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
October 23, 2007
COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner
Terry Baker commended Recreation Department, and Buildings, Grounds and
Parks Department staff for the successful "Park After Dark" event
last weekend that drew over 600 people to Doub's Woods Park. A variety of
fall and Halloween themed activities took place. Marsha Moats of the Recreation
Department was singled out for her role in coordinating that event. Baker also
commented on calls from constituents in the Broadfording Road area regarding
chip patching of road surfaces. Director of Public Works Joe Kroboth explained
that the method allows a greater number of miles to be paved, and must have
proper set up time. Kroboth said two-to-three times the number of miles
can be paved for the same cost as the conventional method, using chip patch
paving.
Commissioner
Jim Kercheval reported on attending a meeting of the Local Management Board
on Friday, on presenting a Commissioners' Proclamation to the Pastoral Care
Week event at Washington County Hospital, and attending a leadership prayer
breakfast on Tuesday morning.
Commissioner
Kristin Aleshire commented on the upcoming groundbreaking
for the School for the Arts and the Washington County Heritage Museum's second
building. The Commissioner met with Health Officer Earl Stoner to discuss
impact of the SCHIP legislation on the community, and attended a meeting
of the Mental Health Advisory Board last week. Aleshire said he was refused
admittance to a Fairlakes Manor Homeowner's Association meeting, and requested
information on further review of the Excise Tax provisions. County Administrator
Greg Murray said the Excise Tax will come back to the Commissioners within
the next two weeks.
OTHER BUSINESS
Appointments to Boards and Commissions: County
Clerk Joni Bittner brought a request from the Economic Development Commission
for appointment of Jeff Cline, Williamsport Town Councilman, as the Maryland
Municipal League representative to that Commission. The measure was approved
by unanimous vote.
The Women's Commission requested appointments
of Kathryn Boyce and Ellen Maddock for three-year terms, Bittner said. The measures
were approved by unanimous vote.
Reports from County Staff: Public Works Director
Joe Kroboth reported that the Boonsboro Library project is nearing completion
and that he is working with the Mayor and Council of that town on a ribbon-cutting
ceremony. The 9-1-1 Dispatch center construction project is underway, with completion
set for next spring. A communications tower is also under construction at the
new site, on Elliott Parkway.
Division of Environmental Management Director
Julie Pippel requested appointment of David Swain as Deputy Director of the
Department of Water Quality. Swain is retired from Frederick County. The Commissioners
discussed that appointment in a closed session earlier in the afternoon, and
the measure was approved by unanimous vote in tbne open session.
CONTRACT AWARD; WATER TANK REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and Division of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Julie
Pippel brought this request, to award contracts for rehabilitation of Water
Tanks in the Sharpsburg and Highfield water systems, to the Board. The Award,
if approved, would go to Utility Service Co., Inc. of Perry, GA, with the lowest
Total Lump Sum Fee of $330,000.00. Within the DEM, the Washington County Department
of Water Quality is required by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide safe drinking
water to the public. This includes providing rehabilitation for the existing
Sharpsburg 200,000 gallon Torus elevated tank and the Highfield 400,000 gallon
ground storage tank in order to comply with Federal, State, and Local Regulations. The
purpose of the Request for Proposals (RFP) was to retain the services of a firm
to provide these services. A Notice to Proceed would be given for April
1, 2008, with completion of the rehabilitation, repairs, and repainting shall
be completed within 180 consecutive calendar day from that date. The contract
also includes installation of communications equipment on the Sharpsburg tower.
Public Works Director Joe Kroboth told the Board that piggy-backing on this
contract saved the County $91,000 for that antenna installation. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.
