Newsletter of the
Property Owners' Association
of Deep Creek Lake, Incorporated

 Dam and Hydroelectric Plant Sold
Brascon, a Canadian asset management company with property and power
generation interests has reached an agreement to purchase the DCL dam
and hydroelectric generating plant from Reliant Energy. The transaction
is dependent on regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the
second quarter of 2005. Brascon has $20 billion ownership interests in
70 office properties throughout North America and London UK. It owns
120 power generating plants with an output of 2,600 megawatts. Simple
math shows an average of just over 21 mgw. per plant. Thus Deep Creek's
18 mgw is in line with the rest of their holdings.

Membership
POA membership for 2004 totals 1306, including 36 who have already paid
through 2004. Our mailing list totals 4,910, and we note that 278 of you
claim Garrett County as your primary residence. This edition of the
Dispatch will be sent to all 4,910 of you, but the remainder of the 2004
issues will go only to dues paying members. Past issues of the Dispatch
at www.deepcreeklakepoa.com. Your 2005 POA dues notice has been included
in this issue along with a return envelope. To determine if you are one
of the 36 who have already paid for 2005, just check the mailing label
on this (or any issue) of the Dispatch. The number after your name is
the last year for which you paid POA dues.

Property Taxes
Those of you whose lake property is south of the Glendale bridge should
have received a notice of reassessment. The good news is that you made
a great investment when you purchased property at DCL. The bad news is
that you will be paying a lot more property tax. Based on recent sales,
land values have increased 83% for lake front properties, 125% for back
lots with docking rights, lake influenced (for example view lots)
properties are up 118%, and condos up 53%. Unless your increase is a
lot more than these percentages, your chance of a successful appeal
would appear slim. When the buildings are factored in, a typical
increase in the DCL area is 50- 55%. For comparison, the percent change
in the Oakland Mtn. Lake Park area is 14 to 18%. The increase is phased
in over three years, and if your DCL property is your permanent
residence, the Homestead regulation limits your tax increase to 5%per year.

For example, a home on Marsh Hill Rd. sold in February of 2002 for
$305,000 and was resold exactly two years later for $472,000, over 1.5
times as much! Another property on Lake Shore Dr. increased the same
percentage in only 13 months. A new property on Silver Tree Lane
increased by the same factor in only nine months! Another property on
Lake Shore Drive went up by a factor of 1.2 in only one month! Talk
about speculation!

There are two factors which determine how much property tax you have to
pay - the assessment, and the tax rate. Your POA, the Garrett County
Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Realtors have all taken
independent positions requesting the County Commissioners to reduce the
tax rate to or below the constant yield level. To achieve constant
yield, the tax rate would be lowered so the County would receive the
same amount of property tax income this year as last.
The Commissioners have held the tax rate the same for several years, but
because of increased assessments the County's income has also increased
each year. For comparison, the Garrett County tax rate for 2003/2004
was $1.036; the constant yield rate for 2004/2005 would be $0.977. A
constant yield rate would lower your tax bill due July 2005 by over 5%.

News About Sewers
A contract has been awarded to Beitzel Corp. for expansion of the DCL
area sewage treatment plant. Although almost twenty firms requested bid
packages, there was only one bid. The bid was just under the consulting
engineer's estimate. Construction of Phase I is to start May 2 with
completion in 18 months. This work will increase the capacity to 1.5
mgd (million gallons per day). Phase II, to be completed later, will
increase capacity to 2.2 mgd.

A recent Commissioner's meeting adopted several policies. These may be
viewed at www.co.garrett.md.us. First select Public Utilities, then
click on 2005 policies. Basically, as it affects your bottom line, the
sewer capacity fee remains at $6,500, the connection fee is set at
$3,000. If you need a grinder pump, and almost everyone will, they cost
about $3,700. If you are to receive water service, there will be a
capacity fee of $2,800. These costs are fixed, although the grinder
pump cost might vary a little. The total is $16,000. Then you have to
hire a contractor to dig the ditch, install the grinder pump, and run
the pipes. The Public Utilities Department estimates these costs as
$1,200 each for the water and sewer lines, adding up to $18,400.
Clearly these costs depend on your individual situation, length of line,
depth of trench, which contractor you hire, and any cost of landscaping.
We suspect that $18,000 or so is the least, and some could certainly
pay upwards of $20,000 for the whole deal.

Property owners in the Sandy Beach area, among the first to be affected,
are concerned that the developers are getting a big break. Newly
developed properties will pay the same fees as existing properties, and
there is a plan, although not apparently "cast in concrete", that
developers will pay approximately $5 million to install a main trunk
line. However, undeveloped properties served by new sewers on the
mountain top and elsewhere will increase greatly in value and provide
nice profits to developers and increased tax revenue to the County.

