Water and sewer tapping fees to go up
BOONSBORO - For the first time in 10 years, people planning to build homes along Boonsboro's perimeter will pay more to access the town's water and sewer services.
Town council members, who voted for increases in the tapping fees for water and sewer, told residents at a meeting Monday they do not know how the increases will affect properties along Alternate U.S. 40, where problems with well water forced the town to offer annexation.
According to council member Kevin Chambers, the new fees - $6,500 for water per equivalent dwelling unit and $11,000 for sewer per EDU - will be effective at the next preliminary plat approval.
The fees originally were $5,000 each, Chambers said.
While the state has offered to help pay for the extension of the town's water to a 197.57-acre area along Alternate U.S. 40, no funding has been offered for the extension of sewer services, Chambers said. More than 25 percent of residents in that area, but fewer than 50 percent, have agreed to annexation to address well water the Washington County Health Department and the state have said is unsafe, he said.
Two citizens questioned whether people in the area would have to pay the new full sewer tapping fee if their properties are annexed. Chambers acknowledged the issue is a "gray area."
"I would think if you annexed that and told those people that they had to pay $11,000 for a hookup, you wouldn't be able to do that. They wouldn't be able to afford that," said Mary Ann Lum, who lives within the town limits.
The project currently is on hold, Chambers said.
Two groups to play at band shell in park
BOONSBORO - Two musical groups will perform Sunday at Shafer Memorial Park's band shell in Boonsboro, interim town manager Debbie Smith told the Boonsboro Town Council at Monday's meeting.
Hosanna will perform at 5:45 p.m. before giving way to the Williamsport Community Band at 7:05 p.m., she said.
