Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Weather Station topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Friendsville council approves license for Maryland Mesonet weather station
Summary
The Town of Friendsville approved a license agreement with the University of Maryland’s Maryland Mesonet to install a 33-by-33-foot weather station at the recreational parking area; the town will incur no costs and the station is expected to go online between November and December.
The Friendsville Mayor and Town Council on Nov. 4 voted unanimously to approve a license agreement allowing the University of Maryland’s Maryland Mesonet to install a weather-monitoring station on town property at the recreational parking area.
The Council’s motion (moved by Council member Sheryl MacLane and seconded by Council member Michael Artice) passed 6-0. James Hyde of the Maryland Mesonet described the proposed station as one of three sites in Garrett County. He said the site will sample air temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, rainfall, snow depth and soil moisture and temperature at five depths — with many measurements taken at one-minute intervals and transmitted to University of Maryland servers and the National Weather Service.
Hyde told the Council the equipment footprint is 33 feet by 33 feet, that the Mesonet would handle data transmission and quality control, and that the Town would not incur costs for installation or operation. He confirmed that the station’s interior area would be maintained as negotiated, that a gate lock is possible at the Council’s discretion, and that the site could be relocated later if needed. Hyde also noted potential educational opportunities for local schools and the community and said Mesonet data could be integrated onto the Town website for public access.
Council members asked about vandalism liability, lighting and fencing, inspection procedures, and groundskeeping responsibilities; Hyde said the Town would not be held responsible for vandalism and addressed inspection and maintenance questions during the presentation. The Council voted to move forward with the license agreement after the Q&A.
The license motion was recorded as Motion #6 during the Nov. 4 meeting; the Council approved it by voice vote, six in favor, none opposed. The installation is projected to begin between November and December 2024, with James Hyde listed as the Mesonet contact for follow-up.
What happens next: the Town will finalize the license agreement with the University of Maryland and confirm site logistics, fencing/light specifications and any gating decisions at a later administrative step.