CONTRACT AWARD; WATER TANK MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
County Purchasing
Agent Karen Luther and DEM Director Julie Pippel also brought this request,
to award a contract for maintenance of the water storage tanks at Sharpsburg
and Highfield water systems to Southern Corrosion, Inc. of Roanoke Rapids, NC,
for the Total Lump Sum Fee of $127,854.00, contingent upon annual funding of
the services. The mandate to provide safe drinking water to
the public includes providing maintenance and inspection services for the existing
Sharpsburg 200,000 gallon Torus elevated tank and the Highfield 400,000 gallon
ground storage tank in order to comply with Federal, State, and Local Regulations. The
proposed maintenance schedule in 2009 would include Engineering inspection and
preventive maintenance; Any needed repairs/touchup; Provision of emergency repair
service; Ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations; and adherence
to the maintenance program. The schedule for 2010 would include Washout inspection
and preventive maintenance; Any needed repairs/touchup; Provision of emergency
repair service; Ensuring compliance with all federal and state regulations;
and adherence to the maintenance program. The measure was approved by a 4-1
vote with Commissioner Wivell voting "no".
CHANGE ORDER: RUNWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT
Hagerstown
Regional Airport Director Carolyn Motz and Jim Plummer of U.R.S. Consulting
brought this change order before the Board for approval. Change Order number
4 for Runway Rehabilitation Project Package 3, to the current contractor, New
Enterprise Stone and Lime Company would be in the amount of $ 499,741.02, and
involves additional Class I excavation; Sanitary Sewer Pump Station Building;
a retaining wall along Byers Road; clearing of obstructions in the Runway 27
approach path; a ramp for Verizon to access the site to complete its work; a
sanitary sewer bypass pump along Pennsylvania Ave.; protection of sanitary sewer
manholes; revisions to sanitary sewer electrical systems; and additional Runway
Safety Area work for Runway 27. Current contract price is: $17,632,163.54. Cost
of additional work is $499,741.02. The new contract total is $18,131,904.76. The
Federal Aviation Administration Washington Area District Office is in concurrence
with the change. The project is funded on a 95% federal, 2.5% state and 2.5%
local basis. The measure was approved by a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Wivell
voting "no". Motz told the Board that the first test flight
using the County's 7,000 foot runway was made last weekend, and that the official
opening date for that runway will be December 31st.
FUNDING REQUEST: HAGERSTOWN MUNICIPAL STADIUM
Hagerstown
Mayor Bob Bruchey and CVB Director Tom Riford brought this request, for $15,500
to be used in rehabilitation of the infield and for bullpen phones, at Municipal
Stadium, before the Board. Bruchey told the Board that the stadium has
not undergone infield improvements for more than twenty years and the turf is
in poor shape. A Professional Bargaining Agreement states that stadiums must
have communication systems between each bullpen and dugout. A new system is
needed for the 2008 season. The City of Hagerstown, The Hagerstown Suns, The
Washington Nationals, and The Hagerstown-Washington County CVB are providing
financial assistance for the project. Riford stated that the Hagerstown Suns baseball team provides a $3.5 million
direct local economic impact. 153,000 attend the games annually. He called
baseball an important part of the Economic Development picture in the County.
Total project cost would be $35,500 for the field project and $5,000 for the
Bull Pen phone. The City has agreed to fund $10,000, the Washington
Nationals will provide $5,000, Mandalay Baseball would put in $5,000, and
the CVB would contribute $5,000. The request asked the County
Commissioners, through the lodging tax special projects fund, to assist in
helping fund the Hagerstown Municipal Stadium improvements in the amount of
$10,500 and $5,000 for Bull Pen Phones from lodging tax account. After
discussion centering on the amount of funds the City of Hagerstown budgets
each year for stadium improvements, and the $190,000 the County granted for
a feasibility study of a new stadium in 2001, a motion to fund $10,500
of the request from the Fiscal Year 2008 Hotel-Motel Tax funds and $5,000
from that fund in FY 2009 was approved on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Wivell
and Aleshire voting "no".
