process to that were higher priorities were also much larger and would take multiple years of
reline the old sewer pipes in town that cracked and are allowing in wild water. savings to pay for. The commissioners voted 4-1 to award the contract to Frederick
It will work in conjunction with rehabbing the existing sewer pumping station County Paving for $27,900, with Commissioner Marty Burns dissenting.
to make it more efficient and allow it to handle more sewage. The commissioners
approved seeking federal funds to begin the planning process to rehabilitate Senior Center Carpeting to be Replaced
the old pumping station. The project could begin in two years if things move The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners unanimously approved a
along smoothly. The relined pipe, new pumping station in Emmit Garden, and recommendation from the Thurmont Senior Center to award Peterson’s
rehabilitated pumping station would work together to significantly reduce I&I Carpeting in Frederick a contract to replace the carpeting in the Senior Center.
problems, saving the town tens of thousands of dollars every year. The contract is for $8,823.75 and will be paid for by Frederick County.
Although Peterson’s bid was not the lowest, it included two items that the other
Welcome Letter Delayed didn’t. It came with a fifteen-year guarantee and included a microbial treatment.
A welcome letter that would have been sent to new town residents has been In addition, the town will have its cleaning service strip the wax and clean the
delayed because the Emmitsburg Commissioners feared liability issues with tiles in the Thurmont Senior Center for an additional $573.
some of the information in the letter. The letter lists certain businesses that new
residents might need to know about, but it did not list all of the businesses in Town May Connect Thurmont Boulevard
town. Some of the commissioners thought this might be suggesting favoritism The Town of Thurmont is looking at connecting two sections of Thurmont
to some business owners and might lead to problems. Boulevard and creating a through-road that would help ease some of the traffic
Commission President Tim O’Donnell suggested having the Maryland problems in town. Mayor John Kinnaird said, “It would make traveling through
Association of Counties review the letter for any possible ethics problems in town a whole lot easier for everyone.” Some studies would need to be conducted
before any construction could begin, but the commissioners have directed town
the way the businesses are presented.
staff to get preliminary pricing on what each of the studies would cost.
Community Legacy Grants Are Now Being Accepted Trolley Trail May be Expanded to Eyler Park and Catoctin Furnace
The Community Legacy Program is a partnership between Emmitsburg Thurmont town staff is looking to purchase a piece of property that would
and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development allow the Trolley Trail to continue to Catoctin Furnace. Meanwhile, another
(DHCD). DHCD provides a 50 percent grant for exterior façade and exterior group is trying to secure a way to extend the other end of the trail to Eyler
improvements, while the property owner pays the other 50 percent. The Road Park. The current trail is well used, and the extensions would make it
maximum grant is $12,500 per property per fiscal year while money is more attractive to walkers and bike riders.
available. If you are interested in applying for the grant, contact town staff at … Continued on page 5
301-600-6300 for more information.
T T T T T T T T T T T T
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Hunting and Emmitsburg Trail Use Information
Hunting on property owned by the Town of Emmitsburg is allowed Monday T MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
Crane Rentals, Inc.
through Saturday only. There is no hunting on Sundays. While Maryland Crane Rentals, Inc.
Department of Natural Resources allows permit hunting on certain Sundays in
certain areas, none of the dates or areas apply to town-owned properties. The
last day for hunting is May 23, 2019. Currently, the town trails can be used on
Sundays only to ensure there is no hunting going on around them. All-week
access will begin on May 24, 2019, after hunting season has ended.
Citizens Advisory Committee Appointments
Mark Walker was reappointed to the Citizens Advisory Committee for a two-
year term beginning October 20. Brian and Melissa McKenney were appointed 1 Creamery Way
to the committee as new members. Their two-year terms began on September 4. Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Closed Columbus Day 301-447-3718
The Emmitsburg Town Office will be closed on Columbus Day, Monday, FAX: 301-447-1722
October 8.