April 2019 County News Briefs
MDOT SHA patrolling for potholes during
busy season
Record Rainfall and Freeze/Thaw Cycle Creating
Potholes on Roads and Bridges
The Maryland Department of Transportation
State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is actively patrolling for potholes on
Maryland’s State-numbered roads and interstates. This year’s pothole season is
off to a busy start as crews are performing mobile pothole patrols to repair
these nemeses.
With saturated grounds from record-setting
precipitation from 2018 and continuing into 2019, and the freeze/thaw cycle
that is occurring during this transitional time of the year, potholes are
popping up everywhere. Each day, MDOT SHA crews deploy mobile work zones and
use cold patch asphalt to address the potholes on MDOT SHA highways and
bridges.
A pothole is formed when moisture seeps into a
pavement crack and freezes, then thaws during the warmer temperatures. This
stresses the pavement and when traffic is introduced, potholes form. Click here
for a video of how potholes form.
Cold patch asphalt is a temporary repair. When
temperatures rise to 50 degrees and greater, consistently, crews can switch to
more permanent hot-mix asphalt, which is applied at a higher temperature and
seals the potholes.
Citizens are encouraged to report potholes on
State roads. Click here to find out which roads are state routes. The easiest
and most convenient way to report a pothole is to visit MDOT SHA’s webpage at
www.roads.maryland.gov and click "Contact us." Here you can report the location
of potholes by submitting a brief service request form. MDOT SHA appreciates
pothole reporting by citizens.
In fiscal year 2018, MDOT SHA patched
approximately 25,000 square yards of potholes at a cost of approximately $3.1
million. An average cost to repair a pothole is $95. This includes the
material, labor and traffic control during pothole patrols.
While MDOT SHA and its transportation partners
work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to
actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert
and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.
Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands. For
a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, click on Road Ready, MDOT SHA's
electronic construction brochure. For a look at real-time commute conditions,
log onto www.md511.org.
Harcum Confirmed as Chief Administrative
Officer
Rick Harcum has been officially appointed as
chief administrative officer for Frederick County Government. The County
Council confirmed the appointment this afternoon. Mr. Harcum has been serving
as the acting chief administrative officer since February 1.
"Rick brings a wealth of financial knowledge
and managerial expertise to this important position," Executive Gardner said.
"He is well respected by government leaders and elected officials. His
experience with the county budget is particularly beneficial. I am confident
Rick will do an outstanding job."
Mr. Harcum was appointed county budget
director in February 2016. Previously, he served as director of performance
management, budget director and in other budget-related roles at the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for over 25 years. He also worked at the
Maryland Department of Transportation as a financial planner and as a financial
analyst for a telecommunications corporation. Mr. Harcum earned his master’s
degree in finance and his bachelor of science in business administration, both
from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Harcum succeeds Ray Barnes, who previously
served as chief administrative officer from March 2018 until his retirement on
Jan. 31.
Public Meeting for Hornets Nest Road bridge
replacement
The Frederick County Division of Public Works
will hold a public meeting on Thursday, April 4 from 7 – 8 p.m. on the Hornets
Nest Road bridge replacement project. The meeting will be held at the
Emmitsburg Branch Library Meeting Room.
The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss
the proposed bridge replacement, along with the proposed schedule for the
project, and allow for citizens to provide their comments and concerns. For
more information, contact Amanda Radcliffe at 301-600-1959.
Local Company Selected for Detox Center
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner
announced that Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc., has been awarded up to
$710,000 in grant funds to offer detox services in the county. Medically
supervised detox services will allow individuals to safely recover from
withdrawal under the supervision of medical providers. Services will be
available in Emmitsburg in approximately three months, and an additional center
will open in Frederick in about 18 months.
"This is great news for Frederick County
residents struggling with addiction," Executive Gardner said during her public
information briefing. "Our community will have access to detox services much
sooner than anticipated, offering hope for recovery."
Maryland Treatment Centers will renovate their
Mountain Manor center in Emmitsburg, expanding the location to provide detox
services for up to 18 people. An additional 28 patients will be served at the
Work Release Center after it is renovated. Maryland Treatment Centers was
selected, in part, because of its experience serving the uninsured,
underinsured and indigent, who have a difficult time accessing substance-abuse
recovery services.
