Flat Run Bridge completion date pushed back

During a progress meeting held between town staff and representatives from the State Highway Administration (SHA) it was discussed that Flat Run Bridge completion is now slated for December. According to Town Manager Cathy Willets, minor delays on the project have occurred this summer and she believes "SHA overshot their schedule." The bridge had been slated for completion by the end of August.

Willets also noted that SHA recently replaced their primary contact. Commissioner Glenn Blanchard requested that the new representative be asked to attend the next town meeting to update Commissioners and residents on the status of the project.

Renovations coming to pool house

Emmitsburg’s new community pool has officially been open for two years now and Commissioners and staff noted that attendance has skyrocketed. People come from all over Frederick County and even Adams County to enjoy the pool because it is clean, pool staff is friendly and the view is beautiful. In order to "match" the town’s new pool, town staff requested Commissioners to consider accepting a bid to renovate the pool house.

The pool house is aging, in dire need of repair and is not currently ADA compliant. Renovations after this pool season ends would remedy these concerns. The project was bid out three times due to the low number of bidders during the first two rounds of RFPs. On the third round, seven bids were received.

Town looked at the four lowest bidders: Omega, Wormwald, Gettysburg Construction and General Contractor. After checking references staff recommended accepting the lowest bid from Omega Contracting and Consulting, who bid $66,329. The project’s scope of work will include: demolition of the inside, installation of all new water lines, new electric hot water heater, painting and patchwork as needed, electrical work, new partitions for new changing rooms, new toilets, ADA accessible changing rooms/toilets, new sinks, hand dryers, shower fixtures etc. All work will be done that was requested by town, a one year warranty is included, and pool houses and clubhouses are one of this company’s specialties.

This majority of this project will be funded through a Project Open Space (POS) grant that was awarded for a total of $71,066. The POS program requires a 25% match by the town.

Town receives Chesapeake Bay Grant

A $5,000 grant was awarded to the town of Emmitsburg as part of the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Community Engagement Mini Grant program. The grant funding will be used to start a rain barrel program in order to educate the community about storm water runoff’s direct connection to the health of local streams, ponds, lakes, and the Chesapeake Bay. The partnership formed by the Town and Chesapeake Bay Trust will allow the town to subsidize 50 percent of the cost of rain barrels and also hold two educational workshops.

A complete rain barrel system will cost residents $40. This system includes a pre-made terra cotta colored 55/60-gallon barrel, overflow hose, and spigot. The first rain barrel workshop will be held on October 1 from 6-7 p.m. at the Emmitsburg Town Office. Participants must register and pay for the barrel by September 13th to reserve a spot and a barrel.

Please contact Emmitsburg’s Town Planner, Zach Gulden at 301-600-6309 if you would like to attend the workshop and/or purchase a rain barrel.