BA/sugar.pr                          Contact: David Weaver, 301-217-6530

COUNTY, SUGARLOAF CITIZENS
REACH LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT
ON COMPOSTING FACILITY             For Immediate Release: April 19, 1996

     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today announced that the
County and the Sugarloaf Citizens Association, Inc. have agreed to a
settlement in the lawsuit brought by the association involving operation of
the County's composting facility in Dickerson.  Generally, the terms address
operations of the facility and existing structures and use of surrounding
acreage.
     Filed in 1994, the suit alleged that the County, by adding improvements
to and expanding the operations of its composting facility without benefit of
public hearing, had violated the terms of a 1981 agreement which had imposed
conditions on the use of the compost facility site.
     Last year, at Duncan's request, the County initiated settlement
discussions with the association.  "The government has a moral obligation to
keep its word," Duncan said.  "That's why I felt we needed to sit down and
talk things out with the citizens."
     Under the settlement, the County will:
        1. Lease approximately 70 acres adjoining the compost facility to the
Sugarloaf Citizens Association.  The property contains a stone house and a
dairy barn.
        The County will rehabilitate the barn, which may be subleased by the 
association for community activities.  The association will maintain an office
in the barn.  The stone house will be renovated, by the County, so it may be
                                  -more-

COUNTY, SUGARLOAF CITIZENS .                                       2-2-2-2
leased by Sugarloaf for residential purposes.
        2.  Deed 90 acres of agricultural land on the east side of
Martinsburg Road to the association, for as long as the County operates the
compost facility and other conditions.
        3. Apply to the State for installation of a traffic signal at the
intersection of Route 28 and Martinsburg Road.
     The settlement also outlines operational parameters such as hours of
operation, total amounts of materials to be handled and a commitment by the
County to continue to encourage yard waste reduction by residents.
     "I'm extremely pleased that we've worked out an agreement which I feel
is in everyone's best interest.  This is due," the executive said, "in no
small part, to the dedicated efforts of Bob Merryman of our Department of
Public Works and Transportation.  He's spent countless hours talking with Jane
Hunter and members of the association to come up with a settlement."
     Duncan said the County appreciates the diligence of Sugarloaf throughout
the process which has lasted nearly a year.
     Jane Hunter, president of Sugarloaf Citizens Association, said "First
and foremost, by pursuing these settlement negotiations in good faith,
Montgomery County has regained a considerable degree of credibility with the
Dickerson community.
     "The Board of Directors and entire membership of the association extends
its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the County Executive for his
recognition of the importance of this issue."

NOTE TO EDITORS: County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Sugarloaf President
Jane Hunter will sign the agreement today at 3:30 p.m. in the Exceutive Office
Building, 2nd floor Conference Room.
                                   # # #



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