UNION BRIDGE NEWSLETTER
January/February 2004

INSIDE

From the Mayor's Desk
Resident Deputy
Funding Committee
Special Projects
Church of Brethren
Decoration Contest

DATES TO REMEMBER

 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE IN CITY OFFICE Feb 16, 2003

Web Page www.carr.org/~unionbr

E-mail unionbr@ccpl.carr.org

      Wow, another year gone!  A lot has happened this past year and 2004 looks to be no less busy.  Shepherd’s Mill Road should be finished any time now and Main Street hopefully will be completed by this time next year.  The construction on our new water filtration plant is moving ahead, with completion sometime in late spring or early summer.  We will continue to work toward improving our water and waste water systems and services in the coming year. 

      Beginning in January we will be addressing public safety issues, with a special focus on landlord responsibilities.  We wish to work with the landlords in their efforts to reduce the occurrence of criminal activities on their properties.  This has become a drain on the Sheriff’s Department as well as the Stare Police.  Too much time is being spent returning to the same addresses for similar offenses.  Whatever is decided upon to try to solve these problems will not be limited to rental properties only.  Everyone should be held responsible, legally and monetarily for his or her own actions.  

      I was contacted by the Health Department recently about our position on the fluoridation of our drinking water.  This practice is widely done and has been proven effective in preventing dental caries.  We have the ability to provide this service to the residents, but I personally would like this decision to be made by everyone.  The question could be decided upon at the nest election.  This will give everyone time to research the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water.  Please feel free to contact the Council or myself on this or any other issue.

      Thank you for your continued patience with all that is taking place and have a safe and happy Holiday.

Bret Grossnickle

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Have a safe and happy Holiday Season from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy 1st Class
R. C. Cromwell
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
Non-emergency 410-386-2900
EMERGENCY 911
Tips hotline 1-888-399-TIPS

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Water Treatment Plant
A contract was approved with Conewago Enterprises from Hanover PA for construction of the new Water Treatment Plant on West Locust Street. The facility will cost approximately $1.26 M. Project construction is approximately 10% complete.

Main Street (Rt. 75) Revitalization Work
Ross Construction Inc.  began work on Main Street in early September. Project construction is approximately 15% complete The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will fund a $2.5 M improvement project for Main Street, from the bridge over Little Pipe Creek to the town limits near the Brethren Church. SHA- funded work includes storm drainage, inlets, sidewalks, curb, gutter, pedestrian lighting, traffic control and signalization at Main and Broadway, resurfacing Main Street, signage, landscaping, and other improvements.

COMMUNITY MEETING NOTICE
A community meeting will be held on Friday, January 16, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., in the Union Bridge town office to review the Main Street improvement project. All business managers, property owners, and town residents are welcome to attend and ask questions of the contractor and SHA project engineer.

The project will be coordinated with the town’s CDBG program, a $220,000 grant from the Maryland Dept. of Housing and Community Development. The town’s grant will cover other improvements not funded by SHA including upgrades to town side-streets, new parking meters, burying overhead utility lines at Main and Broadway, (electric and cable wires), and a parking area at the entrance into the Little Pipe Creek Park and trail (next to the car wash). The town has hired Stambaugh’s Inc. to complete the parking lot improvements.

 In addition, the town will be installing an 8” water line at this time. This is a continuation of the town’s comprehensive water improvements program partially funded through the Rural Utilities Program, USDA.

The above mentioned improvements are major in nature and will take almost a year to complete. Please consider what impact the construction activities along Main Street will have on your home or business. The first work item will be to install the storm drainpipes and the new 8” water line (including work at the RR crossing). This will be done for the full length of the roadway. After the underground infrastructure is installed, the contractor will then work block-by-block to install the new patterned sidewalk, curb, gutter, streetlights, etc.

*** Please contact the SHA District 7 Engineer with questions or complaints. Or, contact the town office and we will try to address your concerns with the State.

Fair Housing
As part of the town’s receipt of grant funds from the Maryland Small Cites Community Development Block Grant Program, we promote fair housing practices in the Town of Union Bridge. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. For more information about fair housing and the Fair Housing Act, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing, or contact HUD’s Mid-Atlantic office at: Fair Housing Hub, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, PA 19107-9344, or call 1-888-799-2085.

Section 3 Employment and Business Opportunities
The Town of Union Bridge has received program funding from the Maryland CDBG program through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Union Bridge will comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, requiring that to the greatest extent feasible opportunities for employment and development will be given to lower-income residents of the project area and contracts in connection with the project be awarded to eligible businesses concerns which are located in, or owned by, persons residing within the Town of Union Bridge.

If any town resident is looking for employment or business opportunities, please contact the town for a list of contractors working in the town on federally funded projects for possible employment and business opportunities. Call the town office at 410-775-2711 for more information. 

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FUNDING BREAKFAST

Jan. 18^th & Feb. 15^th

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HOLIDAY DECORATION CONTEST
You may have noticed a car traveling very slowly through all the streets of Union Bridge on Friday evening December 12^th.  The judges for the Holiday decoration contest were carefully viewing all of the festive decorations and lighting displays.  After much deliberation the following winners were selected.  Thank you to Lehigh Cement for donating the prize money.  Prizes awarded –First Place $25.00, Second Place $15.00, & Third Place $10.00 in each category.  Your friends and neighbors appreciated everyone’s efforts in celebrating the Spirit of Christmas.

Lighting:

1^st place – Mary Garber

2^nd place – Bud Zimmerman

3^rd place – Anna Mae Roloson

Traditional:

1^st place – Jeff Stambaugh

2^nd place – Ruth Zile

3^rd place – Margaret Reese

Most Original:

1^st place – Mike Tarr

2^nd place – Tonya Dower

3^rd place – Kathy Nail

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CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

      The Union Bridge Church of the Brethren has a special Tuesday evening program for kids in grades K-5.  It is called “Faith Weaver Friends Club”.  Games, crafts, snacks, music are all a part of each activity-packed session.  “Faith Weaver Friends Club” is fun and it’s free.  But children will get a lot more than fun out of “Faith Weaver Friends Club”.  Working with their weekly journal will reinforce language and writing skills they are learning in school.  Group activities will develop important

social skills.  This winter session begins January 20 and ends March 9.  New members are always welcome at “Faith Weaver Friends Club”.  Sessions begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30.  We can even help with transportation.

      To get your child involved, contact the Church of the Brethren, 124 S. Main St., Box 518 or call Pastor Jim or Pastor Anna at 410-775-2717 or call Kaye Horr, Director, at 410-635-2877.

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PATRICIA STONESIFER, COUNCIL MEMBER IN CHARGE OF WATER AND SEWER HAS A PAGER # FOR YOU TO CALL.

**410-899-1200**

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THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOLDS A BREAKFAST THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. 

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SNOW

Main Street is a snow emergency route, NO PARKING Is allowed when the snow emergency plan is in effect.

ORDINANCE #263 B-2

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.

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***The County Commissioners will be at the January 26, 2004 Council meeting.  Please plan to attend.