Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-04-09

QUEENSTOWI\ COMMISSIONERS

April 9,2025 PRESENT: President AI Hardee, Commissioner Tom Willis, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Finance Committee Chair Pat Bowell

(NOTE: WORK SESSION SCHEDALED FOR 3:00PM WAS CANCELLED)

REGT]LAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:OOPM

GTIESTS

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Robert Rauch, RAUCH, Inc. - Town Engineer RE: Water/Sewer Rate Study Rate study more intensive than expected- many variables that need to be disbussed. Suggested a work session be scheduled to discuss in detail. Generally, is assumed expenses will increase by l0% n new fiscal year. Has factored in current 447 EDUs, debt to retire, and costs of the Old Wharf project in getting an estimate of what Town's projected income vs. expenses will beestimates revenue of $649,000 vs. expenses of $959,920. Suggests town may need to raise debt

service fees and consumption rates to close the gap. When revenue from Wheatlands will come in will factor into calculations as well. Commissioners agree to schedule a work session with Rauch for April 1l at 2pmto discuss further.

PT]BLIC WORIG

o Grease in Outlets pump station- GM contacted all restaurants and all have working grease traps and are pumped regularly. Will be addressing issue with each food location onsite as well. WS operator plans to raise the levels in the pump station to allow for manual removal of grease currently present.

o Still waiting on part for generator at WWTP. Have filed claim with insurance to see if covered under breakdown policy- would be $10k deductible if so. Original maintenance agreement is .

basic/doesn't include what most preventative maintenance agreements would include. Includes basic items such as filter/oil changes. Now recommending a new maintenance plan- will put together for Commissioners review.

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AT&T looking to upgrade equipment on Wall St. tower. Plans sent to Town tower consultant company for review and comments.

o Complaint/concerns received from resident on Old Wharf La. regarding tractor trailers recent use of Maryland Ave/Old Wharf La. going towards MD 18. Have been at lease 4 incidents in last 12 months. No damage other than ruts created from recent event. Some mailbox damage during last incident. Any way to address- signage? Commissioners ask if resident can contact trucking company as they have their info from previous incident- inquire why using those roads? Can then

decide if any actions needed to address further.

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Complaint received from resident about truck/trailer parked on Olde Point La. Owner lives on Wick Ct. Signs in place prohibiting trailer parking on Wick (owner still parks there- has received a citation) Owner also parks on Olde Point but is allowable under current l2hrr'.limit. Interest in changing the ordinance to limit parking further on Olde Point? Commissioners agree if further complaints from other residents received they will consider changes to current parking

regulations.

o Met with Harry Meissner about storm grates on Steanrboat Ave. One near 215 is ok as is- no changes recommended. One at 219 is below street level due to layers of pavement buildup.

Property owner at 219 concerned with parking by the gtate. Recommends new grate to place on top of box/grate currently there. Town will need to cut asphalt back for new grate.

o Comm. Willis discussed plant expansion with WS operator Greg Smith- informed Mr. Smith states there is enough room at curre,lrt WWTP site to expand plant capacity from 200,000 to 400,000 gallons per day. Also states town currently does not have enough emergency storage capacity- could use any additional property acquired by town for increasing storage capacity.

Willis also suggested town TV lines along Del Rhodes Ave. from US 301 to the pump station to determine if sediment/debris in pump station caused by cracked lines. Pres. Hardee asked to find out if had been done before. If so, what were the results and if not it needs to be. Willis motion to have lines TV'd either watt. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 alte - 0 nalt.

PLANNING COMMISSION

o Gave approval of Wheatland's record plats for Phase I and 2with easement relief on a couple end townhouse lots. Approval given on condition of an approved PWA. Phase 1 includes 109 residences.

FINAI\CE COMMITTEE

o Chair Pat Bowell attended LGIT insurance meeting- Expects insurance premiums to rise 8Vo for FY2026 over FY 2025. Confirmed town has cyber incident coverage- also possibility that recent WWTP generator issues may be a covered loss.

o Attended QAC tax set-off meeting. Town will receive $163,000. Fireworks funding will be determined on pending decision by County on allowance of fireworks within the county- if so, will be funded.

CODE BNFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER (no updates)

EVENTS COMMITTEE

o Easter Egg Hmt event a success. Currently working on budget for FY2026 events.

