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 25, 2003

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Washington County Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian, Public Works Director Gary Rohrer, and Planning and Community Development (PCD) Director Bob Arch brought a second review of the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2004 before the Board. On February 11th the Board reviewed proposed CIP budgets for General Government, Drainage, Road Improvement, Railroad Crossings, Bridges, Solid Waste and Water/Sewer projects. Bastian had good news for the Board in terms of the February income tax distribution from the state. Budget and Finance had projected $11,972,000 for the February amount, and the state announced a distribution of $12,078,000, an increase of $106,000 over the projection. This translates into a growth rate of 4.1%, Bastian said. The CIP discussion resumed with the proposed FY ’04 CIP for County Parks. PCD Director Arch told the Board that Program Open Space funds, appropriated by the state for use in purchasing land for parks and park development, will probably be about $350,000.00 for the year. Park projects discussed for Fiscal Year 2004 included Maintenance and Wood shop restroom construction at Doub’s Woods, Electric and Water Service upgrades at the Agricultural Education Center, the next phase of Tennis Court reconstruction at Regional and Marty Snook Parks, and the Devils’ Backbone Dam repair. The 150-year-old dam in that park has been inspected and found to be deteriorating, Public Works Director Rohrer said. Discussion of the historic significance and possible affects on the Antietam Creek took place, with Commissioners’ President Greg Snook requesting a full presentation on the proposal, before a final decision is made. Survey of costs associated with accepting a portion of Fort Ritchie into the County system as a park will be delayed at least one year due to pending court action, and the decision was to bump the project out of the 2004 CIP budget. The overall Transportation CIP looked at County Commuter Bus Service, and Hagerstown Regional Airport. The FY ’04 CIP request for County Commuter is $184,500.00. Purchase of nine new large buses would be spread out over the three-year period from FY 2006-2008. One Small to Mid-size 12-passenger bus would be replaced in FY ’04, Transportation Department Director Kevin Cerrone said. Requested Shop Equipment would include tools and wiring for a metal lathe. Facility Expenses would include replacement of 10-year-old garage door openers for the shop, and Capital Maintenance would include Engine and Transmission rebuilds for the fleet. The Board requested more information on the small bus purchase. Hagerstown Regional Airport’s 2004 CIP of $25,129,723 includes about $20 million for the 09-27 runway extension project. $1.75 million is earmarked for a new passenger holding area in the terminal, plus renovations to the terminal apron in accordance with new Federal Transportation Security Administration and fire protection regulations. Passenger boarding fees over six years would cover the costs for the project. Two additional pieces of snow removal equipment are requested for the airfield in the ’04 budget. Of the total costs for those vehicles, $345,556.00, only about $17,000 would come from County funds. The Education category contains Hagerstown Community College and the Board of Education. HCC’s request of $550,000.00 included renovation costs for the Career Programs Building. The Board decided to wait for the full budget presentation from HCC before making a decision. Board of Education (BOE) Facilities Director Dennis McGee told the Commissioners that the K-12 Capital request is static at $5,000,000 over the next 6 years, and projects completed will depend on the amount of new money from the state in each of those years. In the past, the BOE received 6 to 7 million dollars each year from state revenues. This year, the estimate is two to three million. Under discussion were need for 29 relocatable classrooms for all-day Kindergarten and Pre-K programs, costing $600,000.00. Renovation of the Technical High School, additions and renovations at Salem Avenue Elementary and new construction at Maugansville were other big ticket items in the Capital budget for the year, McGee said. The Commissioners will have further discussions on the CIP before final adoption.

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
    James Devine of Hagerstown commented on the need to preserve and strengthen the existing public school system on the County, and asked the Board to consider a non-binding resolution against the recently passed Patriot Act, which gave the federal government additional powers.

