HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Washington County commissioners are scheduled to consider a broad consulting agreement involving water and sewer infrastructure, along with proposed utility improvements, tied to redevelopment at Fort Ritchie during a special meeting Thursday morning.
The agenda comes as public attention continues to focus on reports of a proposed Department of Homeland Security or ICE-related warehouse project in Washington County and questions about local infrastructure capacity.
The agenda states County Administrator Michelle Gordon will present a proposed consulting contract with GDMS LLC for services involving “assessment and review of county water and sewer service areas.”
The proposed agreement states the consultant would assist county leadership in evaluating existing utility capacity, deficiencies in service areas, future growth projections and economic development needs throughout Washington County.
The contract also calls for analysis of regional utility projects, joint service agreements and whether current service providers are equipped to handle future demand.
The agreement is with GDMS LLC, headed by former Washington County Administrator Gregory B. Murray of Hagerstown. The proposed contract lists compensation at $70 per hour, along with provisions for additional subcontracted consulting work if needed.
County officials have not publicly linked the consulting agreement to the reported federal warehouse project. The agenda documents do not specifically reference DHS, ICE or any warehouse facility.
However, residents and activists who oppose the proposed warehouse project have recently raised concerns about water and sewer infrastructure, traffic and the impact large-scale federal operations could have on county services.
The consulting contract states the work may include identifying “critical areas of immediate need” involving utility infrastructure and evaluating options for infrastructure improvements, regional projects and service consolidation.
Fort Ritchie road and sewer upgrades
Thursday’s agenda is heavily focused on infrastructure and redevelopment issues. Commissioners are also expected to consider amendments involving sewer improvements and road upgrades connected to the ongoing redevelopment of Fort Ritchie.
The county and JG Business Link International Inc., a developer involved in the Fort Ritchie redevelopment project, are proposing amendments to a prior settlement agreement related to the former military installation near Cascade.
The amendment would require Washington County to undertake improvements to the private sewer system serving approximately 62.9 acres tied to the Fort Ritchie redevelopment project before incorporating the upgraded system into the county’s public sewer infrastructure.
Following completion of the sewer improvements, JG Business Link International would agree to improve several roads to county standards, including North Boyd Street, Cushman Avenue, Hart Avenue and Lake Wastler Drive.
The Fort Ritchie property has remained the focus of redevelopment efforts for years following the closure of the former Army installation. County officials have previously promoted redevelopment at the site as a long-term economic development initiative for the Cascade area.
The agenda states the proposed amendment is intended to support continued redevelopment efforts at the property.
The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the County Administration Building in Hagerstown. For the full agenda, readers may click here.
