By Delise White and Peyton Moyles
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The Baltimore County Council Monday approved a $170 million supplemental capital budget that will provide funding during the current fiscal year for schools, the 911 emergency communication system, roadways and garbage disposal.
Most of the bond funding – $137.4 million – would pay for the construction of six new schools and renovations to Pine Grove Middle School.
In addition, the budget includes $15.7 million to replace the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System; $10 million to continue the county’s current roadway repaving program; and $7.2 million to open new space at the Eastern Sanitary Landfill located near the Harford County line.
Budget and Finance Director Kevin Dorsey said the projects are slated to take place in the current fiscal year. The council voted unanimously to approve the capital budget.
The $170 million in bonds will come out of the $491.7 million bond proposal that was approved by voters in a referendum Nov. 6.
The bonds were originally slated to be used for capital projects as part of the county’s 2019 – 2024 capital budget. However, county officials asked the council to approve the use of the $170 million in the current fiscal year so that they could expedite the projects.
For example, county officials have said that to get the new 911 system ready for 2020, they would need to begin work on the upgrade this year.
Under the proposal approved by the council, the county will spend $53 million on the renovations at Pine Grove and the construction of a new school in Nottingham. The plan also includes $53 million to replace Dundalk, Berkshire and Colgate elementary schools; $23 million for a new elementary school on Ridge Road; and $8 million to replace Chadwick Elementary School.
In other action, the council approved a contract with American Traffic Solutions, Inc., to provide red light/speed camera enforcement in the county.
The contract would run from now until Dec. 31, 2023 and will automatically renew for three additional two-year periods. According to council documents, the county estimates that it will spend $8.9 million for the first five-year period and a total of $21 million over the entire 11-year period covered by the contract.
Council members said the contract does not automatically mean that the number of speed and red-light cameras in the county would increase.
American Traffic will be responsible for installation and maintenance of cameras as well as for citation processing and payment collection. The contract stipulates that the company provide monthly and annual reports about the program.
Baltimore County currently has 10 red light cameras at 10 fixed locations operating at all times. The county has 36 portable speed enforcement cameras that operate on a 14-hour, five-day-a-week schedule at any of 78 locations.
Councilman David Marks, R-5th District, asked if the council could add more cameras if it determined it was necessary.
Dorsey said the contract allows the council to add more cameras through the legislative process. No member felt the need to add more cameras as of now. The company is only to assist in the evaluation of current and future camera locations.
The council also heard from four men who contested the approval to rename what used to be Robert E. Lee Memorial Park in Baltimore.
The park is owned by Baltimore City but leased by the county. In 2015, the late Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz approved a name change to Lake Roland.
The community members said that the county did not have the right to change the name of the park because the Baltimore City Council never took an official vote on the matter.