Vic Bradshaw
Frederick News Post

When you listen to some residents of Pleasant Acres, it appears that the subdivision’s name is a misnomer.

A group appeared before the town’s board of commissioners Tuesday and made unpleasant comments about stormwater management in the development. For the second time in just over four months, they spoke about torrents of water pouring through their yards when it rains.

Michael and Rebekah Walters complained that the water has created a ditch in their backyard, which is so wet and muddy that they don’t let their children play there. A neighbor’s basement, Earl Robinson said, is being torn up by a jackhammer because of basement flooding. Anabel Fink said she’s on the verge of selling her home and leaving Frederick County because of the myriad of problems she’s experienced.

In late May, Frederick County Commissioner Mike Cady promised to arrange a meeting of residents, the developers, the builder and appropriate county staff members. Mr. Robinson said that meeting still hasn’t been set. “What leverage do you have as a town to get the county to do what it said it would do?” he asked.

Commissioner Ron Terpko also wondered why nothing had been done. He asked if the town should pass an ordinance to give it some power in such matters. I see a big snowball coming from this,” he said.

But Mr. Cady said Wednesday that the town has some complicity for the lack of a meeting between stakeholders. He said he’s contacted the town “a half-dozen times” about reserving meeting space in a town building, but each time there was some conflict.

“We’re facilitators and catalysts, but we’re not dictators over municipal businesses,” said Mr. Cady, who added that he was unhappy his efforts to arrange a meeting were not recognized. “It was never the most important thing on (the town’s) docket. I stand ready to help them.”

The board set Oct. 13 as the date for a meeting regarding the problems. Mr. Cady said he and county staff members will attend.

In other matters, the board heard a recommendation from Phil Walko that the town study salary and benefits packages to help the police department recruit and retain more officers. The commissioners delayed any decision until Oct. 14.

The board also learned that the bill to evaluate its sewer-system problems may rise. ARRO Consulting Inc. wants $17,750 more than expected for manhole inspection services and exploration of the lines with a television camera. The board deferred a decision to a later meeting.

The Thurmont Citizen’s Advisory Board attended the meeting to present five emergency kits to the Guardian Hose Co. The kits include vouchers for a week’s worth of food and lodging and certificates for groceries and furniture from participating Thurmont and Emmitsburg merchants. Kits will be given to people whose homes are rendered uninhabitable by fire, sewer back-ups or other events.

The board also set Oct. 6 and Oct. 13 as special voter registration days. The town will register people to vote in the upcoming election from 5 to 8 p.m. on both dates. Oct. 13 will be the last day to register for the Oct. 27 election.