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.
T he Board attended a breakfast forum with members of the Middle States Commission on Higher EDUCATION (MSCHE), at hagerstown community college. hcc is accredited by that body, and as part of the process, MSCHE members request meetings with community leaders.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
Human Resources Administrator Dee Hawbaker brought three new employees before the Commissioners for introductions. Linda Doyle was recently hired as a Senior Office Associate in Human Resources. Jason Willison is the newest Sheriff's Department Patrol Deputy. Kathy Miller, who had been a part-time Emergency Communications specialist, has taken on full-time duties with the Emergency Services Department.
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner John Munson commented on participating in the Alsatia Club Mummer’s Parade last weekend, and commented on insurance issues.
Commissioner Dori Nipps reported on the Community Action Council Board meeting last week, and said that CAC, Interfaith Housing and Habitat for Humanity will be building several affordable houses in the Gateway Crossing area in 2005. Nipps also commented on attending the Mid-States Accreditation Commission meeting at Hagerstown Community College.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on a Greater Hagerstown forum that discussed a variety of community issues including broadband resources, Interstate 81, and development fees. The Planning Commission met Monday evening and approved a site plan for the North Point Shopping Center, a renovation to the Beaver Creek Golf Course clubhouse, and a site plan for a 4,500 square foot building at the Cross Creek shopping center. The Planning Commission discussed the outdoor advertising sign ordinance and made its recommendations for changes. Talks continue with developers of the Westfield subdivision regarding a school site as well as other projects, Kercheval said.
Commissioner Bill Wivell commented on the visit to Washington County last week by Senator Barbara Mikulski, and the Lowe’s Distribution Center opening ceremony. A meeting with staff and Humane Society (WCHS) representatives has reduced that organization’s budget request by $400,000.00. Wivell said the WCHS will look at additional ways to reduce expenses, including reducing the population of strays through spay-neuter programs, maintaining the number of Animal Control officers at 3 , and reviewing other expense control measures. The HS also agreed to 70% as being the percentage of the total budget attributable to animal control rather than the 85% previously requested. A motion was made to release the budget set - aside of $250,256 for FY’ 05 to the Humane Society, and negotiate a new contract for FY ’06. The measure passed by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Kercheval voting “no”.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reported on a meeting of the Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACo) Legislative Committee last week. Under discussion were initiatives for 2005 including School Construction and Renovation. Security of County budgets, and Public Safety Communications. Snook is in line for the Second-Vice-President office with MACo. A letter to the Board from the Boonsboro Mayor and Council indicates that municipality has submitted a pre-application for construction of a water line on U.S. 40-Alternate from Maryland Route 68 to Mill Point Road. Time has been requested on the coming Maryland Municipal League agenda to discuss school capacity and construction issues, Snook said. A letter from the Maryland Department of the Environment to the Board indicates that state office will be working with Counties to set up “Flush Fee” collection systems across the state.
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.
No one appeared to make comment on this date.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer brought a progress report on the Tollgate Road construction project to the Board. A problem has arisen with two businesses in the area which cannot attract customers due to the construction project, and storm damage to a bridge in that area. The contractor is on schedule for phase one of the road construction, Rohrer said, and should have that portion of the project complete by mid-December. The state is assisting one of the businesses in a temporary relocation. Rohrer told the Board that the bridge on Tollgate Ridge Road suffered significant damage due to this fall’s hurricanes, and that in order to get the bridge to a state of repair to allow one lane of traffic would take about three weeks. Commissioners’ President Snook instructed Rohrer to get details from a second business in the area and file an additional report with the Board. Broadfording Road Bridge is on schedule, Rohrer said, with the bridge to open to traffic for a temporary period to begin in late December and run until May.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator Rod Shoop requested permission to advertise a Senior Plant Operator Position in the Water Quality Department. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS' AWARD
Commissioners' President Greg Snook presented Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian and all members of that department with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (see attached news release).
