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Anne Arundel
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Anne Arundel
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The meeting was called to order by President Bob Whitcomb. Guest Speaker Bob Gaudette, Director, Waterway Improvement Program for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Attendance: 16 individuals with 2 notable guests:
Bob Gaudette, Director of MD Watery Improvement Program was given the floor who stated that dredging season begins in 3 weeks for the FY2007 season. There are 4 dredging projects scheduled for AA county including the dump site Town Point, 6 projects in design phase and 3 projects schedule for testing of SAV. For FY2008, 34 million dollars has been requested for a total of 150 projects state wide. This includes projects for such items as boat ramps, emergency equipped boats, pump out stations, bulking head installations and repairs, dredging and etc. Anne Arundel County, Department of Public Works, requested from Maryland in matching funding, a total of $4.4 million for 9 dredging projects. The AA county projects are for the following waterways; Parish Creek both State and Federal, Locust Cove, Broadwater Creek, Carrs Creek, Warehouse Creek, Duvall Creek, Brady Cove and Old Glory Cove. AA county was granted $2.5 million this past year for the dredging season that include 8 different projects and includes the jetty on Rockhold Creek which is now completed. AA county is one of the most active counties request funding and approval of dredging projects at this time in the state of Maryland. AA county provides 50% funding of total project cost. Baltimore and Hartford counties are 2nd and 3rd for requesting Waterway Improvement funding. Bob Gaudette stated that he projected that AA county would receive more funding than last years total of $2.5 million. But that the 4.4 million requested by AA county for FY2008 was not probable. That 3 million was more the range for matching funding for FY2008. The projects not funded would move to the top of the list for FY2009. MD has normally followed the project order requested by AA county and that all projects are equally considered. In FY2006 MD collected 3% less in taxes (around $30 million) from boating. The reduction was contributed to the high price of gasoline. Once gasoline prices started falling in price, boat sales began to grow. AAWRA campaigning has ensured these funds will be used strictly for waterway projects. And that the recently mandated .boat count. has helped in justifying the use of these funds for such projects. Miscellaneous questions asked and answered by Bob Gaudette. That 10 to 15 percent of the cost of a dredging project go into the engineering of the project. Bob stated that Maryland is one of the most costly places to dig a hole in a waterway. Currently it is estimated that the cost of dredging is $100 per cubic yard (including engineering) and that most dredging is by a method called .mechanical dredging.. That more dredging contractors where needed in Maryland. That waterways inside the city of Annapolis should not present any additional challenges for approval and funding for dredging. Channels should be a minimum of 25-30 feet wide and a minimum of 3 to 4 ft in depth at mean low tide. Some final closing comments from Bob Gaudette; That AAWRA should continue to participate in any legislation that relates to waterway and/or boating. That AAWRA campaign for federal funding be made available to the Army Corp of Engineers for dredging of 7 shallow channels that all widely used located around the bay. These channels are in desperate need of dredging and due to cut backs from the federal government; Maryland may need to fund these projects. The Corps of Engineers budget comes under the Department of Defense and is under pressure due to funds needed for the War in Iraq and Homeland Security. This would impact funding for AA county waterway dredging projects. AAWRA members reviewed the questionnaires answered by up coming candidates for the election in November. AAWRA individuals had to make 3 to 4 different attempts via email, mail and phone calls to collect many of the candidates answers to the questionnaire. Still several candidates did not respond. A handout was created and passed out, showing which candidates responded to the AAWRA questionnaire. It was suggested that AAWRA members review the questionnaires answered by candidates in their districts for the remainder of the meeting for the election in November. Some copies of each candidates responses were made available for the taking. An email will be sent out to members showing who responded to the AAWRA questionnaire to share with their community members. Attending this meeting were: Bob Whitcomb, Saefern Jay Phillips, DCET Geoff Thomas, Admiral Heights Paul & Gloria Rickett, Broadwater Farms Elish Moore, Deale Beach Vern Penner and Pat Lynch, Amberly Juliet Page, Divinity Cove Steve Goins, Broadwater Creek Chris Grim, Saltworks on the Severn Virginia Jones and Dieter Grotheer, Podickory Point Richard Fraenkel, Severn House Mike Geers, Loch Haven Christine Reinert, Poplar Point Nick Stoer, Kirwan's |