Thurmont
asks county for help with sewers
By James Rada Jr.
Thurmont News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – Thurmont Mayor Martin Burns received some flak for
telling developers hoping to have property annexed into town
“bring your checkbook.” Now he has suggested to
the Frederick County Commissioners that if they would like to
stop growth in town, perhaps they should also bring their checkbook
to the table.
“I
respectfully request your consideration of providing a grant
to the town of Thurmont to assist with sewer system I&I
repairs. I feel this request serves the interest of Thurmont
residents an Northern Frederick County residents alike,”
Burns wrote in a letter to the Frederick County Commissioners
on Jan. 17.
Burns
explained that completing a $1.3 million sewer improvement
was going to cause sewer rates to increase by at least $1/1,000
gallons and the next needed phase of sewer work could cost
another $4.6 million.
“I
didn’t ask for free money,” Burns said. “I
told them they could put conditions on it.”
On a
local forum, Burns asked Commissioner Kai Hagen, “would
you support a grant to the town of Thurmont to assist with
sewer repairs with some sort of agreement not to annex or
build homes?”
Burns
said this would not stop the current annexation requests from
being heard on their merits but would apply to possible future
requests.
“I
support the notion of exploring the idea,” Hagen said.
“It’s a legitimate, thoughtful request and worth
consideration.”
However,
at least one commissioner doesn’t think so. Commissioner
John L. Thompson Jr. responded to Burns’ request via
e-mail, writing, “If Thurmont does not have the money
to perform the needed repairs to its sewer system, it suggests
that the Town has not been setting aside funds for a 3-R reserve.
It also suggests that the Town's sewer rate schedule generates
less revenue than is needed to operate the sewer system in
a financially sound manner over the long run. It is up to
Thurmont’s elected officials to rectify the situation.”
Burns
sees the situation from a different angle. “The argument
I make is that Thurmont has been subsidizing part, if not
most of, SOME of the operations the County is responsible
for many years,” he wrote in a reply to Thompson.
Burns
points out that the Town of Thurmont has created savings for
the county in other ways, such as donating the land for the
new regional library, owning the local senior citizens center
and undertaking construction of the new Guardian Hose building
without county capital dollars.
“The
volunteer fire and rescue companies alone have saved county
taxpayers multi millions of dollars over their existence.
Why then, using your argument has the county not provided
ample funding to buy buildings, vehicles and equipment, or
at least, paid these organizations back for ‘granting’
the county their equipment, time, and services?” Burns
wrote.
Burns
said the town is not inclined to ask the county for help,
but he is pursuing all options to help with the looming expense.
“What
I’ve asking for is the same type of deal like the Carroll
Creek project,” Burns said. He also pointed out help
the county had given municipalities like Emmitsburg for the
renovation of the Community Center and Middletown to build
a senior citizens’ center.
