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Summary of POA
Membership Meeting
August
2001:
President Roger Titus introduced Delegate Edwards, State Senator Hafer,
County Commissioner Wendel Beitzel, and DNR lake manager Paul Durham. Paul
thanked the POA for their support. He said the DNR was investigating 28
cases concerning lake and buffer strip issues.
The President apologized to the membership for any discrepancy in
membership data, due to a computer crash last winter.
There were two very serious boating accidents last summer. A sailboat was
cut in half by a power boat, and the other resulted in the death of
visitor to the lake, when a sailboat came in contact with overhanging
electric lines. President Titus presented long time POA Board member and
past president Ed King with a plaque honoring his rescue attempts to save
the life of one of the sailors, and his successful rescue of the young son
of the fatally stricken man.
President Titus reported that The POA and DNR had been in contact with the
power company and the Public Service Commission. The power line in
question was deactivated and an inventory of lake power lines was
conducted.
We reported in the winter 2001 Dispatch that the Wisp had requested the
use of 200 million gallons of lake water during the period October through
March. President Titus reported that the POA had written to the Maryland
Department of the Environment (MDE) requesting that the withdrawal of
water by the Wisp be prohibited during the months between March and
October. (We reported last winter that 200 million gallons represented
less than two inches of lake level) In addition the letter to MDE
requested an interpretation of the current Rule band restrictions in the
permit to Reliant Energy, the power company which now owns the dam and
power plant. The power company is interpreting the Rule Bands as
suggestive levels rather than mandatory.
After accepting questions from the membership, President Titus announced
that the new POA president would by the Honorable Fred A. Thayer.
New POA Board members, Bill Nickles, Frank Wolffe, and Lou Battistella
were elected.
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Message From The President
Your Board of Directors has conferred on me the duties of President, which
I have accepted with a sense of trepidation. Roger Titus, now first vice
president, has accomplished a great deal in the past three years as
president - three years which have witnessed the acquisition of the lake
by the State of Maryland and the creation of the new Deep Creek lake
Policy and Review Board. Roger has seen the POA through these strenuous
times with distinction and decided benefit to the POA. He will be hard to
follow.
My goal as your president will be to solidify the gains made on behalf of
the POA in assuring the status quo in management of the Lake by the State
of Maryland, and to provide liaison with local government and business as
it affects the interests of the property owners in the Deep Creek
watershed. Although I am a relative newcomer to the POA Board, I do bring
some experience to the table. From 1958 to 1977 I represented Penelec as
local counsel and assisted occasionally, in the day to day management of
the lake and buffer strip. I was asked to act as chairman of the Deep
Creek Lake - Garrett County Advisory Committee during the negotiations by
the State for acquisition of the lake and did so. The Garrett County
Commissioners asked me to be a member of its negotiating team which was
instrumental in the creation of the new Policy and Review Board. I have
been the POA designee member of the Policy and Review Board since its
creation, and I will continue in that position.
A new sense of cooperation between the POA, the Garrett County
Commissioners, and Garrett Countians in general has developed and grown
since March 1998. I believe it is my duty as President to foster and
promote that cooperation, building on the base already established and
increasing the scope of cooperation in matters of mutual interest. The
fact is we need each other to establish further goals for the good of the
POA and the County.
Roger will continue to liaise with the State bureaucracy; the POA Board
will continue to provide you with a forum to discuss any matters which
pertain to your ownership of property in the Deep Creek watershed. Please
don't hesitate to call on us.
Fred A. Thayer, President
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Natural Resources Police
Sometimes called the DNR Police, these are the folks who patrol Deep Creek
Lake. They are the police who issue citations for boating or fishing
violations. They have the same authority as the State Police, but they
have a different commander. Their boat radios do not communicate with the
State Police cruiser radios. This time of year the Natural Resource Police
are more likely to be out in the woods rather than on the Lake. Some
people might call them game wardens. There are five DNR Police in Garrett
County, and three in Allegany County (Cumberland). Garrett County
personnel also patrol Jennings Randolph Lake on the border between Garrett
County and West Virginia. Allegany County personnel sometimes help out
Garrett County.
