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.
Review of Actions Taken in the Washington County
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
April 3, 2007
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Kristin Aleshire commented on the
final session of new Commissioners orientation held at the Recreation Department
on Monday. A need for a new agreement between Recreation and Hagerstown Community
College on times of use for the Athletic Recreation and Community Center (ARCC)
exists, and should be placed on the Commissioners list of Goals for 2007. A
similar agreement should also be worked out regarding recreation use of school
facilities with the Board of education, Aleshire said.
Commissioner Jim Kercheval reported on
last week's meeting with CSAFE's Carolyn Brooks on need for that community program.
CSAFE has added Gang Awareness education to its list of programs, Kercheval
said. The County/City 2+2 Committee meeting last week discussed options for
Economic Development, Kercheval said. The Maryland Association of Counties'
(MACo) last legislative committee meeting was held last week. The "Green
Fund" bill will be tabled until next year's session. That bill could have
added impact fees to every square foot of new impervious land built in the state.
County Chief Engineer Terry McGee testified on Storm Water Management Pond legislation,
and that legislation was amended to require the Maryland Department of the Environment
to have input from Counties as new regulations are considered. McGee will likely
serve on the state workgroup reviewing changes in those regulations, Kercheval
said. The Controlling Interest bill that would have assisted the County's school
construction efforts is currently being reviewed in Senate committee, the Commissioner
reported. It was unknown if it would get out of committee and be voted on during
this session. The Commissioner met with a planned development in the North
End of Hagerstown interested in including an Elementary school site as part
of an APFO mitigation offer. The developer will be looking into the availability
for adequate yearly sewer allocation in order to meet its phasing goals before
formulating that offer, Kercheval reported. The National Association of Counties
newsletter featured an article on new technologies for landfills and control
of solid waste. The Commissioner reiterated the need for Washington County to
look at advancements in technology as a more economical, environmentally friendly,
and sustainable way to handle it's landfill operations. Special Projects
Director Gary Rohrer is looking into those technologies. The Planning Commission
approved a Communications Tower site plan for the Department of Water Quality
at its Monday meeting. Text amendments to water and sewer plans for Smithsburg
and the City of Hagerstown were recommended for support as complying with the
Comprehensive Plan, Kercheval said.
Commissioners' President John Barr reported on
attending the Museum of Fine Arts Board of Directors meeting last week. A $1
million cash donation will be made to the museum soon, Barr said. A Health Awareness
event in Hancock last week featured a walk from the Pennsylvania State Line
to the Potomac River. The Hagerstown Community College Endowment fund-raising
event Friday night raised over $100,000 and the Habitat for Humanity event on
Saturday raised $78,000 for that organization, Barr said. 475 County children
attended the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Agricultural Education Center last
weekend, and the Spring Open House at the Agricultural Heritage Museum was well-attended,
Barr reported.
BLACK ROCK GOLF COURSE BUDGET PRESENTATION
Budget and Finance Director Debra Murray, Black
Rock Golf Course (BRGC) Board Chair Dick Roulette, Golf Course Director Darryl
Whittington and Course Maintenance Director John Kain brought this request before
the Board. The budget request includes an increase in County support of about
1.3% in Fiscal Year 2008. Murray said. Murray presented a 6-point financial
and management plan that would place the Course operations under the Department
of Buildings, Grounds and Parks (BG&P), as requested by the BRGC Board.
The course would remain as an Enterprise Fund, but the move would give increased
flexibility to BRGC in staffing and operations. The plan would work to restore
cash balance and remove the current reserve requirement, funds relating to equipment
would be moved from the operating budget to the Capital Improvement Program
budget, place the Course fund and operations under BG&P, release restrictions
on the Howard Trust and allow funds to be used for the trust's original intent
of parks development if no further golf course construction were planned, writing
a new agreement with the BRGC Board of Directors and review of the management
plan after three years to analyze the restructure and determine the ability
for self-support. The final step was amended to better reflect operational
efficiencies, with BG&P Director Jim Sterling to report to the Board on
the plan after 6 months. The plan would be effective July 1st. The reorganization
measure was approved by unanimous vote. All budgets will be reviewed by line
item prior to the Public Hearing set for May.
PUBLIC HEARING: MODIFICATION OF WATER AND SEWER RATES FY 2008
Acting Director
of the Department of Water Quality Julie Pippel brought this rate setting issue
to Public Hearing, pursuant to the Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington
County, Maryland, Title 6 – Water, Sewer, and Drainage Systems, Section
6-308) – Modification of water and sewer rates and fees for FY 2008. The
County Commissioners conducted a public hearing to permit any resident of Washington
County to appear and testify concerning the proposed modification of water and
sewer rates and certain fees. Water and Sewer revenue requirements show that
a 4% increase in water revenue and a 3% increase in sewer revenue is necessary
to facilitate the Department of Water Quality's long range financial plans. The
presented rate schedule for FY 2008 is based on this requirement. Fees
for water service would increase $2.40 for the base amount of 6,000 gallons
per month (gpm), and an additional 30 cents for each additional 1,000 gallons.
