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Dayhoff Carroll: www.kevindayhoff.org Westminster Md Online - The Winchester Report, by Kevin Earl Dayhoff: Runner, writer, artist, fire and police chaplain Mindless ramblings of a runner, journalist, and artist Westminster, Hampstead, Manchester, Taneytown, Union Bridge, Mount Airy and Sykesville in Carroll Co, Maryland... and Frederick Co. Westminster Fire Dept., Firefighters, police officers, Carroll Co Sheriff's Office, Md St Police. Chaplain duties, Religion, Grace Lutheran Ch.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Repairs are part of an ongoing effort to preserve Westminster MD timepiece.
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
20071126 Municipal and Financial Services Group Westminster Water and Wastewater Rate and Fee Study presentation
Municipal and Financial Services Group Westminster Water and Wastewater Rate and Fee Study presentation
November 26, 2007 - Municipal and Financial Services Group Westminster Water and Wastewater Rate and Fee Study presentation
Presentation to the Westminster mayor and common council on November 26, 2007 by Edward J. Donahue III, CMC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2pX2lmraZI
City of Westminster
Water and Wastewater Rate and Fee Study
Agenda
Project Team
Project Understanding and Approach
Policy Issues
Firm Profile
Specialized Financial and Management Consulting Practice
Focus on Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure
Efficient Delivery of Public Sector Services
National Practice Since 1976
Part of National CPA/Engineering Firms for 25 Years
Maryland-Based
Established as an Independent, Women-Owned Firm in 2002
Previous Clients Range from Very Large (Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco) to Very Small (Marydel, Queen Anne’s County, Bramble Hills, North Slope Borough)
Clients Serve 45% of Nation’s Population
Project Team Synergy
Complementary Blend of Functional Skills
Broad Industry Experience
Seamless Service Delivery for Clients
Project Organization
Project Team Skills
Agenda
Project Team
Project Understanding and Approach
Policy Issues
Project Fundamentals
OBJECTIVES
Long-Term Financial Security and Stability
Lowest Rates Over Time (Optimal Management of Assets)
Equitable Rate Design
Rational and Defensible Basis for all Rates and Fees
Custom Tailored Financial Model
Model tied to official documents
Operating Budgets
Capital Improvement Plan
Can produce cost of service on multiple bases
Cash
Utility
Hybrid(s)
Easy/quick updates and iterations
Inexpensive feasibility studies for revenue bond issues
Project Work Plan/Schedule/Deliverables
Agenda
Preliminary Policy Issues
Lowest Lifecycle Cost
Paying for Growth
Existence / Adequacy of Reserves
Rate Design
Policy Issue: Lifecycle Cost
Assumption – City wants lowest total capital and operating costs for its utilities over their useful lives
Requirement: Adequate funding of maintenance to make facilities last as long as practicable – use of Asset Management approach to maintenance
Impact: Possibility of slightly higher rates now to assure lower rates in the long run
Policy Issue: Paying for Growth
Assumption - City does not want rates for existing customers to be impacted by growth
Requirement - Segregation of capital costs into growth / non-growth categories, then determination of capital cost recovery fees based on growth-related capital costs
Impact - Possible adjustment of capacity fees / connection fees; increase in user fees if growth does not occur as planned
Policy Issue: Financial Reserves
Purposes for Reserves
Insurance against unexpected events
Reduce borrowings
Smooth out rate increases
Designation of formal restriction on fund balance
Operating Reserve
Typically 90 days of operating cash (PSC provision for investor-owned utilities)
Repair / Renewal / Rehabilitation Reserve
Regular contribution towards cost of renewing long-lived assets
Annual contribution on formulaic basis
Policies on spending approvals
Policy Issue: Rate Design
Rate Structure
Fixed vs. Variable
Discounts for selected customer classes
Drought Rates
Inside-City / Outside-City Differential
Fund Balance
Transfers to / from General Fund
Reimbursement for services provided
Payment in Lieu of Taxes
Frequency of Rate Adjustments
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Water and Sewer Westminster, Westminster Council Meeting Agenda, Westminster Dept Public Works, Westminster Dept Public Works Water and Sewer, Water and Sewer Westminster Rates and Fees
20071126 Municipal and Financial Services Group Westminster Water and Wastewater Rate and Fee Study presentation
Monday, November 26, 2007
20071126 Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting
20071126 Westminster Mayor and Common Council Meeting
City Council
