According to a recent study by the United States Geological survey, 72% of the earth is covered with water. 97% of this water is salty and not good for drinking. That leaves us with 3% of the Earth’s water for drinking, but 70% of that water is locked in the polar ice caps. We are left with 1% that is readily accessible. Water is our most precious resource. It is something that is not replaceable.
Our water in Charles County comes from underground aquifers which are recharged by precipitation. We also purchase 1.5 million gallons per day from WSSC. We need to take steps to insure that our supplies are adequate for the future. Here are the two steps that I propose:
- Manage the growth policy with water usage in mind. Every time we build new developments, we destroy forests and permeable soil which are necessary for aquifer replenishment.
- Study the idea of reverse osmosis plants (desalinization).
All the studies that I have read point to water shortages as early as 2030 if our rate of growth continues at its current pace. The rate at which Charles County is currently growing and rezoning rural areas is currently the highest in Maryland. We need responsible and forward thinking now.
Source: The Bay Net, Bay Media Services, Inc
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010
During a recent visit to the Baynet Radio studios and TheBAYNET.com newsroom, Republican candidate for Charles County Commissioner for District 4, Don Derencin explained his position on a number of issues facing Charles County and why he chose 2010 to run for office.
When asked why he chose to run in this election, Derencin said, “I have always wanted to run for office, but first had to support my children’s education and now that they are set and out of the home, it is time to give back to the community.”
Derencin stated that for him, the number one priority for Charles County is the economy. “Residential growth and economic development are the keys to a successful Charles County. The need to increase our commercial tax base is necessary to fulfill our budgetary requirements and to reduce or keep our individual property taxes in line.” Read the rest of this entry »
Residential growth and economic development are the keys to a successful Charles County. The need to increase our commercial tax base is necessary to fulfill our budgetary requirements and to reduce or keep our individual property taxes in line.
With increased commercial activity comes the need for increased residential communities. In order to meet the need for more housing, I advocate a “smart growth” plan instead of “sprawl development”. Smart growth plans invest time, attention, and resources into restoring communities. This form of growth is town-centered, taking advantage of the infrastructure that is already in place. We need a plan that clusters new development such as the Waldorf sub-area plan as well as revitalizing our existing neighborhoods.
Read the rest of this entry »
Our county currently spends 48% of its revenues on education. We have built several impressive schools, and our test scores are continuing to improve. Over the past ten years, we have made great strides in education, but we have not done enough. We have improved our test scores in reading and mathematics. A few of our schools rank above the state averages for proficiency based on the Maryland State standards. We have begun to narrow the achievement gap. The educators and administrators have worked very hard and intelligently to achieve these results. We have given our school system solid technological tools to get the job done, but we have not fully addressed the need to attract and retain our teachers and administrators.
It is no secret that a good education comes from dedicated and professional educators. A good building and a comfortable atmosphere are very important, but nothing can happen without good teachers. Once hired, we need to retain them with competitive salaries and assistance in housing by utilizing HUD programs such as “The Teacher Next Door.”
We need to also explore the idea of a four year education program at the College of Southern Maryland. The state of Maryland only graduates about 25% of its new teacher needs from its universities and colleges each year. We need to develop teachers in Charles County.
We need to fund education in a disciplined and forward thinking manner and let the elected school board and school administrators do their jobs without micromanagement.
