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.
THE COMMISSIONERS PRESENTED THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS DURING THE MORNING AT THE FOUR POINTS HOTEL IN HAGERSTOWN (see attached story)
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Bill Wivell discussed a recent meeting in Annapolis with members of the Local Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly and Commissioners Kercheval and Munson. Tim O'Rourke, Supervisor of Assessments, had reported that residential assessments have increased by 73% in the recent reassessment, while commercial properties increased 31% for the same period. The Commissioners discussed County revenues and various forms of property tax relief for County citizens. Wivell also reported on the draft budget presentation by the Board of Education. The BOE is requesting a budget increase of $3.4 million from County government, which would be equal to the Maintenance of Effort. The BOE expects to receive about $15.5 million from the state this year, Wivell said. Data presented at that meeting indicated that enrollment increased 2.2% in Washington County schools while the overall state enrollment has dropped slightly. Wealth per pupil has increased by 8.7% in the County while the statewide average increase is 11.5% for the past year, Wivell said.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval also reported on the meeting with the Delegation and the assessment discussion. According to Assessor Tim O'Rourke about 18,000 homes qualified for the homeowners' tax credits in Washington County, Kercheval said. This provided about $1.1 million of tax relief. It was estimated that lowering the cap to 5% would generate an additional $700,000 of tax relief. Commissioner Kercheval pointed out that this was less than the previously approved $2 million tax rebate and the additional $3 million rebate the Commissioners discussed last week. Monday night's Planning Commission meeting featured an in-depth presentation by County Planner Tim Lung regarding the New Hospital. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer also spoke to the Planning Commission on road development issues in that area. The Hospital portion of the meeting lasted 2 hours, Kercheval said, and the site plan was unanimously approved. Approval was also given to the Rosewood Planned Unit Development. Under the current phase of development, 303 units would be built for persons age 55 and older, per HUD guidelines. A plan was discussed for a proposed strip shopping center at the corner of Maryland Route 65 and Oak Ridge Drive, Kercheval said. Members of the Planning Commission had reservations about the two-way entrance close to the intersection and asked that staff review that entrance to determine if a "right-in, right out" would be preferred. Commissioner Kercheval commended planning staff for their work on the hospital site as well as Greg Murray and Mike Thompson for their presentation on Water and Sewer at the Chamber of Commerce's Eggs and Issues meeting last week.
Commissioner John Munson reported that local Tax Assessor Tim O'Rourke told the County Delegation that this year's assessment was the largest in recent history, in the meeting that the three Commissioners held with the Local Delegation last week. A goal of that meeting was to have the cap on assessments reduced from 10% per year to 5% per year.
Commissioner Dori Nipps said that the Recreation and Parks Board (RPB) finalized state Program Open Space fund submittals for the coming fiscal year. $1.4 million in POS funding was proposed by municipalities, Public Schools, and Hagerstown Community College. HCC has never applied for POS funds in the past, Nipps said. The RPB asked that any funding over the requested amount be applied to acquisition of park land. That Board continues to discuss a recreational facility to be built in the southern portion of the County. For the first time ever, the County's Summer Play Camps paid for themselves. 378 children were served weekly in those camps, Nipps reported. The Recreation Department is looking to increase fees for next summer's camps from $40 to $45 per week, in order to hire additional staff, and expand the program. The Town of Hancock has asked that its POS funding for this year be moved up to repair a bridge in Kirk Woods Park. That recreation area is now inaccessible, Nipps said. Cost for that repair would be $158,900. The Historic District Commission discussed the impact of the I-81 widening project on the C&O Canal path, Nipps said.
Commissioners' President Greg Snook reported that the Chamber of Commerce Board welcomed new members at its meeting last week. A Planned trip to the Maryland Association of Counties was thwarted by an accident on I-70 last week, Snook said. The Commissioner reported on the investiture of Ken Long as the County's newest Circuit Court Judge on Friday. The University System of Maryland-Hagerstown Board of Directors heard that staff will be added to the facility to teach additional classes. Enrollment for the current quarter is 335, an increase over fall levels. Towson State University will begin offering Nursing Courses at the facility soon, and additional programs in Education are planned, as well as a Masters' of Social Work degree. The 1st two weeks of January saw $45 million in home sales in Washington County, Snook reported.
REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF
Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson told the Board that two new staff members will be added to the department soon.
Public Works Director Gary Rohrer told the Board that the Advisory School Design Committee met last week and reviewed the processes it is using to guide school planning. A flow chart is being developed to aid in that effort, Rohrer said.
PUBLIC HEARING: FY '06 AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENT RANKINGS
Eric Seifarth, Land Preservation Administrator brought this issue, the Easement Priority Rankings for fiscal year 2006, before the Board for approval. Each year the Ag Land Preservation Advisory Board ranks easement applications for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program. Those rankings are then forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final review and approval. Seifarth told the Board that land is ranked by a number of criteria dealing with soil condition and land value. 13 parcels of land were ranked. Seifarth told the Board that previously committed funding of $667,000 from the State Agricultural Transfer tax funds exists to grant easements. Several citizens appeared to testify in favor of the easement program. A motion to move the rankings forward 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.
