Worcester County approves Lewis Road sewer expansion, awards construction contract

Worcester County Commissioners on July 1, 2025 voted to move forward with the Lewis Road sewer expansion and later awarded the construction contract to the low bidder, Teal Construction.

County staff described the project during a public hearing held under sections 5305(b) and 5307(b) of the Public Works Article and said the total revised cost is $4,498,000 and the extension would serve about 60 equivalent dwelling units (EDUs). Staff told the board the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has amended its 2025 award to include an additional $2,473,000, of which $1,855,000 was presented as grant funding and $618,000 as a loan. That $618,000 loan would be repaid by Lewis Road customers over 40 years at 2.5 percent interest; county staff presented an estimated payment of about $105 per EDU per quarter over 40 years.

Why it matters: the Lewis Road area has pursued public water and sewer for decades; residents told the commissioners that public sewer is urgently needed for health and affordability reasons and that many households have waited years for municipal services.

Public comment and community context

Several residents spoke in support of the project. Gabriel Purnell, who said he lives at 9609 Merry Road in Berlin, described long-standing community organizing and told the commissioners, “45 years later, finally, hopefully, sewer will be available to those residents.” Larry Duffy, who lives off Lewis Road at 11829 Whitetail Lane, said the community previously had contaminated water and described health concerns he and neighbors experienced; Duffy said septic installations can cost $20,000 to $30,000 and that the proposed quarterly repayment could be a hardship for some households. John Atkins of Ocean City thanked the board for allowing public comment at the meeting.

Board discussion and votes

Commissioner Matresic moved to proceed with the Lewis Road Sewer Project; Commissioner Fiore seconded. The motion carried, 7-0.

Later in the meeting the commissioners voted to award the Lewis Road construction contract to the low bidder, Teal Construction, for $3,800,000.06. Bids were opened Feb. 19 and the county received four bids. Commissioner Fiore seconded the motion to award; the motion passed, 7-0.

Project financing and customer charges (as presented by county staff)

- Total revised project cost: $4,498,000 (presented by county staff). - Serviceable units: 60 EDUs (presented by county staff). - USDA 2025 amended award: additional $2,473,000 total, described by staff as $1,855,000 in grant funds and $618,000 in a USDA loan. - Loan terms presented: $618,000 over 40 years at 2.5% interest; staff estimated roughly $105 per EDU per quarter to repay the loan starting three months after loan disbursement. - County staff said the project is otherwise funded by federal sources and that “there is no county money going towards us” for this project.

Staff also presented proposed rates and charges that would apply if the project proceeds as scheduled in fiscal year 2026; county staff read a set of proposed base and consumption charges for the Landings sanitary service area (as presented): a $60 base water operation and maintenance charge, a $2.70 base sewer operation and maintenance charge (described as 75% of the Landings base rate), a $15 Bay Restoration Fund charge, accessibility charges for unbuilt/unconnected lots that were described during the presentation, and consumption tier charges presented by staff (staff-provided numbers included $5 per 1,000 gallons up to a threshold and $15 per 1,000 thereafter). The county presentation included multiple detailed line items; staff noted repayment would begin three months after disbursement.

Other meeting actions (votes at a glance)

The board handled routine consent and administrative items before and after the Lewis Road hearing. Summary of recorded votes during the July 1 meeting:

- Motion to go into closed session (personnel summary, acquisition of real property, legal advice, administrative functions): moved by Commissioner Fiore; seconded by Commissioner Purnell; vote 7-0 (approved). - Approve amended closed-session minutes from May 13 (separated vote): passed 5-2 (recorded as 5 in favor, 2 opposed). - Approve minutes from June 17 (open and closed sessions): motion passed unanimously (7-0). - Approve consent agenda (items 2–8): motion by Commissioner Bertino; seconded by Commissioner Fiore; vote 7-0. - Item 9 — accept speed study results on Hotel Road and associated request: motion approved 7-0. - Item 10 — speed limit reduction request (location not specified in the public record excerpt): motion approved 7-0. - Item 11 — approve Scribe tire drop-off day for fiscal year 2026: motion approved 7-0. - Item 12 — approve payment to Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to settle certain sanitary sewer overflows (to be paid from sewer district funds where overflows occurred): motion approved 7-0; staff clarified the obligation is paid from the district where the overflow occurred. - Item 13 — award Lewis Road sewer construction contract to Teal Construction for $3,800,000.06: motion approved 7-0. - Item 14 — convert a mechanic position to a shop foreman in the Water & Wastewater division: motion approved 7-0. - Item 15 — approve proposal for additional A/E services for the Snow Hill Library renovation project: motion approved 7-0. - Item 16 — no board appointments were made. - Motion to adjourn: approved.

What was not decided or remains to be determined

- Final customer bills and the exact timing of rate assessments depend on project completion and loan disbursement; the county presentation gave estimated figures and described the USDA loan terms but did not finalize customer billing details. - Several technical rate line items and accessibility charges were read as presented by staff; some line items in the presentation contained phrasing and numeric groupings that were not fully clarified on the record during the meeting.

Ending

Commissioners closed the public hearing after the comment period and completed the advertised votes, including moving forward with the Lewis Road sewer extension and awarding the construction contract to Teal Construction. Residents and commissioners said they expect construction and associated billing to follow county procurement and financing steps before service connections and customer assessments occur.