At the meeting, staff updated the board on a package of interrelated projects and financing plans that affect the sanitary system's near-term capital program.

Public works staff (S5) said the LTCP Phase B work—focused on plant separation—now has an estimated cost of about $4.8 million, reduced from roughly $6 million because the Mount Pillier element was removed from the scope. "Basically, we are looking at funding that through a 250,000 ARPA that we've been using already, probably about a 3 and a half million dollar loan and a million dollar debt forgiveness project," S5 said, adding that staff had run numbers with David Shriver and warned the board that funding agencies (DEP) may prefer more loan funding in lieu of forgiveness.

Project engineer (S4) said the Army Corps is funding the new gravity sewer to serve customers in Arlington, while the DEP-funded contract will cover the lift station and the force main to pump sewage back to the Clarksburg system. S6 (staff/consultant) reported drafting 67 of 68 easements for Arlington and said DEP permit negotiations remain difficult; if talks cannot be resolved, staff said they would take the matter to the Environmental Quality Board for further review.

On a related but separately funded item, public works staff (S5) updated the board that the Wolf Summit Energy mainline extension (the portion the sanitary system will interface with) is out for bid; staff held a pre-bid meeting with good turnout and plans to open bids on Dec. 4 or Dec. 9 and make a recommendation at the Dec. 9 board meeting with an aim to award before Christmas. Staff said Wolf Summit Energy will pay for the work; staff told the developer's financing contact (Jason Blake) that the board would want the low bid plus a 10% contingency deposited in the sanitary account before contract signature, and that unused funds would be returned in accordance with the agreement.

Staff also reported that Public Service Commission staff and an administrative law judge exempted the board from most of the financial-analysis requirements usually required for Summit Park, with one exception: the PSC asked to see the journal entries the board will make when the Summit Park utility is taken on. Staff said they would comply and would not contest that order.

Board members asked clarifying questions; staff said they would update the board at the Dec. 9 meeting with bids, documentation and any DEP negotiation outcomes.