[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6558478,"mediaKeyId","3247954-405435d16c6b5c9e78ecf0a5d4cb888b","parentId",3247954,"title","BGE proposes 9-mile underground rebuild from Finksburg to Westminster; construction targeted 2027–2030","audioSeconds",800,"startMs",3621000,"endMs",4421000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247954-405435d16c6b5c9e78ecf0a5d4cb888b&start=3621&end=4421","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247954-405435d16c6b5c9e78ecf0a5d4cb888b/thumbnail_3621000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558478/Carroll-County/Maryland/BGE-proposes-9-mile-underground-rebuild-from-Finksburg-to-Westminster-construction-targeted-20272030","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558478-26885f86d9495e80cd434e7e232af01e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168791&Signature=Rc7vA5SnQNqNP~t-rvd2RgVz2xf02OglbGdCb3QnpQYMtPRmOirwvRHZxxpY4muzhUijm0a4~HI2a5qiTJgHPK6GlPzwaEnLz5gYkftZZu62eCow9XrlCCf1PEjMczP1txV0qONyQaqYSNPCIv-NC6mDrXcprCkyyB6L1w2ilE3ssxICt54QQoI51276EdvDZdGxmrpCvcDkrVZ5nwUTL36xDurm2j8bXKC2Lac4iDnKKN3Ndu1yWmPwdrN-GAzDaiUcam7Y36LUSYDIn4YVf571-O9bkLtGeSc3RNOGbHgvh7gH-GGq9YZCGoysPCSW8afKpwYJCXo02BFhJcqgYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Carroll County, MD","date","2025-05-08T15:06:56Z","article","Baltimore Gas and Electric told Carroll County commissioners it plans to replace an aging transmission line with a roughly 9-mile underground route running from the Finksburg area to the Westminster substation along Route 140, company staff said. BGE said the project is intended to address reliability and access problems linked to a line built in 1990 and to reduce outages for customers served by the Westminster substation.

The proposal matters because Westminster’s substation is a radial feed — meaning it is not extensively networked into the broader transmission system — so BGE said the new line will increase resilience for homes and businesses served from that facility. The company said it will file a waiver of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the Maryland Public Service Commission before seeking local and state permits, then begin construction in early 2027 with an expected finish around mid‑2030.

BGE staff described the technical and access reasons for the work. “The line that is currently installed was constructed in 1990,” said Kyle Edmonds, senior project manager for the Finksburg–Westminster project. Company engineers showed photos of wood‑pole deterioration, woodpecker damage and difficult access near rail lines and streams, and said those conditions make above‑ground maintenance and selective repairs increasingly challenging.

Ben Formisano, senior engineer in BGE’s transmission engineering department, described the company’s plan to install underground transmission cable inside the existing roadway right of way. “It’s about a 9‑mile distance. It will all be within the road right of way,” Formisano said. He told commissioners the alignment follows Route 140 to avoid running across agricultural properties and private parcels.

BGE said next steps include filing the CPCN waiver at the Public Service Commission “at the end of the quarter,” followed by permit applications and coordination with state and local agencies. The company plans continuous public outreach, a project website and community meetings to announce construction activity and timing. Chanel Rhodes Reed, BGE’s external affairs manager for Carroll County, said the company holds quarterly briefings with local officials to share project and program information and to field constituent issues. “BGE’s goal is to increase our footprint, not our carbon footprint,” Reed said when summarizing the company’s community engagement and grant work.

Commissioners asked about traffic and construction impacts on Route 140. BGE engineers said the goal is to limit lane closures by placing duct banks in shoulders or medians where possible, to site manholes for splicing to avoid business or driveway impacts, and to use flaggers and scheduled notices for work that affects travel. The company estimated a 10‑week lead time for some long‑lead materials and said it will post scheduling information on its project website and hold meetings in impacted neighborhoods before work begins.

BGE also reviewed community programs during the presentation: it said about 60,000 of its customers are in Carroll County, noted a small‑business grant of up to $20,000 with a June 13 application deadline, and described a community safety grant program offering $2,500–$10,000 with a May 16 application deadline. Edmonds and Formisano told the board that engineering and procurement work will continue in 2025–2026, with major construction activity planned to begin in 2027 and conclude around mid‑2030.

