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
September 28th, 2004
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on meetings with State Department of Natural Resources representatives and County staff regarding future limits on effluent emissions affecting the Chesapeake Bay. The Environmental Protection Agency has given the states notification that caps could be placed on nitrate use if certain levels are not reduced by 2011. Concerns were discussed about conflicting policies received from the different state departments. The Black Rock Golf Course Board’s recent meeting reported revenues up for the month of September. The County/City 2+2 committee will meet again next week to discuss sewer issues. A public meeting sponsored by the Mental Health Authority and Mental Health Advisory Committee is set this Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Otterbein United Methodist Church to discuss the Mental Health needs assessment for Washington County.
Commissioner John Munson commented on a meeting of the Ag Center Board. $38,000 was received from the Gaming Commission for projects at the Center. Davis/Renn consulting firm has been named to assess the needs for increased storm water management at the park, Munson said. The Solid Waste Advisory Committee heard a report on increased use of the 40-West landfill by Waste Management Corporation, in light of the limitations imposed on a landfill in West Virginia. Landfill permits revenues are up 21% and billable tonnage up 19%, Munson reported.
Commissioner Dori Nipps will represent the Board at the event being held for retiring Commission on Aging Director Fred Otto on Thursday. The Town of Hancock requested aid to repair a bridge to a park damaged by recent flooding. The Recreation and Park Board will discuss possible use of Program Open Space funds to repair that structure, Nipps said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reported on judging the chili-cook off held last weekend to benefit the Community Free Clinic. That event drew between 1200 and 1500 attendees, Snook said. The Town of Funkstown met with City and County officials to discuss its sewer problems last week and several options were discussed. State funding is a primary issue for the Town, Snook said. The State Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding rehabilitation of the bridge on U.S. 40 over Licking Creek. That meeting is set for October 5 th from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at Clear Spring High School. Options should be considered for paving Oak Hill Drive at “Funkstown hill” within the current overlay project, Snook said.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer told the Board that repairs to Tollgate Bridge in Hancock could run as high as $750,000 or as low as $300,000 depending on the nature of the restoration and repair work. The road at that location is still closed from damage due to flooding. Several options are being considered in order to reopen the bridge and road as soon as possible. Commissioner Snook asked that all pertinent information be relayed to the Town of Hancock. The Public Works Review Committee should set a meeting soon to consider new roadways to be taken into the County system. The overlay program. Scheduled to begin today, will be delayed due to inclement weather, Rohrer said.
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian asked the Board if there was interest in using a position of the FY ’04 surplus to increase funding to the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget for repair of Tollgate Bridge. A measure to increase the Fiscal Year ’04 CIP by $400,000 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.
George Michael of Big Pool commented on the Comprehensive Rezoning Public Hearing held on Monday the 27 th, and presented written comments to the Board on land values.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner and Planner Eric Seifarth presented a recommendation from the Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Board for the re-appointments of J.D. Rinehart and Jim Coffman. In addition, that advisory board recommended appointment of Steve Ernst. The measures were approved by unanimous vote.
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop reported that Horry County, South Carolina is adding 5,000 additional students to its school system this year. Commissioners Dori Nipps and Jim Kercheval discussed the need for legal advice on impact fees on development in Hagerstown. Nipps said that Salem Avenue Elementary’s $14 million addition and renovation project has been due to development within the city limits increasing the student population there.
