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C o m m u n i t y N e w s

Mayor Craig A. Moe and Emergency Management Director Marty Flemion of the City of Laurel are encouraging the entire Laurel Community to be prepared for the unexpected by taking action now. September is Emergency Preparedness Month! The goal is ensure that every Marylander is prepared for disaster situations, before they happen.

Follow these day-to-day tips to become prepared for unexpected emergency situations:

1. Find a backpack or duffel bag that will be your disaster supplies kit
2. Buy flashlights & batteries for every member of your family and put it in the bag
3. Choose a family member or friend out of town to be your Emergency Contact
4. Make a wallet card for everyone in your family with the contact number
5. Add other family members' and doctors' numbers to the contact cards
6. Choose a place out of the area that you and your family can go if you need to evacuate.
Remember pets!
7. Learn the difference between a watch and a warning
8. Purchase three gallons of water for everyone in your family (including pets)
9. Put a map in your car in case you must use unfamiliar roads to evacuate
10. Talk with your neighbors about emergencies. Arrange for someone to check on older or disabled residents
11. Find out if you live in a disaster prone area and what types of disasters can occur in your area and prepare for those.
12. Decide who in the family will be responsible for helping children or older adults if you need to evacuate
13. Put a first aid kit into your disaster supplies bag
14. Pack medication (and a copy of the prescription) for individual family members in your disaster
supply kit.
15. Put canned food into your disaster supplies kit

Mayor Moe and Emergency Management Flemion agree, to minimize the impact a disaster will have on our lives is to be prepared before an emergency happens. For more information on preparedness information and resources go to U.S. Department of Homeland Security web site www.ready.gov. Online copies of the FEMA “Are you Ready?” guides are available on this site or if you would prefer you can pickup a copy at the reception desk at the Laurel Municipal Center located at 8103 Sandy Spring Road in Laurel. Remember to “Pack, Plan and Prepare!”

For more information within the City of Laurel or to inquire about a preparedness class for your community contact Jim Collins, Public Information Officer at 301-725-5300 ext. 244
 
City of Laurel Press Release, 9/10/2007
 

Mayor Moe and Chief David M. Crawford of the Laurel Police Department have announced the start of a new Citizen’s Police Academy beginning October 4, 2007. The class will be held at the Laurel Police Department located 350 Municipal Square, Laurel MD. from 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
 
The Citizen Police Academy is a 14 - week program, which combines both classroom and hands - on instruction on a variety of police functions. These classes include major crime investigations, community policing, arrest techniques, officers survival, crime scene investigation, gangs, as well as a ride along with an on duty officer. Students are encouraged to express their thoughts openly and honestly in a learning environment rather than a confrontational atmosphere.
 
It’s is our goal that graduates leave the academy as more informed citizen with an insider’s view of our law enforcement function and operations.

For acceptance into the Citizen’s Police Academy, an individual must meet the following requirements: Be at least 18 years of age, or high school senior. Live, work, or attend school in the greater Laurel community. Have no prior felony convictions and no misdemeanor convictions for offenses involving weapons or violence. Have NO misdemeanor arrests within six months prior to the Laurel Citizen Police Academy.

Application must be received no later than September 24, 2007

For Additional Information Contact: Captain Robert Althoff at 301-498-0092 x 107 for more information or an application.

City of Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe and Council Member Gayle Snyder, Chair of the Laurel Beautification Committee have announced a project titled Operation Laurel High School Path Clean Up. This project will focus on the school path in the area of White Way and Harrison Drive. Joining Mayor Moe and Council Member Snyder will be the members of Laurel Police Department Explorers and Police Activity League, the Department of Public Works, the Department Parks and Recreation along with various dignitaries.

Operation School Path Clean up will consist of graffiti eradication, trash removal, fence repairing and removing brush and debris from the school path.

If you wish to participate please join Mayor Moe and Council Member Snyder:
Date: August 16, 2007
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Location: Laurel Police Department
350 Municipal Square
Laurel, Maryland 20707
Please join us and lets make the school path more pleasant and safe. For more information please contact Jim Collins, Public Information Officer, City of Laurel 301-725-5300 Ext. 244.
 

     The Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) will be collectiong school supplies for local children. Supplies are needed for children in grades K-12.
     Please call 301-776-0442 for more information. Donations can be delivered to LARS a30t 311 Laurel Avenue on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-2 and Monday evenings from 5-7:30
 

     Mayor Craig A. Moe announced that he has accepted the decision of Public Works Director Teddy R. Dulaney to retire from City employment effective May 31, 2007. Mr. Dulaney cited health issues as the reason he is making this decision at this time.

     Mayor Moe first appointed Mr. Dulaney Public Works Director in 2002. Prior to that Mr. Dulaney served as Deputy Director under the leadership of then Public Works Director Marty Flemion. Mr. Dulaney has worked for the City in the Public Works Department for 22 years. Mr. Dulaney provided oversight and direction for the new Public Works facility and assisted with the transition to more modern technology and working systems. He was also instrumental in developing the annual Capital Improvements Program into the working document it is today.

     Mayor Moe expressed his great appreciation to Mr. Dulaney for all he has done for the City of Laurel, its residents, and its businesses throughout his career. He wished Ted, and his wife Barbara, all the best in retirement.

