Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-06-18

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

June 18,2025 PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callahan, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan

PUBLIC HEARING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:OOPM

ORDINANCE

25-042 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN ADOpTTNG A

GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1,2025 AND ENDING

JUNE 30, 2026 AND ESTABLISHING A REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE OF $ .23T2 PER

$1OO OF ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY VALUE, A TAX RATE OF $ .58 PER $IOO OF

ALL ASSESSED COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND A TAX

RATE OF $2.50 PER $100 OF ASSESSED PUBLIC UTILITIES; AND ALSO ADOPTING

AN ENTERPRISE BUDGET FOR THE TOWN'S WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS,

WHICH INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO MONTHLY WATER AND

SEWER

CONSUMPTION RATES BY EIGHT PERCENT (8%),AS ADOPTED JLrNE 22.2022.

PUBLIC COMMENT

o Peter Robertson- Asked how tax rates compare to previous year? Ms. Moore stated real property and personal property rates are same as last yiur. Public Utility personal property rate would increase from $2.00 per $100.00 assessed to $2.50 per $f Ob.Ob.

Following no further public comments, Hordee motion to ad.iourn the public hearing at 6:06pm.

Cailanan second. V REGULAR MEETING CALLED To ORDER AT 6:10 PM

PUBLIC WORKS

o Bulk collection survey conducted of other towns in area. Regulations from other towns provided for Commissioners review to discuss at next meeting.

o Kohler generator repaired last Thrusday. Always scheduled to test run on Tuesday mornings but this week only ran briefly before faulting. Fidelity mechanic stated generator lost its prime in fuel system- happens every time one is taken offline for repairs' Got running fine after 2 session, und- should be good. will be disputing invoice o as was a known issue and should have been expected and addressed beforehand.

i o n n s e p a E r Q es - p u w m ill p h a a n v d e o d n is e a i b n l t e e d r n o a n l e r s e c re y p cl a e i r p e u d m . p - went up last night. operator pulled and put o p H r a ic d e c o fr n o tr m ac t M or a s r l t o in o s k @ at $ 3 2 s 0 to K r . m C pi a p l e la s h i a n n n e s e u d g g o e f s r t e io p n la c o i f n g -c - o w n a v i e tin rt g iig o n 4 0 pr i f c t i . n g d . i t R ch & D ar e d a it c to h

culvert- can get pricing to do as well.

o Comm' Willis, Ms' Moore and Mr. Horney looked at prop erty at end of Old Wharf and met with Mr' Watzin to discuss options for cleaning up the area and riprap install. Will need survey of town parcel and area proposed to be donated to town. Would then contact o Historical Trust, get pricing on riprap, etc.

Generator claim filed with LGIT denied as didn't meet definition of accident under the o policy- was determined to be wear and tear- which is excluded under the policy.

Mobile Dredging & Video Pipe completed inspection of sewer lines- provided videos/pictures and info which witt ue provided to Rauch. Found some cracks with leaks but nothing major in their opinion.

o George Smith submitted the BNR/ENR grant application to MDE as we met the nitrogen removal requirements for the year.

PLANNING COMMISSION (no updates) FINANCE COMMITTEE (no updotes) CODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER (no updates) EVENTS COMMITTEE (no updates)

TOWN CLERK

l.

Treasurers/Finance Report o Gen. Fund $135,837.85 W/S Fund $169,881.08 ARPA Fund $592,036.57 2.

Minutes o May 14,2025 (Regular Meeting) Willis motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 qte - 0 nay. Callahan abstained as he was not present during this meeting.

.

May 28,2025 (Regular Meeting) Willis motion to approve as written. Callahan second. VOTE: 2 aye - 0 nay. Hardee abstained as he was not present during this meeting.

.

June 3,2025 (Work Session) Callohan motion to opprove as written. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 na!.

3. Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received (no updates)

TOWN MANAGER UPDATES

o possible joint COG session with Kent County on shared items/issues both counties could work toglther on such as solar legislation, water/wastewater design, resource sharing and housing initiatives. Possible meeting date in July/August.

o Office closed tomorrow for Juneteenth. PW employee Brian will be working to get caught up.

