Washington County Commissioners briefs

July 08, 2010

County Commissoners approve hot-air balloon sculpture

The Washington County Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to sponsor a hot-air balloon sculpture in Take Flight II, a civic arts project to benefit the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts.

The county will spend $5,000 from its hotel-motel tax fund to sponsor the sculpture. The $5,000 "soaring" sponsorship level allows the sponsor to keep the sculpture after a display period, while sculptures sponsored at the $3,500 "Up, Up & Away" level will be auctioned, project organizers said.

The project is a follow-up to the successful butterfly sculpture project in spring 2009, Take Flight II co-chair Pieter Bickford said. A total of 45 sponsored hot-air balloon sculptures will be artistically decorated and placed in downtown Hagerstown in April and May 2011, according to a project flier.

Organizers also are planning a hot-air balloon festival to be held somewhere in the county, Bickford said.

The commissioners also agreed to donate the services of the county highway department to help move the sculpture bases.

Commissioner Kristin B. Aleshire abstained from voting on the sponsorship because he is related to one of the vendors supplying materials for the sculptures.

County to advertise for three positions

The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved advertisement of three positions within the Division of Environmental Management.

The positions are Deputy Director of the Department of Water Quality, Superintendent of Operations in the Department of Water Quality and Recycling Coordinator in the Department of Solid Waste.

The positions have been vacant due to resignations or retirements.

-- Heather Keels

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