Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems

Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art One-half Banana Stems - www.kevindayhoff.com Address: PO Box 124, Westminster MD 21158 410-259-6403 kevindayhoff@gmail.com Runner, writer, artist, fire & police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist & artist: Travel, art, artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalists and journalism, reporters and reporting, technology, music, culture, opera... National & International politics www.kevindayhoff.net For community: www.kevindayhoff.org For art, technology, writing, & travel: www.kevindayhoff.com

Showing posts with label Dayhoff writing essays Westminster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dayhoff writing essays Westminster. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The new year means a new city attorney in Westminster

Last Monday was the second meeting of the Westminster mayor and common council for Westminster’s new attorney, Elissa Levan of the law firm of Funk & Bolton.

Folks have asked where my story appeared on the new attorney. It may be found here: http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3801/attorneys/ 1/12/10 http://tinyurl.com/yeqxmcb or here: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-means-new-city-attorney-in.html http://tinyurl.com/yeqxmcb

Posted below is the original copy I filed, before it was edited for length, for the newspaper:

January 26, 2010 http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-means-new-city-attorney-in_27.html http://tinyurl.com/yb3b77p

Photo caption: Westminster appoints new city attorneys. New Westminster city attorney Karen Plumer Ruff (right) looks up to follow the discussion at the Westminster Common Council meeting last Monday as Elissa Levan (left in the background) studies her meeting notes. Seated beside Ms. Levan is the Westminster director of planning Tom Beyard. Picture by Kevin Dayhoff [20100111 MCCmtg (15)d]

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/zyn29 or here; http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/355686994/elissa-levan-karen-plumer-ruff-funk-bolton

Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Elissa Levan Karen Plumer Ruff Funk & Bolton appted new Westminster city attorneys http://tinyurl.com/yb3b77p http://twitpic.com/zyn29

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The new year means a new city attorney in Westminster

Elissa Levan and Karen Plumer Ruff of the law firm of Funk & Bolton appointed to be the new Westminster city attorneys

By Kevin Dayhoff for the Westminster Eagle January 12, 2010

The new year for Westminster city government will begin with new municipal attorneys for the first time in 30 years.

At the first meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council for 2010, the city announced the appointment of Elissa Levan and Karen Plumer Ruff to take the place of Westminster city attorney John Walsh who retired last December after serving the city for over 30 years.

In the meeting the council voted to authorize the Westminster mayor Kevin Utz to execute a letter of engagement, dated December 23, with the law firm of Funk & Bolton, with offices in Baltimore, Annapolis, and Chestertown, to represent the town.

A city press release, noted that the process for finding a new attorney began last November. Westminster council president Damian Halstad said that the city had sent out a request for proposals for legal services and received six responses. “We interviewed all of them and it was really, I think, an impressive crew. I think we hired – um … we made an excellent choice,” said Halstad.

Halstad introduced both attorneys who were in attendance for the council meeting. “We welcome them and look forward to a long relationship because we sure don’t like interviewing lawyers. The last one we kept for what, 30 years. So ah, that would make me 78, when they retire, and that would be fine.”

Councilman Greg Pecoraro responded when Halstad asked if there were any questions by saying “… it was a very good process as you mentioned. I was pleased that everyone was able to participate. I think that we did have a difficult choice to make…”

“It was helpful to go through it for learning. I mean you learn things when you go through the interview process... This firm … and ah, Ms. Levan and Ms. Ruff had read our comprehensive plan. They had a lot of good questions for us. And they just knew - I think they knew the most about the city. And that goes a long way towards winning over a prospective employer. We were all impressed,” said Halstad.

The firm’s web site notes that “Funk & Bolton, P.A. is a Mid-Atlantic-based law firm practicing primarily in five areas: commercial litigation, insurance regulation, government relations, local government law, and creditors' rights.

“We provide counseling, litigation and legislative services to insurers, other financial services companies, health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations, health plans, dental plans, counties, municipalities, businesses, and trade associations.”

According to the city press release, “With eleven attorneys, this firm is the most experienced of its kind, providing representation to numerous municipal corporations, counties, and other public entities in the state of Maryland, including the cities of Bowie, College park, Church Hill, Rock Hall, St. Michaels, Upper Marlboro, and Forest Heights.”

The release explained that Levan will be designated the city attorney and that Ruff will serve to “provide backup representation… Levan will have the overall responsibility of coordinating the legal services to the city.”

