Author: Michael Kuster

Mike is the publisher and editor of GladeValley.net. After growing up on a farm in Frederick County, Mike moved to Walkersville with his wife to start their family. Since moving to Walkersville, Mike and Emily's three children were born and attend local public schools. Mike also owns Digital Age Solution, an I.T. firm offering Managed Services, Computer Repairs & Sales, Voice Over IP Telephone Service, Networking, and Software Engineering. Mike actively participates in the community in various roles including: Walkersville Planning & Zoning Commission Member, Kaleidoscope 4-H Club Leader, Friends of Walkervsille Library, Vice-President, Frederick County 4-H Camp & Activities Center, Inc. Board Member, Federated Charities, and more.

Water for Waste

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 Michael Kuster

The Town of Walkersville Burgess and Town Commissioners met Wednesday, August 12, 2015 with a larger than average audience. Water and water treatment waste was the big topic. Town Planner Susan Hauver and Burgess Ralph Whitmore introduced a proposal negotiated with Frederick County involving Fountain Rock Park. Due to sometimes high levels of nitrates in the well at Fountain Rock Park, the county often must bring bottled water to the park and the two private homes in the park. With the development of Bell Farm, Frederick County asked to…

Glade Valley Government headline

Ethics Commission Resignations

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 Michael Kuster

During the August 12, 2015 Walkersville Town Meeting, Burgess Ralph Whitmore announced that two members of the Ethic Commission resigned recently. Barry Diamondstone and John Nicodemus (an alternate member) resigned. Last month, a member resigned from the Ethics Commission. Last month, Burgess Whitmore expressed dismay at a recent, undisclosed action by the Ethics Commission, and suggested they receive training. Nothing more was said about the decision, nor did anyone infer that the resignations were related to the incident. Last month’s resignation came when the member moved out of Walkersville. Burgess…

Government

Walkersville Awards and Seeks Bids

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 Michael Kuster

During its August 12, 2015 Town Meeting, The Town of Walkersville awarded bids and attempted again for bids on another project. A bid was awarded for the engineering to replace water lines on Liberty Street and Moon Maiden Court. Three firms bid on the job. Bids ranged in prices from $14,000 – $30,000. The Town Commissioners accepted town staff recommendations to award Arro Consulting, Inc the contract at a price of about $14,000. A request for bids for the construction of a Community Park Basketball Court went unanswered. The Town…

Glade Valley Government headline

Walkersville Seeks Input from Old Town Residents

August 13, 2015August 13, 2015 Michael Kuster

In response to a request from the Walkersville Planning Commission, Town Commissioners voted to gauge the interest of Old Town residents in changing the zoning of their properties to Old Town Mixed Use. The Planning Commission looked at different options to try to accommodate a property owner’s request to change zoning, but could find no legal way to do so. They recommended a small area rezoning, but Town Commissioners and the Burgess seemed to think that it may not be necessary. The last comprehensive rezoning was in 2013. Burgess Ralph…

Government headline

County Re-Organization and Director Hirings Save

August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 Michael Kuster

Accounts in local media recently included inaccurate information about the cost of reorganizing Frederick County Government. Two columns published in the Woodsboro Walkersville Times and the Emmitsburg News-Journal claimed that new positions in the Office of the County Executive and the hiring of three division directors have added substantially to Frederick County Government’s payroll. In fact, County Executive Jan Gardner has trimmed nearly $45,000 annually through these actions. As part of the transition to charter government, the staff of the former County Manager’s Office became the staff of the County Executive’s Office. Most of the new…