Tom Berry of Rohrersville commented on taxation and assessment issues and requested that the Board cut the tax rate.
New Executive Director of the Maryland Theater Brian Sullivan was introduced to the Board. Sullivan talked about the Theater's new digital projection equipment and said that there will be a State of the Theater" address on March 22nd, discussing the future of that facility.
Zachary Tran and Bryan Kurtika, representing Washco Developments brought a public school mitigation plan before the Board for Sunset Acres development, in Clear Spring. Portable classrooms could be provided to accommodate increases in school population there. Commissioners' President Snook said that further discussions on that issue would be set.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Clerk Joni Bittner told the Board that the Agricultural Land Preservation Board has requested reappointment of David Herbst of Smithsburg. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Members of the County's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) committee and the Commissioners looked at additional items within the proposed CIP budget for fiscal year 2007. Budget and Finance Director Debra Bastian, Public Works Director Gary Rohrer and Planning and Community Development Director Mike Thompson brought this discussion on the CIP before the Board. In the CIP for General Government, Murray told the Board that a total of $26.6 million would be used for Contingency funds, Bond Issuance costs, Technology Development and Upgrades, AG Land Preservation, the Public Safety Communications System, Courthouse Renovations, the Libraries development, planning for the Central Booking System, and a Public Safety Computer Aided records management system. Public Works Director Gary Rohrer said that an elevator at the Courthouse has driven additional costs. The Boonsboro Branch Library could go to construction by May of this year, Rohrer said. Capital Improvements include all facility construction and renovations, infrastructure such as roads and bridges, as well as water and sewer lines. The Board will review each line item in the proposed budget prior to taking the document to Public Hearing, in April.
The board attended the ANNUAL league of women voters luncheon at the noon hour
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET PRESENTATION
Transportation Department Manager Kevin Cerrone brought the first of the Enterprise Fund operating budgets before the Board for review. The transportation service provided 330,0000 passenger trips in 2005. The number of passenger trips has risen by about 9.3% from 2004-2006, and increases in gas prices have contributed to that increase Cerrone said. The County Commuter operating budget for its fixed-route, paratransit, taxi ride-assist and Department of Social Services Jobs Van is requested to be $2.056 million, up $57,195 or 2.86% due to increases in state and federal grants. One program, the Statewide Transportation Assistance Program may take a 12.6% cut due to state funding. The transportation budget is funded 25% by federal funds, 31% by state funds, 21% by County funds, and 18% through ridership fares. Cerrone told the Board that the cost of fuel has driven expenses up, with diesel fuel increases having the most severe impact. Electricity costs and insurance increases are also affecting the County Commuter budget. Operating budgets will be reviewed weekly prior to a public hearing to be held on April 18th.
HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Retiring Highways Department Director Ted Wolford and members of the department staff brought the Fiscal Year 2007 Highway Department operating budget before the Board for initial review. Wolford, who will retire on February 10th, presented his 30th budget, and cited several needs for the coming years. Stormwater management ponds are under strict regulation by MDE and EPA and require a level of maintenance that will increase. Equipment and personnel are needed to stay in compliance with those federal and state regulations, Wolford said. A new Highways facility is needed. Wolford said the current location on Northern Avenue is a "Cave-Man" facility in a modern world. The Department is playing catch-up due to state cuts to the Highway User Revenue over the last two years that amounted to more than $5 million. The Department's cash reserve goal has been fully met, Wolford reported. In FY 2007, overall revenues are projected to be $9,325 million, about 1 million or 12.09% over last year. Increased costs for fuel and electricity impacted on the overall budget for the coming fiscal year. General Operations expenses are $1.11 million and the Road Maintenance budget is at $4 million. $547,940 is earmarked for snow removal for next fiscal year, but very little has been used to date from that budget due to the warm weather conditions and surpluses have reduced the budget by $145,190. Fleet Management costs are the other large line-item expenditure, at $2.78 million. Operating budgets will be reviewed weekly prior to a public hearing to be held on April 18th. Following the presentation, Wolford was presentred with the Cohnty Seal by Commissioners' President Greg Snook. A plaque honoring Wolford's long tenure in the County was presentred by Senior Staff of the Division of Public Works.
