FROM THE MAYORS DESK

CHRISTMAS DECORATION CONTEST

FUNDING COMMITTEE

UNION BRIDGE REC COUNCIL

SPECIAL PROJECTS REPORT

Funding Committee Meeting Jan. 2 & Feb. 6 – 7p.m.

Heritage Committee Meeting Jan. 15 & Feb. 19 – 7p.m.

Planning & Zoning Meeting Jan. 17 & Feb. 21 - 6:30p.m.

Council Work Session Jan. 21 & Feb. 18 – 6:30p.m.

Main Street Committee Info Joan McKee 410-775-2976

www.carr.org/~unionbr

unionbr@ccpl.carr.org

Jan. 1, 2002

Jan. 18, 2002

The winter months are here and snow will soon be here also. Please remember that when snowing and the snow plow comes around, he has permission to have any and all cars towed away that may be parked in the way of cleaning the streets. East Broadway and East Thomas Streets have two very bad hills and are signed for NO PARKING so please work with us during this time.

Also note that the bank parking lot is private property and they will also have your car towed when trying to clean their lot.

Since Sept. 11^th there are a lot of badly used flags. Anyone with an old flag, please turn it in to Scott Roop at the VFW or Perry Jones, for proper disposal.

In January we will be updating all volunteer committees in town and also all board members appointed by the Mayor and Council. If you are not a member and wish to be one please contact Perry Jones.

The Spirit of the Season was seen in Union Bridge during the Holidays. The festive decorations and lighting displays were appreciated by everyone. The Holiday decoration contest sponsored by the Town of Union Bridge was held on Tuesday evening, December 11^th. We would like to thank the judges for their careful deliberation. They had a very difficult time selecting the winners. Prizes were awarded in each category. Prizes awarded – First Place - $25.00, Second Place - $15.00, and Third Place - $10.00. Congratulations to the following winners.

LIGHTING

1^st Place – Mary Yingling, 24 S. Main Street

2^nd Place – Dean Pennington, 306 E. Broadway

3^rd Place – John & Lindsey Metcalf, 32 S. Main Street

TRADITIONAL

1^st Place – Joanne Secondino, 18 W. Broadway

2^nd Place – Chris Frye, 13 W. Broadway

3^rd Place – Randy Boone, 123 S. Lightner

MOST ORIGINAL

1^st Place – Terri & Jeff Stambaugh, 10 W. Broadway

2^nd Place – Jesse Yox, 121 N Main Street

3^rd Place – Vickie Shockley, 124 N. Main Street

New 8" Water Lines, Service Connections, and Meters. Four bids were received from contractors to complete water line improvements in Locust Street, East Elgar Street, Lehigh Drive, and White Street. The bids ranged from $1.1 M to $1.8 M. The town is currently reviewing the low bid proposal. The Main Street water line and meters will be installed in conjunction with planned State Highway Improvement for Main Street, scheduled to begin in July 2002. The town is also initiating a new water billing system.

Funding for the above is primarily from Rural Utilities Service, USDA, MDE, and the Town of Union Bridge.

The footings for the footbridge over Little Pipe Creek have been installed. The prefabricated footbridge has been ordered and is scheduled for delivery in early spring. At that time the trail will be installed by Bosley Paving Inc. Park projects completed so far include restoration of the stream banks, installation of several stabilization measures along the stream banks, restoration of wetlands, and the planting of about 4,000 trees and bushes. An early summer grand opening event is planned.

New steps and railing are planned for the small ball diamond on Thomas Street, and new playground equipment, picnic tables, signs and other amenities will be installed to replace the older park equipment. The town has applied for partial funding to the Department of Natural Resources. Total project costs are estimated at $55,000.

Several significant milestones have been reached. The State Highway Administration (SHA) has given funding approval for the Union Bridge Main Street project. In a letter from Mr. Robert Fisher, SHA District Engineer (7), the town was notified that the Maryland Rt. 75 Neighborhood Conservation Project has been included in the draft Consolidated Transportation Program Document. This means that funding for Main Street improvements has been included in the SHA 2003 budget. Planned improvements include resurfacing, curbs, gutter, sidewalks, storm drains, inlets, signs, landscaping, crosswalks, and handicap ramps. We also learned that SHA would fund the 35 proposed decorative streetlights along Main Street. The town must also contribute toward some of the improvements including upgrades to town side streets that connect with Main Street, the cost to upgrade the standard SHA sidewalk to a decorative patterned concrete design, two gateway signs, the "town square" at Main and Broadway, and possible undergrounding of some utilities and overhead wires. The town is applying to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for Community Development Block Grant Funds. The application deadline is February 2002. The town will be holding public hearings on or about January 17, 2002, and again on or about January 28, 2002, to review the application and to hear from citizens and property owners about community development and revitalization issues. Information about the public hearings will be in the Carroll County Times newspaper and posted at the town office. Estimated town costs will be about $275,000. The SHA project will be advertised for bids in April 2002, with construction to begin in July 2002.

If you have any questions concerning capital projects and community development issues, please call the town office at 410-775-2711.

P.O. Box 0097 Boyds, MD 20841

Office # 1-800-465-2350  Home # 301-898-1329  Car phone # 301-370-6633

Please call them to make arrangement for renting a toter

Main St. is a snow emergency route, NO PARKING is allowed when the snow emergency plan is in effect. Ordinance #263 B-2 states that owners or occupants of premises fronting on any street with paved sidewalks shall remove any snow and ice from the traveled portions of the sidewalk, to a width of at least 30", within 24 hours after snow or ice ceases to fall.