Boonsboro approves compaction testing, WWTP fencing, road striping and a $2 million credit option

At its April 14 meeting, the Boonsboro Mayor and Council approved a set of procurement awards and authorized selecting a revolving line-of-credit offer for gap financing of capital projects.

The council awarded compaction testing and construction material inspection services for the Reservoir Replacement Project to Hillis-Carnes Engineering Associates for $16,050 after Town Manager Rachel Souders said the town solicited three firms and received only one response. The motion to award included one abstention (Council Member Ricky Weaver) and was recorded as carried.

The council also awarded construction of a six-foot black vinyl-coated chain-link fence, with barbed wire and an 18-foot cantilever gate, at the Waste Water Treatment Plant to Frederick Fence Company for $48,337; the project was budgeted at $100,000. For pavement markings, the council awarded line striping on Chase Six Boulevard to FSM, Inc. for $5,000 rather than the higher $5,945.50 proposal from Alpha Space Control, LLC.

On financing, Town Manager Souders presented two proposals for a revolving line of credit up to $2,000,000 to be used as gap financing for capital improvement projects and short-term emergency funding. Middletown Valley Bank proposed a floating rate at WSJP minus 1% with a 4% floor (current effective rate noted at 6.50% during discussion); First United Bank offered a 30-day SOFR plus 210 basis points (SOFR noted as 4.33% at the meeting; current effective rate noted as 7.38%). Council approved pursuing the Middletown Valley Bank revolving line of credit.

The minutes record that the council discussed whether certain proposals should be referred to the Boonsboro Municipal Utilities Commission for recommendation and noted limited proposer response in some solicitations. The minutes do not record a roll-call vote tally for each award beyond the motions being recorded as carried.