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Bid approved for equipment shelter
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009
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The St. Mary's County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to award a $1 million contract to Dennis Anderson Construction of Waldorf to build a structure that will house county government's hazardous material response equipment.
The 8,000-square-foot structure will be built to the rear of the governmental center campus in Leonardtown.
The hazardous material equipment is being housed temporarily in downtown Leonardtown in a building owned by the Bell family which used to sell used cars.
The two-year lease began last April and pays $36,000 a year in rent and $27,500 for utilities. The sheriff's office also stores equipment there.
The new structure will be built to withstand winds from a Category 2 hurricane (sustained winds of 96 to 110 mph), which will be stronger than the Public Safety Building, which houses the county's 911 center.
"Does anyone know the last time a Category 2 storm hit Leonardtown?" asked Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R), who voted against the contract.
"Probably 18-something," said George Erichsen, director of the St. Mary's County Department of Public Works and Transportation.
"Even Floyd Abell wouldn't remember that one," Jarboe said. Abell is a long-time weather observer in Hollywood.
The Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane that struck the area on Aug. 23, 1933, was of Category 2 strength.
Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D) noted the town government of Leonardtown is charging $18,776 to connect one new restroom to the water and sewer system. He also noted it would cost an extra $18,340 for the shelter to have a brick veneer, as required by the town zoning ordinance.
