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February 25, 1998
Hagerstown, Maryland
A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County,
Maryland, was called to order at 11:00 a.m. by the President Gregory I.
Snook with the following members present: Vice President, John S. Shank
and Commissioners Ronald L. Bowers and James R. Wade. Also present were
Robert Bruchey, Mayor of Hagerstown, and Hagerstown Council members William
Breichner, Al Boyer, Lewis Metzner, Wallace McClure, and Susan Saum-
Wicklein.
Staff Presentation - Water & Sewer Models
Gary Rohrer, Director of Washington County Division of Public Works; Greg
Murray, Director of the Water & Sewer Department; Rick Thomas, Manager of
the City of Hagerstown Water Pollution Control; and Austin Abraham, Project
Coordinator for the City of Hagerstown, made a presentation to the
Commissioners and Mayor and City Council regarding the issues involved in
establishing a joint regional authority for water and wastewater issues.
Mr. Rohrer reviewed the mission statement adopted and the charge given by
both bodies. He stated that the staffs have developed two models for
implementation of a joint authority for the groups to consider.
Model #1
Mr. Thomas presented the Citys Model #1 entitled Sewer Flow Advisory
Board. He stated that the hypothetical model would create a citizens
board which would have jurisdiction inside the Urban Growth Area boundary
but outside the City of Hagerstowns limits to monitor new connections onto
the systems and to determine, based upon established criteria, whether flow
should be transferred to the City system for treatment or to the County
system.
Mr. Murray presented the County staffs Model #1 entitled Joint Sewer
Authority - Urban Growth Area. He stated that the model is very similar to
the Citys model. The main difference between the two models is the way
that flow is allocated based on the cost of re-allocation rather than
upgrades needed. Mr. Murray indicated that the appointed advisory board
could determine the allocation fees and user fees based on economies of
scale. He stated that the first models would require no organizational
change and would also meet the Smart Growth initiatives.
The Commissioners and Mayor and Council discussed the models presented.
Councilman Metzner questioned the objectives of creating a joint authority
and stated that he feels they should discuss possible solutions to problems
rather than the models. He stated that he feels the main issue is the flow
to the treatment plants. The group agreed to continue with the staff
presentation.
Model #2
Austin Abraham presented the Citys hypothetical Model #2 to merge the
County services into the existing City water and water pollution control
departments. He stated that the City would assume ownership and debt of
County water and sewer operations inside the Urban Growth Area. The
property tax differential would be adjusted to offset the added debt burden
assumed by the City through either increased payment to the City or a
reduced County tax rate to City property owners.
Gary Rohrer presented the County wide Model #2 for creation of a joint water
and sewer authority. Mr. Rohrer stated that the City and County staffs have
very different views and the model to be presented does not represent the
views of both groups. He indicated that his model provides that all assets
would become the property of a new agency which would have bonding
authority. The Regional Water/Sewer Authority would have control over plant
service boundaries without political influence and would be a body politic
appointed by the County and member municipalities. Mr. Rohrer then outlined
how a joint
FEBRUARY 25, 1998
PAGE TWO
authority could be implemented.
At this time the Commissioners and Mayor and Council continued to discuss
the models presented. Commissioner Wade suggested that the staff be given
the authority to work on alternatives and listed several benefits of having
a regional authority manage the systems. After discussion, it was the
consensus of both bodies to form a committee consisting of one elected
official from each body and one staff member to examine how to get flow to
the Conococheague treatment facility without having a detrimental impact on
the City customers and to consider ways to reduce citizens costs for the
expense of future expansion. Commissioner Wade agreed to serve on this
committee for the County and Councilman Breichner for the City.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
County Administrator
County Attorney
, Clerk