From the Office of Council Member Tom Dernoga August 2025
- Council Member Dernoga's Staff
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Proposed Projects and Developments in Beltsville
Our office published a list of Proposed Projects and Developments in District One on June 25, 2025. As residents of Beltsville, we understand the importance of knowing how to participate in the development process, and how vocal many of you have been throughout the years.
Many of you have reached out to our team to request updates on the developments in the pipeline for Beltsville and the greater District One area. By using this link, https://conta.cc/4lohWRR, you can access our newsletter regarding developments in the district and learn more about the land use process. This newsletter provides information about zoning matters, subdivision cases, and the land use process.
WSSC Get Current Temporary Water Bill Assistance Program
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has a new program to assist eligible customers who are delinquent in their Water Bills to pay off their remaining balance. The Get Current temporary water bill assistance program allows customers who pay half of their full account balance to see the remainder of their balance forgiven. Additionally, 100 percent of a customer's late payment charges and turn-on fees will be waived.
There is also an option to pay 25 percent of the full account balance, and 25 percent of the balance will then be forgiven. All late payment charges and turn-on fees will be waived upon completion of the payment plan. Both options are great opportunities to pay off your delinquent water bill. The program will run until October 31, 2025. You can get more information by visiting https://tinyurl.com/WSSCD1GetCurrent.
Addressing Flooding and Downed Trees after Storms
Throughout July, most of Maryland was under a flood watch due to the heavy rains and extreme winds. As extreme weather events become more frequent, more intense precipitation and high-wind events can be expected over time. To receive notifications from the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, you can sign up for alerts by going to https://tinyurl.com/MDD1Alerts. It would be good to know how to identify ways to fortify your home and report hazardous situations.
For homes that face challenges to drainage, or may lie within a watershed, please see this link at https://tinyurl.com/D1PGDrainage to view the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement’s (DPIE’s) Drainage and Flooding website. This website lists critical information about the Drainage Defects Complaint Program, the 100-Year Stormwater Management Control Map of Prince George’s County, the Drainage and Flooding in Prince George’s County report to outline challenges and resolutions to flooding, A Homeowner’s Guide to Drainage Problems and Solutions, and a guide to how improperly installed fences can cause drainage issues.
Some temporary measures that can protect your home against flooding include keeping extra materials for emergency waterproofing, clearing brush and debris away from storm drains and ditches, and improving drainage away from structures. Homeowners who are planning substantial improvements to their structure should contact the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE) for a residential building permit. “Residential Drainage: A Homeowner’s Guide to Drainage Problems and Solutions” is available from Prince George’s County. This free guide can be obtained by calling Moses Fadiran at 301-883-5768.
After a storm, downed trees can also cause major concerns when they block a road. After a storm, if a downed tree is in the roadway, blocks lanes of traffic, or causes motorists to cross over the direction lane markers, please report it to PGC311 as a Roadway Emergency, as “Roadway Impassable or Unsafe”. Trees that have not yet fallen and block the roadway, but require tree trimming to reduce the risk of them falling, should be reported as Down Trees on PGC311. Please also report any downed road signs or dark traffic signals as Roadway Emergencies to PGC311.
Generally, in Maryland, the cost of removing the tree and repairing any property damage falls to the property owner who sustained the damage. A homeowner can be held liable if a tree on the homeowner’s property presents a danger to abutting properties and the homeowner knew or should have known about the deteriorating condition of the tree. Often, this type of damage is covered by homeowners' insurance. Homeowners should review their insurance contracts to find out what is specifically covered under their policy. Prince George’s County is not responsible for trees that belong to one neighbor’s property that fall or overhang onto another neighbor’s property.
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