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Dear Kemp Mill resident, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for electing me to be the new Kemp Mill Civic Association (KMCA) president. It is an opportunity for me to serve, but also a great responsibility to assume. My thanks go particularly to my wife and children for allowing me to accept the position. I equally thank all the board members who have been elected to work with me. Together we will make Kemp Mill one of the best communities to live and raise children. I would like to be proactive on subjects that many of you
would want to know by giving you a geographical location and population of our
community. Data provided by Alan Felsen, our Webmaster shows that the Kemp Mill
community includes the subdivisions of Grays Estates, Kemp Mill Estates, Kemp
Mill Farms, Kemp Mill Hills, and Kemp Mill Knolls. It also includes the
newer houses on Kemp Mill Road below Kemp Mill Forest which, based on the state
tax website, are part of Kemp Mill Forest. It does not include the rest of
Kemp Mill Forest, Springbrook Forest, or any of the apartments on University
Boulevard. Grays Estates: 126 A complete map of the area is on the KMCA’s website at www.kempmill.org. One of my highest priorities is improving neighborhood safety. I have asked Michael Auslin to chair a Public Safety Committee, which will work with the County police on ways to reduce crime in Kemp Mill. I am also concerned about pedestrian safety. This past summer, a neighborhood resident petitioned Montgomery County to request the construction of a new sidewalk on the upper two blocks of Hermleigh Road between Auth Lane and Kemp Mill Road. This resident had witnessed a near-collision between a car and a small child walking on this section of Hermleigh and wanted to improve pedestrian safety. In addition, she asked the KMCA to write a letter to the County in support of the sidewalk project. The KMCA, under the previous president, sent a letter to the County supporting this request in order to improve safety for people who walk on this street. In particular, many people – including families with small children – walk on this section of Hermleigh on the Jewish Sabbath and holidays. The request was limited to the upper two blocks of Hermleigh because people often access this street from Auth Lane. In response, the County performed a preliminary study and found that there was a public right-of-way to allow for construction of a sidewalk. According to the preliminary study, the construction would require the County to remove several trees and bushes from the public right-of-way, with replacement trees to be planted. The County also asked for comments from residents whose property is adjacent to the proposed sidewalk. The next stage in this process would be a public hearing, if the County decides to pursue this project. Over the last several weeks, several neighborhood residents have questioned the KMCA’s decision to support the sidewalk request without first consulting with residents and have raised concerns about the sidewalk’s impact on the public right-of-way. Therefore, the current board decided to hold a community discussion of this issue at the next KMCA membership meeting on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at the Kemp Mill Elementary School. Richard Earp, the County’s Sidewalks Program Manager, will be at the meeting to discuss the proposed project. We hope all residents will attend this meeting and share their views on this topic. MEETING AGENDA Tuesday, January 8,
2008 Kemp Mill Elementary School 411 Sisson Street 6:45 pm Membership renewal 7:00 Meeting starts 7:05 Committee reports 7:15 Presentation from WSSC on upcoming replacement of water mains 7:45 Discussion of proposal to construct sidewalk on part of Hermleigh Rd. Guest speaker: Richard W. Earp, Montgomery County Sidewalk Program Manager 8:45 New business 9:00 Adjourn Sincerely, Dr. Gabriel Kengni President Kemp Mill Civic Association |
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