The Finksburg News           Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. Newsletter

 To Promote A Finksburg Community, Whose Objective Is To Preserve The Fundamental Quality Of Life Where Farms, Families And Businesses  May Coexist In A Manner Beneficial To All

 

FPAC to Update Citizens On Contamination Report At Next Meeting

 

 

"You are never too old to be what you might have been." George  Eliot(Mary Ann Evans)


Who:  All residents of Finksburg and its environs are invited

What: To attend the Finksburg Planning Area Council general membership meeting

When: Thursday, September 25th at 7 p.m.

Where:  Sandy Mount United Methodist Church

 

The Finksburg Planning Area Council will meet Thursday, September 25th to discuss the final report from the Maryland Department of the Environment on the source of the water contamination along Suffolk Road in Finksburg. This will be a 15-20 minute information discussion.  Representatives from the county health department and the MDE have been invited to discuss the report and answer questions.

 

FPAC, your community representatives, also plan to discuss the proposed Finksburg Public Library and county library headquarters site or lack of a site, a potential new scorecard for the County Commissioners and soliciting volunteers to join a Carroll County committee on scenic issues, should the Commissioners authorize the formation of this important group.

 

 

 

 

Water Pollution:

The Maryland Department of the Environment apparently has determined that the Shell Jiffy Mart gas station is likely responsible for contaminating well water in a portion of Finksburg.  A report in 9/10’s "Carroll County Times" said the business is responsible for a gasoline additive (MtBE) leak that has contaminated at least three wells nearby.  The finding comes six months after the first case of contaminated water turned up.  Jack Tevis, owner of the gas station, is quoted as saying that he will follow the state's recommendations to help residents in the neighborhood.  Those recommendations include regular sampling of water and providing filters.  Meanwhile homeowners say they are relieved that the responsible party has been identified but they worry about the health of their families.  Some of those families have independently had carbon filters installed to dissipate the MtBE additive that may be in their well water.

 

Bruns & Merkel Opens:

At last, a local grocery store in Finksburg!  The owners of the new Bruns & Merkel grocery store at Finksburg Plaza invited FPAC members and others in the community to tour the new store at our last general membership meeting.  Tom Bruns took us on a walk-through of the store and gave us the background behind the business. It is family owned and operated.  The business is a welcome addition to Finksburg.  We wish the owners and their employees well and encourage residents to shop there.  Let's support the businesses that support our community!

 

Billboard Update:

On August 18th the Carroll County Commissioners unanimously approved restrictions on the size and location of new billboards.  The plan will restrict the size of new signs to no more than 32 square feet, or approximately the size of a typical four-by-eight sheet of plywood.  It will also remove billboards as an automatically approved use in the certain zoning categories where they are permitted.  Zoning Administrator, Neil Ridgely said that means plans to put up new billboards will be subject to more scrutiny, including public hearings.  Carroll County's more than 360 existing billboards will be "grandfathered" and allowed to remain.  Ridgely says that the new rules may stimulate additional discussions among county officials, residents and the billboard companies about possible curbs on the size and location of existing signs.  Billboard firms that operate in Carroll had voiced opposition to the new regulations. 

 

Billboards, signs, aesthetics:

 The Commissioners are considering appointing a revitalized Gateways Committee to look at overall appearance issues along the Rt. 140 corridor as a means to increase tourism and economic development.  If you are interested in helping monitor billboards, signs, and building facades that are either good examples or poor examples of what you want to see in a gateway community please contact FPAC President Debbie Ridgely at finksburg.org.  The information gathered, including pictures of advertisements and business locations, could be used when a new gateway committee is formed to look at county aesthetics.

This Just In... The Commissioners will meet in open session to discuss whether to appoint a committee and the possible scope of its work on these issues on September 18th at 10:55 AM in room 300A of the County Office Building. Interested citizens are welcome to attend the presentation and deliberation.

 

 

New Royal Farms Store:

The Board of FPAC, Inc. has sent a letter to Royal Farms, Inc. asking
 it to be considerate of the existing neighborhood in the design,
 construction, lighting, and landscaping of their new store to be built
 on St. Rt. 140 and Bethel Road. It was asked that if the store was to
 have fuel islands if the canopy could be some neutral color. We will
 keep you posted on any responses.  The Site Plan already approved for this location DOES NOT address these issues. You may have noticed Royal Farms prototype store that was recently constructed at Routes 91 & 32 in Gamber. This store is NOT an example of what FPAC wants along the Finksburg corridor.

 Hardwood Flooring Store Coming:

The county is considering a minor site plan for T&T Hardwood LLC.  This is a hardwood manufacturing company moving to the former Encore bar (Cal Bitner’s old place) along Route 140.  The company wants to manufacture flooring and have a retail sales showroom in a 20-thousand square foot building.  The minor site plan request requires no public comment period.  There is the possibility that the request may not even have to come before the full Planning Commission.

