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Queenstown discusses I&I, new water tower project and tower maintenance; interim financing paused
Summary
Staff reported pre-construction planning for the I&I project with work to begin spring 2025, near-complete USDA submission for a new water tower and infrastructure project, and that interim financing quotes are on hold; commissioners also noted Wall Street tower may be overdue for the MDE-recommended five-year washout.
Commissioners received status reports on several water and sewer infrastructure items. Public works staff said they will set up a pre-construction meeting with contractor Retallack and anticipate beginning the inflow-and-infiltration (I&I) project in spring 2025.
Staff also reported recent meetings with Rauch engineers on the new water tower and related infrastructure; the project team expects to submit remaining documentation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for review and will follow up to confirm the schedule. Updated interim-financing quotes were provided by Shore United and Queenstown Bank, but commissioners placed interim financing on hold.
Commissioner Tom Willis asked about the last cleaning of the Wall Street water tower; staff noted a maintenance contract was cancelled in 2010 and that the Maryland Department of the Environment recommends washouts at least every five years, suggesting the tower's cleaning may be overdue.
Why it matters: Capital water projects and ongoing maintenance affect customers' service reliability, compliance with health standards and long-term borrowing needs. Pausing financing while documentation is finalized delays fiscal commitments but preserves options.
Next steps: Staff will follow up with USDA on the tower project schedule, and the commission will revisit interim financing when ready; the commission may also schedule or budget for tower washouts to meet MDE guidance.