Funk & Bolton announced in April 2009 that Levan had “rejoined the firm after a year as a Maryland Assistant Attorney General. Ms. Levan is a member of the Local Government Practice Group in the firm's Baltimore office. With over 20 years of experience, Ms. Levan will resume her practice of counseling Maryland municipalities and public entities.”

Levan’s web site bio indicates that she “has been representing governmental clients since 1992, when, after a few years at other firms, she joined Levan, Schimel, Belman & Abramson, P.A. in Howard County (later, a regional office of Miles & Stockbridge, P.A.)

“Since then, Ms. Levan has provided advice and counsel to a diverse group of Maryland municipalities, including several of the largest jurisdictions in the State, the Cities of Bowie, and College Park, and many smaller towns, such as the Town of Church Hill on the Eastern Shore.

“She has recently been designated as the town attorney for the Town of Chesapeake Beach. She also spent a year in the Office of the Attorney General, representing the twenty-four Maryland sheriffs and their sworn deputies.”

Her bio also indicates she “has also provided general representation to private sector businesses, including several not-for-profit entities, such as the Corridor Transportation Corporation.

“Ms. Levan has been active for many years in the Maryland Municipal Attorney's Association and served, among other capacities, for several years as its liaison to the Maryland Municipal League's Legislative Committee. She has also been a member of the Maryland State Bar Association's Local Government and Administrative Law Sections, for both of which sections she has served on the governing Councils. She is currently completing her term as Chair of the Administrative Law Section (2008-09).

“She is a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation. Ms. Levan was previously a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce and for several years chaired its Public Affairs Group, which undertook legislative education and advocacy functions for the Chamber.”

Levan is a 1985 graduate, with distinction, from University of Michigan. She was awarded her J.D. from George Washington Law School, where she graduated with honors in 1988.

Ruff’s Funk & Bolton web site bio indicates that she “began her career practicing in the area of zoning and land use law at Zanecki, Lally and McDonough, in Prince George's County, Maryland. In 1989, she joined the Howard County firm of Levan, Schimel, Belman & Abramson, P.A. (later, a regional office of Miles & Stockbridge, P.A.)

“For the past twenty years, Ms. Ruff has provided advice and counsel to a diverse group of Maryland municipalities, including the City of Bowie, the City of College Park, the Town of Church Hill, the Town of Edmonston and the Town of St. Michaels.

“Additionally, from 1998 until 2002, Ms. Ruff was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Annapolis. Ms. Ruff has also served as counsel to the Annapolis Board of Appeals. Ms. Ruff has been a member of the Maryland Municipal Attorney's Association of the Maryland Municipal League for many years. She has served as President and Secretary. Ms. Ruff is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Anne Arundel County Bar Association.

Ruff earned her J.D from Catholic University of America in 1987, and graduated with a B.A. cum laude, from LaSalle University in 1984.

Halstad later indicated that Funk & Bolton will charge the city a rate of $150.00 per hour which is a slight increase over the $125.00 an hour charged by the previous city attorney.

A review of past court cases and council minutes of other municipalities throughout the state indicates that both attorneys have an extensive background in all aspects of municipal law ranging from zoning and land use law to immigration law enforcement.

After the meeting, the two attorneys then got right to work as the mayor and council convened a closed meeting to discuss property acquisition and emergency response procedures for the city.

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Dayhoff Daily Photoblog, Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, Dayhoff photos, Dayhoff photos Wster gov't, Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays Westminster, Westminster Council Mtgs


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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Articles and columns about Westminster city government in 2009

Articles and columns about contemporary Westminster city government by Kevin Dayhoff in 2009

Westminster electric Christmas parade winners announced Published December 15, 2009 by Westminster Eagle John Street Quarters at the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department was packed Monday night with participants from this year's Westminster Miracle on Main Street Holiday Electric Parade. The 10 winners in Westminster's first-ever electric light parade held ... ...

Westminster's holiday glow, from 'Kringling' to a parade of lights Published December 13, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle ... the best place in the world for the Christmas holidays. No Grinches allowed. When he is not masquerading through town looking at Christmas lights, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at ... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Public safety, code issues among items at Westminster roundtables Published November 29, 2009 by Carroll Eagle ... recommended continuing the Main Street roundtable meetings on a monthly basis with the property owners and church representatives. — Kevin Dayhoff

Westminster to get federal stimulus grant Published October 29, 2009 by Westminster Eagle Westminster announced at Monday night’s mayor and Common Council meeting that navigation of a “sea of paperwork” enabled the city to double a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal stimulus funds, to replace aging water meters ... ...