Maryland State law provides that if a sewer line passes within 600 feet
of your property, you must connect. The County Commissioners apparently
have the authority (some legal dispute here) to set a time table. Many
residents with relatively new septic systems that are operating
properly, are hoping for a big extension.

There are also provisions that existing homes (not new development) may
apply for extended payments. The suggestion arrangement is 10 years at 5%.

2005 United Way Campaign Kicked off in Garrett County
The fifth year of the local United Way campaign started in October. The
Board of Directors of the POA has endorsed this charity. We do not give
our funds but urge our members to do so. To obtain United Way monies, an
agency must provide information showing specific benefit to Garrett
County residents. The agencies supported and their program descriptions
are presented in the enclosed brochure. The United Way and the POA
Board appreciate the past support of POA members. You have been leaders
in group giving the last three years. Please fill out the attached form
and send your contribution to the United way in the enclosed postage
paid envelope.

Wind power
The two projects previously approved for Garrett County are going ahead.
Clipperwind plans 67 windmills on Backbone Mt, and Synergics plans 24
more. A protest group, known as Friends of Backbone Mt., (aka
interveners) has been very active in opposition. Some environmental
groups are against more windmills; some environmental groups, such as
the Sierra Club, favor windmills. Both sides have issued what appear to
be exaggerated letters to the editor, press releases, paid
advertisements, etc. Much of the information is "spin." Therefore it is
difficult to get fair and accurate information to form an intelligent
position.

Because of all the controversy, the County Commissioners issued a
statement. "At this time it is the board's desire to limit wind power
development to the two current projects." They have asked the Department
of Planning and Land Development to look into options for limiting the
development of additional wind power projects in Garrett County. We
suspect that the options are limited due to the lack of County wide zoning.

As previously reported in The Dispatch, study of topographic maps
suggests that only a few locations on DCL will be able to see the
windmills. But most lake area mountain top homes will be able to see
them. Basically, if you can see Backbone Mt. from your lake property,
you will see windmills. If you can not identify Backbone Mt., you will
need to get a good topographical map, and consider the height of the
windmills. In general the top of the blade will be 394 ft. above ground
level. On a clear day the Tucker County windmills near Thomas WV can
be seen from to the top of Wisp Mt. near the new pump house.

Recent studies showed that an unexpected number of bats have been killed
by windmills. Reported numbers from near-by WV seem to vary between
1,500 and 4,000 per year. Exact numbers are hard to come by, and when
there are two zeros on the end it is most probable that we have an
estimate or extrapolation. The good news is that windmill officials and
wildlife ecologists are optimistic that several technologies can be used
to lower the death rate.

Some recent data, that has been released, shows 4 bird deaths per
windmill. Again the number is extrapolated, since the number of birds
found dead is lower. Presumably some dead birds fall prey to scavengers
before they are counted. A migration study using radar and acoustic
sampling has been completed, but the data has not been released. The
company that sponsored the data offered to release the data a year ago.
But some of the interveners (those against) did not want the data
released. Perhaps they thought it would undermine their case. In the
mean time, the company does not want to release the data, apparently
because of a competitive business situation.

In related action, the Garrett County Commissioners established a new
building permit fee for utility and public communication towers -
including radio, TV, cell phones towers, wind turbines etc. The fee is
$1 per foot with a minimum fee of $60. The measurement will include
maximum height with a vertical blade.

Wake Surfing Warning
This is the latest water toy. The wakesurfer is basically a modified
surfboard. The surfer gets on the board with a life jacket and is towed
by an inboard
motor boat. He needs to get very close to the boat, then the surfer
lets go the rope and rides the wave. This is very Dangerous if done
behind an outboard or an IO boat because the surfer is too close to the
propeller! Be careful.

Deep Creek lake Manager Retires
Paul Durham, lake manager since 1989, retired effective the beginning of
January. A permanent replacement has not been named. Paul oversaw the
design and construction of the Discovery Center, was involved with the
State's acquisition of the lake in 2000, the buy downs, the conservation
easement, and worked effectively with the DCL Policy and Review Board.
We understand that Paul will remain in the area and wish him success and
happiness in retirement.

Bears
The much debated bear hunt took place this fall. There were to be 30
bears taken. In the first day the hunters took 20. The DNR was afraid
that a like number would be taken the second day, so they closed the
season. Since it was apparently so easy to find bears, could there be
more bears here than the DNR study estimated? We note without comment
that there were nine bears killed on highways through early June of
2004, and for much of that time the bears were inactive in hibernation!

Recently, Delegate George Edwards submitted legislation that would
require the DNR to introduce black bears to each Maryland County by
October 2012. He said a DNR map indicates there is good to fair bear
habitat in every county. Edwards submitted his bill after a Prince
George's and Anne Arundel delegate submitted a bill to stop all bear
hunts. George said, "We'll share our bears with them and see if they
still want to stop the hunt."