City Council Members Minutes of City Council Meetings
Mayor and Common Council Meeting of November 26, 2007
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
Fallfest Check Presentations
Water Sewer Rate Structure Presentation
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
October Departmental Operating Reports
3. BIDS
Recommendation to accept Bid from Seal Analytical for a
Discrete Analyzer for the Wastewater Treatment Plant
4. REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR
5. REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES
6. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
a. Resolution R-07-13 regarding Extension of Time for Final Action
on Sectional Map Amendment No. 07-1
b. Ordinance 772 Historic Tax Credits Amendment
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Revised Carroll Cable Regulatory Commission Agreement
8. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Brightview of
Relinquishment
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
10 CITIZEN COMMENTS
11. ADJOURN
This Meeting will be held at the John Street Quarters of the Westminster Fire Company,
Thursday, July 12, 2007
20070709 Water Expert Jeff Glass: Water restrictions only weeks away
Drought and water issues persist
July 11th, 2007
Westminster’s Acting Public Works Director Jeff Glass told Channel 2’s Jeff Hager last Monday that perhaps “sooner than the next two weeks our drought management plan will be such that we've hit the triggers to cause us to go to code yellow at that point, and that's voluntary restrictions.”
What is amazing to me is that in spite of all the media attention to Westminster’s water challenges in the last 6 years, one can still travel about Westminster on a hot day and see folks watering their yards.
Now I made a living as a landscaper and nursery stock farmer for twenty-five years and I understand the value of plants and landscaping as much as the next person – but a green lawn is not more important that people and adequate supplies of drinking water is a basic health, safety, and welfare matter.
So I guess what folks who are watering their lawns are callously communicating is that their lawn is more important than the health, safety and welfare of their friends, neighbors, loved ones, family and fellow city residents…
Anyway, Channel 2 ran the story last Monday, July 9th, 2007, on the purchase of Hyde’s Quarry and the current lack of rainfall. Try as I might, I could not find the video on their web site. Nevertheless, Channel 2 said, in part:
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=B5FB8B71-6426-43DA-B554-226A9F191FB1&gsa=true
Posted By: jeff hager
[…]
And that recurring problem will prompt the city to call upon its residents to cut back in just a matter of weeks, according to Acting Public Works Director Jeff Glass. "I'd say that sooner than the next two weeks our drought management plan will be such that we've hit the triggers to cause us to go to code yellow at that point, and that's voluntary restrictions."
[…]
In a matter of weeks, Westminster residents will be asked to cut back on watering their lawns, washing their cars and to adopt other conservation measures to keep the restrictions from becoming mandatory.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
20070703 City street department walking the streets
07/03/07 By Kevin E. Dayhoff
Westminster Street Department employees pause for a picture by the City’s new 2007 10-ton International multi-purpose diesel dump truck on June 15th, 2007. Photo by Caroline Babylon
When they are not operating equipment such as this you may very well find them walking the street.
Members of the Westminster Street Department include:
Larry Bloom, Butch DuVall, Bubba Strawsburg, Don Hann, Larry Pitinger, Michael Pupaza, Pat Walsh, Billy Walsh, John Robertson, John Linthicum, Hank Jarrell and Shawn Lockert.
_____
If you've been out and about in
Recently the Westminster Street Department employees began "trying to do a wellness campaign," and have been walking a mile just before work two days a week, according to Larry Bloom, Westminster's superintendent of Parks, Buildings and Streets.
"We're trying to encourage the employees to be healthier," said Bloom. "Hopefully the city will see a reduction in our health insurance premiums as a result."
"We have a mile course laid out that takes us by city hall and around the playground and back," he said.
Showing off a picture of a grandchild, department employee Butch Duvall said, "hopefully exercise will keep me around longer to watch this little one grow up. Exercise helps; gives ya more energy for the day and wakes the body up. I ain't gettin' no younger."
Bubba Strawsburg, too, said he wanted "to get in shape," but coworker John Robertson Sr. rolled his eyes and said, "Some of 'em jog."