Westminster city clerk dies Published October 9, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle Westminster and Carroll County officials are mourning the loss of City Clerk Laurell Taylor, who died at her home Thursday morning.“She was a very dedicated city employee,” Mayor Kevin Utz said in an interview with The Eagle. “She did everything asked of her ... ...

Budget woes dominate Westminster council meeting Published October 5, 2009 by Westminster Eagle The meeting of the Westminster mayor and Common Council last on Sept. 28 began with plenty of smiles, but the mood quickly turned somber as a discussion on budget woes dominated the balance of the evening. Mayor Kevin Utz conducted a public hearing on the ... ...

Westminster council meeting details city improvements and comprehensive plan Published July 25, 2009 by Westminster Eagle ... for the annual Christmas parade. With that, council president Damian Halstad gaveled the meeting to a close and folks quickly paraded out the door. Kevin Dayhoff may reached at ... or visit him at http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/...

Dayhoff: New councilmember tackles alleged hit and run driver Published June 1, 2009 by Westminster Eagle, Carroll Eagle ... Westminster city police arrived and took control of the situation The accident is under investigation. All in a day’s work. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. ...

Utz elected as new mayor of Westminster Published May 18, 2009 by Carroll Eagle ... with 130 votes; Eleanor DeMario, 105; William Gill, 130; and William Hughes, 58. — compiled by Kevin Dayhoff Incumbent, two newcomers elected council Hampstead Town Councilman Wayne Thomas won election along with newcomers Jamey Ayers and ... ...

Crunching numbers, and historic perspective, in Westminster election Published May 12, 2009 by Westminster Eagle ... “I’m humbled and anxious to get started.” The writer, Kevin Dayhoff, is a history columnist for The Eagle newspapers. He served as ... did his grandfather Frank Thomas Babylon for several years in the 1890s.

Utz elected as Westminster mayor Published May 11, 2009 by Westminster Eagle … the top vote-getter of the evening with 512 votes.Others in the council race were Darcel Harris (130 votes), Eleanor DeMario (105), William Gill (130) and William Hughes (58).— compiled by Kevin Dayhoff...

Dayhoff: How water drove the growth Westminster ... and still does Published May 4, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle ... 200 years after our community banded together to maintain a steady and reliable water supply. Feedback, questions, and comments are welcome in the readers’ comments section below. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. ....

DAYHOFF: Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant Published April 29, 2009 by Westminster Eagle ... prosper. Note: next week's column will review a more in-depth history of the story of the early Westminster water systems. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, where he served as mayor from 2001 to 2005. When he is not enjoying a great glass of Westminster ... ...

20100103 Articles about Wster govt in 2009 by KED Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays Westminster, History 2009 Yr in Review, Westminster, Westminster City Admin, Westminster City Government
Art: Westminster City Hall, Emerald Hill, Westminster, MD by Kevin Dayhoff March 26, 2009. [20090326 Emerald Hill Ked Line drawing 3best]

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Monday, December 21, 2009

Recent Explore Carroll stories by Kevin Dayhoff


Mary, Dolly and I all believe in Santa Claus, and you should, too
http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3727/eaglearchive/
Published December 20, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... holidays with your family friends and loved ones. Merry Christmas and a happy Hanukah, too. When he is not listening to Dolly Parton Christmas music, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Westminster electric Christmas parade winners announced
http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3714/parade/
Published December 15, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
John Street Quarters at the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department was packed Monday night with participants from this year's Westminster Miracle on Main Street Holiday Electric Parade.The 10 winners in Westminster's first-ever electric light parade held ... ...

Santa Claus is coming to town http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3712/santa/
Published December 14, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... Pictures cost $10.00 each and all proceeds go to support fire and ambulance services in the community.For more information, check the fire department web site: http://www.westminstervfd.org/— Kevin E. Dayhoff...

Westminster's holiday glow, from 'Kringling' to a parade of lights
http://www.explorecarroll.com/community/3703/eaglearchive/
Published December 13, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... the best place in the world for the Christmas holidays. No Grinches allowed. When he is not masquerading through town looking at Christmas lights, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Westminster parade winners revealed Dec. 14 http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/3701/news-briefs/
WESTMINSTER — The winners of the Westminster Electric Holiday Parade will be announced tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 14, at the regular meeting of the Westminster Common Council, according to Mayor Kevin Utz.

