Baltimore City Department of Public Works is addressing the water distribution infrastructure improvements in Fort Howard.
As explained by Mr. Arthur Shapiro Chief, Office of Engineering and Construction at City of Baltimore – DPW during a recent telephone conversation July 27, 2015 to paraphrase:
“Baltimore City DPW maintains water service for Baltimore County customers HOWEVER Baltimore County provides replacement and upgrades ( as Mrs. Crews stated on May 28, 2014 in a Fort Howard Community Association conversation).
Furthermore, Baltimore city Regulations only permits 1% of the 40,000 miles of water distribution pipes to be addressed on a year to year basis.
Additionally, per Baltimore City policy, the water system deficiencies are prioritized from worst to least worst. The prioritization protocol is not compliant driven, rather, pipes are physically examined, rated, then assigned priority.”
Engineering data has been requested for Fort Howard water distribution and Baltimore City DPW is most kindly providing it.
The data will be posted at https://forthoward.org/
Mr. Shapiro is being schedule to address the Fort Howard residents at the September 2015 meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall.
Facilitating matters, various state and local elected government officials from Baltimore City and Baltimore County have been included in this dialogue.
Delegate Robin Grammer, 6th Legislative District advocated for the Fort Howard community in a letter addressed to Mr. Kamenetz, Baltimore County Executive in the following downloadable PDF file.
Thank you Mr. Grammer!
Mr. Grammer’s advocacy for corrections in Fort Howard was enclosed in the following to Mr. Arthur Shapiro and the Honorable Mayor Rawlings-Blake:
Mr. Arthur Shapiro
Chief, Office of Engineering and Construction at City of Baltimore – DPW
Per your conversation July 27, 2015 with Mr. Pappas, kindly forward the engineering data regarding water distribution infrastructure including causation of the recent failures and repairs affected, and any determination for replacement or preventative maintenance.
Additionally, please note Fort Howard Community Association is exploring gas distribution and storm water management improvements.
Our next general meeting is in September 2015 and we look forward to you addressing our group. Thank you for the offer.
Please find attached a letter from our Maryland State Delegate Mr. Robin Grammer, 6th Legislative District stating his advocacy of improvements.
Kindly note Councilman Todd Crandell, 7th Councilman District, Baltimore County, and his staff has been working effectively with the community since his inauguration in December 2014 addressing the infrastructure issue and has stated his intention seeking needed improvements. Theirs, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City responsiveness has been memorialized by several posts on our website https://forthoward.org/ You are invited to visit.
Eager for positive change, Mr. Grammer’s colleagues Senator Salling, Delegates Long and Metzgar also are aware or the challenges we face .
To facilitate this dialoged, also forward the engineering data to their respective emails so they will have the information on file.
Lastly, Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz has categorically stated in his recent inaugural speech he advocates “making Baltimore County a better place for our children.”
Thank you once again for your and Baltimore City’s advocacy in this matter and we look forward to your recommendations what trajectory should been taken.
Most respectfully yours,
Kathleen Labuda
Secretary/Treasurer
Fort Howard Community Association
9202 Howard Avenue
PO Box 156
Fort Howard, Maryland 21052
[email protected] 410-477-2040
Like in the recent corrections of the U.S. Postal Service zip code errors and Baltimore county GIS System errors (July 21, post), Fort Howard Community Association on behalf of all residents of Fort Howard, Maryland regards the water distribution similarly: an opportunity for residents to exercise their freedoms through our dedicated elected/non/elected public servants cooperatively and collaboratively, to quote Mr. Kamentz from his 2015 Inaugural Speech ” make Baltimore County a better place for our children.”
Kathleen Labuda
Secretary/Treasuer
FHCA
