Note: This is a SUMMARY of the Commissioners Meeting for the purposes of a Press Release. These are not the official minutes of the meeting.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NORMAN BASSETT
240-313-2077
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
August 31, 2004
BID AWARD: CONSTRUCTION BID ON BROADFORDING ROAD BRIDGE
County Chief Engineer Terry McGee brought this request, to tentatively award the low bid for construction work on the Broadfording Road Stone Arch Bridge to Building Systems, Inc. of Hagerstown in the amount of $1.4 million. Final award is pending State Highway Administration concurrence as the project involves Federal aid. As a result of the removal of BEKA Industries from the previous contract for this project and two failed attempts to obtain a new contractor through normal competitive bidding, the Board authorized procurement of these services using direct negotiation with contractors that showed a prior interest in the project. Negotiations resulted in the bid from BSI. The bridge repair is a scheduled Capital Improvement Project, but due to existing circumstances, adequate funding is not available at this time. The state Highway Administration has said that adequate federal funds can be made available by forward funding the 2004-2009 allocation and possibly delaying a future bridge project. Broadfording Bridge has been closed to traffic for over a year and creates a significant detour for citizens in the area. In light of the bridge's condition, worsened by heavy spring rains in 2003 and Hurricane Isabel in September of that year, and due to the very busy construction industry in the area, a reasonable alternative does not exist, McGee said. The 200 day contract would allow for repair of sections of the bridge that would allow it to be re-opened to traffic by the end of the calendar year. In May, the bridge would be closed again, for completion of stonework The measure was approved, with Commissioner Kercheval abstaining for business reasons.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on volunteering to work at the City of Hagerstown Augustoberfest, last weekend.
Commissioner John Munson reported on a meeting of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Munson told the Board that a NASCAR racing track has been considered for construction in Western Maryland.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the Technical Innovation Center at Hagerstown Community College’s ten-year anniversary. Wivell attended the Chamber of Commerce event with Governor Bob Ehrlich on Friday and the Peace and Unity Prayer Service at Antietam Battlefield on Saturday.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval thanked Washington County Sheriff Charles Mades, his staff and the other law enforcement agencies present in Sharpsburg last Saturday for keeping the event peaceful. Augustoberfest had a higher Saturday attendance than last year, Kercheval said. The Mental Health Advisory Committee may come to the Board and request inclusion on the non-profit list to which the Commissioners may directly contribute, Kercheval said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook told the Board that a meeting with Funkstown, Hagerstown and County Water and Sewer representatives discussed options for that town’s water quality problems. The Commissioners received an award from the Technical Innovation Center for support of that HCC activity. Fruits of the County, a basket of peaches, was presented to Governor Ehrlich at last Friday’s Chamber of Commerce event, Snook said. The Sheriff’s Department has commented on the question of weighing trucks on rural roads and stated that the specialization and equipment needed would cost about $50,000 per year. Average new home price in the county in May was $207,000.00 Snook said, compared with a $475,000 average cost in Montgomery County. Convention and Visitor’s Bureau President Tom Riford requested forgiveness of a $20,000 loan the Commissioners made to the CVB last spring. That organization is asking the City of Hagerstown for rent abatement of $9,000 as well, Snook said. The measure, which included payback to the County from Hotel-Motel taxes when revenue is received, was approved by unanimous vote.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer reported that bids for repairs to the Halfway Boulevard bridge are due September 15 th, with expected completion by the end of November for that project. Concerns raised by citizens in the Broadfording Road Bridge area regarding patching of roads, sight lines and bridge approaches have been or are being addressed, Rohrer said.
Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson requested permission to advertise a Senior Office Associate position in Human Resources that became vacant recently. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
RESOLUTION APPROVING MEDAF LOANS & WASHINGTON COUNTY LOAN TO MACK TRUCKS, INC.
Hagerstown-Washington County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Tim Troxell brought this request before the Board. Mack Trucks announced plans in 2003 to retool its facility located at 13302 Pennsylvania Avenue. These plans, by Mack’s parent company AB Volvo, include making the Hagerstown operation Volvo’s Centre of Excellence for the North American market. Local employees will manufacture the next generation of both Volvo Trucks and Mack Trucks diesel engines.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, under the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund, has agreed to lend Mack Trucks $2 million in the form of two loans from the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Fund (MEDAF) - $1.5 million in MEDAF Loan I; $500,000 in MEDAF Loan II. The MEDAF loans are forgivable if Mack Trucks meets certain conditions. In addition, Washington County intends to contribute $300,000 toward this significant economic development project in the form of a conditional loan on the same terms and conditions as MEDAF Loan I. To meet those conditions, Mack Trucks must retain at least 1,000 full time employees at its Hagerstown facility through December 2008 and, invest at least $155 million in operational improvements and new product machining equipment improvements by December 2008. Maryland law requires governing bodies of local jurisdictions that have secured economic development projects utilizing monies from MEDAF to formally endorse financial assistance offered by the fund through a resolution. The resolution must also outline any local economic incentives offered towards the project. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
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.
Chuck McCann of the Broadfording Road area asked for the latest status report on that bridge repair,. Commissioners’ President Snook gave McCann the information from the bid award earlier in the meeting. McCann invited the Board to an event on Thursday September 2 nd at the Bridge. Commissioner Snook said he would attend.
Tracey Mumaw representing Big Brothers/Big Sisters asked for County support in volunteering to help mentor children in school-based programs.