     Mayor Craig A. Moe, the Laurel City Council and the Environmental Affairs Committee announce a two-part program to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m..

     The first half will center on the Patuxent Mill Dam abutment ruins and will emphasize the history of uses and navigability of the Patuxent River. The first part of the program starts at 10:00 a.m. at the Laurel Municipal Pool with doughnuts/coffee/juice followed by a walk down to Avondale Street while conducting some Laurel River Park cleanup.

     The Laurel Lakes half of the Earth Day Program will also consist of a social and improvement components. Starting at 12:30 p.m. with Hot Dogs/Hamburgers/Veggie Burgers/etc. followed by a walk around the lakes and Gude Park perimeter while conducting a Laurel Lakes cleanup. This portion of the event will conclude at approximately 2:30 P.M.

     Mayor Moe and the City Councilmembers invite all who are interested in learning more about the City to participate in these Earth Day events.

     For additional information please contact the Laurel City Council Office at 301-725-5300, Extension 121.

     The Mayor and City Council will introduce a resolution at the April 9, 2007 meeting that will authorize the Mayor to proceed with negotiations and financing to purchase First Baptist Church, located at 811 Fifth Street, for the purpose of relocating the Laurel Police Department. Mayor Moe is asking that public hearings be held on this purchase on April 9, April 16, and on April 23, 2007. Approval of the purchase could occur at the April 23, 2007 meeting.

     Mayor Moe advised that the only response to the City's November 27, 2006 announcement seeking proposals from the development community to provide the City with a new police facility of at least 25,000 square feet was received from Ms. Barbara Maher, legal counsel representing the Contract Purchasers of First Baptist Church. The Contract Purchasers were seeking to partner with the City for the entire First Baptist Church Fifth Street holdings, which include the church structure and adjoining school, its parking lots, apartments located at Fifth Street and Gorman Avenue, and other Fifth Street properties directly across from the church. In this arrangement, the City would purchase the church structure and the adjacent north and south parking lots for renovation to become a police station. The Contract Purchasers have revitalization development plans for the remaining portions of the property.

     Mayor Moe stated that identifying property that would be suitable for a police department has long been the challenge in the goal to provide a new facility. He stated that First Baptist Church is more centrally located and it is expected that the size of the facility will accommodate growth of the department for the next 15 to 20 years or longer. The church property is also very conducive to accommodating the current Police Department outreach programs, i.e. PAL, Citizens Police Academy and its Alumni Association, Police Explorers, Police Auxiliary, and the Department's efforts for future expansion of outreach programs.

     Mayor Moe stated the purchase price for the City's portion of the property is $2.5 million. It is estimated that an additional $3 million will be needed for renovations. There is still much work to be done in building design and construction, if the purchase is approved. It is anticipated that it will be eighteen months to two years from purchase to completion of construction before the Police Department will be fully operational at the Fifth Street location. Mayor Moe noted that the $5.5 million for purchase and renovation is far less than the approximately $7 million presented in the City's Capital Improvements Program.

     Mayor Moe explained that time is of the essence if this opportunity is to move forward. His office and staff have done an exhaustive four-month review to determine the viability and suitability of this property for use as a police station. He noted that the City has an excellent track record with the adaptive reuse of older structures, adding that the existing police station was originally built for use as a grocery store. He further noted that the Municipal Center is a former junior high school, and that the Department of Parks and Recreation had been headquartered in the Anderson-Murphy Armory Community Center before relocating to the Municipal Center.
Mayor Moe shared that he is looking forward to public input and participation in the consideration of this purchase. He added that he is excited about this opportunity to provide a centrally located facility that will serve the City's police needs and the citizens' expectation for quality police service for many years to come. Chief David Crawford expressed his excitement at the prospect of a new, modern facility for the men and women of the Laurel Police Department in their service to the citizens and businesses of Laurel.

     Persons interested in receiving a package of prior press releases on this matter, and a copy of the CIP project page, may contact the City Administrator's Office at 301-725-5300, Ext. 203.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - Date of Release: April 5, 2007
For Additional Information Contact: James Collins, Public Information Officer

Mayor Craig A. Moe has announced that the City of Laurel has designated the month of April as SPRING CLEANUP MONTH. The City sponsors this annual cleanup campaign to encourage and assist Laurel citizens in removing accumulated trash and in sprucing up the appearance of the City’s neighborhoods and streets.

The City will increase the residential special pickup service by extending the service to every Monday and Wednesday in the month of April. Arrangements for a special pickup of bulk trash and yard debris can be made by calling the Department of Public Works at (301) 725-0088 or by e-mail: dpw@laurel.md.us. Friday noon is the deadline for scheduling a Monday pickup and Tuesday noon is the deadline for scheduling a Wednesday pickup of bulk trash or yard debris. Yard debris collections will be on Wednesday only during this month.

The City of Laurel will be waiving the $10 base fee for special pickups for the month of April 2007. All other fees ($5/$10/$15/$20 each for electronics, large appliances/TVs and large pieces of furniture, and $10 each for tires) will remain in effect during this period. As always, there is no fee for yard debris pickups.

Press release, City of Laurel 3/28/07