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OPERATING BUDGET PRESENTATION
The Transportation Department (County Commuter) operations budget for FY ’04 was one of several slated for discussion last week that were postponed because inclement weather delayed the Commissioners’ meeting. Director Kevin Cerrone reminded the board that some of the operation of the Department is mandated under federal law, but that most of the funding for mandated programs comes from state and federal sources. In FY ’04 the County Commuter operating budget is proposed at $1,733,770, up about 6% from last year. County funds make up only 24% of that total, Cerrone said. There will be no fare increase in FY ’04, and farebox collections will decrease, due to new regulations limiting the amount of “Special Trips” for which buses can be used. Insurance costs are up 16%, with fuel costs expected to be up as well. The Commuter operates fixed-route, paratransit, taxi-voucher and subscription services. The federal/state funded JOBS program provides transportation to low-income people to and from work. The program assists in reducing numbers of unemployed people, and no county general funds are utilized in its operation, Cerrone said.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT BUDGET PRESENTATION
Highways Department Director Ted Wolford, Office Manager Diane Mongan, Fleet Manager Jack Reynard and members of the Department staff presented the operating budget for Highways for the coming Fiscal Year. Highways is one of the areas that stands to lose the most under the current state funding plan. The Highway User Fund will be reduced by 43% for state education spending and this will have a severe effect on operations of the Department. The original operating budget was developed prior to announcement of state cuts, Wolford said, and the requested amount was reduced by $1,109,868.00. The final amount, $6,401,932.00, is a decrease of $608,568.00 from the FY ’03 budget, a reduction of 8.68%. Cash reserves and CIP funds have been used to offset state cuts in Highway User Revenue, which usually provides full funding for Highways operations. The snow removal budget for FY ’04 has been reduced by $40,000, and capital outlay was cut to zero. County Administrator Rod Shoop called the cuts devastating to the Highway Department’s ability to operate, which would have an impact on paving, patching, snow removal and bridge repair. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer told the Board that the freeze and thaw of the roadways caused by the severe winter will accelerate road deterioration. Budget and Finance Director Bastian said that the impact on the 2005 General Fund expenditure will be severe as well. Commissioners’ President Snook asked that safety-related issues continue to be paramount in Highways Department operations. The Board will revue all operating budgets in weeks to come, in preparation for the annual Public Hearing, scheduled for May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at Kepler Theater on the Hagerstown Community College campus.

The Board attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Washington County Mental Health Center building, off Eastern Boulevard during the noon hour

Once each month, the Board holds an evening meeting in one of the 9 County municipalities in order to give citizens increased opportunity to interact with local government. This month, the meeting was held at the Sharpsburg Town Hall.

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
    Commissioner John Munson reported on a customer service issue and asked County Administrator Rod Shoop to look into it.
    Commissioner Dori Nipps commented on a meeting of the Washington County Club Association and the Hagerstown Fire Department Awards Banquet.
    Commissioner Bill Wivell reported on the tour of Western Maryland Hospital Center by Governor Ehrlich last weekend. The Department of Social Services Board met this week and reported cuts of possibly 15 to 20% of its budget from the state. The Friends of the Family group, which funds the Family Center, will also face cuts that could impact the operation of that center, Wivell said.
    Commissioner Jim Kercheval commented on a meeting of the Black Rock Golf Course Board of Directors. This winter marks only the second time in the Course’s history that a full shut down has taken place. Some budget constraints will result and that Board is looking for new sources of revenue.  Advertising could be placed on carts and at tees, Kercheval said, and the BRGC Board is also looking into high school age students volunteering services in exchange for free rounds of golf
    Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that the Traffic Advisory Committee meeting last week revealed 25 to 30 areas in the county that are undergoing review for traffic control measures and for other safety issues. One of the areas in question is the 40-West landfill, and the State Highway Administration will investigate feasibility of a traffic light being installed there, Snook said. Traffic lights in Funkstown are being studied, and left-turn arrows may be installed in some locations. A letter from the regional Director of Destination Imagination has announced that educational group’s multi-county regional tournament will bring 34 student teams to Hagerstown in March. The Washington County Advisory Board of Health requested appointment of Dorothy Widdoes to fill a vacancy. That measure was approved by unanimous vote.