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY
Joe Kroboth, Deputy Director of the Division of Public Works and Architect Robin Kohn of Betzwood Associates brought this Feasibility Study and Evaluation of a Re-Fit of 16232 Elliott Parkway as an Emergency Operations and Training Center before the Board. On March 1, 2005, then Emergency Services Director Joe Kroboth appeared before the Commissioners presenting five conceptual locations to relocate the County’s 911 Center and the administrative offices for Emergency Services. The Commissioners agreed in concept to relocate the operations to vacant office space at 16232 Elliott Parkway known as the Public Works Annex Building. The Commissioners directed the Divisions of Public Works and Emergency Services to retain the services of an architecture firm to evaluate the proposal and provide a general cost estimate for completing the project. That report has been completed, and findings indicated the adaptive reuse of the building would be feasible. The area has enough space for erection of towers and peripherals. Security would need to be upgraded; tempered glass would have to be installed in all windows. An uninterruptible power supply would be needed as well as an emergency generator. This renovation is integral to the completion of the countywide public safety radio project and necessary to meet the demands on the Emergency Services Division. Kohn told the Board that the projected cost to upgrade the facility would be $782,121.00. Cost to construct a new facility of this type runs about $1.5 million. The project would not require the purchase of land or construction of a building, so cost savings of over $700,000 could be seen. Once a bid was let and notice to proceed given, total construction time would be about 42 weeks, Kohn said. Betzwood stated, “According to our observations, the overall good condition of the building and systems and the fairly minor level of renovation that will be required to accommodate the intended uses, we believe that the subject building will provide an excellent and economical platform for the adaptive reuse as proposed.” The recommendation is to accept the architect’s report and authorize proceeding to development of construction documents for renovation of the Elliott Parkway facility. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
SNOOK CITES STRONG ECONOMY, LOW COST OF GOVERNMENT IN STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS
Washington County Board of County Commissioners' President Gregory I. Snook told 175 civic leaders that Washington County has a strong economic outlook while providing Maryland's best return on the government services dollar during the 2006 State of the County Address at the Four Points Hotel in Hagerstown on February 7th.
Snook talked about how the current Board of County Commissioners has performed over the past three years, with an emphasis on gains made over the last 12 months.
Snook presented an overview of Washington County Finances, citing strong ratings by the various Bond agencies, including Fitch, which gave the County an AA rating in 2005. Fitch called the County's financial position sound and said Capital needs are manageable due to growth-related fees and taxes. At the same time, Standard and Poor's rating agency said that the County's good financial performance and position is bolstered by good reserve levels and established policies. In evaluating the County's financial status, Moody's bond rating agency said that debt burden is expected to remain manageable, Snook said.
Refinancing of Water and Sewer debt has saved the County $13 million in interest fees over the past several years. Cash reserves, the amount of funds it would take to operate County government in a disastrous situation, such as Hurricane Katrina, will reach $28 million this year, enough to operate 60 days, Snook said.
The current Commissioners have taken on some tough assignments, such as growth management and school capacity. The revision of the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance strengthened the School Capacity Analysis, Initiated developer mitigation options and gave guidance to the County's municipalities in adopting similar ordinances.
The revised Excise Tax ordinance ensures that development pays for impacts to the County infrastructure, providing funding for construction of new schools and renovations to existing schools, improving roads, constructing libraries and parks and assisting Public Safety.
The Highway Maintenance Program has been strengthened through revisions to the Road Adequacy Policy. All county highways are being videotaped, so that conditions of each road will be made clear. The aggressive program of road repair or reconstruction has a funding goal of $25 million over the next five years, Snook said.
Agricultural Preservation has been expanded with an increase to permanent easements by 5,421 Acres in the rural areas. More than $16.8 million has been invested in the preservation program, and there are 20,200 acres currently under easement in the County.
The Comprehensive Rezoning of then Rural Areas has directed growth towards the urbanized parts of the County, where water and sewer utilities are more readily available. Increases in state and federal environmental regulations have been handled and programs put into place to deal with regulatory compliance, Snook said.
The issue of funding education was the top priority for this sitting Board, Snook said. Public School operating budgets have been fully funded and capacity issues have been addressed. The Current Commissioners have budgeted for 4 new schools and 4 addition or renovation projects to increase student capacity. An $80 million backlog of maintenance issues at older schools is being addressed and the Commissioners are supporting the Public Schools' long-term maintenance plan.
Snook cited operational funding that grew from $80 million in fiscal year 2003, to more than $90 million by FY 2006. The capital program for schools increased from just below $6 million in FY 2003 to over $15 million in FY 2006. Additional increases are being sought in the Board of Education budget for FY '07.
The hurricanes of 2005 showed that in order for local governments to be able to protect citizens, adequate governmental communications must exist. The current Board has improved communications for County, City and State police, fire and ambulance companies through finalizing plans for a new Public Safety Communications system and making upgrades to the 9-1-1 telephone system. The County's Emergency Response Plan has been and continues to be updated. The Washington County Sheriff's Department budget was fully funded under the current Board's direction.
Economic Development has brought 900 new jobs into the County just this year, and attracted over $80 million in new investment. The County's average wage has increased as a result of the number of jobs that average over $18 per hour in wages.
The Airport Improvement Program continues on budget and on time, and will be completed by the fall of 2007, Snook said. New investment at Hagerstown Regional Airport has increased by $7.5 million since 2002. The same time period has seen more than 300 new jobs added at the airfield, Snook said.
On-line bill paying and permit processing showed a continued commitment towards streamlining the operations of County government.
Fast Tracking of the new Washington County Hospital is taking place through expanded plan review and permitting activities.
Efficiency of Government services is high in Washington County, with statewide statistics provided by the 2006 Dept of Legislative Services publication "Overview of Local Governments" showing our County as lowest in per-capita cost for general government operations. Our cost of doing government business, at $2,263.00 is 20% lower than the Maryland average of $3,331.00. By comparison, Frederick County government operations costs each taxpayer $2,894.00, while government services per person in Allegany County are $2,753.00 and Garrett County averages $3,406.00.