The proposed residential sewer rates would increase by $2.80 for the base rate
of 6,000 gpm, and an increase of 14 cents for each additional 1,000 gpm. Allocation
rates would rise, from $3,500 per year to $5,900 per year, with small commercial
enterprise fees to be reviewed. No one appeared to testify either in favor of
or in opposition to the rate proposals, and the rates were adopted to be taken
to the County budget hearing in May.
JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: MODIFICATION OF CHARGES, RENTALS AND FEES AT HAGERSTOWN
REGIONAL AIRPORT FOR FY 2008
Hagerstown
Regional Airport (HGR) Manager Carolyn Motz and staff brought these proposed
fees and charges to Public Hearing. The County Commissioners and the Hagerstown
Regional Airport Advisory Commission conducted a public hearing to permit any
interested person to appear and testify concerning the proposed increase in
current charges, rentals, and fees at the Hagerstown Regional Airport. The
new schedule of rates and charges, if adopted, shall become effective July 1,
2007. Rents for hangars would see increases of from $5 to $16 per month based
on size. Hangar Offices and Combination Office-Hangar monthly rental increases
would be seen at a range of $4 to $52 depending on size. There would be
no change in tie-down or ramp fees. Landing fees for transient aircraft would
increase in a range from $1 to $4 per landing, depending on aircraft size. No
one appeared either in favor of or in opposition to the plan, and the rates
were approved for adoption pursuant to the budget hearing in May.
PUBLIC HEARING: FY '07 INSTALLMENT PAYMENT PROGRAM EASEMENTS
Land Preservation
Specialist Eric Seifarth brought Fiscal Year 2007 Installment Payment Program
(IPP) Easements for the Bowman, Martin, Newcomer and Ziem properties to Public
Hearing with a request that the County Commissioners approve the IPP easement
payment schedules for Tricia Bowman Clopper, Myron Martin, Kathleen Newcomer,
and Ruth Ziem. In an effort to expand the land preservation program the Commissioners
adopted an Installment Payment Program to be able to leverage County transfer
tax funds, $400,000 per year for agricultural easements, over a ten-year payment
plan. Using data acquired from unfunded properties from FY ’06 state programs,
we have established easement values for IPP properties and we have saved about
$6,000 in appraisal costs for these four farms. In addition, the County Commissioners
previously approved a 3% interest rate, paid annually on the remaining balances. Using
County transfer tax funds, the cost for these 4 projects, easement values plus
interest, equals $3,328,981.23. Estimated title and settlement costs would
average about $1,800 for each property. Total projected county costs for
these 4 properties are $3,336,181.23. No one appeared either in favor of or
in opposition to the plan, and the measures were adopted with Commissioner Aleshire
abstaining.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION
Each week the Board of County Commissioners sets
aside time to hear from citizens of Washington County on matters of importance
to the community.
Don Wiegel,
President of the Sharpsburg Emergency Medical Service company commented in favor
of the proposed comprehensive County plan for EMS citing staffing needs.
RESH ROAD LANDFILL II CLOSURE CAP CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER
Chief Engineer
Terry McGee and Rob Slocum, Deputy Chief Engineer brought
The Resh Road Landfill II Closure Phase I, Closure Cap Construction Change
Order No. 4 to the Board for approval. The Change was in the amount of $738,156.90
The County Commissioners awarded the contract for this project to Pavex, Inc.
on June 13th, 2006 in the amount of $3,787,256.15. Construction began
on August 14th, 2006 with a contract completion date of October 22nd, 2007. It
is anticipated that the Contractor will complete construction early, on or
about May 1st, 2007. The proposed Change Order includes both bid quantity
overruns and the additional labor and equipment costs necessary to address
site conditions that were not in accordance with the construction plans. The
proposed change order calls for an increase in contract value of $738,156.90. No
additional time has been requested or approved. State and federal regulations
require the County to cap the Resh Road Landfill. Upon clearing the
site, the intermediate cover was found to have insufficient thickness in some
locations and contaminated with waste in others, which lead to exposed waste
and leacheate seeps. Furthermore, some areas did not meet minimum grades
required by MDE as well as the design plans. The primary quantity overruns
include approximately $400,000 for Borrow items, $32,000 for Turf Reinforcement
Mat, $113,000 for Stone, $31,000 for Riprap, and $155,000 for Leacheate Outbreak
Repair items. The exact total of all quantity overruns is $532,020.35.
