[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6606948,"mediaKeyId","2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff","parentId",2956776,"title","Chesapeake Beach council approves several operational purchases, reappointments and treasurer search update","audioSeconds",224,"startMs",6068000,"endMs",6292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff&start=6068&end=6292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff/thumbnail_6068000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6606948/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/Chesapeake-Beach-council-approves-several-operational-purchases-reappointments-and-treasurer-search-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606948-bb7fd6bbbd1632e815636d8f60d313a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770947630&Signature=Zb-oho-oqPyX1aD07sUD3NWM3xwG~NWpvSCZHdPpStGPobPIo45CvzrMg3rzfQTBV6pHhntLBmrtp867R3bUhW0I~XS-JYD-yiD4okwM2JZoAnh5X5m0V8j9dJYqGscQgs9RdTZqoNy-zWMUwNgj~UWkYutDYqHCogtp0JWfy8cNBzqlE5lHOmO5-18huypC3h0mzAM6XvDf40J87ZFq11o3AmGotPXhE1C~DMC~mJHN2RRJzDyFE8nA20i5p3YpbqD-6ieB6mMxpRCowxhhSFsucg7~VOrCHBgkf6OoNqkDPxDMEyDIKJW6NIGj9iavITYoCGimjd2-J7aw9BEE1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland","date","2025-04-11T02:16:35.913Z","article","Chesapeake Beach council members approved several operational items on the consent‑agenda portion of Wednesday’s meeting, including payment for a pressure‑reduction valve at Richfield Station, authorization to purchase a corrosion‑resistant HVAC unit for the water reclamation plant, and reappointment of volunteers to town boards.

The council voted to approve payment for the already‑purchased pressure‑reduction valve used at the Richfield Station water tower; town staff said the unit had been procured and installed earlier in the year and the payment falls within the existing budget line for infrastructure maintenance.

Councilmembers also approved a replacement HVAC split unit for the denitrification building control room at the water reclamation treatment plant. Josh, the plant’s staff presenter, said technicians found extensive corrosion on coils and that a corrosion‑resistant unit appropriate for coastal environments is recommended. The vendor quote from the town’s existing HVAC contractor amounted to $10,710; the item will be charged to the town’s capital equipment line and was approved by motion.

The council reappointed Jody Hoonstar to the Board of Appeals and Peter Feuer to the Ethics Commission for additional three‑year terms. Both reappointments were approved without objection.

Town administrator Amelia reported that the treasurer recruitment posting has received more than 50 applicants and that initial interviews are being scheduled; staff said the goal is to fill the position within 45 to 60 days. Public works staff reported that most external water meter changeouts are complete, and that remote read capability will save staff time once interior meters are converted and homeowners have provided access.

Also noted during the meeting: public works continues preventive maintenance at the water reclamation plant, staff are pursuing a biosolids RFP, and a site‑lighting RFP will be rebid after the prior vendor failed to proceed. The council authorized purchases at the levels presented and directed staff to proceed with contract execution where appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 10, 2025 Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its weekly meeting the council approved payment for a pressure‑reduction valve at Richfield Station, authorized an HVAC replacement at the water reclamation plant, reappointed two volunteers to town boards, and received an update on the treasurer search and meter upgrades.","taxTitle","Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland","taxId",71658,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606951,"State Highway engineers offer to study pedestrian safety after child struck near Beach Elementary",1655,4384000,6039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff&start=4384&end=6039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff/thumbnail_4384000.jpg","/articles/6606951/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/State-Highway-engineers-offer-to-study-pedestrian-safety-after-child-struck-near-Beach-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606951-cb3b0628a746593496899e4cb900ff9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770947630&Signature=SO4-sacFdX~9fBgO4XIyE09GkxwuMd3UXGPffY8WMQWUGDZaVxmJvX8NaDTBTzpHjwpah8rgiTKzDX~oXL7LnPxPx1Cxp~nzdQhFDUGXyp-b~pR6XXPKOhASwRR9VUVC--CTMTScoM1FSsXfWGub~2wm1wWfl1MX~VsQJVaAR8kA5ppifu9FPU6D61iJjAhebLi8wbkNcRHrtypZaqn9FXi0hKy~RMEqi3~uJXtszzI0UxN3B1TfXFSoLBgeqDnShUnGnI5MzgF8FLyOSI9n-BXlbDbbVjoyP~kxjGdsLIOk-uJF3Dj7nE1-4TXSm6JwtOMq1bh0uFTymK2rXSppcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Highway Administration (SHA) District 5 representatives told the Chesapeake Beach Town Council they will work with town staff, Calvert County schools and the sheriff’s office to evaluate pedestrian‑safety options near Beach Elementary School after a child was struck by a vehicle earlier in April.

Kimberly Tran, SHA District Engineer for District 5, said the incident appears to have been relatively minor and that the child is expected to make a full recovery. “The best part of the news is that it was relatively minor, ultimately, and that the child is gonna, you know, hopefully make a full recovery,” Tran said.

Tran and Kelly Boulware, SHA community relations manager, described prior requests the agency has received for crosswalks and other pedestrian facilities along Maryland Route 261 in the Twin Beaches area. They explained that, for a mid‑block crosswalk or a new marked crossing to be effective and safe, sidewalk connectivity and sight‑distance conditions typically must be addressed first.

