Edgewater - An air conditioner in a room that houses a computer server malfunctioned and caught fire last night at South River High School in Edgewater, fire department and school officials said.

Forty-five firefighters arrived at the school at just after 7 p.m. and had the one-alarm fire under control in 30 minutes, said Capt. Debbie Bowen, a county Fire Department spokesman. They stayed for about three hours to salvage items from the room.

The fire and sprinkler system caused about $90,000 in damages.

An assistant principal at the school this morning said some ceiling tiles and the server board have to be replaced because of water damage from the sprinkler system. No classrooms and no student or staff computers were damaged, she said.

The music boosters, a parent group, was at the school during the fire, said Assistant Principal Fran Magiera. The group heard the alarm and left the building, the Fire Department said.

"We were very, very lucky that people were inside and the fire department arrived as soon at they did," Ms. Magiera said.

County schools were closed today in observance of Yom Kippur, but South River should be open tomorrow as planned, she said.

Delegate decries impact fees plan

GLEN BURNIE - Del. Don Dwyer urged the County Council this morning to kill the plan to raise impact fees.

In a letter to the seven councilmen, Mr. Dwyer argued that a state shortfall followed the tax increases passed by the Maryland General Assembly last year, and that raising fees during tough economic times is a bad idea.

"Now is no time to impose additional costs on our businesses or residents, it's time for all of us to work within our means," wrote Mr. Dwyer, R-Glen Burnie.

After nine months of debate on the topic, the council is split over whether to abandon the impact fee plan or to forge a compromise. The current proposal would dramatically increase the fees charged to developers in order to recoup the cost of building roads, schools and police stations to accommodate new growth.

Mr. Dwyer, widely known for his conservative views, opposed the fees since they were introduced. The council will have another public hearing on the proposal at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. in Annapolis.

Bear Neck Creek reopened by county

Edgewater - County health officials have reopened Bear Neck Creek in Edgewater for swimming, waterskiing and other activities.

The creek was closed after a sewage overflow on Sept. 24. On that date construction crews working near the Mayo Water Reclamation Plant broke pipes attached to the main line coming out of the facility, spilling about 50,000 gallons.

Their construction work was related to the Heron Cove development, a 26-home project adjacent to Bear Neck Creek.

The spill came the day after 40,000 dead menhaden were discovered floating in the creek, victims of poor oxygen levels in the water.

Tests have shown acceptable levels of bacteria in the water, meaning it's safe again for human contact.

For more information about water quality monitoring, visit www.aahealth.org or call 410-222-7241. The Web site includes a section to sign up for e-mail alerts when waterways are closed.

- From staff reports