CONTRACT AWARD: BOND COUNSEL SERVICES
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian brought this request, to award the contract for Bond Counsel to the sole proposer, Venable, LLP,Attorneys at Law, of Baltimore, Maryland, for the total proposal value of $66,000.00 over the next 4 fiscal years, plus out-of-pocket expenses related to bond issues, and for all other work a melded hourly rate of $180.00 per hour for all attorneys and a melded rate for all paraprofessionals and law graduates not admitted to practice of $75.00 per hour. The firm’s present standard billable rates for the Bond Team range from $250.00 per hour to $420.00, so the melded rates represent a substantial discount for Washington County. Bond Counsel assists in selling County Public Improvement General Obligation Bonds, planning and financing of the debt issue, preparation of documents necessary for the sale, preparation of appropriate resolutions relating to the issue, and renderings legal opinions on matters pertaining to County bond issue. The initial term of the contract is for one year, from November 1 st through October 31 st 2005, with option by the Board to renew for up to 3 consecutive one-year periods, based on the annual lump-sum fees proposed by the firm. The prior contract award to Venable, Baetjer and Howard, LLP, was in the amount of $59,000.00, plus out-of-pocket expenses related to bond issues . Actions of the company have led to improvements of the County's bond rating by the major bond rating companies. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
CONTRACT TERMINATION AND AWARD TO NEXT LOW BIDDER: JANITORIAL SERVICES
Luther and Jim Sterling, Director of Buildings, Grounds and Parks brought this request before the Board, to terminate the contract for janitorial services with Global Services Corporation for non-performance and discontinuation of services. Global shut its doors unexpectedly due to problems with the IRS. Services are provided to a number of County-owned buildings in downtown Hagerstown and other county locations. Two options were presented. Under Option 1, award of contracts for the County Administration Building, the Courthouse and Annex, the Administrative Annex and the County Office Building would be awarded to Makro Services Inc. of Gaithersburg, Maryland in the amount of $130,367.72. Contracts would be issued for the Solid Waste Department building and the Extension Services/Agricultural Museum building to Stockwell Maintenance Systems, Inc. of Williamsport in the amount of $18,770.00. Under Option #2, individual contracts would be awarded to Stockwell for the Administration Building at $27,675.00 and the Court House/Annex building at $49,010.00. The Administration Annex contract would go to Servtec Custodial of Hagerstown in the amount of $12,340.00, as would the County Office for $37,996.00. The Agricultural Education Center Museum and Extension Service Office building would be awarded to Stockwell in the amount of $13,445.00 as woulds the Solid Waste Office building on Earth Care Road for $5,325.00. These are annual amounts to be prorated over the remainder of the fiscal year. Option #2 was approved by unanimous vote.
The Board attended a luncheon sponsored by Children In Need at the Martin Luther King Center on North Avenue in Hagerstown
REQUEST BY ARC OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Lee Michael and Bob DeHaven, representing the ARC of Washington County, requested assistance from the County in meeting matching funds required by state grants. Michael said the ARC had received a grant of $764,000 to add a 15,819 square foot building for expansion of its Medical Day Care Facility at 838 Florida Avenue. The group, which provides services to adults with developmental disabilities, needs about $250,000 to reach its total goal of just over $1 million. Washington County made contributions of $50,000 to previous projects, in 1990 and again in 1999. 120 clients are served in the Medical Day Care facility, and the ARC serves a total of 600 clients in Washington County. Commissioners' President Greg Snook said that the Commissioners will consider the request and make a determination within 2-3 weeks.
PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer, David McCobin, of Consulting firm Robert Kimball and Associates, Sheriff's Department Captain Doug Mullendore, Director of Emergency Services Joe Kroboth and Project Manager Pete Lowenheim brought this issue before the Board. McCobin told the Board that the consulting firm has been conducting a study of radio communications needs for Fire, Rescue and Police services for Washington County, and is recommending proceeding with preliminary design of a new digital UHF trunk communications system. The network would utilize existing channels licensed to the County at 450 MHz. Time is of the essence in proceeding to the next stage, because of grant applications and expiration of current licenses. The consultant's assessment also included the City of Hagerstown's Police Department radio communications. The report featured a visual presentation of the scope of the project, needs as found by the study and recommendations for both short-term and long-term solutions. A major problem in the county is that all police, fire and emergency services do not speak to each other over the same radio frequencies. There are separate emergency dispatch systems for Police/Fire and Medical Emergency operations. The new system is needed to improve communications between all facets of public safety in the County. Transmission towers are located on South Mountain, on Quirak Mountain, in Downtown Hagerstown, on Fairview Mountain and on Sideling Hill and provide communications across the county. Capacity of the conventional communication channels is an issue, as the number of radios grows from the current 1250 units to a projected 1900 units within 15 years. The consultant firm told the Board that major needs include greater coverage, especially with hand-help units, less interference, more channels, better interoperability, newer equipment and improved technology. New transmitter sites would be located, and towers constructed to bring the total number of sites from 6 currently, to 9 or 10. The next phase in the plan would be preliminary system design, to be completed in the spring of 2005, followed by specifications and procurement, and the last phase, implementation. Kroboth told the Board that the study has worked with the state's communications consultant on the interoperability issue--the ability of communications systems to talk to one another--and that the 450 MHz system would function. Currently, Washington County does not own any of the towers on which it maintains antennas. Transmitter equipment on Quirak Mountain at military site "C" is located in an exercise room. Communications towers at several of the existing sites are abandoned fire towers. Kroboth also told the Board that basic steps are being taken towards the possibility of consolidation of the 4 public safety dispatch sites current operating in Washington County. Cost savings could be seen if there is fiscal viability and an improvement in operations, Sheriff's Department Captain Doug Mullendore said. The measure, to proceed with preliminatry system design was approved by unanimous vote.