Project funding is $5,000,000 from the MDE Water Quality Loan Fund and $235,000
General Fund. The current budget balance is $637,811.64. This
balance, coupled with a $143,000 reduction in inspection costs will create
a total budget balance of $780,811.64, which is adequate to cover this change
order. McGee told the Board that working with the contractor helped reduce
costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars and has resulted in elimination
of any shortfall. The measure was approbed by unanimous vote.
OTHER BUSINESS
County Administrator's Comments: County Administrator
Greg Murray told the Board that the next Maryland Municipal League meeting will
be held May 21st at Smithsburg Fire Hall. Tax setoffs will be discussed, Murray
said. Letters of support were sent to the National Parks Service in support
of recommendations made by C&O canal staff last week, Murray said. A request
from the state to supply additional funding for the Gypsy Moth program asked
for $35,000 for the service. The County budget request is at $26,000. The Board
reached consensus to fund the program at the current level. The state Mosquito
Control program asked for $3,500 from the County for spraying. Municipalities
and neighborhood associations fund that program and no action was taken.
Reports from County Staff: Special Projects Director
Gary Rohrer discussed the National Association of County "County News" article
describing the new landfill technologies in use in Michigan. Rohrer said he will
get in contact with the officials there to find out more information. A meeting
with Hagerstown City Engineer Rodney Tissue discussed mutual areas of transportation
concern, Rohrer said. A discussion on that issue will be brought to the Board
in two weeks.
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BOND
ISSUANCE: RAMPF MOLDS INDUSTRIES
Bond Counsel
Timmy Ruppersberger, of Venable, LLP, brought this matter to the Board, requesting consideration
of adoption of an official action Resolution relating to the proposed issuance
of $5,000,000 in Economic Development Revenue to benefit local industry. A letter
of intent dated March 19th, 2007 was received from Rampf Molds Industries, Inc.
requesting issuance by the County Commissioners of one or more series of its
economic development revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
5 million dollars. The proceeds would be loaned to Rampf Molds Industries
and used to finance or refinance the construction of an approximately 18,750
square foot addition to the Borrower's existing facility located at 90 Western
Maryland Parkway, Hagerstown, and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment,
including a Case Hardening Oven, milling machines, cranes straightening presses,
shot blasting booth, and paint booth, and landscaping, roads or other rights
of access, utilities and other facilities as may be necessary, capitalized interest
on the bonds; and payment of bond issuance costs.
A public hearing and Authorizing Resolution will follow in the next few weeks
Ruppersberger said. There would be no fiscal impact on County taxpayers. Washington
County will be only a conduit to issue the Economic Development Revenue Bonds,
which will be sold, and the proceeds provided in a loan to Rampf Molds. The
County would not be liable for the payments. The issuance would have
no impact on the County's borrowing limits or financial position. Rampf
Molds would be responsible for the costs of the issue. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
BID AWARD: TROMMEL SCREEN
County Buyer
Rick Curry and Harvey Hoch, Recycling Coordinator, brought this request, to
award the bid for a Trommel Screen to the responsible, responsive low bidder,
Aggregate Screens and Crushers, LLC of White Marsh, Maryland, for the base bid
only, in the amount of $122,500.00. The
Solid Waste Department recycles thousands of tons of yard debris into mulch
and soil amendment each year. The purchase of a Trommel Screen allows
the department to significantly improve the quality and marketability of the
soil amendment product. The machine will remove plastic and other contaminants
from the yard debris and could improve sales of the resultant product, Hoch
said. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
ABANDON PORTION OF ROAD: POLECAT HOLLOW ROAD
Joe Kuhna,
Real Property Administrator requested the Board to authorize the Division of
Public Works (DPW) and the County Attorney to commence procedures to convey
approximately 2.4 miles of unpaved, non-maintained roadbed known as Polecat
Hollow Road to the Washington County Sportsman Club (WCSC) in exchange for a
communications equipment site. WCSC would like the county to convey the 2.4
mile section of unpaved road through its property. There have been numerous
complaints of trash dumping and trespassing with off road vehicles and recreational
vehicles leaving the roadbed and vandalizing the club's property. DPW
does not anticipate development of this road for public use at anytime in the
future along the route it follows today. DPW would like to negotiate a transfer
of land for the purpose of a future communications tower site in exchange for
the roadbed. The communications site is necessary to provide adequate
communications coverage to the Blair’s Valley Lake area, which is shadowed
for service by the mountains. The communications site would be approximately
150 x 150 feet in size appropriately placed on a ridge or high elevation site.
