Hearing set on nature center rebuild following fire

Restoring a popular local destination will be the aim of a public hearing at next Tuesday’s Calvert County commissioners’ meeting.

As advertised, the hearing is for a budget adjustment amending the county’s capital improvement plan to increase funding to rebuild Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Nature Center.

On Nov. 5, 2022, an electrical fire that started in a basement storage room at the Prince Frederick facility damaged the structure. Three animals — an owl and two mice — that were housed at the facility died in the fire.

There were no human injuries as a result of the fire.

The nature center, which is maintained by county government, is on property on Grays Road that is owned by The Nature Conservancy.

Days after the fire occurred county officials reported “all contents of the storage room were destroyed, including all nature equipment, materials and supplies.”

A press release noted other areas of the basement and animal care room, along with offices, classrooms and an exhibit room, sustained water and smoke damage.

On Wednesday, Danielle Russell of the county administrator’s office told Southern Maryland News additional funds above the insurance estimate were needed from the capital improvement plan budget.

In addition to “restoring” the building to its previous state, “we will be updating it to ADA standards,” Russell said, adding that the restoration is “in the works.”

Bob Branham, the county’s parks and recreation director, provided cost estimate information on the rebuild/upgrade project.

“Local Government Insurance Trust has provided an estimate for rebuilding the Battle Creek Nature Center after the fire,” a memo Russell forwarded to Southern Maryland News stated. “However, the building’s design addressed the layout and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades required by new standards, estimated at $793,454.47, requiring additional funding $250,000 above the (insurance) estimate.”

Branham said once the rebuild with ADA upgrades is finished, the county can attempt to recover additional funds from Local Government Insurance Trust, known in government-speak as LGIT.

“The project is in progress and the county must complete the rebuild by mid-December to meet the deadline for LGIT to request additional reimbursement,” the missive stated.

While the sanctuary’s trails are open on a regular schedule, the center remains closed until further notice.

The Sept. 10 public hearing will be conducted sometime after 10:30 a.m. in the commissioners hearing room at the county courthouse in Prince Frederick.