St. Mary’s commissioners ask Leonardtown to begin annexation of 171.181-acre Hayden Farm to clear way for school, sewer planning

The Board of County Commissioners for Saint Mary’s County voted Tuesday to request that the mayor and council of Leonardtown introduce a resolution to annex 171.181 acres known as the Hayden Farm into the town’s corporate limits.

County attorney staff member George Sparling introduced the request and deferred to county staff member Mr. Erickson, who told commissioners the annexation is tied to sewer capacity and the planned elementary school on the site. Erickson said the county completed hydrogeologic and soil tests on Hayden Farm and that, from a land-application standpoint, portions of the property could be used for spray or drip irrigation if needed.

Erickson said the rear parcel studied for spray irrigation had roughly 13 acres suitable to treat about 39,670 gallons per day, and the front parcel had about 5.6 acres suitable for drip that could treat about 40,990 gallons per day. He said the planned jail expansion would add about 30,000 gallons per day of demand and that the town’s planned expansion of the Leonardtown treatment plant would add roughly 260,000 gallons per day — increasing capacity from about 618,000 to 940,000 gallons per day at an estimated cost of $20 million.

“The good news about the Hayden Farm is that we picked the right piece of property to look at,” Erickson said. He added that, because the town decided to expand its plant, the county likely does not need to spend capital to build its own spray/drip fields now and could instead pay equivalent EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) capacity to the town.

Why it matters: Commission and staff said annexation would let the elementary school planning proceed under town regulations from start to finish and provide a clearer pathway for sewer service, permitting and funding coordination. Staff said the town’s plant expansion is expected to provide needed capacity around mid‑2014 and that the jail’s anticipated online date and the plant’s available capacity appear to be near enough in time to be managed together.

During discussion, commissioners and staff emphasized that land‑application (spray/drip) use of Hayden Farm is a contingency and that, if the town’s expansion provides capacity, the county would not pursue immediate spray or drip on the property. Commissioners also noted a public forum on Sept. 13 for comment on related library/site matters and said annexation will begin a public, State‑overseen process that can take up to about 12 months.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner Daniel L. Morris moved the board approve transmitting the letter requesting the town introduce an annexation resolution; Commissioner Todd B. Morgan seconded. The board voted in favor; the motion carried.

Context and next steps: Staff said the annexation request merely starts the formal process. Town and county studies, public comment, and a formal review by the town and the State will follow. Staff also said the Hayden Farm soils are not ideal in many places, so having the property identified gives a contingency for future land application if needed.

Quotes tied to meeting record: “We completed test bids, hydrogeologic studies, soil testing, and what’s called infiltrometer tests,” Mr. Erickson said in briefing commissioners about the Hayden Farm test results. “Whether this piece of property is ever used, right now, we don’t need to use it for land application.”