Railway trail gets the go-ahead

Committee researching skateboard park

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009

"I did get the final signatures," said town engineer Paul Woodburn at last Thursday's Chesapeake Beach Town Council meeting. Woodburn said the trail is ready to go to bid and expects construction to begin late this fall.

"We're going to bid … that's news," said Mayor Bruce Wahl, who has worked on the project from its inception.

The recreational walking trail will use the old railway right of way and wind around behind Fishing Creek. The trail has received final review from the Maryland State Highway Administration and the federal government.

"I see the trail eeking its way to fruition," commented Council Member Igrid Lamb.

State budget cuts hit the town

With recent budget cuts, the state sliced $4 million to municipalities and the town lost a significant amount of anticipated funds, Wahl said.

"We took a $340,000 whack at our highway user fees," he said. And the town's police support went down $30,000 due to the recent cuts.

"I think it means we defer work on the roads. We cannot defer police," Wahl said.

Council looks into skate park, water park issues

With the suggestion of council member Julie Spano, Wahl asked town council members for volunteers to sit on a committee to research the possibility of building a skateboard park and then come back to the town with its recommendations.

Council members Bob Carpenter and Stewart Cumbo said they would join with Spano, who was absent from the meeting. Wahl suggested they look at Dunkirk Skate Park for ideas.

When reviewing Chesapeake Beach Water Park passes, Wahl said that they found "a tremendous amount of free passes." No existing passes will be used next year, he said.

The council approved to amend the budget to appropriate funds for the purchase of two golf carts for the water park, the cost of which is not to exceed $20,000.

The water park will host Halloween in the Water Park on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a rain date of Oct. 25.

In other business, the council:

- Approved an ordinance that would allow the town to assess penalties in the event an ordinance does not provide the penalty for its violation with a maximum 30 days' imprisonment and a $1,000 fine maximum;

- Approved a $40,000 contract for next year's Fourth of July fireworks display to Fireworks Productions Inc. The contract has not been given to the town for approval in the past, Wahl said. The cost is exactly the same as previous years, but it does not include the rental cost of the barges where the fireworks are fired off.

- The town's planning and zoning commission approved the final plats for Richfield Station's 12 condo units and 56 lots at Chesapeake Village. A preliminary subdivision review was done on the Heritage, a 74-lot subdivision, the former Joe and Millie Cox property on Cox Road. A review of Rockwell, eight townhouses on Cox Road, revised the architectural elevation.

- Crooked I Sports Bar and Grille requested to go to Calvert County District Court regarding two citations on expanding its parking lot without a permit. Their consultant has submitted a preliminary site plan.

- A court date of Oct. 6 is set for an overgrowth citation at 8420 D Street. There was still no response to an overgrowth citation at another house, 8720 D Street; the house went into foreclosure. A home at 7536 C Street has been deemed a "dangerous house." The town will negotiate with the county treasurer and the owner of the house in an attempt to get the owner to demolish it or deed it to the town so the town can demolish it.

charvat@somdnews.com