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AUDITS
Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian and Financial Advisor Mike Manspeaker brought the Audited Financial Statements for June 30, 2004 before the Board for review and approval. The report contained a management discussion and analysis, government-wide statements, fund statements, footnotes and required supplementary information. Manspeaker told the Board that the County’s audit was clean and no problems were noted with record keeping systems. Total County Assets were $445 million over liabilities, with General Government at $336 million and Business-type activities such as Water Quality, Landfill and the Airport at $109 million. The County ended the fiscal year with a General Fund surplus of $3.95 million. Income taxes were $2.8 million over budgeted amounts, recordation taxes were $1.5 million over budget. All proprietary funds remained healthy, Manspeaker reported. Overall debt reduction was in excess of $6 million, Manspeaker said. Commissioners’ President Greg Snook commended Budget and Finance and all County staff for another good fiscal year, and cited the clean audit and General Fund Surplus.
BID AWARD; MOTOR AND INDUSTRIAL OILS
County Purchasing Agent Karen Luther and Jack Reynard, Fleet Manager for the County Highways Department brought this request, to award the bid for Motor & Industrial Oils to the lowest, responsible, responsive bidder, Holtzman Oil Corporation of Mt. Jackson, VA based on unit costs and estimated annual quantities for the total bid amount of $68,864.43. The contract is for a one year period with no options for renewal. Notice of the bid was advertised in the State’s Contract Weekly publication. Notices were direct-mailed to 19 vendors. Four 4 vendors obtained a copy of the bid document. Product requirements for the Board of Education, Hagerstown Community College, and the City of Hagerstown, were also included in the award recommendation. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION I-81 PROJECT
Deputy Chief Engineer Rob Slocum and John Cristman, of the consulting firm of Greenhorne and O'Mara brought this report on the Maryland State Highway Administration’s “I-81 Improvement Project” to the Board for discussion. Cristman, whose firm conducted the study for the State Highway Administration (SHA) held a Location/ Design Public Hearing for the Project on October 6, 2004. Written Comments received by November 8, 2004 will be included in the Public Hearing Transcript. Cristman told the Board that the purpose of this report is to review the information provided at the Public Hearing, then generate written comments by the Commissioners to be included in SHA’s Public Hearing Transcript. SHA said that the project will be funded. It's schedule would be to close the Public Hearing Transcript on November 8 th, then evaluate and address public and agency comments, then recommend a preferred alternate to the State Highway Administrator. Completion of an environmental document for a build alternate would be needed, if selected, obtaining location and design approvals from SHA and the Federal Highway Administration, submission of a final design, Right of Way acquisition, and then to construction. Project alternatives would include not proceeding with the project, making interchange improvements at MD route 68, US highway 11, Interstate 70, US highway 40, MD route 58, Maugans Avenue, Showalter Road, and PA highway 163. Inside lane widening could take place, development of a Collector Distributor from I-70 to Halfway Boulevard, or I-81 to remain 2 lanes from I-70 to Halfway Boulevard. One of the more controversial prospects would be toll booths at selected points along the interstate. The Board of County Commissioners did not accept this idea, saying it had no interest in Tolls along I-81. SHA is studying the potential for a weigh station on a 10 acre site along South Bound I-81 between Halfway Boulevard and US 40. Staff and the Board agreed that not enough space is available between those intersections to safely install such a facility, and the Commissioners said there is no interest in a weigh station in Washington County. Economic and Environmental Impact was studied and SHA said that a preliminary comparison of air and noise quality for the build and no build scenarios, no significant difference was noted. SHA has stated that “no noise abatement measures are recommended for any of the receptors along I-81, ” citing the proposal to widen towards the median of the roadway, rather than outwards. Additional analysis will be performed and reported upon selection of a final alignment. The US Army Corps of Engineers will accept comments for the “formal project record” until November 8, 2004, Slocum reported. Consensus of the Board was a combination of alternatives that would improve interchanges along the I-81 corridor prior to widening of that roadway
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SUPPLIES BILLING
Department of Emergency Services (DES) Director Joe Kroboth and Alan Metheny, Chair of the Emergency Medical Services Committee of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (VFRA) brought this issue before the Board. One year ago the DES and VFRA appeared before the Board of County Commissioners to ask consideration for the County Government to absorb the costs for EMS supplies used in the pre-hospital environment. The VFRA explained that their billing revenues were not sufficient to cover the costs of salaries, equipment and supplies. Changes in federal law prohibited hospitals from providing the supplies at no charge since all of the EMS companies bill for services provided. The Board agreed to fund this program for a three-month period. After the pilot program period, the matter was to be brought back to the Board for approval to continue or eliminate.