Tran said the first step should be convening a working group that includes SHA, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Calvert County Public Schools (transportation), and town staff to identify realistic options — for example, sidewalk segments, school‑zone flashers, controlled crossings, and traffic‑calming measures. She noted Safe Routes to School grants and similar programs could be a funding path for sidewalk work but said the county school system’s walker policy is one of the factors SHA would consider.

The council and SHA discussed a range of traffic‑calming tools that might be suitable for the corridor, including marked crosswalks coupled with engineering changes, pedestrian signals, “HAWK” beacons, or speed‑reducing treatments such as speed tables. Tran cautioned that certain speed‑hump devices are not permitted on many state roads and that some rumble‑strip solutions can cause noise issues for adjacent residents.

The town said it will coordinate with SHA and county agencies to set up the multi‑agency discussion and to collect speed‑count and sight‑distance data. Council members asked SHA to run a formal speed study and to review whether the existing school‑zone flashers and enforcement are producing the intended speed reductions during school hours.

No formal council vote was required or taken. Town officials said they will follow up with SHA to schedule the multi‑agency meeting and gather the technical data needed to recommend short‑term and long‑term countermeasures.","State Highway Administration representatives offered to work with the town, sheriff’s office and county schools on pedestrian‑safety options after a child was struck near Beach Elementary. Officials said the child’s injuries were relatively minor and discussed sidewalk connectivity and traffic‑calming options.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6606956,"Chesapeake Beach council authorizes up-to-$60,000 exploratory work on water park rebuild",3879,3569000,7448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff&start=3569&end=7448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2956776-d4f1de33c099c3096b85933981aacaff/thumbnail_3569000.jpg","/articles/6606956/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/Chesapeake-Beach-council-authorizes-up-to-60000-exploratory-work-on-water-park-rebuild","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6606956-05bf719a886cf1781433acd7a9a8663b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770947630&Signature=Ej6IyPgTv~2TAoLI99P6XqhJ-0qUrVg4RpnH9k56CKxbOtvAQNls2NmZ5Z-u3I6C1NJ06QofyLNIEK1QWZo5Xk-G2XefSmrgGmbig5KWVo935JkFjyP~puIm67QUG-9NlTz0cAKZEgW8xvciUhRoS9ziM1-xfQVTmEveSZeLzMHqXCyVSHmtIT1I3xf6iSVf7WYu11ecvZ3mQhevKm1z0hICa9A0uPMDicl1t0I86hqe5-xmlXhA0MN49m0pt5ivZisb2L6EAmwqQdVQEjlPYFMiXsVoqS2jsqDEzYkDod6bwfJBmeQ2QYQ02VP5eOav1R~MqUlAzZVdc9IaMuhcag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chesapeake Beach Town Council voted to authorize up to $60,000 for exploratory work on the town’s water park, a step officials said is intended to reduce a contractor’s risk and produce a budget model and site recommendations for a possible full rebuild.

Councilmember Laura (motion) and Councilmember John (second) moved the authorization after a lengthy presentation by Jay, the town’s public works director, who described structural failures, plumbing leaks and degraded decorative “rock” features inside the park. Jay said the park was closed for “a reason: public safety.”

The exploratory work the council authorized is intended to include selective demolition and exposure of foundations so a geotechnical team can evaluate the condition of the existing piles and grade beams, and so architects and engineers can produce a high‑confidence budget model. Mark and Patty, representatives of Paddock (the original builder who has continued to advise the town), told the council their team would also assess whether it is more economical to reuse existing foundations or to replace them.

Jay described repeated leaks and broken plumbing that have required 47 penetrations into the pools and said many of the faux rock faces and waterfalls now show separation and internal corrosion. “We shut it down…for a reason: public safety,” he said to the council. Mark of Paddock summarized the preferred approach: “Our concept is to strip the pool park down to the top of the existing foundations, try to save the building if possible, and build up from there with new materials.”

Council discussion focused on reducing unknowns (particularly foundation and piling condition) before asking voters or the council to approve the cost of a full rebuild. Councilmembers and staff discussed procurement rules in the town charter and confirmed that the authorization being approved would remain under the charter threshold that requires a public solicitation if a contract is for $60,000 or more.

After discussion, the council voted 6–0 to authorize the mayor to negotiate an exploratory contract not to exceed $60,000 to perform the investigative work and to provide a conceptual design and budget model for a potential reconstruction.

The council and presenters said the exploratory report should aim to produce a cost estimate accurate enough for staff to recommend whether to proceed with a design‑build procurement and, if so, a likely timeline for permitting and construction. Paddock and the town described a target window of roughly two to three months for that initial investigative phase and a subsequent conceptual cost estimate.

The council’s vote ends the immediate question of whether the town should move forward with a focused investigation; it does not obligate the town to proceed with full reconstruction. The motion carried and council members said they expect follow‑up reports that will include permit and permitting‑timeline information and a recommended path to either renovate or replace major park systems and finishes.

The town’s water park committee and public works staff will be the next points of contact for the design team and state permitting officials, and the council directed staff to return with the exploratory contract and a timeline for the next steps.","After a months‑long assessment by public works, the council authorized the mayor to negotiate exploratory work to assess foundations, pilings and costs for a potential full rebuild of the 30‑year‑old water park. The motion passed 6–0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Chesapeake Beach council approves several operational purchases, reappointments and treasurer search update

State Highway engineers offer to study pedestrian safety after child struck near Beach Elementary

Chesapeake Beach council authorizes up-to-$60,000 exploratory work on water park rebuild