Washington County Commissioners Meeting Summary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2130

Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners  Meeting
February 18, 2003

INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
    Assistant Director of Human Resources Dee Hawbaker presented two new employees of the Sheriff’s Department to the Board. Norma Burcker was recently hired as a Police Communications Operator, and Joseph Barnhart has taken a position as a Correctional Deputy.
 
VACANCY: BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE
    Black Rock Golf Course Director of Golf Darrell Whittington presented this request to the Board. The full-time Cook at the Golf Course requested a change from full-time to part-time status in December. The full-time position remains budgeted, and Whittington has requested that Darlene Stratton, who is a part-time cook at the Course, be reclassified to full-time in Grade 02 at $7.79 per hour. The Board approves all changes in personnel reclassification and hiring. The number of full and part-time employees remains the same and the change is within the FY ’03 budget. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.

BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE BUDGET PRESENTATION
    Golf Director Whittington and Maintenance Manager John Kain brought the FY ’04 operational budget before the Board. Black Rock Golf Course (BRGC) is a private corporation that the County Commissioners have charged with managing the golf course subject to their direction. Whittington told the Board that the overall operational request is up $36,600.00 primarily due to changes in insurance costs. The operational reserves increased by $16,000 on advice of the Budget and Finance Office and the Public Liability insurance increased $16,271.00. Clubhouse operations increased by $3,000, again because of insurance costs, Whittington said. Nearby golf courses’ fees are 40-50% higher than Black Rock, which attracts out-of-county players. In addition, the American Junior Golf Association has a five-year contract with the course for its annual tournament. Players rate BRGC a four-star course, Whittington said. Maintenance manager Kain said that insurance costs and treatment of a soil-borne disease “pytheum” contribute to escalation in Maintenance costs for the coming Fiscal Year. Equipment purchases will include two mowers and one Core Harvester. The latter will replace a 13-year old similar piece of equipment, Kain said. The operational budgets for all departments will be reviewed by the Commissioners several times before final approval is given. The Public Hearing for the final FY 2004 budget is scheduled for May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at Kepler Auditorium.

OTHER BUSINESS
    Appointments to Boards and Commissions:    County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Fire and Rescue Communications Advisory Board for reappointment of Milton Bloom, whose term expires in February. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
    County Administrator Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Board that the Red Cross Bloodmobile will visit the County Administration Building on Wednesday. A special Employee Casual Day for the Homeless Shelter netted $393 in cash and donations of used clothing, Shoop said.
    County Attorney Issues: Assistant County Attorney John Martirano brought this matter before the Board for discussion and approval. An agreement between the Board and the Friends of the Agricultural Heritage Museum has been in effect since June, 2000. At the time, the Friends agreed to assist and support the operation of the Museum and assume full responsibility for the management, operation and utilization of the on-site Gift Shop. The recommended changes focus mainly on the clarification of supervision and authority over the activities at the Museum and Gift Shop. Generally, the Museum Committee, a sub-committee of the Agricultural Education Center Board, would supervise and direct the operations at the Museum. The Friends would continue to provide administrative and management services for the Gift Shop subject to the oversight of the Museum Committee. The measure was discussed, with Commissioner Dori Nipps questioning insurance liability for the displays, and was tabled, due to those insurance issues.
 
The Board met with Washington County Health System officials at the noon hour at Robinwood Medical Center, to discuss hospital matters.
 
EMERGENCY AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SERVICES GRANT AND HOMELESS PREVENTION GRANT
    Community Action Council (CAC) Case Management Coordinator Sherry Neil brought this request before the Board. Each year CAC applies for state grants to fund Emergency and Transitional Housing (ETHS) and the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) on behalf of four local agencies. The ETHS grant funds shelter maintenance and support services for CAC, CASA, the Salvation Army and St. John’s Shelter. The HPP grant assists families experiencing housing crises and provides case management, counseling, training on budgeting, education on tenant rights and responsibilities, landlord/tenant mediation and cash grants to prevent homelessness. $171,821.00 would be available this year, with $132,221.00 from ETHS and $39,600 from HPP funds. Local agency applications are $100,783 to CAC, $45,686 for the Salvation Army, $21,309 to CASA and $4,043 to St. John’s Shelter. In addition, the funding appears to be intact for the next three years. No County funds are involved in the programs. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.

BID AWARD: PRY’S MILL/KEEDYSVILLE ROAD BRIDGE
    County Chief Engineer Terry McGee brought this request, to accept the low bid of $241,060.00 from Building Systems, Inc. of Hagerstown on the condition that the bid receives concurrence from the State Highway Department. McGee told the board that the project involves rehabilitation of the small, stone arch bridge over Little Antietam Creek, and includes excavation of fill and replacement with lightweight concrete, minor roadway work, replacement of concrete parapet caps, reppointing of masonry piers, abutments, wingwalls and parapets, plus pier underpinning.  Currently the bridge has a weight restriction of 15 tons. Following the rehabilitation, that restriction will be removed, McGee said. The project will run for 90 calendar days, and includes a provision for liquidated damages of $500.00 per calendar day if not finished by the due date. Estimated start date is on or about March 10th, with final completion date of June 8th. This is a federal aid project requiring significant administrative oversight, with 80% of eligible costs provided by the federal government. McGee told the Board that delaying the project will only worsen the deterioration of the bridge and increase the cost of repair. The measure was approved by a 4-0-1 vote with Commissioner Kercheval abstaining for business reasons.