Bloom said members of the department would like to walk three days a week, but right now it's two.
Another employee, who asked not to be identified, said
When reached for an explanation, Wolf pledged that she's "going to do it too," but hasn't been able to work it in her schedule.
She also said she usually walks with her dog and the dog would be annoyed if she walked without it.
But one employee responded that Wolf's dog, too, "is welcome to join us."
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
20070621 Westminster Eagle Week in Review
June 21st, 2007
By
City takes delivery of new diesel dump truck
Last Friday, instead of getting an early start on the weekend, many employees of the Westminster Street Department hung around the shop a few minutes after work.
They were waiting with anticipation for the expected delivery of a new, 2007 10-ton Inter...
[…]
The $125,400 truck replaces a vehicle that was 13 or 14 years old. The new truck was included in the fiscal year budget that will end June 30 and came-in $10,000 under budget, according to Larry Bloom,
"We worked carefully with
[…]
Carroll working to save and share 'Our Barn'
I recently had the opportunity to visit
Those accompanying me included
[…]
These two talented artists have completed a number of great documentaries, including recent videos on the work of the Westminster Municipal Band and the Carroll County Children's Chorus.
[…]
Who could deny the appeal of a dancing chorus line including Dave Roush, County Chief of Staff Steve Powell and Commissioner Dean Minnich singing "Our Barn" to the tune of Petula Clark's hit, "Downtown?"
[…]
Prior to six months ago, Elizabeth Duvall of
While she still drives her family around in a minivan, Duvall's driving techniques have been "tweaked" a bit after attending the Maryland Police and
Last Friday, Duvall graduated with the academy's latest class, and was recognized as the top driver of emergency vehicles.
"They would tease me that I probably don't drive my minivan the same way," Duvall laughed of her classmates' comments.
But she added ...
[Read full story]
Airport groups vow to continue opposition
Despite last week's approval by the Carroll's Board of County Commissioners to expand the runway at Carroll County Regional Airport, citizen groups say they will continue to oppose the issue as it enters its next phase -- a two-year environmental study.
The results of the study could still halt th...
[Read full story]
Family that plays, stays together
Ken, Stephanie and Ryan Koons have turned their love for music into a family affair.
The husband, wife and son trio, known as Wherligig, will perform traditional Celtic and Nordic music in celebration of the Summer Solstice this Thursday, June 21, at the
Initially formed in 1985, Wherligig has evolved over the years in the type of music the group plays, the instruments they use and the members who play in the band.
Ken and Stephanie have been the core of the band since its inception, and several years ago son Ryan joined them to make it a...
[Read full story]
Main Street Minute
Turn up the heat for a new summer look
It's the first week of summer vacation and the transition from spring fashions to summer flip flops has begun.
If you're looking to add some pizzazz to your summer look without venturing too far from home, just take a walking, shopping tour of Downtown West...
[Read full story]
Athletes offered a banner year in
It wasn't long ago that
With the significant population boom of the past 15 years and the accompanying growth of youth feeder programs throughout the county, Carroll's high school teams started to become more competitive.
County programs took another huge step during the 2006 -07 school year, as five of seven Carroll high schools won state titles.
The run began in the fall, when the Francis Scott Key boys cross country team won the Class 2A...
[Read full story]
Familiar face at police barrack is benefit for Carroll County
Editorial
One of the first moves for the new Maryland State Police Superintendent Terrance Sheridan was a welcome one for
Last week
[Read full story]
It's all over but the shouting, unless there's a legal battle
When Commissioner Michael Zimmer voted against the expansion of the
Now that the expansion has been included in the airport's master plan, there's still much to ...
[Read full story]
There's a full house in the theater of the absurd ...
And it's little wonder, what with the series of absurdities that have dominated the media lately.
On center stage -- where I fear she'll remain until she's either carried off in a straight jacket or loses her girlish figure -- is that living Barbie doll, Paris Hilton, who was born into a fortune a...
[Read full story]
Healthy Recipe
Appealing taste comes from fresh bananas
This week's recipe focuses on the good health and taste of bananas, and is provided by JaDenna Jones, Health Educator and Cessation Coordinator for the Carroll County Health Department.
Discovered by Alexander the Great on his conquest of
[Read full story]
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