The newly-dedicated Red Pump Elementary School was a topic of congratulatory discussion at Tuesday's Harford County Council meeting.
Councilman Jim McMahan praised fellow Councilman Dick Slutzky for pushing Red Pump even though he was criticized and supporting the Campus Hills site would have garnered him a lot of personal support.
"Coach took more accusations than [Ravens football quarterback Joe] Flacco did last Sunday," McMahan said, adding he did not hear anyone thank him during Friday's dedication. "Thank you for your accurate, unbiased research," McMahan added.
"When I think how close we came to derailing that process, I can only thank my lucky stars that Councilman Dick Slutzky did not give in to the pressure," he said. "The alternative would have made very little sense, except that it probably would have caused the expansion of the development envelope."
"If ever there was a school that was meant to be, it was Red Pump Elementary School," he said. "The students are indeed pumped. They are excited. The parents are excited, and the community in general should be excited."
Slutzky agreed, saying, "It is a beautiful school and we are glad to see it is fulfilling its expected requirements…It was rewarding to see the cornerstone get laid in that project."
Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti said the building sets a new threshold for future schools in the county.
"I hope that in the future we use that as a model and make sure those amenities are in all the schools," he said.
Councilman Chad Shrodes also praised Slutzky for his work to get the school built.
"I also want to thank Coach Slutzky," he said. "I think it was the right thing to do."
Other action
Also at the meeting, the council introduced a bill that would transfer $500,000 from enhanced nutrient removal enhancement at Sod Run to enhanced nutrient removal at Joppatowne.
The council also issued a proclamation in honor of 5-year-old Jacob Vendetti, from Bel Air.
McMahan said Jacob was alone with his grandmother when she fell and couldn't get up. He knew his mother's cell phone number and was able to call her to get help, staying "focused and calm" through the emergency.
When McMahan explained to Jacob the proclamation was about him, Jacob replied, "Why?... I just called my mom. I didn't even call the cops."
Also during the meeting, Kimberly A. Cooke was appointed to the advisory board on aging, Susan P. Brown was appointed to the department of social services advisory board and retired Col. James Costigan was appointed to the commission on veterans' affairs.
Donna Hausmann, of Joppa, reminded the council the Joppatowne Community Council has very serious concerns about the planned recycling transfer station on a former golf course in Joppa.
"There is no reason why a county council can't set parameters that will help properly cite these types of facilities so they are not a negative impact on any part of our county," she said.
She said she has lived 100 feet from the Oak Avenue landfills for years and has gotten promises from the county the methane wells would be included in the solid waste plan.
"Those conditions were never upheld," she said. "Harford County completely let down the citizens of this county when they approved that … I am begging you, please don't put any community through what my community has been through, because it's really not necessary."