More than 50 lighted entries took part in the parade, as well as other marching units, bands and other groups.

Winners in various categories will be announced, and will receive trophies. The parade was organized and sponsored by the City of Westminster and the Greater Westminster Development Corporation's Main Street Committee.

For the full list of winners and the contest judges, check back Tuesday on explorecarroll.com.

To Carroll's benefit, WTTR and Dwight Dingle grew up together
Published December 6, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... have had in the community. Even though he has signed off, he would certainly want us to carry on the good work. When he's not listening to WTTR, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

'Voice of Carroll County,' Dwight Dingle, dies at age 63
Published December 6, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
At a Memorial Mass celebrated Dec. 3 at St. John Catholic Church in Westminster, about 250 family members and friends recalled Dwight O. Dingle as a community leader, a trusted voice and a man who always advocated for Carroll County. Dingle, the popular, ... ...

Memorial service set for 'Voice of Carroll County,' Dwight Dingle
Published December 2, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
Perhaps Vivian Laxton, Carroll County public information administrator, said it best last week when she said, “The voice of Carroll County fell silent this week.”Dwight O. Dingle, the popular, larger-than-life community cheerleader and longtime on-air ... ...

Tripping the 'light fantastic toe' into the holiday season
Published November 29, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... also be revealed in the compassionate support our community renders to less fortunate citizens. When he's not stuffing his face with turkey, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Public safety, code issues among items at Westminster roundtables
Published November 29, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... recommended continuing the Main Street roundtable meetings on a monthly basis with the property owners and church representatives. — Kevin Dayhoff Groups hopes to take 2020 look at Freedom plan ELDERSBURG — Eldersburg 2020, a group that meets to discuss

DAYHOFF: From early history to now, a tradition of local honor
Published November 22, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... Slade, Jack Lippy and Joe Fisher. We will always remember their service to our country and our community. When he's not saying thanks to veterans, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Hundreds attend Cartwright memorial in Union Bridge
Published November 22, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
UNION BRIDGE — More than 500 people crowded into the social hall at the Union Bridge fire station on Nov. 16 to pay respects to Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, who was killed Nov. 7 in action while supporting combat operations in ... ...

County sings 'With One Voice' to raise money to fight domestic violence
Published November 16, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Eldersburg Eagle, Westminster Eagle
On Saturday, Nov. 21, Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland and Human Services Programs will sponsor the annual “With One Voice” — an evening of music at St. John Catholic Church, 43 Monroe St., Westminster.The annual event always attracts a ... ...

Remembering a fighter, warrior ... and community man
Published November 16, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
More than 500 people crowded into the social hall at the Union Bridge fire station today to pay respects to Staff Sergeant Charles Isaac Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, who died Nov. 7 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. ... ...

Law and order, Carroll style, used to include machine guns, grenade launchers and riot gear
Published November 15, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... was to determine how many policemen would be willing to participate in such a squad on a volunteer basis." When he is not hiding under the couch, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net ....

Black & Decker has been an important tool for Carroll County
Published November 8, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... a brain drain in the community. When he is not in the shop working with Black & Decker tools, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net ....

Wampler's turned pumpkins into a cash crop in Carroll
Published November 1, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... by Woodrow Thomas of Sykesville. Thomas received the $6 prize; a tidy sum for the Depression." When he is not gorging himself on pumpkin pie, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Westminster to get federal stimulus grant
Published October 29, 2009 by Westminster Eagle
Westminster announced at Monday night’s mayor and Common Council meeting that navigation of a “sea of paperwork” enabled the city to double a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal stimulus funds, to replace aging water meters ... ...

Officials may face sharp critics, but in 1946 it was real knives
Published October 25, 2009 by Carroll Eagle
... ..." If you ask me, it's refreshing to hear an elected official level with you and tell it like it is. When he's not under a pile of rocks, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at .... or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net. ...

Schaum weaves a creative display at Westminster's Off Track Art
Published October 21, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle
... In addition to displaying her work at Off Track Studio, Schaum will also join other artists on the Carroll County Artisans Studio Tour this coming December 5 and 6. For more information go to: www.ccartists.com/index.html.— submitted by Kevin Dayhoff...

