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Smithsburg council accepts RK&K sewer and water studies; annexation petition tabled to May 5
Summary
At a special April 21 session the Town of Smithsburg accepted RK&K's preliminary sewer and water engineering reports as guiding project documents, received a preliminary CIRCAP rate study update, and voted to table an annexation petition verification until May 5.
The Town of Smithsburg council on April 21 accepted preliminary sewer and water engineering reports from RK&K and placed them on the record as the town's guiding documents for upcoming improvement projects.
"I'll make a motion that we accept the sewer preliminary engineering report for the Town of Smithsburg dated 04/16/2026 and the companion water preliminary engineering report for the Town of Smithsburg, Maryland, 04/16/2026 as a final work product for our RK&K for this project and put it on the record as our guiding document moving forward," a council member said before the motion passed on a voice vote.
Council members said accepting the reports will create an official project footprint and help the town pursue grant funding and organize future construction and procurement. "This will help us as we go through, like, to get grants and all," the mayor said.
The council also received an update on the CIRCAP rate study. Brian (a town representative) told the council CIRCAP has not completed the study and estimated it could take another one to two months. He offered preliminary, nonbinding ballpark figures intended only for planning: county sewer costs could rise about 3 to 3.5 percent and city water charges could increase roughly 5 percent. "These numbers have not been voted on and completely approved," he said.
During old business the council debated language in an annexation petition paperwork and whether the town clerk, Jenny Scott, could verify that the signers and assessed-value figures were properly documented. A staff member and others said the petition language could be read in different ways and that Jenny had not seen every signature; the council opted to table formal introduction of the petition until the May 5 meeting to allow verification or rewording.
The council described next steps for budget work tied to the studies. Staff said updated restricted-fund reporting will remove certain revenues from operational totals and present them in separate ledgers, and that the town must adopt the FY27 budget by July 1. Officials said additional budget detail and the final CIRCAP study will be presented at an upcoming meeting.
The special session concluded after the council handled the listed business and voted to adjourn.
