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Commissioners Hear Staff Reports; Lowe's To Open Later This Year

May. 29, 2008
The Garrett County commissioners held their monthly staff meeting on Tuesday, hearing reports from eight departments and agencies. Among the topics discussed this month were economic development projects, farming, tourism, the county tax sale, rabies cases, and the county's scholarship program.
Economic Development
Assistant director Frank Shap, Economic Development, reported that the deal with Lowe's has been finalized and work has started at the proposed store construction site north of Oakland.
"That's good news," Shap said, adding that the store's opening is scheduled for "very much" later this year.
He also reported that a company is interested in operating a deep mine in the Grantsville area. Shap said he did not know the specifics, but Economic Development director Jim Hinebaugh was looking into the proposal.
"We'll keep you posted as that moves forward," Shap told the commissioners.
The assistant director also reported that a company contracted to build 500-kilovolt power lines was interested in locating in the Southern Garrett Industrial Park. The lines will run through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and a small portion of Garrett County as part of the PJM grid extension project.
Shap said the company wants a building in the Oakland area to use as its headquarters/maintenance facility while employees would be working in West Virginia.
"That will be a multi-year construction job in support of that operation," he said.
Economic Development is also working with several local businesses to expand their facilities and employment base, Shap said.
He concluded his report by noting that the county's unemployment rate had improved. Between January and April of this year, the rate was 5 percent, compared to 5.5 percent for the same period last year.
"So, we're holding on well with the unemployment situation, considering the challenges that everybody's facing," Shap said.
Extension Office
Agriculture/natural resources educator Willie Lantz, Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, reported on farming in the county.
"It's been raining, and that's not making farmers very happy, especially this time of year," Lantz said. "However, I think it was a good weekend. A lot of people got some corn in."
He noted that the cost of farming was up, including diesel fuel, which is more than $4.50 a gallon, and fertilizer, which is running anywhere from $600 to $800 a ton.
"Which means for a farmer to plant an acre of corn this year, the out-of-pocket costs alone are over $300," Lantz said. He noted, however, that commodity prices were "pretty high," with corn being around $5 a bushel.
"We are going to see more corn profit in Garrett County this year than we've ever seen in recent history," Lantz said, noting that some farmers have "switched over" from raising hay to corn because of the market price.
"But it is making it pretty risky," he said, "when you think about folks sitting around with fertilizer, seed, and those kinds of costs at $300 per acre. That's quite a few dollars when you're looking at a 100 to 200 acres of field crops."
Lantz said milk prices have been fairly good in the county for the past 18 months. Though the price has dropped a little recently, farmers are still getting $20 per hundredweight. He noted that the break-even point for dairy farmers is now about $15-$16 a hundred. A few years ago, it was $12-$15.
The educator added that farmers were also paying more for feed. As a result, meat prices will probably go up for consumers.
Lantz also reported that the aerial gypsy moth suppression spray program had started in the county. The helicopter companies, he said, are hoping to finish this week, but because of rainy weather, that may not happen until the first part of next week.
"At this point," Lantz said, "we're hoping for Mother Nature to cooperate a little bit so that they can continue to spray. Then, in a few months, we'll know where we stand for next year."
He noted, however, that the rainy weather may help increase a natural enemy of the gypsy moth, a certain type of fungus that lives in soil.
"The fungus is here," Lantz said. "It's just a matter of how fast it will catch up to the [gypsy moth] population."
He noted that the spray program is designed to not only suppress the population to help protect trees, but to also help the natural enemies. About 42,000 acres will be sprayed in Garrett County this spring, compared to 15,000 that were treated last year.
Lantz also reported that the Maryland Department of Agriculture was conducting an emerald ash borer study in several western counties.
Purple box kite shaped traps have been placed in trees throughout Garrett County to see if any of those green insects are here. If they are, the pests will be attracted to a scent located inside the traps.
Lantz said the borer has "wiped out" ash trees in the Michigan/Wisconsin area.
"So it is a very big concern," he said. "It has come into the state (Maryland) a couple of different times, mostly on firewood."
Most notably, the borer has been found in Anne Arundel County. Ash trees within a two-mile radius of the discovery there have been burned to try to contain the pests.
Lantz said most people do not realize there is ban on bringing firewood into Maryland.
Chamber of Commerce
"Indicators, at least so far, for tourism season are up," reported Charlie Ross, president/CEO Chamber of Commerce.
According to local rental companies, advance reservations for this summer are up 6 to 15 percent. At the same time, Ross noted, numbers from the Eastern Shore show that reservations are down 50 percent for Ocean City establishments.
Ross said the chamber thinks part of the reason for the local increase, despite the high cost of gas, is that Garrett County is a "reach-able destination." Area vacationers can get to Garrett County easier and quicker than to destinations in the eastern part of the state, Ross indicated.
He also reported that a contract would be awarded this week to a company to conduct a tourism survey for the chamber. The last such survey was conducted in 1996.
Ross indicated that the new survey will provide reliable data from all four seasons of the year to help improve local tourism efforts. The chamber needs the data for all its future baseline operations, rather than relying on speculations, he said.
An Appalachian Regional Commission grant will be used to pay for the survey work.
Financial Services
Director Wendy Yoder, Financial Services, reported that the county's delinquent properties tax sale was held on May 9. Twenty-seven properties were sold during the event. She added, however, that as of Tuesday, five of those properties have been redeemed.
"The total assessable base of the properties sold amounted to about $2.8 million, and the taxes collected were just over $67,000," Yoder said.
The director noted that her department continues to work on the county's fiscal year 2009 for final approval and adoption next Tuesday, June 3.
Health Department
"We are running a little bit ahead of last year, as far as the number of cases of rabies in raccoons [is concerned]," reported health officer Rodney Glotfelty. There have been four confirmed cases so far this year, compared to eight total last year, he noted.
Rabid raccoons have been discovered along Oak Street in Mtn. Lake Park, Lynndale Road in Pleasant Valley, Crellin, and the Sang Run area, the health officer said.
The Health Department held its first series of low-cost rabies clinics in late April and early May. Glotfelty said the clinics were successful, with 454 animals being vaccinated.
Another round of clinics is scheduled for the northern end of the county at the following locations: June 16, Bittinger fire hall; June 17, Garrett College maintenance building; and June 19, Eastern Garrett fire hall. All clinics will be held from 5 until 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per cat, dog, or ferret.
"That's an important way to protect families from rabies," Glotfelty said about vaccinating pets. "It creates a barrier between domestic pets and wild animals harboring rabies."
For more information about the clinics, persons may call the Health Department at 301-334-7777 or 301-895-3111.
Scholarship Program
Prior to hearing the monthly staff reports, Commissioner Denny Glotfelty announced a change to the Commissioners' Scholarship Program. He said the commissioners had unanimously decided to change the name to the Garrett County Scholarship, since the taxpayers are the ones "footing the bill" for the program.
"We just think it's more appropriate," Glotfelty said about the name change. "And we appreciate the taxpayers helping their own children."