HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Washington County commissioners will consider nearly $1.13 million in additional work at the Forty West Landfill on Tuesday, Sept. 15, including a major paving project and more money for a facility officials say could eventually save the county about $1 million a year.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider authorizing $975,000 in paving by Craig Paving Inc. County documents say the landfill’s original pavement has deteriorated significantly, and the work was not included in the company’s existing county paving contract.
A separate proposal would add $150,000 to the engineering budget for a planned leachate, or wastewater contamination, pretreatment facility after design costs came in higher than expected. The project already has a $520,000 budget, with the additional money expected to come from bonds issued next spring.
The eventual payoff could be substantial. The county says treating landfill leachate on site and sending it directly through the sewer system to the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant would eliminate the need for the current outside pretreatment arrangement and save approximately $1 million annually in hauling and treatment costs.
County seeks $1.25 million for Fort Ritchie
Commissioners will also consider applying for $1.25 million from the Western Maryland Economic Futures Fund for continued redevelopment of the former Fort Ritchie Army base in Cascade.
The money would pass through the county to Cascade Town Centre Development LLC and pay for road paving, a replacement roofing system and new electrical infrastructure. The county says the improvements are intended to support office space, retail shops, restaurants and food manufacturing facilities.
The grant requires a 20 percent match, but the developer rather than county taxpayers, would provide it. The company would also be required to enter into a subrecipient agreement with the county if the grant is awarded.
911 communications to get overhaul
Washington County emergency communications is seeking permission to apply for up to $183,000 in state 911 funding as Verizon phases out technology currently used for some emergency communications.
The money would help replace existing telephone connections with Internet technology. Although those lines are not the primary route for 911 calls, county officials say they handle calls from police, fire, medical and alarm companies, receive automatic crash notifications and provide backup communications if the county’s primary Next Generation 911 connection fails.
The county is seeking about $92,000 for installation and would prefer a five-year service agreement, bringing the total request to approximately $183,000. A one-year service option would reduce the request to about $110,000.
Maugans Avenue rezoning
Commissioners are expected to formally adopt their decision approving the rezoning of 0.72 acres at 18128 and 18132 Maugans Ave. from residential multifamily to Highway Interchange zoning.
The board already voted 5-0 to approve the request following a July 21 public hearing, so Tuesday’s action is the adoption of the written findings and ordinance rather than a new decision on the rezoning. The Planning Commission also recommended approval.
Among the lesser items Tuesday, commissioners will consider a $39,884 state grant for Sheriff’s Office courtroom-security overtime, a $55,291 sole-source purchase for fire and EMS mobile dispatch software, a five-year $228,890 backhoe lease and a road-salt contract with Morton Salt at $91.20 per ton. The county typically uses about 15,000 tons of road salt annually.
Commissioners will also recognize Georgene Charles for 35 years managing the Memorial Illumination at Antietam National Battlefield. The annual event uses more than 1,500 volunteers to place 23,110 luminaries across the battlefield in memory of the casualties of the Battle of Antietam.
For the full agenda, click here.
