Taneytown reviews concept plan for consolidated Public Works complex

Taneytown Planning Commission members heard a presentation on a concept plan for a consolidated Taneytown Public Works facility that would replace seven aging buildings with one primary service building and a separate salt barn.

The concept, presented by Morton Buildings representatives and introduced by Randy Myers, assistant director of public works, would house vehicles, a welding station and classroom space and include a state-rated chlorine storage room. “I'm Randy Myers, assistant director of public works. Just so everyone's aware, we're taking 7 buildings and putting in this 1 building and getting rid of some buildings that nothing fits anymore,” Myers said.

The presentation said the primary building is designed to accommodate current and larger future vehicles and equipment, with a separate salt barn to be used only for salt storage. Morton Buildings representatives described a 40-seat training room intended for multi-department classes and cited a separate, code-rated chlorine cylinder storage room. “The goal was to be able to house everything in in 1 building,” a Morton representative said during the presentation.

Design details shown included conceptual elevations, staging for plows and hoppers, a welding station, a backup IT room for the city and consolidated records storage. Presenters said parking was sized to support a 40-person class (they cited 48 spaces, with some uncertainty about whether that count includes required handicap stalls) and that the site plan drawings are in advanced concept stage with civil engineering, stormwater and permitting discussions already under way.

Commissioners asked for additional callouts on building dimensions and peak height, clarification on parking counts and confirmation that the civil plans will show the sidewalk and required accessible stalls. Commissioners also asked why spare chlorine cylinders would be stored at the Public Works site rather than at water treatment locations; Myers said the city keeps spare cylinders at wells and treatment sites and maintains a stock on hand. A presenter explained the city keeps spare cylinders at multiple locations “so we we keep 10 on hand at all times.”

Financing and timing were raised repeatedly. Presenters said the project had been modeled using the Maryland local government infrastructure financing program — a low-interest loan option administered through the Maryland Department of the Environment — and that the city could have accommodated debt service without a tax increase, but that the mayor directed a change in how available funds and debt positions were being used; that directive has left the project “on hold for the time being,” presenters said. No construction start date was set and the commission was told the schedule is open-ended while permitting, budget and council direction are resolved.

The commission did not vote on the concept plan at the meeting. Staff said county agencies are already reviewing the submission and that the plan would return to the commission for possible concept approval at the earliest next-month meeting; if comments substantially change the plan, revised sheets will be distributed.

Less technical items discussed included signage (presenters said a monument or building-mounted sign is planned), phasing (Morton said phasing is feasible so the salt barn or portions of the build could be completed separately) and salt-handling details (presenters said the salt barn will be enclosed with concrete block walls and overhangs to limit exposure and runoff). Presenters also noted Morton Buildings’ local manufacturing presence in Gettysburg, Penn., and use of local subcontractors.

The meeting opened with approval of minutes (motion and second recorded; verbal “aye” vote), and closed with the commission setting the presentation to return for formal concept consideration next month. The project remains subject to county permitting and any additional revisions requested during that review.