(8/2021) Over the past month, the County Council has been engaged in historic preservation, debating the merits of an Office of Equity and Inclusion, and more routine budget matters. I hope everyone is enjoying a more ‘normal’ summer this year as opposed to last year. Frederick County’s vaccination rate is approaching three quarters of eligible residents getting the vaccine. The vaccine is our best defense against the virus and its mutations and will help us get back to the normalcy we all crave.
Moving on, one of the budget highlights that the Council approved was for Frederick Community College (FCC). As the only public institution of higher learning in Frederick County, FCC serves a critical function in preparing our workforce and for today’s economy. The pandemic dramatically altered what had been a relatively steady increase in students and classes over decades. During the 2020-2021 academic year, the number of enrolled students fell dramatically and the college made about $3.5 million in cuts.
It is interesting to note that for the upcoming academic year, there has been a 24% increase in registration. That represents quite a surge. I am hopeful that classes will be able to resume as normal this autumn.
The Council voted to preserve three properties and place them on the County Register of Historic Places: Rocky Springs Chapel and School House, Beatty Cramer House, and Samual Fleming House.
The Rocky Springs Chapel and School House off Rocky Springs Road north of Frederick is especially interesting and noteworthy. The School House was built in 1839 and the chapel was built in 1882 and utilized until 1982. The buildings are associated with the United Brethren in Christ, the first Protesteant denomination found in the United States. Additionally, the School House is significant for a cavalry skirmish on July 8, 1964 just before the Battle of Monocacy. The Union cavalry and artillery of 100 men stationed on the north side of Rocky Springs had a spirted fight with 400 rebels stationed on Hagan’s Hill, a mile west of the city of Frederick. A bullet apparently struck Captain James Clark’s jacket button and ‘made it concave but inflicted no injury.’ I understand there is an effort to repair these cites and make them into a museum.
It is important to preserve this kind of history for future Frederick County residents.
Finally, the County Council began debate and discussion over whether to create a new County Division that reports to the County Executive called the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. I have several concerns with the approach that has been presented. We already have several Commissions including the Human Relations Commission, Commission on Immigration, Commission on Disabilities, and Commission on Women that are established for Frederick County. I worry about the creation of a permanent office and the necessity of continuing increasing the county budget to establish an office to advocate for social justice. If you share my concerns, please feel free to contact the County Council to let them know how you feel.
