County Plans Maryland Water Service Action Amid Possible Countywide Rate Increases

To offset the City of Cumberland’s proposed water and sewer rate increase this coming fiscal year, Allegany County as a whole may see water rates increase 8% and sewer rates 11%.  However, for those sourcing through Maryland Water Service, the County Commissioners announced plans to pursue condemnation of the facility during Thursday’s commission meeting.  Attorney Lee Beeman said step one is to take action on a Resolution of Condemnation declaring a public need to take over the system…

“From there, we’ll be reaching out to Maryland Water saying, ‘Hey, here it is. We’re taking it. What’s your number?’  We then have the requirement that we make them a fair value offer and then from that point if we can’t come to a negotiation, if we can’t come to a value that we agree upon, the Commissioners would be taking action to file the eminent domain action.”