TOWN CLERK

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TreasurersffinanceReport o Gen Fund 5146,748.60 W/S Fund $67,737.00 ARPA Fund $591 ,937.64 o Current CDs totals: General $703,596.50 Water/Sewer $266,697.58 2.

Minutes .

March 26,2025 (Regular Meeting) Hardee motion to approve as written. Willis second. VOTE: 2 a:te - 0 nay.

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March 26,2025 (Closed Meeting) Willis motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 aye - 0 nay.

3.

Correspondence/RequestsAnfo - Sent and Received (nothing to reportl

TOWI{ MANAGER T]PDATES

o Letter seeking reimbursement for grease damage at Steamboat Ave. sent to property owner in amount of $6,251. Awaiting response.

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krquiry from ham radio group about potential interest from Town to allow placement of equipment on water tower. Group provides emergency radio backup to QAC emergency system.

Currently has antenna on county'owned tower but will need to move in near future. Non-profit and currently pay no rent to county. Nothing concrete at this time- just feeling towns out. County may move them to another county-owned location. Commissioners suggested if any agreement the Corurty should pay lease fees to Town for the space as the service is to benefit the County.

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Outstanding Items updated as follows:

o Water quality at Queenstown Harbor- water samples taken last week- Awaiting results.

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Royal Farms trash- resident contacted corporate office since last meeting. Corporate informed they contacted the store manager to clean up and take pictures. Instructed manager to check on trash throughout the daylduring each shift. Informed they will follow up on this and will look into getting a fence installed to address trash entering adjacent residential properties. Ms.

Moore contacted them today reiterating these concerns and requesting a fence be installed.

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Electronic Speed Signs- Need to have utilities marked- Miss Utility won't process service ticket without SHA permit #. Currently working on getting SHA permit.

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Outlet Center Lighting- They are currently drafting an RFP to try to outsource lighting work as part of a larger project. Will update town once RFP is complete and has response from corporate office. If denied, plan to work on in-house one at a time. Pres. Hardee asked Ms.

Moore to contact Outlets about need to clean up the property as well as the buildings are in need of powerwashing/painting- property looking dirty.

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

INFRASTRUCTT]RE

1. I & I Project (no updates)

2.

New Water Tower & Infrastructure Project a.

Interim Financing Ms. Moore stated that for the interim line of credit, Town would need to take a minimum draw of $50,000 at time of settlement to meet tax-exempt requirements. Construction agreement must be in place in order to do first draw which town does not have yet as project hasn't been put out to bid yet. Town as of now has $206k in soft costs spending on the project that will be eligible for refund to the town upon taking the draw down. Will

discuss with Town Attorney.

b.

Bond Counsel Pre-closing scheduled for 4116, final closing on 4117. President & Town Clerk to sign documents.

3.

Solar (no updates)

MARINE PROJECTS

1.

Federal Channel Dredging Bayland believes they can amend the shoreline protection in place now to provide more adequate erosion protection, which MDE wants to see. Will have additional design fee now and add some cost to the construction grant. Will pull additional engineering costs from same grant. DNR can work with town to try to increase grant funds if total project cost cemes in over the grant amount. No guarantee, but DNR should be able to cover costs if project stays

reasonable priced

POLICY

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Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions Currently under review.

2.

Road and Sidewalk Standards Amendments previously discussed have been made and is ready for approval. Willis motion to approve the revised Road and Sidewalk Standards. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 aye - 0 nay.

3.

Water/Sewer Rate Study (discussed earlier by Bob Rauch during Guests)

4. ORDINAI\ICE 25-03 . A}I ORDINANICE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO

AMEND ARTICLE II AND ARTICLE TV PART ITI OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING

ORDINANCE TITLED, "CRITICAL AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT'' TO COMPLY WITH

RECENT LEGISLATION (public hearing scheduled fo, 4/23/25)

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

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Wheatland's Project 2.

6915 Main Street Town Attorney currently working on finalizing a purchase agreement for review.

NEW BUSINESS (none) ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates) PUBLIC COMMBNT (none) There being no further business, Hardee motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:28 pm. Willis second. VOTE:

2aye-0nalt.

W

Town Clerk