20091221 sdosm Recent Explore Carroll stories by Kevin Dayhoff Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, Dayhoff writing essays, Dayhoff writing essays Westminster

Recent www.explorecarroll.com stories by @CarrollEagle Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/ylff8ly

*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Friday, May 15, 2009

DAYHOFF: Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant




DAYHOFF: Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant

Bottom photo: April 24, 2008 Westminster, state, county and industry officials cut the ribbon at grand opening ceremonies for the new Westminster Cranberry Water Treatment Plant. From right to left: Ben Movahed from Watek Engineering, Westminster Common Council president Roy Chiavacci, Dr. Robert M. Summers, deputy secretary from the State Department of the Environment, Westminster mayor Tom Ferguson, Carroll County commissioners’ president Julia Gouge, Westminster Common Council members Dr. Robert Wack and Kevin Utz. Photo by Kevin Dayhoff (20090424 NewWTPribbon (18)b and 20090424 NewWTPribbon (24)b)

(c) Kevin Dayhoff, Posted on http://www.explorecarroll.com/ 4/29/09 photos by Kevin Dayhoff picture dates: April 24, 2009 http://tinyurl.com/pcae4f

DAYHOFF: Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant Published April 29, 2009 by Westminster Eagle ... prosper. Note: next week's column will review a more in-depth history of the story of the early Westminster water systems. Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, where he served as mayor from 2001 to 2005. When he is not enjoying a great glass of Westminster ... ...

Dayhoff: How water drove the growth Westminster ... and still does Published May 4, 2009 by Carroll Eagle, Westminster Eagle ... 200 years after our community banded together to maintain a steady and reliable water supply.

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Last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Westminster water treatment plant put the city on the cutting edge of water.

Carroll and Westminster officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting April 24 at the Westminster Cranberry Water Treatment Plant, on Lucabaugh Mill Road just north of Westminster.

Mayor Tom Ferguson and Dr. Robert M. Summers, deputy secretary from the State Department of the Environment, shared remarks and recognized folks in attendance for working hard to make the state-of-the-art facility a reality.

Westminster council president Roy Chiavacci, councilmembers Kevin Utz and Dr. Robert Wack and Board of County Commissioners President Julia Gouge watched with well-deserved pride.

Among the folks recognized were Westminster city administrator Marge Wolf, engineer Mike Matov, representatives from Watek Engineering Corporation (who designed the facility), Conewago Enterprises and Siemens Water Technologies.

According to Kelly Martin, the city's information and communications specialist, the design of the plant, by Watek Engineering Corporation, took into account future growth capacity, while minimizing operation and maintenance costs.

“The Plant is designed to currently supply 2.75 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water into the City's distribution system,” said data provided by Martin.

Simply increasing the number of membrane modules — part of the technology noted as “best available” by regulatory agencies — could increase the plant's capacity to 5 million gallons per day.

Although construction of the new treatment facility started May 2007, the story of water in Carroll and Westminster has its beginnings in the 1700s.

Indeed, the very spot upon which the new water facility is now located has a history that dates back to 1795.

According to information researched at the Historical Society of Carroll County by historian Richard Hyson, one of the earliest references to Winter's Mill — which now also lends its name to the high school — can be found as early as 1795 when it a grain mill and sawmill operated by Ledwick Wampler.

Airhart Winters took possession around 1860 and the mill can be located on the Lake, Griffing & Stevenson 1877 “Illustrated Atlas of Carroll County, Maryland.”

The property is described as being that of “Airhart Winters, Farmer and Manufacturer of Flour, Feed &c. Custom Sawing and Grinding done promptly. One and a half miles east of Westminster.”

Unfortunately, a fire around 1960 destroyed the adjacent mill master's home and all the records of the early days of the mill and the water company perished.

The mill master's house was located on the exact spot where the new treatment plant is now situated.

In 1920, the old Cranberry Water Pumping Station was constructed by Westminster Consolidated Utilities Company at the Old Winter's Mill, taking advantage of a millrace there to bring water into the plant from a millpond upstream.

Water in Westminster was supplied by a private company from 1883 to 1964. The city purchased the Maryland Water Company, a successor to the Westminster Consolidated Utilities Company, in 1964 for $961,792 and sold approximately $1.45 million worth of 2.5 percent bonds to pay for the system and improvements and expansions.

