|
-News
Archive
DWI
Hit Parade
News or Advertising Call 301 535 8624Linda's Cafe |
|||
Toonville SSee the animated work of ST. MARY'S TODAY cartoonist Billy Woodward Jr. |
 |
 |
Expectations High From New Board
ST. MARY'S TODAY
GREAT MILLS --- Commission on Aging member Pat Myers wasn’t sure Friday afternoon what to expect from the new board of St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners. “Jeez, I have to think and call you back.”
Interestingly, even Republicans out on the streets were expressing displeasure with President George Bush, but a prominent local Republican said the GOP has seen worse days..
“I did vote,” said Rhonda Megby of Valley Lee. “I am a Republican, that’s all I can tell you,” she added. She said she is originally from Fort Campbell, Ky., but has lived in St. Mary’s for 20 years now.
“But I hate George Bush. He has done a lousy job,” Megby echoed the prevailing sentiment among two out of three Americans.
Aside from national politics, people were pinning great expectations on the newly elected board of county commissioners.
“Jackie Russell is awfully good,” said Erik Jansson, president of the Potomac River association. Jansson commended Russell’s leadership skills and said as the new comer among the commissioners, people are pinning hopes that he would salvage St. Mary’s County. “He will make a difference,” Jansson expressed his optimism.
The P.R.A. had been weighing the pros and cons of taking developer P. F. Summers of Woods at Myrtle Point to court. “We have to see the wording of the Boards of Appeal on their ruling,” said Jansson.
The P.R.A. had appealed against grading permits to six lots at the Woods at Myrtle Point, saying it violated sediment control laws. “We plan to go to court, if it’s possible. It depends on the exact wording of the Boards of Appeal,” Jansson said..
He said the P.R.A. is going to ask the commissioners to consider an ordinance that would replace the usual storm water controls with rain gardens.
He said rain gardens would remove more nitrogen waste from the waters that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. He added 70 percent of nitrogen comes from non-point, diffuse sources on the land.
Jansson said a pilot program on rain gardens, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, is being conducted in Prince George’s county. “It’s less expensive for the builder. There shouldn’t be an opposition,” he said.
Republican Party Central Committee leader Tom Haynie felt the commissioners plates was likely to be filled with a lot during the next four years.
"It seems like to me that it should accomplish the things that are before it," Haynie said. "They are faced with a situation in this county the population and the demand for services and facilities are going with it. The services are stretched,” Haynie said. “They are going to have their hands full for next four years with addressing those situations.”
Haynie, who left the field open for his son-in-law open in the primaries as he decided against filing for sheriff at the very end, said he did so as he wanted to “give the young guys a shot.”
Haynie, who was registered as an independent during is service days in the Sheriff’s office, “Our Republican headquarters is just past SMECO on Leonardtown Road. “If you read the tea leaves, it was coming,” Haynie said “Although it looks like a clean sweep this time, it wasn’t as bad as years gone by.”