Unfortunately you can not contact the Natural Resources Police at Deep
Creek directly. To reach the Natural Resources Police you must call
301-777-7771. This is their Western Office in The Bilmeyer Wildlife
Management Area near Flintstone MD. They have radios that will reach the
Natural Resources Police in most locations on the waters of Deep Creek
Lake. This phone is manned Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM. At
other times it rolls over to an 800 number in Annapolis. This number is
1-800-628-9944. You may, of course, call this number direct at any time.
These people will follow up on a complaint, but you must be sure that they
know you are calling about a problem at Deep Creek Lake. There is a Deep
Creek that flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Many lake residents make the mistake of calling Paul Durham's (the Lake
Manager) office for on the water problems. The lake manager should be
contacted about problems on the buffer strip. Call 301-387-4111. This
office can reach Natural Resources Police on the water, but the phone is
often manned by summer interns, who may not be trained in its use. On the
water issues are the purview of the Natural Resources Police. They do not
report to Paul Durham. They report through a different chain of command.
The Garrett County 911 number should only be called for lake emergency
situations that will likely require fire and rescue. You should not call
them concerning improper boat or personal water craft operation.
Although the Natural Resource Police share the McHenry Barracks with the
State Police, they can not normally be reached on the water by the State
Police in McHenry.
The bottom line: for on the water problems at Deep Creek you can always
use the toll free Annapolis number: 1-800-628-9944.
These dedicated officers would like to be able to do a better job policing
the waters of Deep Creek Lake. There are several ways to help. Maryland
residents might wish to contact their local Delegate or State Senator to
request better budgetary support of the Natural Resources Police. Another,
more direct method is by a donation to the Wildlife Conservation
Enforcement Fund, Inc. The WCEF, a 501-C3 charitable organization, was
initially formed in 1998 by several Maryland Natural Resources Police
Officers in Western Maryland. These officers saw the need to acquire
additional support equipment. Items that would be useful on Deep Creek
lake as well as in State Forests include: cell phones, night vision
goggles, cam corders, and radios for better communication. Tax deductible
Donations may be sent to: Wildlife Conservation Enforcement Fund, Inc.,
P.O. Box 302, Oakland, MD 21550. For more information you might wish to
visit their web site: www.mdwildlifeprotection.org.
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Deep
Creek Lake Policy and Review Board
After the POA August membership meeting, The Deep Creek Policy and Review
Board (DCP&RB) met to solicit public input and comment on the proposed
Deep Creek Lake Land Use and Recreation Plan. Those present expressed
concern about boating safety and debated the merits of requiring training
and licensing for all motor boat operators. The age limit for operation of
a personal water craft (pwc) is 16, but there is no age limit for
operation of a motor boat. It was noted, by one individual, that two-cycle
motors discharge large amounts of unburned oil and gasoline into the
water, while four-cycle engines are less polluting. Such engines are now
available as outboard engines and in pwc's. Another participant said that
the permitting process to comply with shore line erosion needs to be
streamlined. Presently up to four government agencies must be consulted
before a shore line erosion permit may be granted. And we note that this
past summer the lake was often at, or slightly above, the required rule
band level, which caused more shore line erosion.
It was pointed out that bears frequently get into garbage, often at rental
properties. Bear proof garbage containers of suitable size should be
provided by property owners, and renters should be instructed to put
garbage out only on days of scheduled trash collection.
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Deep Creek Lake Plan Approved by DNR Secretary
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary, J. Charles Fox has
approved the Deep Creek lake Recreation and land Use Plan, which had been
prepared by the DCP&RB. The plan recommended three studies of the lake,
including recreational boat use, shoreline erosion, and water quality. The
boat carrying capacity study is scheduled to begin next year. However the
DCP&RB has not had sufficient time to review and approve the request for a
proposal which had been prepared by the DNR. The last such study was done
in 1987-88. This study will form the basis for possible revisions to lake
regulations. A copy of the plan may be found at: www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/deepcreeklake.
