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Doc Drop: Mount Rainier library asbestos and lead testing results

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The Mount Rainier public library has been closed for several weeks now due to concerns over asbestos and lead within the building. The good news is that no lead was found. But the bad news is that testing revealed the presence of asbestos. And it could cost Mount Rainier approximately $30,000 to re-open the library, according to documents obtained by Route 1 Reporter. At tonight’s Mount Rainier City Council worksession, city staff will brief elected officials on the state of the Mount Rainier library, which is operated by the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System.

Development

Mount Rainier hires new econdev chief

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Mount Rainier has found a new director of economic development in one Ronald Hopkins, city officials announced Wednesday afternoon. His first day will be Dec. 3, 2018. Hopkins succeeds former economic development director Samantha Olatunji, who resigned suddenly in early October 2018. The hiring was announced Nov.

Brentwood

Bunker Hill Fire Station lawsuit moves through motions

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A lawsuit challenging the consolidation of the volunteer fire departments operating out of the Bunker Hill Fire Station continues to move ahead. This week, lawyers for both sides will be in court for a hearing on pending pre-trail disputes and motions, set for Nov. 20, 2018, in Upper Marlboro. According to a scheduling order issued by presiding judge John Davey, the pre-trial phase of the suit is expected to end by Jan. 30, 2019.

Art
A photo, taken from the center lane of the Baltimore Avenue-slash-Route 1 corridor looking directly south from the intersection of Oglethorpe Street and Baltimore Avenue, shows an urban vista. The green hills of Bladensburg are in the far distance, set against a cloudy evening sky and above a ribbon of roadway. Nearer to the photographer, an urban streetscape reveals row-houses and mid-rise commercial buildings south of Madison Street set against tree-lined sidewalks. Light traffic is seen on the roadway.

Gateway Arts District impact on local artists hard to quantify

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Is the Gateway Arts District helping local artists? Anecdotally, the answer seems to be “yes.” Over the past 20 years, a number of arts organizations in the Gateway Arts District have sprung into life and created new visibility for the local arts industry along Prince George’s County’s southern Route 1 corridor. For instance, the Hyattsville Arts & Ales festival, formerly the Hyattsville Arts Festival, has grown dramatically, spanning multiple city blocks in downtown Hyattsville and attracting thousands of arts-oriented revelers to the corridor. But numbers to back up these anecdotes are hard to come by, or – worse – very fuzzy. The Gateway Arts District can informally refer to two things.

Mount Rainier

Cottage City, Mount Rainier, Laurel recognized for ‘green’ initiatives

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For the first time since the program began, Cottage City has been certified as a Sustainable Maryland town. It joins more than 35 cities across Maryland recognized for environmental stewardship policy leadership by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. Additionally, Mount Rainier and Laurel’s environmental policy efforts saw those Prince George’s County municipalities re-certified as Sustainable Maryland communities. To achieve certification, municipalities must form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials and complete a variety sustainability-related projects. Points are given depending on the type of the project undertaken Cities must earn at least 150 such points and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence that the Sustainable Maryland Certified requirements have been satisfied.

Government

Doc Drop: Read Braatz’s parking ticket waiver emails

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As Mount Rainier’s civic sphere reacted to the release of an investigation report into ticket waiving practices in the city’s police department, the city manager’s own involvement with parking ticket waivers and fine reductions has come under scrutiny. Route 1 Reporter detailed in this story the contrasting narratives over this activity told by Mount Rainier City Manager Miranda Braatz and former city chief of police Michael Scott, who resigned his position as investigations into his department ramped up earlier this spring. A big part of that report was derived from records obtained through Maryland’s Public Information Act and provided by sources close to the story. The records include emails, snail mails, and reports generated by the city’s parking ticket management software, ComPlus. Below, Route 1 Reporter presents those documents.

Mount Rainier

Former chief blasts Mt. Rainier police report; Shah says more investigations needed

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As Mount Rainier residents digest the findings of a financial investigation into its police department, some City Council members have also weighed in on the news. One Council member has gone on the record to say additional financial issues within the police department were discovered during the course of the investigation and said more investigations are needed. Former city police chief Michael Scott said the investigative report, which focused on high rates of parking ticket waivers, was biased and misleading. Route 1 Reporter reached out to every member of Mount Rainier’s City Council, plus Mayor Malinda Miles, Scott and the Mount Rainier Fraternal Order of Police and City Manager Miranda Braatz for comment or reaction to the report. As of this writing, Scott and Councilors Shivali Shah (Ward One) and Luke Chesek (Ward Two) were the only ones to issue statements on the record for this story.

Government

Mt. Rainier financial investigation report released

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Mount Rainier officials have released a report detailing the findings of an investigation into financial irregularities related to parking ticket and parking meter revenue within the city’s police department. This is a developing story. It will be updated as new information in learned. The full report and a letter from Mount Rainier City Manager Miranda Braatz can be found at the bottom of this article. The report, conducted by forensic auditing firm KatzAbosch, found a near total and long-term lack of administrative procedures governing the handing of this ticket and parking revenue left the city vulnerable to fraud or theft.

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier economic development director resigns

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Samantha Olatunji has resigned her post as Mount Rainier’s Economic Development Director. Mount Rainier City Administrator Miranda Braatz said Olatunji’s resignation was effective Monday, Oct. 1, 2018. While a recruiting effort is launched, economic development activities will be handled by Braatz, she said. Braatz said she could not reveal when the city learned of Olatunji’s departure.