Allowing 18-wheel trucks toting used cars on the winding, narrow roads of western Howard County is a recipe for disaster, according to a group of residents who are opposing the construction of a proposed used car dealership near Lisbon.

Under a plan that county officials are reviewing, developer Frank Saglimbeni hopes to build a used car lot on a 4-acre parcel at the intersection of Daisy and Union Chapel roads.

But the members of a group called Concerned Citizens of Western Howard County say that county officials have done an inadequate job assessing the impact the lot's operation would have on local roads.

While the residents' group does not dispute Saglimbeni's right to build the dealership, its members argue that allowing large auto-carriers to ply the rural roads around the property would constitute a safety hazard and that county officials therefore should deny Saglimbeni permission to build the dealership.

Brenda Stewart, who leads the residents' group, informed County Executive Kenneth Ulman, Planning and Zoning director Marsha McLaughlin, and Public Works director James Irvin of the results of the citizen-funded study in an April 11 letter.

Irvin responded in an April 14 letter, saying county officials also were concerned with the potential safety problems of allowing large trucks on narrow roads, but because the land's zoning allows for a car lot, "there is little we can do to stop the project."

-- Jennifer Broadwater

Volunteer fire station on track for August

Howard County is on schedule to complete construction of an $11 million fire station in West Friendship by August.

The station, which the county is building on 6.1 acres at the intersection of Route 99 and Route 32, will replace the current West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department station on Route 144, near Route 32.

The new two-story station will house the 100-member volunteer department, according to West Friendship chief Mickey Day.

The county will own the building while the West Friendship department owns the land on which the facility is being built, according to Howard County Fire Chief Joseph Herr.

County officials are building the new station because anticipated State Highway Administration changes to the intersection of routes 32 and 144 would make it more difficult for West Friendship fire fighters to have easy access to Route 32 from the current station, Herr said.

The new 28,810-square-foot station will house two hose-and-water-carrying fire trucks, two water tanker trucks, two ambulances, an aerial ladder truck and a small engine for brush fires, Herr said.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Mary Murphy named deputy state's attorney

Howard County State's Attorney Dario Broccolino announced May 13 that he has named Mary Murphy as one of two deputy state's attorneys.

Murphy replaces Broccolino, who took over as the county's chief prosecutor April 14 after being named to the position by a three judge panel. Broccolino replaced Timothy McCrone, who was named to the county's Circuit Court bench in December 2007.

Murphy will oversee the office's Circuit Court proceedings, a job that entails managing a staff of 14 prosecutors, two investigators and a victim assistance coordinator, she said. Her salary is $130,000 a year. She joins Senior Deputy State's Attorney F. Todd Taylor in taking the position.

-- Mike Santa Rita

Police will close roads for Columbia Triathlon

To make way for the annual Columbia Triathlon, Howard County police will close off portions of several roads between Centennial Park, in Ellicott City; and Glenelg, in western Howard, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.

The triathlon, which is expected to draw about 1,500 competitors, begins at 6:45 a.m. with a .9 mile swim in Centennial Lake.

The competitors will follow that with a 6.2 mile run on roads surrounding Centennial Park, then bike west on Route 108 during a 25.2 mile ride.

The foot race will be conducted on the following roads: Old Annapolis Road, Carillon Drive, Cross Country Drive, Century Drive and Colonial Drive.

The bike race will be conducted on Route 108, Harpers Farm Road, Folly Quarter Road, Triadelphia Road, Triadelphia Mill Road, Green Bridge Road, Howard Road and Linthicum Road.

-- Mike Santa Rita

user comments (0)