Lori Smith Zentz

The Frederick County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in Winchester Hall, Frederick, regarding the projects recommended for funding in the county’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2007 through 2012. The hearing is an opportunity for county residents to show their support, or lack of support, for funding of projects in the CIP.

Annually, the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) review, discusses and then eventually adopts a staff recommended 10-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that includes selected school construction, expansion and renovation projects as well as other government facility, library, water/sewer, parks and roads project.

The hearing is of particular importance to northern Frederick County residents is an addition to Thurmont Primary School, an addition/renovation project at Emmitsburg Elementary School, the Thurmont Regional Police Substation and an Emmitsburg/Thurmont District Park are all projects vying for funding against numerous other projects countywide.

FCPS and BOE have requested the Thurmont Primary addition to be funded in fiscal year 2007 (to allow school construction to begin in July of 2006), while county staff recommendations in the CIP hold the funding off until 2008 in school year 2007-2008.

Currently, Thurmont Primary is operating above capacity with four portable classrooms. A fifth portable is on order for fall of 2006. While Thurmont Primary is one of the county’s newer schools, it became overcrowded quickly with the arrival of full day kindergarten in 2004. The situation is growing rapidly with increasing enrollments each year causing more second grade classrooms to be shifted to portable classrooms.

Emmitsburg Elementary, while currently not at an over-capacity situation, is also operating with four portable classrooms due to space constraints within the older school. They are slated for an addition/renovation to bring the school up-to-date and to handle increased growth in the community. FCPS and BOE recommended funding this project in 2009 and the county staff recommendation also has it planned for 2009.

Frederick County commissioner Jan Gardner encourages county residents to share their comments about capital improvements funding. "The opinions of the people in our county do matter in this process….they are the voices of their community. If no one speaks to support a project, then we have to assume that it is not a priority to the community," explained Commissioner Gardner.

There are many projects across the county competing for limited funding dollars in the Capital Improvement Program. Several new schools and many school additions or renovations are needed across the county and the commissioners may delay funding and reprioritize projects. Local citizens are encouraged to visit the public hearing, and/or email and write to county commissioners to voice their support of these projects. Without adequate public opinion, these projects may be delayed or omitted altogether from the capital improvement program.

You may attend the public hearing or call, email or write to your county commissioners to voice your opinion. For more information visit the Frederick County government website at www.co.frederick.md.us.