Companies

A task force evaluating the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co.'s future learned more Monday about problems in the company's past and heard from other organizations about how they handle their operations. Issues with Fairplay Fire Co. staffing levels and lacking certifications started years ago, according to Kevin L. Lewis, Washington County's director of emergency services. In remarks during a meeting at the Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Lewis called the problems “ongoing, repetitive issues primarily based around staffing” after reading summaries of letters, emails and phone calls dating from the past five years.

A 23rd Judicial Circuit judge has vacated a September 2011 Berkeley County Planning Commission order that attempted to compel a company to submit a site plan for an existing operation. Judge Christopher C. Wilkes ruled that the planning commission is prohibited from requiring L&H Mobile Storage LLC to submit a site-plan application or follow other procedural requirements for certain development at 615 Pack Horse Ford Road, according to the order filed Aug. 14. L&H Mobile Storage still must follow all laws and regulations for any new construction involving land disturbance that was not contemplated in a 2004 lawsuit involving the property, Wilkes ruled in issuing two writs favoring the company.

Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co.'s chief and president faced questions Monday from other members of a task force working to revive the suspended company. This was the task force's first time hearing directly from officials with firsthand knowledge of the company's problems. More than 40 people sat in the audience at Washington County Agricultural Education Center for Monday's meeting, listening to Chief Leonard Heller and President Bill Pennington field a number of questions about the company's operations, membership and shortcomings.

Among the basic duties that are still prescribed to government, austerity or no, is fire protection. It's a life-or-death task that depends on discipline and dependability. That's why the Washington County Board of Commissioners could not afford to toy around any longer while the Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co. attempted to get its act together. The commissioners properly voted 4-1 to suspend operations at Fairplay this week, while a task force reorganizes the failing department.

Former Fairplay volunteer firefighter Mark Kopp said Wednesday that the indefinite suspension of Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co. operations because of its trouble responding to calls was overdue, while others praised the work the company was doing. “It's a long time coming,” Kopp said. “If Fairplay was called, services from Sharpsburg or Funkstown were going to come anyway.” Richard Forcino, however, said the fire company always answered his calls in a timely manner. “Every time I've needed the fire company, they've been right here,” he said.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on Tuesday to immediately and indefinitely suspend the operations of Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co. A task force will work on a plan to re-establish the department, coming up with a plan, within three months, for letting the fire company continue. Commissioner William B. McKinley said the suspension is indefinite and reinstatement is not guaranteed. The company has been failing in recent years to respond quickly to calls, especially during the day on weekdays.

In the two days before the Washington County Commissioners were set to decide whether to suspend Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co.'s operations, the commissioners have received at least 14 emails from community members supporting a suspension, according to letters provided by the county government. “It expresses concern in the realm of public safety, that folks that are living in the service area of Fairplay are concerned that there will be a response in the appropriate amount of time to save someone's life,” County Commissioner Ruth Anne Callaham said Monday.

Amid concerns about Fairplay Volunteer Fire Co.'s ability to respond to emergency calls, the Washington County Commissioners will consider on Tuesday whether to suspend the fire company's operations, according to county officials and a presentation document for the commissioners' meeting. The concerns are mostly about Fairplay's ability to respond to daytime weekday and emergency medical service calls, something fire company officials expect to improve by paying to have an emergency medical technician/driver work out of the fire hall from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Monday, Fairplay Fire Chief Leonard Heller said Sunday.

A Maryland company will be ordered to pay nearly $90,000 in back taxes after Berkeley County officials discovered the company has been mistakenly exempt from having to pay them since 2007. Panhandle Real Estate Trust LLC of Cumberland, Md., will receive a $89,581 supplemental tax bill for property taxes owed for the former Ralph Lauren clothing distribution center it owns, but it can not be asked to pay taxes for the 2007 tax year, officials said Thursday. The bill does not include interest that also must be paid on the unpaid taxes, according to Berkeley County Assessor Gearl Raynes.

Potomac Valley Fire Co. in Dargan will hold a ham and shrimp dinner at the fire hall Saturday starting at 4 p.m. The meal will consist of ham, one pound of shrimp, parsley potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, homemade rolls and iced tea. The meal costs $15. Museum to hold Fun Day The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum and Washington County Ag Expo and Fair will hold a Heritage Fun Day Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors can...