INDIAN HEAD HIGHWAY AREA ACTION COUNCIL, INC.
Items of Interest to the HHAAC Community:
# # #
The 2004 Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday, October 24, 2004 at the new Accokeek Library. Those who arrived early were treated to a tour of the new facility. The business meeting began shortly after 7. A briefing was given on the Public Safety Master Plan, which is being revised for the first time since 1990. (Click Here to read our testimony at the initial hearing in September; see next item for more.) After a brief discussion, it was decided to support CB-89 which will require better police staffing before new development is allowed to proceed. There was also a short presentation by a representative of ACORN relative to proposed charter amendments including Question H. No position was taken by IHHAAC. We also talked about the issue of illegal real estate directional signs, but due to time constraints the discussion was cut short and no action was taken.
Officers were elected for the 2005 year; there being no opposition (nor new volunteers) the current officers were re-elected to another term.
Our guest speakers were Charlynn Flaherty and Wayne McBride, who are respectively the Director and Deputy Director of Public Safety Communications (the 911 Call Center) for the county. They gave a presentation on the workings of the county's 911 telephone center, which handles calls for police, fire/rescue, and the sheriff's department.
# # #
A Public Forum on the county's Public Safety Master Plan was held on Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 PM in the council hearing room at the county administration building. This is an early step leading to amending the existing plan that was last updated in 1990. (Copies of the information brochure were supposed to be available at all county libraries and fire stations, but we couldn't find them and the libraries had no idea what we were looking for.) As you might expect, we've got some STRONG feelings on the subject. IHHAAC Vice President Stan Fetter spoke at the hearing for IHHAAC; Click Here to read his testimony.
This is just the beginning; the purpose of this hearing was to solicit comment on what the county should concentrate on as they go through this process. The record will remain open for written comments until October 27, which can be faxed to 301-952-5074 or submitted through the MNCPPC web site. The staff person in charge is Chris Izzo, who's been with Park & Planning for quite a while and is probably the best choice they could have made. Feel free to contact him for additional information at 301-952-3680 or chris.izzo@ppd.mncppc.org.
# # #
The IHHAAC Board met on August 25; here are some of the issues we're looking at that you will hear more about at the October meeting:
We remain very concerned about the level of police staffing in the county, especially given the pace of development and county's methodology for determining if police facilities are adequate. Response times are measured in hours, and patrols are essentially non-existent. The new District 7 station is still a figment of our imagination. But, we've got a plan. (Ever heard that before?)
The 210 corridor is home to a whole list of historic resources that could become quite an asset, if not a draw. Thoughts on preservation and promotion?
Trashing the neighborhood: Illegal signs, and what we're going to do about it.
# # #
July 28, 2004: The Maryland State Highway Administration has announced the availability of the final Environmental Impact Study and the public hearing transcript from the 210 Multi-Modal Study. The selected improvement alternative is 5A, which includes grade-separated interchanges at six current intersections and a variety of improvements at several others. Copies of both documents are available now at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Study Office, and the Harmony Hall Regional Center. (Click the links for directions and hours.) A copy is also at the new Accokeek library. Further information is available from Heather Lowe at the SHA, at 410-545-8526 or hlowe@sha.state.md.us.
# # #
One of two Park & Planning Commission budget hearings was held on October 8, 2003 at Harmony Hall. Numerous local civic groups, youth clubs, educators and the like testified that south county has long suffered from a lack of recreation facilities, and asked that we begin to get what we've been paying for all these years. The Fairlands complex in Laurel was mentioned again and again as an example of the inequities that exist.
IHHAAC testified as well, offering support for these requests. We also:
Testified in support of completing the enclosure of the Tucker Road Ice Rink, and thanked Senator Lawlah and Delegate Patterson for their past support on this project. The new budget shows it as 90% complete; we offered that this last 10% seemed to be taking longer than it should have and said that it would be very nice to get the facility finished and open.
Testified in support of the completion and improvement of the Henson Valley Trail system.
Testified in support of the proposed Southern Regional Tech Center.
Asked for more of a commitment from all levels of government to the Broad Creek Historic District, and to the idea of tying together all of the rest of the area's numerous underutilized historic and natural resources into the outstanding historic corridor that we could have. This concept should be included in the planning process, including the Subregion VII study now getting underway.
Please let us know if there is something you think we should add to this page. Thanks.
All Material Copyright 2004
All Rights Reserved