Published: December 14, 2008 11:52 pm      

Savage River Dam a priority on county agenda at PACE reception

CUMBERLAND — The Allegany County commissioners have requested the District 1 legislative delegation to support changing a law that caps borrowing limits to $200,000 for improvements to the Savage River Dam.

The request came as Delegate Wendell Beitzel said at least one party has expressed interest in replacing the dam with a hydroelectric energy facility.

The law requires the issue go to the public by way of a referendum, county officials said during the annual prelegislative meeting with the area’s four elected state lawmakers Thursday.

By law, the county is the responsible agency for funding improvements and repairs to the dam, located near Bloomington. The project requires the replacement of four release gates to the tune of an estimated $6 million.

“Obviously, $200,000 isn’t going to do it,” said County Attorney Bill Rudd.

Rudd said the county wants that law changed — both the limits and the referendum requirement — and the Upper Potomac River Commission also may desire some “tweaks” to the law. The county wants the flexibility to borrow much like it would for any other capital project, Rudd said.

Rudd said the law appears to be inconsistent. In Garrett County, documents show the law limits Allegany County’s borrowing power to $1 million, five times more than what documents at the County Office Complex reveal.

“Whoever codified this thing (was) inconsistent,” Rudd said.

Rudd said there’s a possibility the UPRC could be given borrowing power to alleviate some of the burden placed on local government.

Commissioner Jim Stakem said the Savage River Dam will be a primary topic during the annual PACE legislative reception Jan. 29 and 30 in Annapolis.

“The reservoir is essential for its flood protection, water supply to Westernport, downstream recreational fisheries, excellent water quality releases, and as an emergency water supply to Maryland, Virginia and the D.C. area,” reads the PACE Committee’s top legislative talking point. “The law needs changed and major funding assistance is required.”

Beitzel said officials already are talking about the project down state. Also on Thursday, Beitzel said U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski hosted a breakfast meeting on the issue in Annapolis and Scott Shoemaker, UPRC superintendent, attended a meeting with downstream users in the D.C. metro area.

Updates from those meetings were not available. Neither Shoemaker nor Mikulski could be reached for comment.

Beitzel said a company has inquired about the financial feasibility of replacing the dam with a hydroelectric energy facility.

“There already has been one person expressing interest,” Beitzel said.

Sen. George Edwards noted the issue didn’t come up Nov. 21 during the delegation’s meeting with the Garrett County commissioners.

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