Cost could put brakes on speed camera plans

County keeps options open

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

To help get the project bidding process started on a possible mobile speed camera for Charles County, the commissioners approved a bill proposal that puts the legislation in the adoption process.

Provided, of course, there's no cost to the county, Maj. Joe Montminy said during the commissioners' meeting May 4.

"I understand the program needs to be cost neutral, but I can't go into real negotiations with any potential contractors until the law exists," Montminy explained.

He said that neither the county nor sheriff's office would be required to commit to the program at this point, but at least a request for bids could be written along with instructions to get out of the program should it not be cost-neutral.

Montminy first proposed the idea of a mobile speed camera to the commissioners in February. During his presentation he explained that a survey of Charles County school zones last year found that 38 percent of the 88,000 vehicles counted were moving 12 mph or more above the legal speed limit, the threshold for writing tickets under the state law that allows speed cameras.

He said, with a speed camera, there is hope of seeing a 30 or 40 percent reduction in speeders.

A public hearing on the bill has been set for 3 p.m. June 5.

Capital project gets federal grant

A $213,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation allowed the Charles County commissioners to approve a budget transfer that will save money for the county.

On May 4, the commissioners gave a nod to the transfer, which will set up a grant budget for the federal grant award for the Smallwood Drive turnaround at McDaniel Road capital project.

According to county officials, the project will serve as a safety enhancement for drivers through an extension of a turning lane so that U-turns can be made.

There is no increase to the project cost, said David Eicholtz, the county's budget chief.

"I'm very familiar with this stretch of Smallwood Drive and I believe this project is exactly right and needs to move forward," Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) said before making a motion to approve the transfer.

Funds mean progress for transit study

Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D) announced that U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) and U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) have requested $2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, for required studies for the Southern Maryland Mass Transit Corridor Alignment.

The studies will do some of the early work and planning involved in the process of actually laying a mass transit route between Southern Maryland and Washington, D.C.

If they are successful the county should have funding between the two amounts, Hodge said. There is also a larger request on Cardin's desk, which, if granted, would allow the county to complete all the required studies within the next five years.

Ethics code adoption postponed

Amendments to the Charles County Code of Ethics were tabled until May 18 in order to have time for the county attorney to edit language relating to the changes.

A public hearing on the subject was held May 4 but no one appeared to offer testimony.

Commissioners shell out money for oyster reseeding

To help protect the Chesapeake Bay and preserve an economic and cultural heritage — not to mention a popular seafood specialty — the Charles County commissioners approved the contribution of $20,000 to pay for 2 million spats-on-shell, which will go toward the oyster restoration effort led by the Oyster Recovery Partnership.

The money is coming out of an account of the county economic development commission for the sole purpose of being used to pay for economic development projects.

"Oysters are a keystone species to the bay. They also provide the valuable habitat to the bay's bottom," said Stephan Abel, the Oyster Recovery Partnership's executive director, who was on hand for the May 4 presentation before the commissioners.

"Right now in the Wicomico [River] you're not really seeing natural spats that are occurring. Unless we physically put oysters there you're not going to get them on your own," Abel said.

That's not to say other areas of Southern Maryland are struggling, but the Wicomico is having enough issues such as diseases, habitat degradation and harvest activity to cause concern, Abel continued.

Robert T. Brown, president of the St. Mary's Watermen's Association, said for the past few years his association primarily has harvested oysters of all sizes from the Wicomico River's key harvest bar and plans to start on a new bar this year.

"All the oystermen through the state, we share a common right to work the entire river. Since Hurricane Agnes we've never really rebounded in the upper part of the [Wicomico] river. We request that you grant the Charles County Watermen's Association the funds to help us bring this river back," Brown told the commissioners.

"Most of the oysters are coming from places we've planted and the state has a little bit of planting in other places. The harvest is down but we're showing improvement every year. You're guaranteed 2 million [oysters] for $20,000; every year we've always got more than 2 [million]."

Bobby Boarman of the Charles County Watermen's Association said the Charles County funds would go toward oysters planted in river bottom considered Charles County property.

The nonprofit Oyster Recovery Partnership manages 1,300 acres of Chesapeake Bay bottom, Abel said, and since 2000 has produced 2 billion oysters with the help of its many partners.

The oysters begin their lives at either the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science at Horn Point Laboratory or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources hatchery at Piney Point, Abel said.

Once they attach to shells they are loaded into boats and are planted, in this case in the Wicomico River.

"Where the oysters once lived is where you want to put them back," Abel said.

msomers@somdnews.com