OTHER BUSINESS
    County Administrator Rod Shoop told the Board that U.S. Representative Roscoe Bartlett, the Director of the state Department of Business and Economic Development and a Representative of the U.S. Appalachian Regional Commission will be in Hagerstown on March 10th to discuss employment in Western Maryland. Joint Commissioners meetings with the Board of Education have been scheduled for March 13th and 27th to discuss budget issues, Shoop said.

CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
    Commissioner Jim Kercheval presented the Citizen of the Month award to Joe Imes of Smithsburg. The award honors a Washington County Citizen who, by word or deed, has made a positive impact on the lives of fellow citizens. Imes maintained neighborhood watch programs for nine years in Hagerstown’s West End. The proclamation said that the fight against drug trafficking should involve all citizens of Washington County both inside and outside the municipalities, that for over 9 years, Joe Imes was the driving force Behind West End Against Trouble, Crime & Harassment (W.A.T.C.H.) in Hagerstown and instrumental in starting the local crime watch website
www.hagerstownwatch.org. Joe Imes was the "eyes and ears" for Hagerstown Police and, in the words of Chief Arthur Smith, “Did more to improve West End/Police relations and get crime and drugs off the streets than anyone.” Joe Imes has been the organizer of a number of Night Out events in the neighborhood to provide anti-drug education to children and families and allow citizens to meet police officers, the proclamation said. Neighbors and Hagerstown Police Officers alike will miss the dedication and fortitude Joe Imes has shown in facing down crime for nearly a decade. The Washington County Board of County Commissioners congratulated Joe Imes as Citizen of the Month for February, 2003.


CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
    Each week the Board of County Commissioners sets aside time to hear from the Citizens of Washington County on matters of community interest.
    Denise Troxell of Boonsboro reported on progress in renovations of the Sharpsburg railroad station to house a model railroad museum. The restoration committee’s opening day goal is September 17th, 2003. Tolon’s Chapel, on High Street in Sharpsburg is another preservation project underway in the Town, Troxell said. The building has been purchased by the Save Historic Antietam Foundation and volunteers are performing much of the needed work. The African-American church was built shortly after the Civil War and served as a Freedman school. The chapel was a Methodist Church for many years. Grants to restore the building have been secured, and work has begun, Troxell said.

TAX SETOFF MEETING FOR SHARPSBURG AND KEEDYSVILLE
    Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Mayor and members of the Sharpsburg Town Council that the tax setoff for 2003 decreased by 0.7% due to several factors. Sharpsburg received $3,683 from the Parks allocation, a decrease of  0.7%. Keedysville received $2,569, also from the Parks allocation and also a decrease of .77% over last year. Both towns have elected to use the tax rebate funds to help pay the cost of Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies. Snook told the Council that the overall program increased by 9.29%. No one representing the Town of Keedysville attended the meeting. If the Town of Sharpsburg is interested in participating in the annual County overlay program, information should be provided as soon as possible so that bids can be let and the process begun within 30-45 days, Snook said.

TOWN COMMENTS
    Sharpsburg Mayor Sid Gale said that acceptance of the Tax setoff was the last official act of his term as Mayor, and introduced incoming Mayor Hal Spielman to the Board. The new mayor’s term begins March 1st. Gale asked about progress on restoring or replacing the Shepherdstown Bridge over the Potomac. Commissioners’ President Snook told the group that the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the regional group that deals with transportation issues, was scheduled to meet recently, but the meeting was postponed. As soon as more information is known, the Town will be informed of progress on that project, Snook said. Gale also commended the County on the revamped Comprehensive Plan, and said that the citizens of Sharpsburg support preservation and agricultural easements in the area.