Automobile Registration- A Catch 22
A seldom enforced section of the Maryland Transportation Code came to the
attention of a resident of another state who maintains a summer residence
at Deep Creek Lake. There is a section of the Maryland Vehicle Law and in
COMAR regulations which states that if you reside in the State of Maryland
for more than sixty (60) days, then you must either apply for a
Nonresident permit or obtain dual registration in the two states in which
you reside. The Nonresident permit would not be allowed for more than a
one year period, thus for example, this would not be an option for
multiple summer visits or summer residency in Maryland. The alternative,
dual registration, also presents a problem in that one would have to apply
for such, pay taxes on the vehicle in Maryland and have appropriate
insurance. Insurance companies do not want to insure a car that will
change its license plates to reflect that of another state for a portion
of the year. While this appears to be a dilemma, the actual case as
presented before the District Court was dismissed, but that is not to say
that further enforcement might not result in a costly citation. The POA is
investigating the possibility of repeal of this onerous section of the
law.
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Street Name Signs
Several years ago, Garrett County undertook a plan to name every road,
both State County, and privately maintained. And everyone was assigned a
street name and number address. This was part of a new 911 emergency
system. Fire, rescue squad, police, USPS, FedEx, UPS, and friends can find
your home.
From time to time some of these signs have disappeared. We wondered how to
get these signs replaced. The following is County policy. If the sign is
at the intersection of two County maintained roads, the county will
replace the sign. Call the Garrett County Roads Department at
301-334-3988. If the sign designates a County road at the intersection of
a State Road, the State of Maryland is responsible. If the sign designates
a privately maintained road at the intersection with a County road, then
those who maintain the privately maintained road are responsible. The
County limits its responsibility! We wonder why the County will not
replace signs on its own sign posts? Although the Dispatch does not
normally accept ads, if your sign is missing we suggest you call Dominick
Signs at 301-334-1344. They will be able to provide a sign that will fit
the county supplied post and match the design of other street signs in the
county.
Noise Pollution
Many of you have complained about loud motor boats roaring up and down the
lake. Perhaps you have heard the term "Captain's Choice" or "Captain's
Call Exhaust". This is an optional feature available on 12 of 13 Cobalt
models. The normal exhaust on I/O drive Cobalts is underwater through the
center of the outdrive. According to a Cobalt factory representative the
"Captain's Call Exhaust diverts the exhaust to above the water and makes
the boat real loud."
If you still have the urge to go "brooom brooom," use the captains choice,
or order your next boat with this optional feature. If you wish to be
considerate of your neighbors and other lake residents, don't.
One solution to boat noise on Deep Creek lake might be to require all
boats to have underwater exhaust.
According to a DNR police dispatcher the motor boat noise limit throughout
the state of Maryland is 90 decibels (dB) at idle and in neutral. To quote
from Grolier's Encyclopedia, "regular exposure to sounds above 90dB will
eventually cause hearing loss."
As an editorial comment, we note that the sound level will most likely
increase as engine rpm increases when the vessel is under way. While such
decibel levels may be suitable several miles from shore in the middle of
the Chesapeake Bay, the dB level in the regulation does not appear
suitable for Deep Creek Lake.
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POA Board Members
Lou Battistella
724-832-8731
Michael Belmonte
301-387-6371
Robert Edin
412-833-8885
Katheryn Gemberling
301-384-2850
Scott Johnson
301-387-8547
Jonathan Kessler
301-387-6229
Ed King
301-387-5702
W. Tom Myers, Treasurer
301-387-9162
William Nickles
301-387-2506
Carole Perez, Secretary
301-387-5406
Ed Peters
301-797-7824
Ted Rissell, VP, Membership 301-387-6463
Mark Rothman
301-229-7992
Jack Seelig
703-323-7076
Fred Thayer, President
301-387-9439
Dave Thomas
301-387-2516
Roger Titus, Vice President
301-344-0052
Frank Wolffe
703-356-7604
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Copyright The
Property Owners' Association of Deep Creek Lake, Inc. |
