Frostburg officials OK water service changes
Sep. 19—FROSTBURG — Frostburg's mayor and City Council approved amendments to water service billing Tuesday evening, completing changes to allow a transition to monthly billing for city residents.
The officials also approved several amendments and awarded bids for future projects around the city.
Changes to the water ordinance include:
—Delinquent accounts are now defined by an unpaid balance past 50 days rather than 90 days
—Delinquent accounts may result in water shutoff after 50 days rather than 90 days
—Leak adjustment frequency is once every four years rather than once every 10 years
—No special letter required by the city to notify residents of potential shutoff due to delinquent accounts
"It will allow greater flexibility in performing meter readings and obtaining access to meters," said Elaine Jones, the city's director of finance.
Mayor Todd Logsdon provided some clarification on the absence of special letters.
"Although it does not require the city to send shutoff notices any longer, there is language on the (monthly) bills to inform them of that," he said.
A public hearing for the ordinance changes will be held during a meeting of the officials Oct. 15.
Nina Forsythe, commissioner of water, parks and recreation, noted the increased usage of water from the Piney Reservoir as classes have begun at Frostburg State University.
"We've definitely noticed more water usage," Director of Public Works Hayden Lindsey said.
However, according to Lindsey, the water table at the reservoir is "recharged."
"More people in general are using less water," Lindsey said.
Lindsey also announced the official opening of the Frostburg Childcare Center.
Children and staff have been using the facility for a couple of weeks now.
"They seem to like it, and they seem to enjoy it," Lindsey said.
In upcoming construction projects, the mayor and council came to a resolution on the removal of "unsuitable material" below the new Mechanic Street parking lot, which included an old stone well and coal ash.
The new lot will have a grand opening on Sept. 28, and City Administrator Elizabeth Stahlman noted the future installation of electric vehicle charging stations at the location.
"It's a part of the microgrid project, but we're not quite to the construction phase yet," she said.
The project is in accordance with Frostburg State University, which received a $750,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration in August to complete the installation of clean energy microgrid around campus and the city.
