Page 4 - March Banner 2018_Neat

Page 4 March 2018
T o wn H all R epor ts
F e b ru a r y 2018
E mmitsburg
Homes Taken Off Town’s Water
System
Town staff had to do an emergency
fix to the town’s water lines. Four
homes outside of town limits, but
on the town water system, received
their water through a water line that
was installed in the 1930s. Over the
decades, 200 feet of the 8-inch line
has been exposed to the elements.
Because of the extended subzero
temperatures that the region had this
winter, a major break occurred in the
line on January 8. Temporary fixes to
the line could not be maintained.
In one instance, a temporary
pump placed on the water line
malfunctioned, and one home’s
basement was flooded.
Town staff evaluated the situation
and determined that the old water line
was unrepairable. It would need to be
replaced, which would cost $1 million
to restore service to the four homes. • $6,526 for building maintenance
Since this would be too expensive,
an alternative solution was sought. It
was discovered that one of the homes
could be connected to an existing 10- • $4,500 for building maintenance
inch water line. The other three homes
were too far away for this solution
to work for them. For these homes,
the town reached an agreement with
the homeowners to drill wells that
could service the homes and take
them off the town’s water system.
The estimated cost for this solution is
$50,000 per connection or $150,000.
Transfers to Capital Projects
When fiscal year 2017 ended,
the Town of Emmitsburg had excess
money in its general fund. The excess
needed to be transferred to capital
projects per audit requirements. Town
staff put together a list of projects and
The Catoctin Banner Newspaper
by James Rada, Jr. Town Gets Grant for LED Lighting
amounts that they recommended be
funded with the excess.
• $66,300 towards the Community
Park Pool and its grounds.
(Unanimously approved.)
• $17,245 for the dog park. The
commissioners modified the
dog park plan to include no
leash stations (for now) and
four benches instead of seven.
(Approved with modification.)
• $15,000 for the general streets
fund. (Unanimously approved.)
• $14,000 for curbs, gutters,
sidewalks, roads. The
commissioners asked that the St.
Joseph’s Lane pedestrian walkway
become a future agenda item.
(Unanimously approved.)
• $10,000 for the general planning
fund. (Unanimously approved.)
at 140 South Seton Avenue.
(Unanimously approved.)
at 22 East Main Street.
(Unanimously approved.)
The total transfer amount was
$133,571.
Town Starts Monthly Street
Sweeping
Emmitsburg Town Manager
Cathy Willetts announced that town
staff will now perform monthly
street-sweeping in Emmitsburg,
which is required for the MS-4
permit that the town is seeking.
Community Day Race
The Emmitsburg Commissioners
unanimously approved a 6K
race on Emmitsburg Community
Heritage Day, June 30, 2018. The
Catoctin-Ettes will run the event as a
fundraiser.
Appointments
Conrad Weaver was appointed to
the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for
a two-year term, from November 4,
2017, to November 4, 2019.
Wendy Walsh was reappointed
to serve on the Citizen’s Advisory
Committee, from February 20, 2018,
to February 20, 2020.
For more information on the
Town of Emmitsburg, visit www.
emmitsburgmd.gov or call 301-600-
6300.
www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
T hurmont
commissioners during a workshop
As the Town of Thurmont moved meeting, where they went through
to increase its sustainability and the document to address any
reduce costs, one of the changes it questions and concerns. These will
has been working on is switching then be used to make changes to the
over to LED street lights downtown final manual.
and in subdivisions. The Maryland
Energy Administration recently Mid-year Budget Review
awarded the town $34,650 for this The Thurmont Mayor and
project. The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners received a mid-year
Commissioners voted unanimously budget review in January to see
to spend $28,035 of that amount to how close they were staying to the
have Catoctin Lighting replace the approved fiscal year 2018 budget.
street lights in Catoctin Heights. The According to Chief Financial Officer
remaining balance will be used to Linda Joyce, at the halfway point in
purchase additional lighting fixtures its budget, the town was 15 percent
for a yet-to-be-determined location. under budget.
Curb Side Grass and Leaf Pickup Thurmont Addiction Commission
Curb side grass and leaf pickup The Thurmont Addiction
will resume in Thurmont on April 2. Commission is now up and running.
Residents should have received notice The group has a Facebook page,
of all the pertinent information and where interested parties can be
dates with their utility bills. kept up to date on meeting times
and topics. One topic that has been
Work Continues on Employee discussed between the commission
Manual
and Frederick County Health
Town staff has been crafting an Department is a needle exchange
employee policy manual for town program. Commissioner Marty
employees for the past few months. Burns pointed out that this was
“It’s something that would be able to a presentation being made by the
assist our supervisors and managers, Health Department to gather input.
assist our employees, and assist in It did not mean the program would
the overall management of our staff happen.
here,” Chief Administrative Officer For more information on the Town
Jim Humerick told the mayor and of Thurmont, visit www.thurmont.
commissioners. com or call the town office at 301-
A draft of the manual was
presented to the mayor and 271-7313.
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