September 27, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 39 ... Citizens Will Weigh In On Water System FROM PAGE 38 The report involves evaluating four alternatives – no action, public water supply, Individual Point of Use (POU) Water Treatment Systems or Community Water Treatment System. The recommended project alternative is a public water supply provided by the city of Fruitland that comes to an estimated total cost of about $8 million. What would be built under this alternative is a water distribution system from the City of Fruitland. Some of the water lines would be 12 inches, eight inches and six inches. Water service would be extended from two directions – one from the south near Cedar Lane or Morris Mill area and the second from the west near the City of Fruitland’s existing water tank to feed the affected areas. The estimated timeline if the project is approved by January 2014 is to have a design completed in six months, go to bid and have construction completed in 18 months for the project to be concluded in February of 2016. Wicomico County Director of Administration Wayne Strausburg explained about $6 million in grants is expected for the project through state and federal funding, leaving the county to cover $2 million in bonds. “You have to consider the loss of market value and marketability is going to be if we don’t do anything and I would suggest to you at this juncture the marketability of the area of concern without a permanent solution is highly questionable,” he said. “From a homeowner’s standpoint, in the long run this is the lowest cost solution for the individual homeowners.” According to Assistant Wicomico County Attorney Maureen Lanigan, the Urban Services Commission, which is the County Council, will hold a public hearing informing citizens of the contents of the engineering and financial surveys and the probable cost of providing service in the district, including all fees and expenses. At the public hearing, the commission shall vote whether to move the project forward or not. Citizens have 45 days to petition for a vote. A successful petition must be signed by the owners of 20 percent of the assessed value of the land in the proposed district to succeed. There must be a vote within 30 days. Each owner has one vote for $500 of assessed valuation of his land, and a majority is needed to pass. “There is a real sense of urgency in my mind in moving this forward,” Strausburg said. The County Council voted to hold a public hearing in the evening of Oct. 14 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in the Midway Room. SATURDAY, NOV. 2 1 P.M.-5 P.M. ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT LOCAL OYSTERS FEATURING SPECIAL OYSTER CREATIONS FROM LOCAL GUEST CHEFS. TAKE HOME A COLLECTOR PINT GLASS UNLIMITED EVOLUTION BREWERY LOCAL CRAFT BEERS OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND FRIENDS ON THE DECK PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE FAGERS.COM OR BY PHONE 410-524-5500 $38 IN ADVANCE OR $41 AT THE DOOR UNDER 21 FOOD ONLY $15 (INCLUDES BBQ RIBS AND CHICKEN) 60th Street In The Bay • www.fagers.com 410-524-5500