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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.12.2016 MinutesBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY Hagerstown, Maryland April 12, 2016 The Commissioners toured the newly renovated Washington County Administrative Annex building at 8:30 a.m. located at 80 West Baltimore Street, Hagerstown, that houses the divisions of Plan Review and Permitting, and Engineering and Construction Management. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Barr offered the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag by the full assemblage. CALL TO ORDER President Terry L. Baker called the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, to order at 10:17 a.m. at 100 West Washington Street, Room 227, with the following members present: Vice President Jeffrey A. Cline and Commissioners John F. Barr, Wayne K. Keefer and LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — APRIL 5, 2016 Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to approve the minutes of April 5, 2016. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS AND COMMENTS Commissioner Cline attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Chandler Fishack of Smithsburg. He reported attending the grand opening of the Whittington Construction Group held this past Saturday. Commissioner Keefer attended the Emergency Services Advisory Council meeting and toured the 9-1-1 Center. He attended the Hagerstown Community College (HCC) tribute dinner honoring Paul Mellott, which raised funds for HCC scholarships. Mr. Keefer thanked Engineering and Construction Management Director Rob Slocum for the morning tour of the newly refurbished County Administrative Annex and commended employees for the work they perform. Commissioner Myers also thanked Rob Slocum for the tour and praised the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. He commented on yesterday's Sine Die and commended County lobbyist Bruce Bereano for his work to promote the County's legislative initiatives. He noted that Mr. Bereano would be reporting on the 2016 legislative session during the next Commissioners' meeting. Commissioner Barr reiterated his fellow Commissioners' comments on the renovations to the Administrative Annex. He also attended the HCC tribute to Paul Mellott. Mr. Barr commended the Maryland General Assembly for a successful session and especially the Western Maryland Delegation. He attended services at the Ebenezer AME Church on April 12, 2016 Page 2 Bethel Street with acting Hagerstown Police Chief Paul Kifer. Commissioner Barr also attended the 2501h anniversary of the Zion Reformed United Church of Christ on North Potomac Street, which is the oldest church building in Hagerstown. Commissioner Baker thanked Rob Slocum and staff in the Administrative Annex. He also attended the Eagle Scout ceremony for Chandler Fishack. REPORTS FROM COUNTY STAFF Engineering and Construction Management - Budget Adjustment Rob Slocum, Director, requested a $34,000 budget transfer to accommodate an unanticipated expense that will be recovered through an insurance recovery payment. He stated that the Benevola-Newcomer Bridge was damaged in an accident and it is anticipated that the funds will be recovered through insurance. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Cline, moved to approve adjusting the Highway Department's budget by $34,000 and to accept the insurance recovery payment as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Slocum commented on the progress of Yale Drive, due for completion in November 2016, and the summer paving program. He thanked Information Systems Director Ron Whitt and Public Works Director Jim Sterling for their assistance that saved money on improvements to the Administrative Annex. UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS GRANT Stephanie Lapole, Grant Manager, Community Development; and Julie Pippel, Director, Environmental Management, requested approval to accept a $50,000 award from the United States Army Corps of Engineers to be used toward the completion of Phase 1 of the Urbanized Area Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project with the United States Army Corps of Engineers -Baltimore District. Ms. Lapole indicated that the project would enable the County to work toward compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System MS4 Phase II General Permit by mapping and inventorying its stormwater drainage system within the Urbanized Area. Ms. Pippel advised that there is a 50/50 match requirement that will be provided through the Engineering and Construction Stormwater Retrofit Capital Improvement Project budget. