UNION BRIDGE NEWSLETTERJanuary/February 2005
UNION BRIDGE NEWSLETTER
January/February 2005
INSIDE
From the Mayor's Desk
Resident Deputy
Funding Committee
Special Projects
Church of Brethren
Holiday Decorations
| Council Meetings | Jan 24 & Feb 28 – 7 pm. |
| Funding Committee Meetings | Jan 12 & Feb 9 – 7pm. |
| Planning & Zoning Meetings | Jan 20 & Feb 17 - 6:30 pm. |
| Council Work Sessions | Jan 10 & Feb 14 - 6:30 pm. |
OFFICE CLOSED January 17, 2004
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE IN CITY OFFICE Feb 15, 2003
FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK
Here we are at the end of another year. Even with the mess on Main Street it seems to have passed much too quickly. I wish to thank everyone again for their patience throughout the year. Thanks should also go out to the Main Street Committee for all the hard work in planning for the revitalization project. Main Street looks fantastic. And we can’t forget the Funding Committee who has raised in excess of one hundred thousand dollars towards paying for the Town Hall, and Melinda Hobbs for our Web site, a service she provides at no cost to the Town. Can’t say enough good things about these folks. Finally I want to thank everyone who has contributed in some way to the Town throughout the year, be they employee or volunteer, for we couldn’t keep going without them. Have a safe and happy holiday season.
Bret Grossnickle
UNION BRIDGE RESIDENT DEPUTYHave a safe and happy New Year 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
The Funding Committee holds a breakfast on the third Sunday of the month-Sept. through May. (No breakfast in December.)
STATUS OF SPECIAL PROJECTS IN UNION BRIDGE:
Water Supply Program
As part of the town’s comprehensive water improvement program, we are working to install back-up generators for the Water Treatment Plant, Town Office, and Waste Water Treatment Plant. Cost proposals are due from interested electrical contractors by the middle of December 2004.
In January, Union Bridge will begin the bidding process to secure cost proposals for the rehabilitation of the town’s primary well on West Locust Street. The primary improvement will be the installation of a new well casing.
The Maryland Department of the Environment has notified Union Bridge that the town is no longer in violation of MDE and EPA water standards (Surface Water Rule), due to the installation and completion of the new water treatment plant and filtration system.
Main Street (Rt. 75) Revitalization Program
Project construction for the streetscape is approximately 99% complete.
Ross Construction, general contractor, is expected to complete all “punch-out” items by the end of December 2004. The State Highway Administration sponsored a ribbon cutting ceremony in November 2004 in celebration of the completion of the project. The town would like to extend its appreciation to all that had a part in making this project such a success. We especially want to thank Governor Robert Ehrlich, Delegate Don Elliot, Senator David Brinkley, and Bob Fisher, District Engineer with the SHA.
Completed improvements include:
1. New pressed concrete sidewalks and crosswalks.
2. Concrete aprons and driveway entrances.
3. Decorative street poles and lamps.
4. New signalization at the town square including crosswalk pedestrian signals.
5. Resurfacing on Main Street.
6. Reduction of street clutter by improving signs and installing dual-headed parking meters.
7. Rehabilitation of town side streets including Broadway and Elger.
8. New drainage pipes, inlets, standard sidewalks, curb, gutter, pedestrian lighting, traffic control and signalization at Main and Broadway, resurfacing Main Street, signage, landscaping, and other related improvements.
9. Other town improvements include upgrades to town side-streets, new parking meters, burying overhead utility lines at Main and Broadway, (electric and cable wires), a parking area at the entrance into the Little Pipe Creek Park and trail (next to the car wash), and improvements to the parking lot at West Broadway and Rhinehart Alley.
10. The town also funded the installation of a new 8” water line, meters, and house connections on Main Street.
If you have any special concerns or questions in this regard, call the State Highway Administration site trailer at 410-775-7946.
Shriner Court Elderly Housing Project
Project construction is 97% complete.
The town is working in cooperation with the Episcopal Housing Authority and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to construct 20 units for lower income elderly persons. The units are being built on Ladiesburg Road near the Union Bridge Community Center.
If you are interested in renting one of these units, please call Quantum Real Estate Management at 301-816-0800 for information.
The company managing the Shriner Court Elderly Housing Project is seeking applications from individuals to fill two part- time positions, a part-time on-site manager, and a part time maintenance worker. To request a job description and application, please contact Quantum Real Estate Management at 301-816-0800. These are not town government positions.
Union Bridge Community Park
Project implementation is 100% complete, including the construction of a new parking area on Ladiesburg Road, installation of additional park and security lighting, and completion of a comprehensive park map showing all park improvements and infrastructure.
Proposed Town Projects and Activities
The Union Bridge Planning Commission is reviewing the draft Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The planning commission prepares the capital program for consideration and adoption by the mayor and town council. This updated CIP covers a six-year timeline from fiscal years 2006 to 2011. Some proposed town projects include:
1. Lighting for the basketball courts on Ladiesburg Road.
2. Reconstruction of the town tennis courts on Thomas Street.
3. Placement of security cameras in the town parks.
4. A feasibility study for the extension of public water and sewerage service to industrially zoned areas.
5. Research the feasibility of a new town library and a wetland museum.
6. Restoration of the historic well house on West Locust Street including the protection and display of historic town artifacts, photographs, books, etc.
7. Town-wide sidewalk improvement program.
8. Streetscape improvement projects.
9. Additional parking for Main Street.
10. Relocation, expansion, and upgrade to the WasteWater Treatment Plant.
11. Miscellaneous water and sewer line improvements.
12. An emergency operations facility for town government (homeland security)
13. Youth center activity building/facility.
Please be advised these are only proposed projects at this time. Funding has not yet been approved or secured.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Current projects include the construction of a new parking area near Main Street and Broadway, drainage improvements, sidewalk construction, and interpretive signs and brochures for the Little Pipe Creek Trail.
If any town resident or business is looking for employment or business opportunities, please submit a written résumé or business brochure to the town office. If applicable, the town will forward your information to contractors. It is up to the contractor to contact you if they have an opening.
The Spirit of the Season was seen in Union Bridge during the Holidays. The festive decorations and lighting displays were appreciated by your friends and neighbors. Thank you to Lehigh for donating the prize money for our contest. The judges had a very difficult time selecting the winners. The following awards were presented.
Best Lighting
1st place – Dennis Keplinger
2nd place – Richard Boone
3rd place – Carol Ann Tighe
Most Original
1st place – Mike Tarr
2nd place – Paul Hooper
3rd place – Kelly Clapsaddle
Traditional
1st place – Mr. & Mrs. Foreman
2nd place – Kari Hartwell
3rd place – Mr. & Mrs. Maxwell
A low-impact, simple movement aerobics class will be offered at the Union Bridge Church of the Brethren beginning Jan. 10, 2005. There will be an afternoon class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-3 p.m. and evening classes on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sandy Grable will be leading the classes and there will be a charge of $1.00 per session. For more information please call 410-775-2434.
DROP XMAS TREES OFF AT COMMUNITY CENTER JAN. 8 & 12 FROM 9-12 AM
WATER/SEWER AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY
Page Patricia Stonesifer (Tricia) at 1-410-899-1200. To page Tricia, call her pager, key in the number you are calling from and press the pound button (#) on your phone and hang up. Tricia will call you back.
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.
MAIN STREET, SOUTH AND NORTH IS A SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTE WHICH MEANS THAT NO PARKING IS ALLOWED WHEN THE SNOW EVERGENCY PLAN IS IN EFFECT
HAPPY NEW YEAR!