The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission voted April 27 to certify that the Metropolitan Commission’s (MetCom) FY2010–FY2014 Capital Improvement Budget is consistent with the county comprehensive plan and with the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan (CWSP), and authorized the commission chair to send a recommendation letter to the County Commissioners.

MetCom presentation and purpose: Jackie Meiser, director of the Metropolitan Commission, presented highlights of the proposed five‑year capital program, stressing that several projects are driven by regulatory requirements (for example, state nutrient limits and facility upgrades) and by the need to replace aging infrastructure. Projects identified for FY2010 included streetscape‑coincident water/sewer work on Great Mills Road, targeted water‑main replacements and connectors, continuing manhole rehabilitation and pump/macerator replacements, and engineering and preliminary work for an Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) upgrade at Marley Taylor wastewater treatment plant.

Funding and stimulus grant: Meiser noted MetCom expects to use a mix of borrowing and customer charges; no rate increase for the system improvement charge or capital contribution charge was proposed for FY2010. MetCom reported it had secured a $3.4 million federal stimulus grant to support digester repairs and methane cogeneration at the Marley Taylor treatment plant; the cogeneration project will capture methane to generate on‑site electricity and reduce operating costs.

Regulatory drivers and capacity planning: Commissioners asked about the timing of ENR requirements and how MetCom would address future capacity needs. Staff and MetCom representatives explained that current design work targets compliance with the state’s enhanced nutrient removal mandate by 2012; longer‑range decisions (including potential spray irrigation, reuse or additional treatment capacity) would follow as flows approach planning thresholds, and MetCom is participating in state task forces on reuse and nutrient management.

Vote and next steps: After questions from commissioners, a motion to accept the CIP as consistent with county planning documents passed by voice vote. The commission authorized the chair to forward the finding and recommendation letter to the County Commissioners so MetCom can proceed with the financing and design steps tied to the CIP.

Ending: MetCom staff said they would proceed with design for priority projects and continue coordination with the county and state as regulatory timelines and funding permit.