Garrett Performing Arts Center
Back in January, a board of directors was elected for the Garrett
Performing Arts Center Inc. (GPAC). The board is seeking 501-C3
(non-profit) status, and is updating a 1999 feasibility study and market
survey. The board has contracted with Lucinda Williams, who served as a
Baltimore Symphony Vice President, to serve as executive director.
Lucinda Williams is now a Garrett County resident. In February, a
request for proposal for architectural consulting services was published
by the Garrett County Procurement Office. Over 50 architects expressed
interest. In early March 15 of those attended a preproposal conference.
Proposals are due March 22. County and GPAC Board representatives will
share responsibility of proposal evaluation. The architectural firm
selected will create perspective drawings of the exterior and interior
of the envisioned center. These drawings, along with a programming
statement and project narrative will greatly assist the GPAC Board in
its mission to raise an estimated eight million dollars needed to build
the Center.

Some time back, the Garrett County Commissioners announced plans to
build an exhibit hall in an area more or less behind the Garrett Eight
Cinema. The performing arts center may be located in this area. In the
architectural requirements for the exhibit hall, the commissioners
included plans to make the site suitable for a complimentary facility.
The two buildings could share parking, restrooms and infrastructure.

Garrett Lakes Arts Festival
The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival has published an ambitious schedule for
2005.

March 18 Garrett County's Best
The Ultimate Talent Show
Garrett College, 8 PM, $5

April 9 Duquesne University Tamburitzans
Garrett College, 7 PM, FREE

May 6 Cashore Marionettes
Garrett College, 1 PM, Students $2

June 18 Robin & Linda Williams
Workshop, Garrett College, 3 PM $30
Concert, Garrett College, 8 PM $15
Students $5, Workshop & Concert $40

June 26 Annual Student Piano Recital
Will O' the Wisp, 3 PM, FREE

July 4 Garrett Community Concert Band
Garrett College Tent. 7:30 PM, FREE
Fireworks 9:30 PM

July 5 to 8 Chautauqua Living History Portrayals
Garrett College Tent
7 PM Local Musicians
7:30 Chautauqua, FREE

Aug 20 to 27 Music on the Mountain
The Deep Creek Symphony Orchestra
Aug. 20 Stravinsky & Copeland
Garrett College, 8 PM, $22, Youth $15
Aug. 21 1812 Overture & Fireworks
Slopes of Wisp, 8 PM, Adults $15
Youth $5
Aug. 26 Mozart, Bernstein, Beethoven
Wisp Lodge, 8 PM, Adults $22
Youth $10
Aug. 27 Borodin, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky
Wisp Lodge, 8 PM, Adults $22
Youth $10

Sept. 24 The Alliance Chorus- Barbershop
Garrett College, 7:30 PM, Adults $15
Youth $5
Summer workshops and camps are also scheduled. For more information
call the GLAF office at 301- 387-3082, or check their web site at
www.artsandentertainment.org. Season subscriptions are also available.

Trail Benefit
The third annual Treats of Garrett County will be held Monday May 23 6
to 9 PM and the Wisp Lodge. The County's finest cuisine will be served
by local chefs, with entertainment provided by DJ Jonny Rock. There will
be a cash bar and door prizes. Advance tickets for adults are $20 and
may be obtained at the Garrett County Visitors Center or participating
restaurants. Proceeds benefit the Garrett County Recreational Trails.
POA Board Members

Lou Battistella ‘07 301-387-2094 Lbatt859@aol.com
Michael Belmonte ‘06 301-387-6371
Louise Conjura ‘07 301-387-5857 lconjura@gcnetmail.net
Katheryn Gemberling ‘07 301-384-2850 kgember@aol.com
T.R. Janes ‘05 301-334-2118 ejk@law.net
Scott Johnson ‘06 301-387-8547 scott.johnson@coldwellbanker.com
Jonathan Kessler ‘06 301-387-6229 Smiley@smileysfunzone.com
Ed King ‘05 301-387-5702 ed.king@longandfoster.com
Marge Mahood ‘07 301-387-5885
W. Tom Myers, Treasurer ‘05 301-387-9162 tom@mountaineerlog.com
Carole Perez, Secretary ‘05 301-387-5406 clperez@mindspring.com
Ted Rissell, VP, Membership'05 301-387-6463 tedriss@earthlink.net
Mark Rothman ‘06 301-229-7992 mrothman@paleyrothman.com
Robert Sutton ‘05 301-387-4957 rasutton@nauticom.net
Fred Thayer, President ‘07 301-387-9439 fthayer@mindspring.com
Roger Titus, Vice President ‘07 301-344-0052 rwtitus@hotmail.com
Barry Weinberg ‘06 weinutr@verizon.net