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County secures right-of-entry agreements for four debris management sites
Summary
DPW&T presented four right-of-entry agreements for private properties to serve as debris removal/handling sites; commissioners approved delegation authority for the director to execute additional agreements in emergencies.
St. Mary's County commissioners on Sept. 1 authorized execution of right-of-entry agreements with private landowners to use four properties as debris management sites and delegated authority to the Department of Public Works and Transportation director to sign additional agreements during emergencies.
Director George Erickson said the county had previously held three agreements and had obtained a fourth (Mattingly property), expanding its roster of prearranged sites that FEMA favors for rapid debris handling and storage. He described the geography: Buckley property serves Charlotte Hall/Mechanicsville/Clements Avenue area; Mattingly dirt works serves Loveville/Oakville/California/Hollywood; Kessler site serves Damron Ridge region; Larry Hill site serves Valley Lee/Redgate region. Erickson noted secondary sites (Sloan Pit and Bubby Knott's Pit) are also available if needed.
Erickson said the sites are in permitted gravel/mining areas, have health department approval, and have been used previously (Hurricane Irene) to handle more than 45,000 tons of debris. The agreements allow the county to activate sites quickly during severe weather; a delegation of authority will permit the DPW&T director to sign additional rights-of-entry during an event so response teams are not delayed. Commissioners approved the agreements and asked staff to prepare thank-you letters to property owners.