 

 The FPAC, Inc. Board has also written to Lady Baltimore Floors a letter asking the business to consider the community in their design, building, lighting, and landscaping of their new facility. Offers were extended for the ownership to address the general membership with its plans.

Church Buys Land:

The Westminster First Church of the Nazarene has settled on the purchase of a large property located at Bethel Road and Route 140.  A site plan has not been submitted as yet.

 

Trash Cleanup:

The next cleanup is tentatively scheduled for October 25th.  The July cleanup went relatively well with a surprising lack of trash along Route 91. Discussion of the next trash pickup will occur at the next general membership meeting this month.

 

 

Library News:

The County is still looking for land for a future Finksburg Public Library.  If you know of land, five acres or more, for sale, please let the County Land Acquisition Office know about it.  The number is 410-386-2035.  Rumors that land has been donated to the County by a local business concern are largely exaggerated.

 

 

Growth Issues:

The Carroll County Commissioners are considering a transfer tax in hopes of slowing development.  The tax, probably about 1%, which would be added to the closing cost of a home, still needs local state approval in Annapolis.  Several Board members are strongly opposed to increasing taxes in the county. 

 

There is also a move to revise impact fees on builders.  Supporters of the proposal say it will force developers to help pay for growth such as roads.  Opponents say it only increases the price of a home in Carroll County.

 

CPHA Requests Volunteers:

CPHA, a regional awareness and advocacy group is looking for volunteers to join its organization.  CPHA attempts to find regional solutions to quality of life issues such as drug treatment, sprawl control and mass transit.  The group meets 4-6 times per year.  If this is something you might be interested in joining please contact Debbie Ridgely, President of FPAC.

 

Banner Revisisted:

There has been some discussion about bringing what used to be known as “The Banner” back to life.  “The Banner” was a cooperative effort of Freedom and Finksburg to publish a quarterly newspaper.  “The Banner” folded earlier this year due to manpower constraints.  If this is something you might want to help rejuvenate, contact Debbie Ridgely, FPAC, Inc. president.  Volunteers are needed to sell ads to local businesses, write articles of local interest, provide interesting photographs, set up copy, and transport the copy to the printer and post office.

 


New State Police Commander:

 The FPAC, Inc. warmly welcomes and congratulates Captain R. Scott Yinger on his promotion and assignment as commander of the Westminster Barrack of the Maryland State Police. Captain Yinger is a resident of Carroll
 County and was assigned to Westminster Barrack in the 1990's. We are
 indeed fortunate to have Capt. Yinger return to Westminster as the
 commander. Best of luck, Captain !

Web site:

Have you been to the new Finksburg web site?  If not it's at www.finksburg.org

 

Board of Directors:

Debbie Ridgely- President

John Lopez- Vice President

Maureen Ackerman- Secretary

Martin Schmidt-Treasurer

Mat Tiahrt-Communications Director

 

Board members At-Large-

Richard Ackerman

Mike Davis

Doris Edward

Donald Hoffman

 

You can reach any of these board members by going to the finksburg.org web site.

 

If there is a neighbor or a business you regularly trade with, ask them if they would like the newsletter sent to them electronically.  Send us their address so they are included in future mailings.

 

 

Be informed!  Attend the Next Meeting!

 

FPAC Inc. Schedule

9/25- General membership meeting- Water contamination, general business.

10/1- FPAC Board of Directors meeting

10/23- General membership meeting- GerstellAcademy update, Impact Fees

11/6- FPAC Board of Directors Meeting

(Note November and December meeting dates changed because of holidays)

11/20- General membership meeting

12/18- General Membership meeting

 

Save a Stamp: Receive your newsletter electronically. Send your e-mail address to Richard Ackerman at richard.ackerman@finksburg.org.

·        Mark Your Calendar: General Council meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month at the Sandy Mount United Methodist Church. Meetings begin at 7 PM. Board meetings are usually held on the 1st Wednesday of each month. 

 

 

Yearly Membership Fee: $10 per Household, $25 per business

Dues: If you haven't paid your dues for 2003 please do so. The organization uses money from dues to pay for the printing and mailing costs of this newsletter and other mailings.

 

______ I would like to join the Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc. a not-for-profit organization.

_____ I would like to renew my membership. (Dues and donations not tax deductible)

______ Yes, I would also like to volunteer. (Board membership, roadside trash pickup, county meeting attendance, etc.)

______ I would like to make an additional donation of $______________ to the FPAC.

 

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Address _____________________________________

 

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Phone ____________________    Work phone_____________________ 

 

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Finksburg Planning Area Council, Inc.      P O Box 70      Finksburg, Maryland      21048