4:52 p.m. EDT, June 21, 2012

Lane said Crampton wouldn’t have been able to build and sell the condominium units any faster than he proposed.

A new project will add to the crowding problems at South High, but the commissioners catered to a developer instead, Lane said.


Agricultural building code amended

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Two weeks after fielding several complaints about part of a proposed new building code, the Washington County Board of Commissioners has agreed to a suggested amendment.

During a June 5 public hearing, several farmers objected to a new provision governing agricultural structures, which would have to meet all structural codes if used for human occupancy.

Farmers said that change would add an unnecessary level of restriction to buildings used for agricultural work.

On Tuesday, the commissioners were given six new alternatives.

They went with one submitted by attorney Jason Divelbiss, who worked on it with farmers who spoke at the public hearing.

The new definition allows an exemption for buildings or structures primarily used for certain common agricultural activities.

The four commissioners at the meeting said they supported the new definition, then passed a new county building code, which must be done every three years.


Benefits of senior center touted

A group supporting a new senior citizens center told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday about the various benefits the center would offer.

The commissioners already have agreed to build a senior center for the county on the campus of Hagerstown Community College.

The project has had several delays and stumbling blocks. The latest was when bids came in over budget. The commissioners decided to scale back the project to reduce the cost.

Hilary F. Lo, a community educator for the Washington County Commission on Aging, gave a PowerPoint presentation to the commissioners on Tuesday, including testimonials about the worth of a senior center.

Lo wrote in an email later in the day that the video presentation will be shown again at a town hall meeting in the Activities Room of the temporary senior center at Girls Inc., 626 Washington Ave., Hagerstown, on June 27 at 10 a.m.

— Andrew Schotz