Commissioners approve Aerie Road water project; county to offer 10‑year, 0% loan and maintain system

Commissioners approved a proposal to create a publicly maintained water system for three homes on Aerie Road in Cumberland after residents offered to fund construction and the county agreed to provide a 10‑year, 0% interest loan.

County staff described the typical process for public water projects as requiring residents to petition the county, then seek state and federal grant and loan funding; in this case, the residents opted to fund construction themselves. Staff said the county coordinated with the City of Cumberland, which will set a master meter; about 2,200 feet of pipeline built to county standards will connect the three properties.

Administrator Bennett told commissioners the loan is low risk because repayment can be attached to the properties and the project should improve property values and area infrastructure. "This is really a very low risk kind of thing for us, because we can attach this right to their properties," Bennett said.

Commissioners voted by voice to award the contract and approve the project. The motion to approve was moved and seconded; the meeting record shows a voice "Aye" and no roll‑call tally was provided at the meeting.

Clarifying details provided at the meeting: the pipeline length was described as approximately 2,200 feet; Cumberland will set a master meter; residents received two bids and vetted contractors; the county will offer a 10‑year, 0% loan to the property owners for construction and will thereafter maintain the water system as a county asset.

Provenance: staff presentation and administrator comment: 00:05:40'00:07:19 (project description and loan explanation); final approval vote: 00:07:57'00:07:57 (voice approval recorded).