CONTRACT AWARD: ENGINEERING SERVICES-REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT
    McGee also brought this request, to award the contract for Engineering design and analysis services for various projects to Brudis and Associates of Columbia, Maryland in the estimated amount of $212,000.00. Projects included may be roads, traffic signals, bridges, drainage structure, waterlines, sewer lines, and building projects. Included in the RFP was a “Provisions for Other Agencies” clause, which indicates the willingness of the consultant to extend the services to other governmental agencies in accordance with the contract terms. Duration of the contract is one year, with an option to renew for up to four additional one-year periods. McGee told the Board that the contract amount is for comparison only, and that actual costs will be determined by number and kind of projects assigned to the firm. This firm held the previous contract to provide similar services for the Engineering Department and performed tasks such as investigation of the Devil’s Backbone Dam, a number of minor bridge assessments, and review of large traffic impact studies. The measure was approved by unanimous vote

MAUGANS AVENUE PROJECT
    Director of Public Works Gary Rohrer and Chief Engineer McGee presented an overview of the proposed Maugans Avenue Project to the Board. A public information meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, February 26th at 7:00 p.m. at the Maugans Avenue Elementary School. That meeting will present an overview of need, methods and property owner rights and benefits. Funds for the project have been included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for several years. The project would be undertaken in two phases. Phase I would address the roadway between U.S. 11 and the I-81 interchange. Phase II would address the roadway between I-81 and Main Street in Maugansville. The Road would be widened to five lanes, with a center turn-lane. Sidewalks would be constructed along the south side of the roadway, Rohrer said. Total funding for engineering/design, right-of-way and easements, construction, and inspection is $4.258 million. Alternatives to the project would be postponing improvements, maintain the existing alignment and make minimal pavement improvements, or reduce the project to smaller improvements. None of the options would improve safety or be cost-effective, Rohrer said. McGee told the Board that the road is classified as a “minor arterial”, and that several developer-driven traffic studies indicated that a need to realign the road would exist by 2002, due to increased traffic flow. At the current time, some 1,900 cars per hour use the road as a connector between Route 11 and I-81. The project could go to construction in the spring of 2004, with a 9 to 10 month construction schedule, McGee said. A major cause of traffic problems is the lack of center turn lanes in the area, and the number of left-hand turns by motorists entering local businesses and driveways. The 5-lane configuration would ease those turning movements, McGee said. Rohrer distributed an informational brochure to be used in the public meeting. Citizen input will be assessed and weighed prior to final determinations of the alignment.

YOUTH OF THE MONTH
    Elizabeth Plume of Hagerstown was awarded the Youth Meritorious Award as Youth of the Month for January, 2003 By Commissioner Jim Kercheval. Beth is an 8th grade student at Western Heights Middle School and is described as one of the hardest working students. A Character Counts Delegate, Beth has served as representative to the student council and has been a multiple academic distinguished honor roll recipient. Beth participates in the Character Counts Committee, has been a member of the Destination Imagination team for 5 years, is a student tutor for 5th graders, is a daily morning announcement person, and serves as editor of the school newspaper. She participates in the You and Me Program  in partnership with Marshall Street School, and enjoys going to Eden Pines Alzheimer’s Facility.  Beth has also been actively involved in church and missionary activities. She attends Sunday school at Otterbein United Methodist Church, where she is a member of the choir and plays handbells. The Commissioner’s Certificate of Merit proclaims Beth to be a superior role model for all youth.

MAUGANS AVENUE RENTAL PROPERTIES
    Last week, County Real Property Administrator Dean Lowry sought approval to hire a property management company for County-owned rental properties primarily associated with the Maugans Avenue realignment project. At that time, Commissioner Wivell had opposed the move, stating that the expertise was available in-house. Commissioner Jim Kercheval requested tabling the measure for a week to gather and review more information from the suggested property management company. Properties that have been purchased in the area are now available for rental. A property management company would be responsible for rent tracking and maintenance duties, Lowry said, as well as applicant screening and background checks, market and rent analysis, contracts, collections, eviction proceedings if necessary and quarterly reports to the County. The vendor would agree to handle future properties in the Maugans Avenue area and other County-owned properties as directed. Lowry presented cost information from several vendors, and told the Board that Valley Properties’ costs were lowest, at 8% of the monthly rental. Commissioner Wivell restated his opposition to the measure and made a motion of non-support, seconded by Commissioner John Munson. The measure was defeated by a three-two vote. A second motion, in support of the measure, was made by Commissioner Dori Nipps and seconded by Commissioner Kercheval. That motion was passed on a three-two vote with Commissioners Wivell and Munson voting “no”.