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to accept a $50,000 award from the United States Army Corps of Engineers to be used toward the completion of Phase 1 of the Urbanized Area Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Project as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (Commissioner Barr stated that he would not be participating in the next agenda item because his company, Ellsworth Electric, is involved in the Pinnacle project. He left the meeting at 10:39 a.m.) April 12, 2016 Page 3 PINNACLE FOODS CONDITIONAL LOAN Kassie Lewis, Director, Business Development, recommended approval of two conditional loans of up to $500,000 to Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC (Pinnacle) to assist with establishing operations and job creation in Washington County. Pinnacle plans to locate a manufacturing facility in Hagerstown in the former Unilever facility on Frederick Street and will renovate the building to accommodate its new Gardenia frozen food line. Pinnacle anticipates creating up to 300 new full-time jobs by 2020. The Maryland Department of Commerce is offering two conditional loans of $500,000 based on job creation numbers and an estimated capital investment of $30 million, funded in two phases. The initial loan of $312,500 will be funded in 2016 and the second loan of $187,500 will be available for phase two of the project's additional job creation in excess of the original 125 new jobs. Ms. Lewis indicated that Washington County is offering two conditional loans essentially under the same terms and conditions. The Commissioners discussed details of the project including building renovations and negotiations by the City of Hagerstown and Washington County to bring the project to fruition. Commissioner Myers requested that staff keep in close contact with Pinnacle representatives to assist them in keeping the project on track. Commissioner Myers, seconded by Cline, moved to approve the resolution and conditional loan agreement of up to $500,000 to Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC with funds taken from the County's share of Hotel Rental Tax Funds. The motion passed unanimously. (4-0, Commissioner Barr was absent from the agenda item discussion and vote.) (Resolution No. RS -2016-04 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) RECESS The Commissioners recessed at 10:47 a.m. They attended a luncheon meeting at 12:00 p.m. with the Washington County Free Library Board of Trustees at 100 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown. AFTERNOON SESSION President Terry L. Baker called the afternoon session to order at 1:34 p.m. with the following members present: Commissioners John F. Barr, Wayne K. Keefer and LeRoy E. Myers, Jr. Commissioner Jeffrey A. Cline was absent from the afternoon session. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS OF 2016 AND REFUNDING BONDS OF 2016 Lindsey Rader, Bond Counsel for Washington County, presented an authorizing resolution for approval by the County Commissioners to issue and sell two separate series of general obligation bonds in the aggregate amount not to exceed $31,635,000 (Public Improvement Bonds at a maximum principal amount not to exceed $20,635,000; Refunding Bonds of $9,700,000, new money portion only, with the authority to increase or decrease the amount of Refunding Bonds as long as the total issue of the refunding does not exceed $11 million) for financing the costs of certain public facilities and projects and refunding certain outstanding County general obligation bonds. Ms. Rader advised that certain laws April 12, 2016 Page 4 of Maryland authorize and empower the County Commissioners to issue and sell at public sale, upon its full faith and credit, two separate series of general obligation bonds for the purpose of 1) financing the cost of certain public facilities and projects, and 2) advance refunding in whole or part certain outstanding maturities of the Washington County, Maryland Public Improvement Bonds of 2009 (which maturities correspond to bonds issued for non -refunding purposes in 2009 and constitute all of the outstanding callable maturities of such 2009 bonds). The proceeds from the series of bonds issued for financing purposes will be used to fund costs of certain infrastructure, public safety, public facilities, environmental and educational public facilities and projects and costs of issuance of such series. There is no additional "new money" being requested other than as was approved in the 2016 Capital Budget. The refunding bonds will be issued, if at all, to achieve debt service savings. The Commissioners discussed the proposal. County Administrator Greg Murray mentioned the potential savings of $800,000 to be gained from refunding the 2009 bonds. Commissioner Barr, seconded by Myers, moved to approve the resolution authorizing the County Commissioners of Washington County to issue and sell two separate series of general obligation bonds in the aggregate amount not to exceed $31,635,000 for financing the costs of certain public facilities and projects and refunding certain outstanding County general obligation bonds as presented. The motion passed unanimously. (4-0, Commissioner Cline was absent.) (Resolution No. RS -2016-05 is recorded among the Acts, Ordinances, and Resolutions of Washington County and the original is located in the County Commissioners' Office.) CITIZENS' PARTICIPATION Dot McDonald Kline, Hagerstown City Council candidate, expressed concerns with the Hadley Farms Bakery possibly moving from Smithsburg. She also commented on the proposed Urban Improvement Plan and the potential expansion of the Maryland Theatre. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Myers, seconded by Keefer, moved to adjourn at 1:51 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. B. Mu#ray, County/Administrator John M. Martirano, County Attorney Vicki C. Lumm, County Clerk