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Council hears committee figures claiming large Frederick Water withdrawals; water committee recommends joint RFP with Middletown
Summary
Council was told committee documents show Frederick Water withdrew about 2.3 billion gallons since April 2015 and that the town records list an alleged $18.7M owed (total with penalties $46.42M); the Water & Sewer Committee recommended a joint RFP with Middletown and legal steps toward a joint utility venture.
Stephens City council and its water and sewer committee discussed a mounting dispute with Frederick Water and next steps for regional utility planning.
During public comment, Gary Oates of Frederick Water asked whether the town remained willing to enter mediation after the town circulated a letter to residents; Mayor Mike Grim said council would not comment at that time and that the remarks would be noted. Later in committee reports, Water & Sewer Committee Chair Councilman Jason Nauman told Council that documents recently received from Frederick Water list about 2.3 billion gallons withdrawn since April 2015. Nauman said the committee materials show an "excess of $18.7 million" owed to the town and that, with charges, penalties and interest, the amount billed to Frederick Water would total about $46,420,000 according to the documents presented to the committee and included in the packet materials.
At a July 18 Water & Sewer Committee meeting, Nauman said the committee agreed by consensus to recommend that Council issue a joint request for proposals with the Town of Middletown to obtain infrastructure cost estimates for providing water service to Middletown and for Middletown to provide wastewater treatment for Stephens City. The committee also recommended that legal counsel and staff begin the process of forming a joint utility venture or public service corporation if Council authorizes that step.
Council did not take a final formal vote on mediation during the July 3 meeting. The matters raised — the billing/withdrawal figures and the proposed joint RFP — were presented as committee items and will require further legal review and possible interlocal agreements before formal implementation.
Council members and staff asked legal counsel and the town manager to provide updated account statements and documentation to support any formal action; the committee specifically requested records showing numbers submitted to the state and the FCSA's internal logs.