GAMING REGULATION REVISIONS
Gaming Office
Director Jim Hovis brought this request, to approve revisions to certain provisions
of the gaming regulations, before the Board. Hovis told the Commissioners
that in July, Allegany County, Maryland approved electronic tip jar gaming devices,
that may be considered illegal under Maryland Statute, for use and placement
in licensed establishments within that County. The Gaming Office learned that
the manufacturers and owner/operators of those devices had plans to introduce
the machines into Washington County. As currently written, the tip jar
regulations do not address the use of those electronic devices. The requested
revisions are an effort to prevent the introduction of the gaming machines,
and avoid any legal challenges regarding their approval or denial. The devices
look and operate very much like slot machines, and do not allow for independent
auditing or verification that the device is operating in accordance with State
Statute or County Regulations. In many cases a remote computer server controls
the device, Hovis said. Those machines that dispense paper tip jar tickets would
not be affected. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
FISCAL YEAR 2007 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT
Division
of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Director John Latimer brought this request,
to accept the FY '07 Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The request would authorize DFES to accept the State of Maryland Homeland
Security grant and authorize the director to execute a Memorandum of Agreement
with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The
complete grant award would consist of the State Homeland Security Program
(SHSP) at $289,424.00; the Law Enforcement Training and Protection Program
(LETPP) - $170,225.00; and the Citizens Emergency Response Training (CERT)
funding at $15,000.00. The grant would be allocated to multiple projects and
initiatives in emergency services and public safety, including the Public
Safety Radio Communications Project, the Emergency Planner position salary; preparedness
efforts for local fire, EMS, special operations and law enforcement agencies;
and for community and commercial based CERT programs. The grant was approved
by unanimous vote.
MARYLAND INSTITUTE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS GRANTS
Fire and
Emergency Services Division Director John Latimer brought requests to approve
three grants from the Maryland Institute of Emergency Management Systems (MIEMSS)
and authorize execution of Memoranda of Agreement with the agency, before the
Board.
The Advanced
Life Support Education Grant, at $24,932.00 provides funding annually
to partially underwrite advanced life support training programs within Washington
County. The funding may be used for initial training and re-licensure
of technician. The primary expenditure for the County is the current Emergency
Medical Services – Intermediate class. The measure was approved by unanimous
vote.
The MIEMSS
Cardiac Defibrillator Matching Grant, at $10,155 represents 50% of the
project cost. for cardiac defibrillators for fire, rescue and emergency medical
services organizations in the State. The County was awarded matching funding
for the purchase of one Life Pack 12 defibrillator, biphasic upgrade to two
existing Life Pack 12 defibrillators and purchase of one Life Pack 1000 automatic
external defibrillator. The measure was approved by unanimous vote.
The MIEMSS
Department of Transportation Sub-award of $550.00 represents 50% of the project
cost to purchase one Multiple Patient Unit / Oxygen Therapy Treatment apparatus
for use on the County’s mass casualty unit. The measure was approved by
unanimous vote.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE E-CITATION PILOT PROGRAM
Sheriff Doug
Mullendore brought this request, to accept a grant for the Washington
County Sheriff's Office E-Citation Program grant from the Governor's Office
of Crime Control & Prevention, for the period of July 1, 2007
to June 30, 2008. The Project Total cost would be $38,120.00, with $28,590.00
in state funds and $9,530.00 in County match. The program would provide funding
to participate in the Maryland Electronic Traffic Information Exchange (ETIX)
Program. ETIX is an in-car computer-based scanning system that allows
deputies to scan the bar code on a driver’s license
during a traffic stop. After entering the violation(s), a traffic warning
would be printed
out in the patrol car and given to the violator. Mullendore
said the system would enhance the $21 million radio and mobile
data interoperability project. Inclusion of the ETIX program will
increase the safety and efficiency of Deputy Sheriffs and reduce errors created
by paper citations and repetitive data entry by multiple agencies. The matching
funds are part of the Sheriff's budget for the current fiscal year. The measure
was approved by unanimous vote.