Town council members sworn in
FUNKSTOWN — Four Funkstown Town Council members were sworn-in before the start of Monday night’s mayor and council meeting at Town Hall.
Assistant Mayor Sharon Chirgott, who ran unopposed in the May 7 election; incumbent council members John Phillips III and Robert D. Rodgers; and council newcomer Luke Barnette were sworn in by Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Dennis Weaver.
Longtime Councilman Kim Ramer lost his bid for re-election.
Apple Valley Waste approved to continue as trash collector
FUNKSTOWN — Apple Valley Waste will continue to handle Funkstown’s trash and yard waste collection for another year.
Funkstown Town Council members on Monday unanimously approved Apple Valley Waste’s low bid of $52,114 to handle the trash and yard waste collection from July 1 through June 30, 2013. The current one-year contract with the company expires June 30.
The other bidders were Key Sanitation, $52,939; Allied Waste, $53,932; and Waste Management, $72,681, with Waste Management’s contract including curbside recycling services.
Trash pickup will continue to be on Thursdays, and yard waste will be picked up on Tuesdays.
Funkstown to discuss watershed plan in June
FUNKSTOWN — Funkstown officials will discuss their response to a request for a Watershed Implementation Plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay at the town council’s June meeting, Mayor Paul N. Crampton Jr. said after Monday night’s council meeting.
Maryland counties and municipalities are being asked to adopt watershed plans to help reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous that ends up in the bay, Julie Pippel, Washington County’s director of environmental management, told town officials during Monday night’s meeting.
For Funkstown, the plan’s estimated cost of stormwater improvements over 13 years is $4.1 million, Pippel said.
Council members must issue a response by June 30 as to whether the town will adopt a plan that states the town will spend $4.1 million in the next 13 years; tell the state no, it will not do that; or tell the state it recognizes the issue and will make improvements it can, but cannot adopt a plan that states it will spend $4.1 million in that time period because it is financially unfeasible and fiscally irresponsible to its citizens to do so, Pippel said.
Pippel said she is presenting the information about the watershed plan to towns and will present it to the Washington County Commissioners on May 22.
The need for the watershed plans stems from the Clean Water Act of 1972 and a lawsuit by environmental groups that believe the Environmental Protection Agency wasn’t moving fast enough, Pippel said.
Sword group to use Funkstown park on trial basis
FUNKSTOWN — A group that stages medieval-style sword battles using cushioned plastic pipes was granted permission to use Funkstown Community Park on Sundays until Aug. 1 so the group and town officials can gather more feedback from community members about the group’s use of the park.
The local Amtgard chapter will not use the park on Sundays when it is not available, such as this Sunday when a wagon train will be using the park for the National Pike Festival.
At least two town officials watched the group during a recent practice to get an idea of how it operates.
Councilman Richard Gaver said he was impressed with the group’s safety.
Members of the local Amtgard chapter approached town officials in March about using the park for practices on Sundays. They have been using the Hamilton Park area in Hagerstown, near a Haven Road radio station, but the terrain is too flat and ordinary. They wanted to use a section of Funkstown Community Park, which has a hill and woods.
The town council unanimously approved letting the group use the park on a trial basis and if a problemoccurs before Aug. 1, the town can withdrawal permission. After Aug. 1, town officials and Amtgard members will re-evaluate the situation.
— Julie E. Greene
FUNKSTOWN — Four Funkstown Town Council members were sworn-in before the start of Monday night’s mayor and council meeting at Town Hall.
Assistant Mayor Sharon Chirgott, who ran unopposed in the May 7 election; incumbent council members John Phillips III and Robert D. Rodgers; and council newcomer Luke Barnette were sworn in by Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Dennis Weaver.
Longtime Councilman Kim Ramer lost his bid for re-election.
Apple Valley Waste approved to continue as trash collector
FUNKSTOWN — Apple Valley Waste will continue to handle Funkstown’s trash and yard waste collection for another year.
Funkstown Town Council members on Monday unanimously approved Apple Valley Waste’s low bid of $52,114 to handle the trash and yard waste collection from July 1 through June 30, 2013. The current one-year contract with the company expires June 30.
The other bidders were Key Sanitation, $52,939; Allied Waste, $53,932; and Waste Management, $72,681, with Waste Management’s contract including curbside recycling services.
Trash pickup will continue to be on Thursdays, and yard waste will be picked up on Tuesdays.
Funkstown to discuss watershed plan in June
FUNKSTOWN — Funkstown officials will discuss their response to a request for a Watershed Implementation Plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that makes its way to the Chesapeake Bay at the town council’s June meeting, Mayor Paul N. Crampton Jr. said after Monday night’s council meeting.
Maryland counties and municipalities are being asked to adopt watershed plans to help reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous that ends up in the bay, Julie Pippel, Washington County’s director of environmental management, told town officials during Monday night’s meeting.
For Funkstown, the plan’s estimated cost of stormwater improvements over 13 years is $4.1 million, Pippel said.
Council members must issue a response by June 30 as to whether the town will adopt a plan that states the town will spend $4.1 million in the next 13 years; tell the state no, it will not do that; or tell the state it recognizes the issue and will make improvements it can, but cannot adopt a plan that states it will spend $4.1 million in that time period because it is financially unfeasible and fiscally irresponsible to its citizens to do so, Pippel said.
Pippel said she is presenting the information about the watershed plan to towns and will present it to the Washington County Commissioners on May 22.
The need for the watershed plans stems from the Clean Water Act of 1972 and a lawsuit by environmental groups that believe the Environmental Protection Agency wasn’t moving fast enough, Pippel said.
Sword group to use Funkstown park on trial basis
FUNKSTOWN — A group that stages medieval-style sword battles using cushioned plastic pipes was granted permission to use Funkstown Community Park on Sundays until Aug. 1 so the group and town officials can gather more feedback from community members about the group’s use of the park.
The local Amtgard chapter will not use the park on Sundays when it is not available, such as this Sunday when a wagon train will be using the park for the National Pike Festival.
At least two town officials watched the group during a recent practice to get an idea of how it operates.
Councilman Richard Gaver said he was impressed with the group’s safety.
Members of the local Amtgard chapter approached town officials in March about using the park for practices on Sundays. They have been using the Hamilton Park area in Hagerstown, near a Haven Road radio station, but the terrain is too flat and ordinary. They wanted to use a section of Funkstown Community Park, which has a hill and woods.
The town council unanimously approved letting the group use the park on a trial basis and if a problemoccurs before Aug. 1, the town can withdrawal permission. After Aug. 1, town officials and Amtgard members will re-evaluate the situation.
— Julie E. Greene