Discussion centered on the need for access to the communications site and the
measure, to initiate the process through advertisement was passed, with assurances
from club members that the access would be granted, and pending no adverse public
comment, by unanimous vote.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
Director
of Public Works Joe Kroboth brought this request to the Board, to
authorize the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding Between the State
of Maryland and Washington County to cost share and complete the Public Safety
Communications System's site developments. The Public Safety Communications
Project requires the development of new sites along with improvements to
existing sites. The Division of Public Works has negotiated an agreement with
the State of Maryland for the state to partner in the cost for these site
improvements. In exchange for cost sharing the County would provide
space in its equipment shelters for state communications equipment, and the
state would do likewise. The site work would be competitively bid by
the state Department of Budget & Management. The Washington County
Division of Public Works would manage the project. Preliminary
estimates for the site work in total is $2,828,700. The state would
pay approximately $1,753,100 of the total cost through this partnering. The
measure was approved by unanimous vote.
VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE ASSOCIATION BUDGET PRESENTATION
Washington
County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association President Glen Fuscsick brought
this budget presentation before the Board. The Fire/Rescue Volunteer Services
budget request is $3.068 million, an increase of 7.68% or 218,790.00. The
County reimbursement for utilities would be $468,380.00, up $95,330.00 or 6.3%.
Increases in Insurance costs, Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) retirement
benefits and workers compensation were seen as major factors in increases, rising
8.29% over FY 2007 levels for a total of $804,380.00. The Volunteer companies
also receive 50% of Gaming Commission proceeds each year. The Fire and Rescue
Association itself uses $290,000 of the Gaming funds for its operations. Fuscsick
said that a need remains for a permanent training facility for Fire and EMS
providers in the County. The Elliott Parkway location, which had been used for
training purposes, is being redesigned to serve as the County's 9-1-1 dispatch
center. Even with some classroom space, there is no place for live "burn" training,
which firefighters must have to meet certifications. Fuscsick said that the
Association has two double-wide trailers that could be used to help meet
classroom training needs, but no space to place the trailers, and asked if the
County could help with a location. Support of the Emergency Services Master
Plan was requested, as approved by the VFRA membership, Fuscsick said.
WORK CREW SUPERVISOR GRANT APPLICATION
Alternative
Sanctions Director Sharon Showe brought this request, for approval to submit
a Grant Application in the amount of $30,950 to the Governor’s Office
of Crime Control and Prevention for the salary of the Work Crew Supervisor before
the Board for approval. The Work Crew Supervisor oversees persons who have received
community service through the court system. The supervisor is responsible
for arranging the work, monitoring the hours performed, maintaining equipment
and serves as a liaison to various agencies and organizations. The Work
Crew supplies labor to the county, city and non-profit organizations. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
GENERAL FUND BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
Budget and
Finance Director Debra Murray brought this review of the first draft
of the proposed $195.6 million General Fund Operating Budget expenditures
before the Board. A Capital issue, whether or not to borrow $426,000 as part
of the County's annual bond issue for the School Board's Antietam Academy alternative
school project, was discussed. That project had been moved out of the FY '08
Capital request by the Board of Education. Staff felt the issue would resurface
later, and that interest rates on the bonds would probably be lower in this
year's round than in 2008. After discussion, the Board came to a consensus not
to borrow those funds in 2007. In the proposed Operational Budget for all County
activities, total proposed expenditures for Education would be $98.1 million,
with $83.9 million proposed to fund the Board of Education K-12 school programs.
That sum would comprise about 43.8% of the total operation budget for FY 2008.
A preliminary discussion of the K-12 budget made no cuts to that request. Washington
County's Public Schools' K-12 program was fully funded through the first review.
Hagerstown Community College was proposed to be funded at 7.4 million, an increase
of 7.2%. Discussion took place on the Washington County Free Library funding,
requested at $2.4 million. A requested increase of $200,000 was reduced to $71,776.00
due to questions on branch Library staffing and maintenance. Commissioner Aleshire
requested the allocation be restored to half of the request, $100,000, with
additional funding if agreements between the Library, the County and Towns can
be reached to have the municipalities provide maintenance to grounds of the
community branch facilities. Total for all educational activities through the
first review, was $98,505,850.00. Under Public Safety, the Sheriff's Department
budgets came under scrutiny, with the proposed budget of $20,325,910.00 discussed.
Minor adjustments were made to the Judicial and Patrol Divisions. All budget
categories will be reviewed on a line-item basis prior to the Public Hearing
scheduled for May in Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Community College.