What You Need to Know: Sykesville Town Council August 8

1. Proposed Code Amendment for Additional Snow Emergency Routes Was Approved

Mayor Mike Miller and the Sykesville Town Council approved the amendment set forth by Ron Esworthy (Public Works Director) to add nine coul-de-sacs to the snow emergency route. These coul-de-sacs include:

• Bunker Hill Court
• Revere Court
• Concord Lane
• Shimmering Run Court
• Wind Swept Court
• Autumn Sky Court
• Braemar Court
• Dominiqe Court
• Patterson Court

The purpose of this amendment is to, “remove snow in a timely manner, reduce complaint calls, improve working relationship with town residents, and improve clearing of snow in the cul-de-sacs so residents can move freely,” stated Esworthy.

2. Sykesville Parks and Recreation’s “Movies in the Park” Proposal Approved

Pete O’Neal Jr., Sykesville Parks and Recreation committee member, along with Julia Betz, Council member and Sykesville Parks and Recreation committee member, proposed a “Movies in the Park” event, where family-friendly movies can be viewed by the public at South Branch Park, on a large projector screen. “This will be the newest movie place in the Eldersburg/Sykesville area,” stated Frank Robert Jr., Council President.

The projector screen spans twelve feet and will be placed on raised ground so that the movie can be easily seen by viewers seated in chairs or on the lawn. According to O’Neal, “the 3500 Lumens High Definition projector lets us start movies before dark and it’s 3D ready.”

Sykesville Parks and Recreation plans to show movies on Saturday evenings. A family oriented movie will be selected and posted on the Parks and Recreation website. There will be a trial run early September 2011, with the goal of having multiple screenings by 2012.

The bottom area of the projector screen is available space that can be used for advertisement purchase that will create revenue. In addition, the Parks and Recreation plans to sell advertising space prior to the start of each movie. Community announcements will also be displayed on the projector screen before the movie and concessions will be sold.

Other uses for the projector screen are in the works such as a gaming tournament (i.e. rock band or guitar hero).

Sykesville Parks and Recreation also plans to sponsor drives to accept donations for various causes upon entrance to the movie events.

The total cost for this project will be close to $4,000. After four movie viewings the event is expected to have paid for itself according to council members.

3. Pete O’Neal Jr., Appointed to Parks and Recreation Committee

O’Neal is a systems administrator for T. Row Price Associates and has been involved in multimedia since the 1990s. He has been actively involved with Sykesville Parks and Recreation and developed the “Movies in the Park” proposal.

4. Budget Allocated for Exterior Painting of Town House and Gate House

Roughly $11,500 of the $15,000 budgeted for the exterior painting of the Sykesville Town House and Gate House will go to the Sykesville Gate House, while the other $3,500 will remain in the Town House project. According to council members, the Gate House is in greater need than the Town House.