ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 12, 2001) – Demonstrating the state’s commitment to improving the lives of Marylanders, Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend today announced Board of Public Works approval of more than $79,000 in funds to protect Calvert County property owners affected by hurricanes and strong storms like nor’easters.

These funds will be used to construct upgrades to the Fifth, Seventh and Ninth Street pumping stations and outfalls in North Beach to improve their capacity and reliability during storm episodes,” Lt. Governor Townsend said. “This project will reduce the frequency of future flood damage to public and private property caused by these types of wind-driven storms.”

Funding for the project, a total of more than $319,300, will come from the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Comprehensive Flood Management Grant Program as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The town will match in the state’s contribution of more than $79,130 toward the total, while the remainder will be made up with FEMA grant dollars.

For years North Beach has had to cope with flooding from storms and high tides on the Chesapeake Bay,” said North Beach Mayor Mark R. Frazer. “In an attempt to solve this perennial problem, the State of Maryland has once again come to the support of the town. The residents of North Beach are grateful to the Maryland Department of the Environment and Federal Emergency Management Agency for their invaluable assistance in this important effort.”

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski assisted in the project as well by bringing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and MDE together to evaluate the need and develop a plan to resolve deficiencies in the town’s storm water pumping system.

Usually chaired by Governor Parris N. Glendening, the Board of Public Works also is comprised of Comptroller William Donald Schaefer and Treasurer Richard N. Dixon. The Board is empowered by the General Assembly to approve major construction and consultant contracts, equipment purchases, property transactions and other procurement actions.

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