Frederick legislators vote to fight stormwater fee

Local News

January 20, 2013

Frederick legislators vote to fight stormwater fee

Anonymous Associated Press Sun Jan 20, 2013, 10:37 PM EST

FREDERICK (AP) — Frederick County lawmakers voted to support a bill releasing the county from charging property owners a stormwater runoff fee.

The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill last year directing Frederick County and nine other jurisdictions to establish the fee by July 1. The money will pay for efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Frederick News-Post reported that six lawmakers voted Friday in favor while two voted against the measure. Several of those supporting the bill said they know it won’t pass, but voted in favor on principle.

Republican Delegate Donald Elliott said he felt Pennsylvania isn’t pulling its weight in bay cleanup efforts.

Delegate Galen Clagett said he voted against the bill, noting the size of the fee has been left to the counties; commissioners could set rates at 1 cent and still stay on the right side of the law.

However, Commissioners President Blaine Young, who attended the delegation meeting in Annapolis, said he doesn't want to cede any ground to the state. Instead, the county will explore its legal options for refusing to set up the fee, he said.

Charging property owners any amount, however small, would send a message that the county accepts responsibility for meeting stormwater cleanup targets, but Young said local officials believe these goals are unattainable.

Text Only

Local News

Taking the fifth
The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency’s targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers’ questions.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Rocky Gap casino opens
The newly christened Rocky Gap Casino Resort has opened its doors to the public.

May 22, 2013
Frostburg officials OK 2014 budget
The Frostburg mayor and city council have voted to adopt a $9.7 million budget for fiscal year 2014 and to keep open an alley that many citizens feared would be closed.

May 22, 2013
Driveway artist
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Okla. tornado may have caused more than $2B in damage
The tornado that struck an Oklahoma City suburb this week may have created $2 billion or more in damage as it tore through as many as 13,000 homes, multiple schools and a hospital, officials said Wednesday as they gave the first detailed account of the devastation.

May 22, 2013
Somerset-to-Meyersdale U.S. Route 219 sends its last permit
The final permit is on the way for a Somerset-to-Meyersdale U.S. Route 219 improvement project to begin.

May 22, 2013
Delaney introduces an initiative for a national infrastructure bank
Freshman U.S. Rep. John Delaney on Wednesday rolled out his signature legislative initiative for his first term — a plan for a national infrastructure bank that requires no federal appropriations.

May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Fireball spotted over Maryland
A bright light seen traveling across the sky over the weekend by dozens of witnesses across Maryland and the region is what astronomers are calling a fragmenting meteoric fireball.

May 22, 2013
6th annual DelFest has arrived, bigger than ever
Thirty national recording artists are preparing to step into the Cumberland spotlight this weekend at the Allegany County Fairgrounds as DelFest rolls into town for its sixth annual musical festival.

May 22, 2013 2 Photos
Keyser woman organizing opposition to proposed housing complex
Barbara Hartman, who lives near Pine Swamp Road, said she doesn’t want Bayridge Green built near her and is trying to do something about it.

May 22, 2013
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Frederick legislators vote to fight stormwater fee

Contact Us