Page 30 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch August 16, 2013 Regional Digest Confirmed West Nile Virus Case In Pines OCEAN PINES – The Worcester County Health Department this week announced it had received notification that a single sample of mosquitoes taken in the Ocean Pines area has tested positive for West Nile Virus and is urging citizens to take precautions against the possible exposure to the virus. The positive sample represents the first positive test in Worcester County thus far this year. West Nile Virus was first identified in Worcester in 2003. According to health department officials, West Nile Virus is most common during the summer and fall months. The virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and spread to humans, birds, horses and other animals. Since mosquitoes can breed in as little as a quarter inch of water, recent rains have likely attracted more mosquitoes, according to the health department. The health department is urging residents and visitors to avoid contact with mosquitoes and offered numerous tips including staying indoors at dawn and dusk, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and using EPA-registered insect repellants. Residents are also advised to get rid of mosquito breeding sites where standing water accumulates. Emergency Generator Initiative Launched In WOC By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR Worcester Pier Reopens SNOW HILL – The pier at Public Landing, closed for 10 months after being severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy last October, was reopened last week after undergoing a nearly $200,000 restoration project. The Public Landing pier, located at the east end of Route 365 about six miles east of Snow Hill was nearly destroyed during Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the mid-Atlantic region last October. Last week, it was officially reopened after undergoing a $198,226 repair job. Rehak’s Contracting of Baltimore repaired the pier and many of its amenities including benches, a picnic pavilion, boat moorings and swimming and crabbing opportunities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided funding in the amount of $44,395 for the restoration project, while insurance settlement funds totaling nearly $131,000 covered a majority of the needed repairs. Worcester County’s unobligated funds available in the Public Landing Marina Project covered the remaining expenses. Conservation Easement Tax Incentive Extended BERLIN – The Maryland EnSEE NEXT PAGE WEST OCEAN CITY – A new statewide initiative to provide gas stations and other fuel distributors across Maryland with funding for back-up generators in the event of a natural disaster or other extensive power outage was launched in West Ocean City yesterday. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), in conjunction with other public and private sector partners on Thursday, officially launched its “Fuel Up Maryland” program at the Wine Rack at the corner of Route 50 and Golf Course Road. The program will provide $1.7 million in grant funding for private sector gas stations and fuel distributors along designated emergency evacuation routes across the state to wire their facilities and install backup emergency generators in the event of a major storm or other extensive power outage. The concept was the brainchild of MEA’s Paul Bollinger, Jr. and other state and private partners and was borne out of the situation that occurred in New Jersey and New York during Super Storm Sandy last October. During and after the storm, residents and visitors attempting to evacuate or pick up the pieces following its passage could not access gasoline and other fuels because the stations and distributors did not have power to fuel their facilities. Huge lines of vehicles attempting to get gas formed and lasted for days and even weeks during the tedious process of restoring power. Maryland recognized a similar situation could occur here and began to explore proactive measures to prevent it. Gov. Martin O’Malley included $1.7 million in his capital budget this year for the “Fuel Up Maryland” program. “We thought about how we can make our state more energy resilient,” said MEA Director Abigail Hopper at the Wine Rack in West Ocean City on Thursday. “After Sandy last fall, we saw our neighbors up north waiting in long lines for gas and other fuels they couldn’t access because there was no power at the stations and distribution centers. We met with gas station owners and distributors across Maryland and raised concerns and decided let’s not wait until a storm hits, let’s be proactive.” As a result, over 600 gas stations within a half of a mile of designated emergency evacuation routes from West Ocean City to Western Maryland can now apply for individual grants of up to $15,000 to pre-wire their facilities for the installation of permanent or temporary generators. The Wine Rack is one of the first to apply for and receive the grant and its parent company, Ocean Petroleum, will install generators at its facilities from one end of Maryland to the other in the near future. “We saw the situation last fall when our colleagues in New Jersey all lost power and there were cars waiting in line for miles to fill up,” said Ocean Petroleum Chief Oper- Pictured, from left, are Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station Technical Advisor Jamie Brooke, Ocean Petroleum’s Ed Ellis and Steve Ladd and MEA Director Abigail Hopper. Photo by Shawn Soper ating Officer Steve Ladd. “They were extremely frustrated because they had underground tanks full of gas and customers lined up for as far as the eye could see and there was nothing they could do about it.” Ladd said the Wine Rack will have emergency generators installed within the next few weeks. “We’re looking forward to being on full generator power within the next few weeks. We hope we never have to use it, but we will be prepared if we do,” he said. One of the private sector partners that worked closely on the program was the Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station Association. “We appreciate the partnership with the state and companies like Ocean Petroleum on this,” Association Technical Advisor Jamie Brooke said. “This will help Maryland consumers get fuel in the event of a natural disaster. It’s just a great idea to use these emergency evacuation routes.” Ocean Petroleum owner Ed Ellis agreed the program represented proactive thinking by Maryland and its partners, although he couldn’t resist a playful jab at the state. “I think this is the first time we’ve ever gotten money back from the state after all the money we’ve put in over the years,” he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek. “In all seriousness though, this is an example of forward thinking and a great idea. …. I think there are a whole lot of gas stations over in Ocean City that ought to be included in this program. In the event of a natural disaster, you’re going to want to have them on board. I know that sounds like I’m lobbying for my competitors, but I think that’s important.” Berlin Park Overhaul Planned By TRAVIS BROWN STAFF WRITER BERLIN – Along with an upcoming new mural that will be designed by local students, the tennis courts at Stephen Decatur Park will be experiencing a complete overhaul next year including new lights, fencing and “environmentally friendly” courts. “In a nutshell, this project would involve the complete removal of the existing court’s fences and the lighting that is there,” said Mary Bohlen, assistant town administrator. “What would be left is the racquetball court with the structure that encompasses that. What we’re proposing to do is an environmentally friendly court replacement with porous asphalt or some other material that is pervious for rain water. This has been done successfully and I have found many, many examples in the UK.” The courts are at least 20 years old, according to Bohlen, though they were resurfaced two years ago. Besides the courts being built of the new porous material, the overall layout will change as well with the fence now set to perimeter all four courts instead of having them split into two sets of two, which is the current design. “What we would do is, instead of having the break in the center, we would just encompass the entire area,” said Bohlen. “That way, it’s easier to maintain, you actually end up using less fencing material because you’ve eliminated two long runs and it will change up the way the racquetball courts are enclosed.” The town hopes that the lion’s share of the cost for the project, which could start next spring, will be covered by a Community Parks and Playground (CPP) grant that Berlin applied for this week. “It would be $250,000 from Community Parks and Playgrounds and we’re proposing to match it with $21,500,” said Bohlen. “That would be a combination of cash outlay as well as in-kind services from Public Works and the Electric Department in particular. That would bring us to a total project cost of $236,500.” The council unanimously voted to submit the grant request to CPP, though confirmation or rejection of the application is not expected until next April, with any funding received not being in hand until next August.