Each day on average, someone in Frederick
County overdoses from heroin or a related drug. Every week, on average another
person dies from an overdose. There have already been 14 deaths in 2019, and
another 40 non-fatal overdoses. Virtually everyone knows someone with an
addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Last fall, the county issued a Grant Request
for Proposals for medically supervised withdrawal management services. The
grant includes $500,000 of county funds, and as much as $210,000 in additional
state funds through the Health Department. In addition to the funds, providers
were offered the option of using space at the county’s Work Release Center.
Sheriff Chuck Jenkins offered the space because the Work Release Center is
underutilized. It will take about 18 months to convert the space into a detox
center. Governor Hogan has included $500,000 for facility renovations in his
proposed budget.
During her briefing today, Executive Gardner
also recognized the efforts of Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, Health Officer, and the
Health Department to help break the cycle of addiction by individuals of all
ages. For more information, contact the department at 301-600-1755 or visit
www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/HealthDepartment.
Find examples of success stories of those who
have recovered from addictions at www.TakeBackMyLive.org.
Conduct Community Preparedness Seminar
Frederick County Emergency Responders will
conduct a free community preparedness seminar on Saturday, April 13, from 7:30
a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Public Safety Training Facility, 5370 Public Safety Place,
Frederick. Attendance will be restricted to the first 80 registrants and will
be closed on April 5.
Visit www.tinyurl.com/FCEmergencyPreparednessOct2019
to register for the seminar.
The Department of Fire & Rescue Services,
Frederick County Department of Emergency Management, Frederick County Health
Department, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County Volunteer Fire
& Rescue Association, The City of Frederick Police Department, Maryland State
Police and Maryland Department of Health have partnered to provide the
emergency preparedness training in response to requests by county citizens.
The classes on April 13 will include: welcome
and emergency preparedness planning; Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events
(CRASE); Stop the Bleed training; hands-only CPR (non- certificate class);
Naloxone/Narcan training, closing remarks and the issuance of certificates of
participation.
The opening will introduce the instructors and
provide information on how to prepare for emergency and disaster situations.
The CRASE training topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter
events, civilian response options, medical issues and considerations for
conducting drills.
Stop the Bleed training, a White House
initiative launched October 2015, is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts
that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in
a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. No matter how rapid the
arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first
on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five
minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss. Those
nearest to someone with life threatening injuries are best positioned to
provide first care.
The Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR, hands
only) class will provide non-certificate training in this lifesaving skill.
Bystander hands only CPR provided after cardiac arrest can significantly
increase the victim’s chance of survival.
Naloxone/Narcan is a prescription medicine
that reverses an opioid overdose. Naloxone is safe and effective and has been
used by emergency medical professionals and doctors for decades. Training will
include: types of opioids, wow to recognize an opioid overdose, how to
administer Naloxone and resources for family members, friends and loved ones.
Senior Services to Offer Smart Driver
Classes
The American Association of Retired Person’s
Frederick Chapter 636 is partnering with the Frederick County Senior Services
Division and the Carroll County Bureau of Aging to co-host a four-hour Smart
Driver classroom-training class at the Emmitsburg Senior Center, April 25, form
9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
The course is the nation’s first and largest
refresher course designed especially for drivers over 50. The course provides
updates on Maryland specific rules of the road and new traffic laws.
Participants learn the effects of aging and
medication on the driver, how other health-related issues affect driving
ability and ways to adjust to allow for these changes. Participants also learn
when driving may no longer be safe.
The classes are scheduled for two hours in the
morning, followed by an hour lunch break and then two hours in the afternoon.
AARP-Maryland provides certified instructors to teach the classes. By taking
this course, attendees may even get a discount on their car insurance.
Call the Senior Center at 301-600-6350 for
more information and to register for a class:
Cost is $15 for AARP members (with valid
membership card) and $20 for non-members. Only checks or money orders payable
to AARP will be accepted on the day of the class. An optional lunch for $5 may
be reserved with one-week notice – check the senior center for details.
For more information about the Senior Services
Division, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/SeniorServices or call 301-600-1605.
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