Garrett County Health Planning Council
Stategic Plan
2008-2012
Promoting and protecting
the health
of Garrett County.
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Result : Ensure healthy living and working conditions for Garrett County residents by protecting and increasing our natural and built resources as our population grows.
Safe Homes |
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Current Status/Resources |
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Protect water quality |
Cooperative Extension MD Dept. of Environment (MDE) MD Dept. of Agriculture |
• Public awareness campaign to promote strategies to protect surface water systems (disposal of hazardous materials, use of pesticides and fertilizers, etc.) |
Protect drinking water quality |
Health Dept. Garrett County Sanitary District |
• Ensure wells are abandoned when public water supply lines are extended or when a homeowner drills a new well • Increase awareness about the importance of homeowners with private wells having the water supply tested periodically |
Protect outdoor air quality |
Health Dept. MDE |
• Work with MDE and other counties to draft regulations for outdoor wood boilers |
Manage quality of indoor air by reducing exposures to those agents that adversely impact health (formaldehyde, radon, mold, asthma triggers) |
Asthma Coalition - spirometer testing Health Dept. |
• Public awareness campaign about reducing exposures in the home • Provide information on basic screening or testing • Advocate for state standards for indoor air quality |
| Ensure homeowners are aware of importance of maintaining private sewage disposal systems | Health Dept. | • Increase public awareness regarding the importance of pumping septic tanks and conserving water to increase the expected life of the sewage disposal system |
Growth and Development |
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Current Status/Resources |
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Public education on water conservation to reduce demands on aquifers and reduce demands for wastewater disposal |
MDE Capacity Management Plans |
Enhance working relationship between municipal and county utilities, GC Health Dept., and Planning Office to ensure that wastewater and water capacities are being met |
Coordinate transportation improvements with community walkability improvements |
Traffic Advisory Committee |
Advocate that political subdivisions invest Community Development Block Grant funds to retrofit unwalkable neighborhoods with sidewalks or walking trails |
Encourage Smart Growth |
Garrett County Office of Planning and Land Development |
Incentives to businesses that locate within high or medium density districts. Work with MD Dept. of Planning |
Preservation, Protection & Conservation |
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Current Status/Resources |
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Develop comprehensive public education campaign to promote environmental preservation, protection, and conservation. |
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• Promote use of cleaner sources of energy, such as solar, natural gas, clean coal, efficient wind, and geothermal. • Promote development of Green Homes, including Energy Star appliances. • Increase the public awareness of naturally occurring and responsible methods of disposing of or reusing/recycling trash. |
Advocate for stiffer effluent and air emission laws in the U.S. to substantially reduce the carryover of toxic chemicals to MD |
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• Increase public awareness of existing monitoring reports of local air quality. • Encourage establishment of additional air quality monitoring stations in Garrett County . |
Explore incentives to encourage property owners to install septic de-nitrification units on existing septic systems. |
Bay Restoration funds available |
• Inform property owners with failing sewage disposal systems about how to apply for the available Bay Restoration money. |
Manage quality of outside controlled air burning. |
Health Dept. |
• Ensure requirements are being met when permits are issued. • Increase public awareness about importance of obtaining permit. |
Promote development of a system for household hazardous waste disposal. |
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• Public education about the hazards of substances and the importance of disposing of them properly. |