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Emmitsburg approves $125,243 engineering contract to design repairs for high-hazard dam
Summary
The Emmitsburg Board of Commissioners approved a $125,243.25 contract with Charles P. Johnson & Associates to produce design, bid and permitting documents for repairs to the Emmitsburg (Rainbow Lake) dam after an MDE inspection flagged needed work; the project design is expected to take about 60 weeks and will require grant or other construction funding.
The Town of Emmitsburg on April 13 approved a $125,243.25 contract with Charles P. Johnson & Associates (CPJA) to prepare engineering design, bidding documents and an emergency action plan for repairs to the Emmitsburg (Rainbow Lake) dam.
Town staff said the work responds to a Maryland Department of the Environment inspection and is needed to bring the dam into compliance. “The Emmitsburg Dam was built in 1950. It is considered by the state as a high hazard dam,” staff told the board, citing CPJA’s prior inspection report as the basis for the scope.
Staff said the town solicited bids for specialized engineering services and received a single response — from CPJA, the firm that prepared the inspection. “Unfortunately, we did only receive 1 bid,” staff said. CPJA’s proposal included drawings, specifications, bidding assistance, construction oversight and as-built documentation and carries an estimated 60-week turnaround, subject to MDE review.
The town budgeted $50,000 in its CIP for FY26 and another $50,000 for FY27 toward the project; staff said those allocations leave a shortfall that will be addressed as construction estimates are produced and grant opportunities pursued. As staff explained, the engineering contract covers design and documentation only; construction funding will be sought once engineers provide cost estimates.
Commissioners asked about funding sources and timing. Staff noted the engineering contract will be paid in phased invoices (approximately 25/50/75/100 percent) over the 60-week schedule, and said construction is not expected until at least FY28, once estimates and grant applications are in place.
The board voted unanimously to award the engineering contract to CPJA for $125,243.25. Next procedural steps include completion of the town’s emergency action plan (EAP) required by MDE and producing construction estimates staff will use to pursue grants and finalize a construction schedule.