The company said it will file the CPCN waiver soon and return to update the commissioners as permitting and design advance. Residents and business owners looking for project details were told to watch the BGE project website and sign up for community notices and meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Open Session May 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Baltimore Gas and Electric told Carroll County commissioners it plans to replace an aging transmission line with a roughly 9‑mile underground route running from the Finksburg area to the Westminster substation along Route 140, company staff said.","taxTitle","Carroll County, Maryland","taxId",7748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6558473,"Carroll County commissioners approve bonding, fire‑company loans and multiple procurement actions",343,4503000,4846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247954-405435d16c6b5c9e78ecf0a5d4cb888b&start=4503&end=4846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247954-405435d16c6b5c9e78ecf0a5d4cb888b/thumbnail_4503000.jpg","/articles/6558473/Carroll-County/Maryland/Carroll-County-commissioners-approve-bonding-firecompany-loans-and-multiple-procurement-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558473-56f7162a6c99fce6fc9ef4fca8fbc060/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168791&Signature=KT676L8CrARRY2RQM~mtNd0XbLP18yDGIMMAf1uQc4Mu2a9fINInc-ZmKGGh9~HKdO-N6HJ8MfNtLXPFWeNImZFHxwDc6L1oLGu3QIneQlq3K69xvqxZeos2wA5I9kSqwEruOvFm2kC-vqepPGGrtDyqLOs6~3ix2tfbCedn0yiYVQuQEUcgyzMxs8aYmhFXDMzQ~Ac4t90u46Ca0g9dSTaK0gfIfwokHHzsimd3oXNw2hnifNBD8b5fBHYFxDcm-6KbzmGqJ3ddNcSGL3tRJKGHuOujkI9k~AKjb1nMtb-JCKXl7UKUmk0~tK14eXxnT9udaJhUZGTXKnnukTAsWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County commissioners approved a set of financial and procurement actions at their May meeting, ranging from a county transportation priority letter to loan commitments for local volunteer fire companies and contract awards for county operations.

Why it matters: approvals move public funding and capital purchases forward, sustain volunteer emergency services, and authorize repairs and upgrades to county infrastructure and systems.

Key items approved (votes at a glance):
- County CTP priority letter: Commissioners approved the fiscal‑year county Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP) priority letter, which included five capacity‑enhancing projects, two streetscapes, one trail project and a new request for a study of Route 140. Motion passed on voice vote.

- Housing bond allocation to Maryland Mortgage program: The board authorized transfer of $8,082,028 in annual housing bond allocation to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for the Maryland Mortgage program and signed the statement of conditions for participation. County staff reported 152 households used the program since 2020 and 23 participants in 2025 had used $7,247,046 as of February. Motion passed on roll call.

- Volunteer fire company loans and intent‑to‑reimburse resolutions:
• New Windsor Community Volunteer Fire Company: approved a loan request of $1,000,000 toward a $1.3 million Seagrave engine; delivery estimated about 3½ years after contract (the company said a prepayment discount strategy is in use). Board also adopted a resolution declaring the county’s intent to reimburse expenditures from bond proceeds. Motion passed.
• Winfield Volunteer Fire Company: approved a loan request of $700,000 to finish purchase of a tanker (company had already procured the chassis and anticipated delivery in June); board adopted the county intent‑to‑reimburse resolution. Motion passed.

- Procurement and contract approvals:
• Independent financial auditing services: approved purchase from CliftonLarsonAllen for $47,855.01 to complete FY24 audit work including single‑audit requirements. Motion passed.
• CourtSmart server upgrades: approved server hardware upgrades for CourtSmart recording at the annex and historic buildings from CourtSmart Digital Systems for $55,265. Motion passed.
• Piney Run Park paving: approved a change order of $42,654 to Superior Facilities Management Services LLC for additional undercutting and stone required after inspections revealed base failures; the total contract value has increased since the original award. Motion passed.
• Freedom District Water Treatment Plant plate‑settler parts: awarded single‑source purchase and installation to Parkson Corporation for $52,548 to address corroded plates and baffles and improve removal of aluminum and suspended solids; county staff reported these repairs address a Maryland Department of the Environment compliance issue. Motion passed.
• Public Safety Training Center interior demolition/renovation: awarded contract to Nichols Contracting for $539,559.65, paid from a state grant. Motion passed.

What commissioners and staff said: county staff repeatedly noted that some awards reflect inspection findings, compliance needs or long lead times for equipment; fire company representatives described equipment delivery schedules and fundraising/financial planning that underlie loan requests. Commissioners emphasized the need for clear communication with residents about disruptions tied to construction projects and urged staff to manage budgets and contract change orders within established policy.

Next steps: several items require off‑board administrative follow‑through (contract execution, permit coordination, scheduling of construction and public outreach). The board also directed staff to bring a revised loan‑application process and to continue close coordination with state agencies for projects affecting state right of way and regulations.","At their May meeting, the Board of Carroll County Commissioners approved the county’s CTP priority letter, authorized an $8.08 million housing bond transfer for the Maryland Mortgage program, approved two volunteer fire company loans and approved multiple procurement and change‑order actions.","actionData","errors"]

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BGE proposes 9-mile underground rebuild from Finksburg to Westminster; construction targeted 2027–2030

Carroll County commissioners approve bonding, fire‑company loans and multiple procurement actions