Compare that to the $12.3 million cost of the new water treatment plant; most of which was borrowed from the Maryland Water Quality Bond Fund through the Maryland Department of the Environment at 1 percent for 29 years.

When the water system was purchased 45 years ago, Westminster consisted of 477 acres and had a population of 6,123 compared to approximately 4,000 acres and 17,000 folks today.

Today, the water system supplies more than 33,000 people with water when you include the households it serves outside the city limits.

Over the past decade, community leaders have been grappling with how to continue to supply fresh drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities for a growing population and meet increased (and unfunded) federal and state water quality mandates.

The history of the new water treatment plant really began in the 1990s when Ken Yowan was the mayor of Westminster.

Jeff Glass, the Westminster director of public works, recently helped refresh my memory about the early discussions about the need to build a new facility.

“Well, it all started a long long time ago” with a quality control process called a CPE, comprehensive performance evaluation, recalled Glass. The purpose of the CPE is “to find weaknesses and areas for potential improvement.”

The city's first CPE was completed by by Lenny Gold in conjunction with MCET, the Maryland Center for Environmental Training.

“Jake Bair was running (MCET) at the time,” said Glass.

Bair has since retired but Gold is still in the consulting business, based in Easton. Glass said “both are really good guys. ... Lenny is the one who taught me how to operate a treatment plant.”

In approximately 1998, the CPE identified that the city would one day need to upgrade its water treatment process to provide additional barriers to guard against Cryptosporidium, Giardia, bacteria, turbidity and suspended solids in the water system.

Discussions and long range planning continued for years. When I took office as the mayor in May 2001, my predecessor, Mayor Yowan, and I had a series of transition discussions and the need for improvements to the then-80-year-old treatment plant was one of the many items reviewed.

In January 2002, $565,000 was included in the capital budget for design and construction of the filter re-bedding and preliminary plant design.

As challenges were identified, “it was then that we went out to bid for an evaluation of the current plant. The concept was to decide what was the best option(s) available to us, to take us into the future,” recalled Glass.

Enter Ben Movahed from Watek Engineering.

Movahed, along with Sophia Liskovitch, also with Watek, and a team of city officials including Glass, then-water treatment plant superintendent Paula Martin and her successor Bret Grossnickle, Tom Owens, all the water treatment plant operators, Tom Beyard, then the city's planning and public works director, and (Westminster engineer Mike) Matov , checked through the old plant with the concept of upgrading.

An additional $300.000 was allocated in February 2003 and another $300,000 in March 2004 as complications and challenges were identified in the complicated process of replacing an old water treatment system that dated back to the 1920s.

It was ultimately determined that upgrading the old plant was not a cost effective way to move forward and the idea to build a new plant firmly took root.

However, to further complicate the matter, it was also determined that the existing sand filtration media in the old plant needed to the re-bedded — changed-out — before a new plant could be constructed and brought on-line.

Another complication was researching what membrane filtering system to use. Since this technology is cutting edge, few existing examples could be studied.

This required research trips to several of the few existing facilities in the world. One was in England. Another in California and yet a third was in Toronto.

It was the facility above Toronto that proved especially trying as Glass recalls that the trip coincided with weather which saw the temperatures plummet to 40 degrees below zero.

Yet even more complicating was determining whether to use the “Zenon” filter or the “MEMCOR” filter.

When the investigation and research began, both were manufactured by stand-alone companies.

Then MEMCOR was purchased by U.S. Filter, which was subsequently purchased by Siemens.

Zenon was purchased by GE.

By 2007 drawings and planning process were complete and the city was able to begin construction of the new facility in May 2007.

The ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday witnessed the completion of the first full scale membrane filtering water treatment plant in Maryland.

The story of the plant is like much of the history of Westminster — a story of teamwork, careful planning, thinking outside of the box and adapting to change.

Perhaps the only thing more important than water in Carroll County history is how the community has always come together to meet hardships and challenges and adapt to the changes.

By working together we can easily meet the current water challenges and prosper.

Note: next week's column will review a more in-depth history of the story of the early Westminster water systems.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, where he served as mayor from 2001 to 2005.

When he is not enjoying a great glass of Westminster water, he may be reached at kevindayhoff AT gmail.com.

http://explorecarroll.com/opinion/2863/dayhoff-cutting-ribbon-history-westminster-water-treatment-plant/

http://tinyurl.com/pcae4f

20090429 Cutting the ribbon on the new treatment plant weked

Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.westgov.net/ Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/