Howard County (Map, News) - The state Department of Natural Resources is asking the Howard County Council to keep funding in the budget for the Belmont property.

“Since we continue to explore an agreement between DNR and [Howard Community College], I would respectfully recommend that the County Council not reduce the Belmont line item from the [fiscal 2008] budget,” DNR Secretary John Griffin said in a letter sent Monday to Councilman Calvin Ball, D-District 2.

County Executive Ken Ulman’s proposed budget includes $2.2 million for the college to help buy the Belmont property and $2.8 million to renovate existing structures. The council is scheduled to approve the budget Wednesday.

Belmont, an estate built within Patapsco State Park in Elkridge, is owned by the Howard Community College Educational Foundation and managed by the college.

“Our conversations have been productive, but not conclusive,” Griffin wrote, referring to discussions with college, officials, the council and administration. But “unanswered questions” remain, he said.

Ball said the conversations are evolving, and the council has to “carefully weigh what the secretary of DNR is suggesting.”

Councilwoman Courtney Watson, D-District 1, the main force advocating for the use of state Open Space funds for the land, said Griffin is acknowledging that if the college wants to develop the land, it can’t use state parks funding.

“That’s why this may or may not work out,” she said.

Organizations including the Howard County Citizens Association and the county’s planning board have opposed the budget item, which Watson considers significant.

Councilwoman Mary Kay Sigaty, D-District 4, had raised concerns that DNR had not made an outright offer for the land, but rather said the department would consider the option.

smichael@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

5:43 AM MST on Sun., May. 6, 2007 re: "Official: Boys and Girls Club in Southeast may close after review"

Jenna taylor said:
This is terribly unfortunate. As a college student who works part-time at my local Boys & Girls Club I know how devastating this will be to some of the club's members. Many of the children see their Boys & Girls Club as a safe haven from the harsh realities they are exposed to at such a young age... being around adults who are good role-models and care about their futures is so critical to their development... with all the loaded people in D.C. someone with big bucks should step in and get the club financially back afloat.

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10:38 PM MST on Sat., May. 5, 2007 re: "Official: Boys and Girls Club in Southeast may close after review"

Examiner Reader said:
Maybe if they didn't their Executive Director a quarter of a million dollar$ a year they could afford to keep thier clubs open!

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