. Ms. Moore/Mr. Horney will be at MML conference Monday-Wednesday next week.

Office will be closed on Wednesday for an Administrative Day.

o Discuss July/August meeting schedule? Commissioners agree to have one meeting each in July and August- July 23 at 6pm and August 13 at 4pm.

OLD BUSINESS

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. I & I Project

Scheduled start date of September 1

2. Water Tank & Infrastructure Project

Bids due on FridaY, June 27

3. Solar (no uPdates)

4. Harbor water Issues (no updates)

Queenstown

MARINE PROJECTS

. Federal Channel Dredgin g (no updates) 1

POLICY

l. Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions (no updates)

2. Water/Sewer Rate Study (no updates)

3. ORDINANCE

25-042 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN

ADOPTING A GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING

JULY I, 2025 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 AND ESTABLISHING A REAL

PROPERTY TAX RATE OF $ .23I2PER $1OO OF ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY

VALUE, A TAX RATE OF $ .58 PER $1OO OF ALL ASSESSED COMMERCIAL

OR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND A TAX RATE OF $2'50 PE'R $1OO

oF ASSESSED PUBLIC UTILITIES; AND ALSO ADOPTING AN ENTERPRISE

BUDGET FOR THE TOWN'S WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS' WHICH

INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO MONTHLY WATER AND SEWER

CONSUMPTION RATES BY EIGHT PERCE,NT (8%), AS ADOPTED JUNE 22'

2022. (eligible for adoPtion)

25-04. Willi;-;ec

Callahan

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

.

Wheatland's Project 1 DMS submitted updated cost estimates to Rauch. Rauch completed review and recommends approval of all cost estimates. If approved, next step would be for them to provide sureties for review by Ms. Ryan and approval by Commissioners.

Commissioners will make decision at next meetins.

2.

6915 Main Street a.

Purchase Agreement Agreement to purchase 16,874 square feet of land owned by Kathleen Snyder for $200,000 to create new lot which would be combined with adjacent lot currently owned by Town. Settlement contingent on approval of sub-division of existing lot to create the new lot and adoption of Ordinance 25-05. Commissioners agree to wait until after public hearing for Ordinance 25-05 before a decision on the

agreement..

b.

ORDINANCE 25-05: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN

TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF 16,874 SQUARE FEET OF LAND

OWNED BY KATHLEEN SNYDER TO RECONFIGURE THE TOWN

PROPERTY LOCATED ON CENTER STREET. AND TO AUTHORIZE THE

PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO EXECUTE

SUCH DEEDS AND PLATS AS ARE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE

PROPERTY LINE REVISION (eligible for introduction) Callahan motion to introduce Ordinance 25-05. Willis second. VOTE; 3 aJte - 0 nay.Public hearing to be held July 23 at 6p-.

NEW BUSINESS

Pres. Hardee inquired about temporary signs placed by Royal Farms along US 3gllMD 456 intersection- are allowed under Z.O.? Will look into.

ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates)

PUBLIC COMMENT

o Paul Cain - Why discussing bulk-what issues are there? Informed bulk is becoming more expensive to town as well as taking more time to complete- many not following rules such as placing items late, mixing items, prohibited items, etc.

Why more land needed for Old Wharf park area? Informed Town doesn't actually own much of area unofficially used there-want to officially own property currently used as park area.

Why need for lot off of Charity? How was cost determined? Informed Town talked with owner to determine agreeable price- land may be useful if future needs for plant expansion arise.

' Bill Mills - Stated his property next to plant is not for sale and doesn't approve of any expansion of plant. Asked if demo permit was issued for work at 6916 Main as lots of materials getting thrown in dumpsters on property. Town will look into but believes no structural demo occurring. Also wants documentation on any easements Town has on his property for ds infrastructure. Town will look into.

There being no further business, Hardee motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:44pm. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

lv submitted.