Page 30 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch December 13, 2013 Regional Digest SU’s Value Ranked SALISBURY – For the sixth straight year, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has named Salisbury University one of its Top 100 “Best Values in Public Colleges.” According to the publication, SU and the other campuses on the 2014 list “deliver academic quality and affordability”. Academics carry more weight in the formula Kiplinger’s uses. Each institution is ranked based on several factors, including instate and out-of-state costs. SU is number 63 for in-state, up from number 72 in 2013. For out-of-state students, SU is ranked number 44. More than 600 traditional four-year institutions nationwide are surveyed. Salisbury was selected for its “high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, low sticker price, and overall great value,” according to Kiplinger’s. “This ranking confirms what we at SU already know, that our highly regarded faculty and staff provide an excellent educational experience for our students,” said Dr. Diane Allen, SU provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “SU’s reputation for academic excellence is known, and we are proud that Kiplinger’s once again has recognized Salisbury for our commitment to providing education at a reasonable price ...” Meal, Toy Drive Continues The Original Greene Turtle on 116th Street is currently hosting Mitch’s Meal and Toy Drive in remembrance of philanthropist and local businessman Mitch Scott, who passed away earlier this year. Toys collected will be donated to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots and the Ocean City Police Department’s annual toy drive. The canned and dry goods collected will be donated to the Shepherd’s Crook and Diakonia’s food banks. Above, Great Scott Broadcasting’s Corey Phoebus, Anya Trapnell and the Greene Turtle’s Eileen Taglienti are pictured with the items collected during Tuesday’s Locals’ Christmas Party. Donations can be dropped off through the holiday season. Photo by Terri French Salisbury Council News In Brief BY JOANNE SHRINER Staff Writer Casino Revenue Gains BERLIN – The November revenue figures for Maryland’s four operating casinos were released last week, revealing the Casino at Ocean Downs continues to make modest gains. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency last week announced the four casinos in Maryland generated over $66.8 million during the month of November. Maryland Live in Anne Arundel County continues to be the driving force behind the state’s casino gaming industry, contributing over $53 million of the $66 million total for the state in November. The Casino at Ocean Downs in Berlin showed a modest increase in revenue generated during November 2013 over the same month in 2012. The Berlin casino’s 800 video lottery terminals generated about $3.5 million in November and its revenue increased by around $153,000 over November 2012, or about 4.6 percent. The gross gaming revenue per machine per day for the Casino at Ocean Downs’ 800 slot machines in November was $144.52. The Hollywood Casino at Perryville in Cecil County continued to show signs of improvement in November. The casino generated $6.6 million last month, representing an increase SEE NEXT PAGE SALISURY – The City Council this week approved Comcast’s rates for 2014, two lease renewals with the Tri-County Council for a Shore Transit bus stop and the establishment of a mechanical fee. New Cable Rates Accepted The council voted 3-0, with Councilwoman Terry Cohen and Councilwoman Shanie Shields absent, to approve a Resolution to accept the calculation of maximum permitted rates for limited basic service and regulated equipment and installation rates as set forth in Comcast’s rate filing dated Sept. 30, 2013. According to Salisbury Director of Internal Services Keith Cordrey, the city received from Comcast, Forms 1240 and 1205, which calculate the maximum permitted rate for limited basic service and maximum permitted rates for equipment and installation of service based on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. City staff has discussed the documents with Comcast Senior Director Regulatory/Compliance Joseph Lance and is satisfied that the calculations of the regulated rates are reasonable and consistent with FCC regulations. As calculated in Form 1240, the maximum permitted rate for limited basic service for this term period is calculated at $19.96. This is an increase of $2.82 from the prior year maximum permitted rate of $17.14. The current rate for limited basic service is $16.95. As calculated in Form 1205, the installation and equipment rates have also been established for the current term period. The exact rate was not released, although Comcast announced the majority of those rates have decreased. Comcast will notify the city 30 days prior to when any rate increases will take place. Shore Transit Bus Stop Leases Approved According to Assistant Director of Internal Services-Procurement Jennifer Miller, the Procurement Division is seeking to authorize the renewal of a lease agreement between the City of Salisbury and the Tri-County Council for a bus stop adjacent to Lot #10. This lease would allow the continued use of a grass strip and the sidewalk on Calvert Street for a one-year period. Additionally, the accord would authorize the renewal of a lease agreement for a bus stop adjacent to Lot #1, which would allow the continued use of a grass strip and the sidewalk on Circle Ave. for a oneyear period. According to the Resolutions, “the Tri-County Council for the Lower Shore of Maryland-Shore Transit Division, a regional transit system serving the three Lower Shore counties, has been leasing from the City a grass strip on Calvert St. as a bus stop, and a grass strip and the sidewalk on Circle Avenue, between the corner of Division Street and Parking Lot #1 entrance as a bus stop. “The City finds that it is in the best interest of the City to continue to permit the Shore Transit Division to operate a bus stop at the aforementioned location for the convenience of the public.” The council voted 3-0 to approve the two Resolutions to authorize Mayor Jim Ireton to sign the renewal Lease Agreement between the City of Salisbury and the Tri-County Council for the Lower Shore of Maryland. Permit Fee Approved The council also voted 3-0 to approve an ordinance on second reading to establish a mechanical permit fee. According to the ordinance, Section 110.3.7 of the International Building Code requires that heating, ventilation, air conditioning units and equipment are to be inspected to determine compliance with Chapter 13, Energy Efficiency, of the International Energy Conservation Code. The council has determined that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Salisbury to develop a permit and inspection program to better ensure the quality of work performed by the trades when installing and replacing mechanical systems. In order to verify compliance with the International Energy Conservation Code, the International Mechanical Code, and the laws of the state of Maryland, the council desires to establish a mechanical permit fee for the installation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in new structures, and the replacement of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in existing structures. The fees will go into effect Jan. 1.