Commissioners of St. Mary’s County

Leonardtown, MD — The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County heard a lively discussion from a dozen and a half speakers at their Oct. 6 regular monthly public forum. The testimony largely centered on three lingering issues – red light cameras, a youth recreation facility and an agriculture production and distribution center. Speakers generally supported all three.

A friend of the late wife of Commissioner Todd Morgan spoke in support of red light cameras. Angela Cameron said she was speaking in honor of Maria Morgan, whose car was struck by a red light runner at Route 235 and Millstone Landing Road.

Cameron told of her own harrowing experience of nearly being hit in the intersection of Routes 5 and 243 in Leonardtown. Her son was next to her in the passenger seat.

Commissioner Morgan [R – 4th District] recently suggested the commissioners revisit the red light camera issue. The cameras were rejected by the former commissioner board.

Walter Burch of Lexington Park said two types of people run red lights: those trying on purpose to avoid stopping or distracted drivers. He said the distracted drivers would not be impacted by the cameras but those trying to avoid the law might be, Burch also questioned the county’s enforcement of digital signs, which he said act as a distraction to drivers.

Roy Fedders, a frequent speaker at commissioner meetings, said he was concerned that the cameras would act as a money maker for the police. But he supported putting the idea on a ballot referendum to let the voters decide.

Youth center

Several speakers urged the commissioners to hop on the bandwagon and support a youth center in Lexington Park. Justin Fiore, speaking for a committee formed to pursue the matter, said almost 500 signatures had been amassed so far in support of such a center, with the goal of more than 2,000. He urged the commissioners to consider a center in budget deliberations.

Roderick Lewis read emotional letters from youth about the need for such a facility.

Southern Maryland Agriculture Center

The Southern Maryland Agriculture Development Commission and the Tri-County Council have been touting the idea of a food processing and distribution center somewhere in Southern Maryland. The project, called Southern Maryland Agricultural Business Park and Food Innovation Center would include  new farmer incubation, food distribution center, food innovation center for start-ups, regional meat processing, aquaculture processing, equipment/warehouse storage, and indoor (with café/deli) and outdoor farm markets.

Expressions of interest are being solicited from property owners in Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s and southern Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties. It would be funded through tobacco restitution monies, federal funding and foundations.

Chairman of the St. Mary’s County Agriculture, Seafood and Forestry Board John Parlett urged the commissioners to support the project and especially the siting of a facility in northern St. Mary’s County. He said St. Mary’s has twice the number of farms than the second place county in Southern Maryland.—Charles.

Parlett said the proposed center would be a magnet for bring other types of government funding for the agriculture community in Southern Maryland.

St. Mary’s County Farm Bureau President Jamie Raley had a more cautious viewpoint. He said his organization “tentatively endorses” the idea but would like more involvement in it by the Southern Maryland Resource, Conservation and Development Board.

Leonardtown attorney Phil Dorsey strongly endorsed the concept. He said tobacco used to be a $9 million industry in the area but has been reduced to $200,000 annually with the tobacco buyout. He said there’s been a tremendous transition in farming since the buyout. Dorsey said the center would provide support to the area’s young farmers.

One of those young farmers, Joshua Webb of Lexington Park spoke in support as did Joe Wood of Mechanicsville, who noted the success of grape growing and the Port of Leonardtown Winery. He said he’s a big believer in the lesson of the movie Fields of Dreams – “Build it and they will come.”

The commissioners have a policy of not responding to any comments at the public forum. Instead Commissioner President Randy Guy [R] thanked the speakers and said the commissioners would take all of the testimony under advisement.

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com