The three-month pilot program ran from July 1st, through September 31st. The cost for the program during this period was $16,962. EMS companies responded to 4,002 incidents during the period with an average cost per call of $4.24. The Board included $90,000 in the FY ’05 operating budget for EMS supplies. Based on past call volume history and an adjustment for growth, the annual cost for supplies in FY ’05 is estimated to be approximately $70,000. The Department and the Association are requesting that these costs continue to be paid by the County. A motion, that the $70,000 remaining continue to be used, the process for billing be continued for one year and a management plan be developed was approved by unanimous vote.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT
Washington County Sheriff Charles Mades brought this request, to approve the State Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG). The grant period is from October 8th, 2004 to September 30th, 2005, in the amount of $11,250.00 with Case Match of 10% .
This grant was requested for the purpose of instituting a part time Community Policing effort in the Halfway area. Halfway has grown from a small community into the most heavily populated area of Washington County, outside of the city limits of Hagerstown. Approximately 25% of all calls for police service occur in or around the Halfway area, as compared to the remainder of Washington County, excluding the City of Hagerstown. This funding will provide focused police protection and service to this area on weekend evenings. Approval of the grant is needed so that Budget and Finance can add the line item for disbursement purposes. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
INTRODUCTION: COMMISSION ON AGING DIRECTOR
Washington County Commission on Aging Board Chair Bill Beard brought Susan J. MacDonald new COA Director before the County Commissioners for introduction. McDonald took the reins of that agency when Dr. Fred Otto retired in September. County support to the COA is about $500,000.00 annually. The COA receives support from the State Department of Aging, various federal grant programs and local funding from the United Way, the Gaming Commission, donations and the Senior Fair. The Commission serves 5,550 seniors annually of the 25,993 seniors in Washington County. Beard thanked the County for the involvement of Human Resources Director Dave Hankinson and his staff who provided assistance with the search and hiring process.
EXCESS PROPERTY CONVEYANCE
Department of Water Quality Deputy Director Jim Bishop and Real Property Administrator Joe Kuhna brought this request, to convey excess property , before the Board for approval. At the October 14, 2004 Water Quality Advisory Commission meeting, a motion was made to request approval to convey excess property at Maugans Meadows pump station. Prospective buyers Mr. and Mrs. Thomas agreed to purchase the property for $4,000.00. If the measure were approved, the County must advertise its intent in a newspaper of general distribution in the County, once a week for 3 successive weeks. The Water Quality Advisory Commission had given its approval for the sale. The property was unusable by the County, Bishop said. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
REHABILITATION LOAN PROGRAM TRANSFER
Real Property Administrator Joe Kuhna and Community Action Council Director Dave Jordan brought this matter, transfer of the Washington County Rehabilitation Loan Program Activity to the Washington County Community Action Council (CAC), before the Board for approval. Kuhna, former Community Development Administrator, oversaw that program for a number of years. Since 1976, the Washington County Department of Planning & Community Development has been offering assistance to income eligible households for the renovation, repair and rehabilitation of existing housing units. Hundreds of households have been the recipient of grants, low and no interest loans to make necessary repairs to correct health and safety issues with their residences. The Department no longer has the human resources available to effectively administer the program and a local service provider has expressed interest in providing the activity in Washington County. The move would allow CAC to accept the current rehabilitation program and assets and continue to offer housing rehabilitation services to residents of Washington County. Transfer of up to $200,000.00 in the revolving loan fund balance to CAC would be necessary, to enable continuance with the program, underwrite new loans, administer current construction activity and service current accounts. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Commission on Aging for reappointment of Bill Beard and Christopher Joliet as Commissioners' representatives to the COA for a second three-year term. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The Disabilities Advisory Committee requested reappointments of Matt Courtney, Randy Dick, Peggy Martin and Jim Wilhide to additional three-year terms. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The Black Rock Golf Course Board requested reappointments of Jeff Yingling and Tom Riford. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.