HAGERSTOWN – A clean audit and recognition of a North Hagerstown High School junior were among highlights of the Washington County Board Commissioners meeting this week.
To start, Grant Manager Richard Lesh introduced Gabby Gatchalian, a junior at North Hagerstown High School, who received the county’s Youth Meritorious Award. Gabby earned the honor for excellent grades, strong leadership at school and volunteer work in the community.
Her father, Philip Gatchalian, stood beside her as the commissioners handed her a certificate and shook her hand. Jeremy Calcarian, a staff member at North High, had nominated her. Commissioners told Gabby she is exactly the kind of young person the county wants to celebrate.
Next came the annual financial report. Chief Financial Officer Kelcee Mace and auditor Chris Lehman from S.B. & Company told the board the county earned a “clean” or “unmodified” opinion, the best result possible.
The verdict rendered the county’s books for the year that ended June 30 accurate and free of any notable discrepancies. Revenues totaled $329 million and spending was $320 million, leaving an $8.5 million surplus. The county maintained a healthy cash reserve of 25 percent, enough to run the government for more than three months in the event of an unanticipated financial emergency.
The pension fund for county workers is now almost 81 percent funded, a significant improvement from a few years ago. Commissioners lauded the finance staff for another strong year.
Election officials then asked for permission to open a fourth early voting center for the 2026 elections. Tammy Downin, president of the county Board of Elections, said the additional location at the elections office on Virginia Avenue will make voting easier and reduce lines. The board approved the addition unanimously.
The rest of the meeting was spent approving equipment and services, including a new 2026 Ford F-350 pickup truck with a snow plow for $64,836 to replace a worn-out 2009 truck.
- New chemicals for public pools and wastewater plants.
- Paving repairs at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant for about $155,000.
- Three new trucks for the water quality department to replace vehicles from 2005, 2008 and 2017 that are too old or rusty to keep using.
- Security cameras at five county water treatment plants because the state is pushing for better protection at drinking-water sites.
- Twenty new Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for the sheriff’s office.
- A new ambulance for the emergency services division.
All these purchases used contracts that other counties or government groups had already negotiated, saving Washington County taxpayers money, officials said.
The board also extended some leases, accepted a state energy grant, discussed funding for community groups and approved hiring a new chief of surveys and made an appointment to the planning commission.
The next regular meeting is expected in early December.
