Published: May 22, 2009 11:02 pm      

Dam, water line grants OK’d

Commission approves stimulus money for Savage River, Mount Savage projects

CUMBERLAND — Plans are moving ahead at full speed to replace four damaged flood gates at Savage River Dam and to construct a water transmission line to Mount Savage.

The Allegany County commissioners on Thursday approved a conditional grant agreement with the state Department of the Environment for $6 million for the Savage River Dam flood gate replacement and $815,000 for the Mount Savage project.

Though the dam is situated in Garrett County, Allegany County government is responsible for the maintenance and repairs. The engineering firm Hazen and Sawyer of North Carolina has been awarded the contract to design the gates while Steel Fab of Massachusetts will fabricate the gates.

Following what Steve Young, director of the Department of Public Works, called a “very aggressive project schedule,” bids for construction could be solicited in August. Bids must be received by Sept. 30, according to guidelines set forth by MDE. Construction must begin by Dec. 31.

“This is a huge project,” Young said, noting the timelines are “pretty stringent.”

The replacement of the release gates for the dam, which affects water users along the Potomac River to the Washington metro area, became possible when the state endorsed the project as an emergency and received full funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The Mount Savage project will extend for approximately 1 mile the water transmission main from Morantown to a point near the Mount Savage Volunteer Fire Department.

The town’s springs have gone dry in each of the last three years, usually during the winter months, and fire trucks were used to haul water from Corriganville.

That became an expensive fix, according to Danny Williams, president of the Mount Savage Water Co. Fire trucks aren’t meant to haul water on a regular basis. In addition, the fuel efficiency of the trucks made the hauling expensive, he said.

It follows the same timeline. Paul Kahl, public works deputy director, acknowledged the water main extension is only phase one of what could be a $6 million project. The goal is to eventually provide the town’s 450 customers water from Frostburg.

Young said county staff is designing the water transmission main in order to save money. Funding for the remainder of the water main and storage tank has not yet been identified, although the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through MDE, has insisted repair work begin by early 2010 or the town’s water supply could be capped.

For both projects, the county is required to fund any ineligible project costs or costs in excess of the total grant amounts.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.



Allegany County Commission

LAST MEETING: Thursday

ACTION:

• Awarded an $80,000 contract for Upright Fence Co., Corriganville, to install perimeter fencing at the 911 Operations Center at Constitution Park and Public Safety Building at Mexico Farms. The cost is being financed by a Federal Railroad Administration grant.

• Accepted a National Highway Safety Office grant for $26,523 to purchase rescue equipment for fire and rescue departments. Grant match is paid by participating fire and EMS departments.

• Accepted a bioterrorism preparedness grant for $11,101 to purchase portable radios for first-responders. The funds come from the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Service Systems and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NEXT MEETING: Thursday at the County Office Complex on Kelly Road. Public meeting at 11 a.m.