Jim Laird of Citizens for Preservation of Washington County requested a permanent moratorium on billboard advertising on Washington County.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Attorney Issues: County Attorney Richard Douglas requested Board approval of an extension of the Outdoor Advertising Moratorium Ordinance for Washington County, Maryland. After discussions on May 4 and May 18 and a public hearing on May 25, the Commissioners adopted the Outdoor Advertising Moratorium Ordinance on June 8, 2004, which would remain in effect for ninety 90 days, or until September 6, 2004. While the Planning staff has completed a draft of proposed amendments to the outdoor advertising provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, there remains insufficient time to circulate the draft for comments to other staff, the Planning Commission, members of the public, and representatives of the outdoor advertising industry as had been contemplated by the Commissioners. The Planning Director has developed a timetable under which the final amendments would be presented to the Commissioners by the end of October. Following the suggestion of the Planning staff, the Commissioners adopted the Outdoor Advertising Moratorium Extension Ordinance to extend the moratorium on the acceptance of applications for new outdoor advertising for an additional ninety 90 days, to be reviewed after sixty 60 days as to the necessity of continuing the moratorium.
Douglas also brought a Review of the Rural Areas Moratorium on Major New Residential Developments Outside the Growth Areas to the Board, for the necessity of continuing the moratorium, as required by the Ordinance. Douglas stated that the Ordinance was to be reviewed six 6 months after the October 28, 2003 effective date, but that was delayed pending receipt and evaluation of the recommendations of the Rural Areas Task Force and the Planning Commission, which is now under way in a series of workshops. The Commissioners are now scheduled to complete their work and adopt the comprehensive map and text amendments for the rural areas on or before the expiration of the Ordinance on October 28, 2004. Having reviewed the Ordinance for the necessity of continuing it, and having found that it is necessary to continue the Ordinance in effect until its expiration in order that the comprehensive map and text amendments can be adopted, the Commissioners concluded their review.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reminded the Board that there will be no meeting on September 7 th due to the Labor Day Holiday. All County Offices will be closed on Monday, September 6 th, in honor of that holiday.
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS' FORGET-ME-NOT MONTH
Lee Michaels and Ted Dundus of the Washington County Disabled American Veterans accepted a proclamation declaring September, 2004 as Disabled American Veterans' Forget-Me-Not month from the Board (Photo). In presenting the proclamation, Commissioner John Munson said the DAV offers free services to disabled veterans and their families in filing claims for government benefits as well as resolution of problems regarding employment, health care and counseling. The DAV responds to emergency needs of families of any disabled veteran. The proclamation cites the need for a continuing sense of gratitude to those veterans who have given so much to protect and preserve the American way of life. September 2004 will see the annual Forget-Me-Not drive in Washington County. All contributions will be utilized for disabled veterans and families in the community.
WORK SESSION: RURAL AREA REZONING
Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson and Chief Senior Planner Steve Goodrich brought further discussion of the Rural Zoning Task Force and Planning Commission Rural Land Use recommendations before the Board. The Task Force was appointed in January in response to citizen concerns regarding proposed changes in the zoning in rural areas of the County expressed in public hearings in the fall of 2003. Rezoning is proposed to implement recommended density reductions and land use limitations contained in the adopted Comprehensive Plan. Last week the Board approved exemption of 3 lots on parcels less than 50 acres, and additional exempted lots per 50 acre additions, up to a total of 5 lots. Sideyard setbacks recommended by the Planning Commission, modifying 50 foot setback requirements in Agricultural, Environmental Conservation and Preservation zones with certain reservations were approved. Clarification of the Rural Business Schedule to include a clear definition of Rural Business was approved. A recommendation to amend language in the definitions of truck stop or motor freight terminal in the amendments was already in place, and return of the phrase "functionally similar" to the section on special exceptions, as recommended by the WCPC was also approved. The Task Force and the Planning Commission had requested revisions to the Table of Land Use Regulations. The table contains 18 multi-part categories of land use in the Agricultural, Environmental Conservation, Preservation, Rural Village, Rural Business and Industrial-Mineral zones. 41 land use regulations in the rural areas were modified to give greater use in areas ranging from Arts, Entertainment and Recreation to Pet shops and Pharmacies. Where there were differences in uses to be allowed in the differing zoning categories, the Board agreed with Task Force recommendations in 32 instances and with the Planning Commission in 9 instances. The majority of the modifications were in instances in which No Use was permitted in a given area, upgraded to the Special Exception classification. A public hearing will be held on the recommended changes on September 27 th.
RURAL AREA REZONING: INDIVIDUAL REZONING REQUESTS
Planning Director Thompson brought these issues before the Board. 37 individual requests for zoning changes to properties in the rural area were received after August 11 th last year or during the Public Hearing time frame. The Planning Commission reviewed the requests in January and February 2004. A total of 8 requests were approved by the Planning Commission, no action was required on one request on property located within the Urban Growth Area, the County Commissioners had acted on three of the requests during the past year, and a partial agreement was given for one property. The Board reviewed 30 of the requests, and agreed with 4 property owner requests, overriding the decision of the Planning Commission. Two of the requests, denied by the Planning Commission, will be addressed by the lot exemptions passed last week by the Board of County Commissioners. Additional information and review was requested on two of the zoning requests, and the remainder of the Planning Commission denials were supported by the Board. The additional 7 requests will be reviewed by the Board at a later date with a public hearing scheduled on the requests in September.
Lee Michaels and Ted Dundus of the Washington County Disabled American Veterans accepted a proclamation declaring September, 2004 as Disabled American Veterans' Forget-Me-Not month from the Board.