County

The County Commissioners are considering deferring residential development or mining expansion in limestone areas for up to one year, even though planners recommended against a similar proposal last year.The commissioners have tentatively scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 5 to discuss a zoning amendment that would defer applications for construction projects or new mining operations for 12 months or until the county completes a mineral mining plan, whichever comes first.Wakefield Valley, the mineral-rich region between Westminster and New Windsor, would be affected by the amendment, along with some other areas in west-central Carroll.

Carroll emergency personnel will be able to track storms more accurately and quickly when the county hooks into a system that provides National Weather Service information, officials said yesterday.County commissioners voted yesterday to spend $50 a month to tap into a satellite service offered by Data Transmission Network in Omaha, Neb.The service will allow the county to receive forecasts from the National Weather Service 15 minutes after they are made, said Howard "Buddy" Redman, chief of the Bureau of Emergency Operations Services.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The state of California mailed a check for $37,628,740 to Orange County more than two weeks ago.No one has seen it since.The check never appeared at the county public facilities department, where it was intended to begin paying the state's share of $1.3 billion in improvements needed to forestall a catastrophic flood along the Santa Ana River.State officials stopped payment on the waylaid check and today will give the county a new one.The glitch, it seems, was a matter of mistaken address.

Seven years ago, James M. Schneider was told by Baltimore County public works officials that a large sewer pipe would have to be laid through his 1.4-acre property at the edge of the Back River. Once the job was completed, he was told, the land would be returned to its former condition. However, damage to the Essex property - and especially to its septic system - was such that the county ultimately condemned and bought the land, its seven-bedroom house and a smaller adjoining residence from the Schneiders and agreed in writing to help relocate the nine-member family to a comparable property.

Probe clears Millersville landfill management of misconductA state prosecutor says she has found no criminal misconduct at the county's Millersville landfill and has closed her investigation into its management.Neighbors complained to the state's Environmental Crimes Unit last spring that the landfill, operated for 18 years by the county Department of Public Works, chronically violated state environmental laws.After a routine investigation, "we determined there was no criminal conduct," said Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Beebe Volz.

Elected officials were dropped last night from a bill that would sweeten pensions for top Baltimore County managers and for workers in several unions.The change would allow pensions to be figured on the basis of wages earned during the final 12 months of service, instead of the average wage during the final three years. Since wages are generally a bit higher each year, the change would slightly increase the pensions of workers covered by the bill.The council voted 7-0 to delete elected officials from the measure, which then passed on a 5-2 vote.

BOYS PERFORMER OF THE YEAR Izudin Mehmedovic Oakland Mills, senior Despite battling a sore foot, Mehmedovic won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 races at the state championships, including a Class 2A-1A record in the 1,600 (4:28.5). He also ran a 1:54 anchor leg on a runner-up 3,200 relay. His gritty performance sparked Oakland Mills to its fourth straight state title. He ran the 3,200 in 10:00.9 and the 800 in 2:03.1. Because of his foot, all three state times were slower than his three regional gold-medal performances in the 800 (1:58.

Player of the Year Sieara Saunders, Winters Mill One of the most athletic players in the county, Saunders used her uncanny quickness to blow past defenders, and also displayed one of the county's best touches from the perimeter. Often, however, it was her defense that made the biggest impact, anticipating passes and breaking on the ball to create fast breaks the other way. The combination of skills helped the 5-foot-5 junior lead the county in scoring (14.2 points per game), and she also averaged nearly six steals and four assists for the Falcons (20-6)

Lawmakers should seriously consider adding Frederick County to the locations where slot machine gambling would be allowed under a proposal for a state referendum being weighed by the General Assembly, several delegates suggested yesterday in a brief hearing on the matter. "This is a very popular part of the state that we've just kind of left alone," said Del. Frank S. Turner, a Howard County Democrat who chairs a House subcommittee that is considering a Senate bill on slots passed last week.

County Commissioner Elmer C. Lippy is sentimental about Baltimore, where he met his wife of 47 years and earned a paycheck as a chemist for nearly four decades.But as the lifelong Manchester resident learned while campaigning last year, some Carroll residents, especiallythose with roots here, don't share his fondness for Charm City."I heard so many remarks from people telling me to see to it thatwe stop sending our money to Baltimore," said Lippy, 70. "That was the prevailing sentiment."Partly in response, the commissioners have formed a six-member citizens committee to study whether to continue the county's 28-year affiliation with the Baltimore Regional Council of Governments.