(4/25) The Town Council reviewed the preliminary wastewater budget at the April 8 meeting for FY-26. The budget, which showed a total surplus of $151,989 for the wastewater department, will be approved at a future meeting.
CFO Linda Joyce and Wastewater Superintendent Randy Eyler presented a budget with $1,938,244 in revenue for the next fiscal year in this department. This is a decrease from the current fiscal year’s estimate of $2,022,000. One difference made in the revenue allocation is the sewer service, which Joyce and Eyler indicted $1,817,069 in revenue for the next fiscal year, a $57,431 decrease from the current fiscal year. Joyce explained that she reduced this revenue line based on the current year-to-date revenue collected — only $1,267,712.
Prior to the meeting, Eyler had pointed out there was now reduced inflow and infiltration (I&I) from state parks, or the entry of rainwater and groundwater into the sewer system. "Like we said last year, the state parks redid the line coming down 77," Eyler said. "That line had substantial I&I. On average, it had 9-12 gallons a minute and when it rained it could go as high as 200 gallons a minute, maybe even higher. Now, we’re looking at 2-3 gallons a minute." He went on to explain that the federal park is currently working on the issue on their side.
The preliminary budget includes predicted expenses for the next fiscal year to be $1,786,254, decreased from the current year’s prediction of $2,022,024. Currently, the Town has incurred $1,581,494 in expenses.
The wastewater department expects to add an additional employee to the team in the next fiscal year, in preparation for Eyler’s retirement at an unspecified date. "Denied," Commissioner Marty Burns joked. Eyler would like someone now to be able to train that employee properly and to give him or her time to learn Thurmont’s system. Mayor John Kinnaird confirmed that the department would be finding a replacement for Assistant Superintendent Troy Wastler’s position, implying but not confirming that Wastler would be promoted to Eyler’s position as superintendent upon the latter’s retirement.
Despite the surplus in funds, Eyler explained that he was aware the department didn’t have enough in the capital gains funds to cover all of the projects they’d like to do in the coming fiscal year. He presented the projects to the Town Council in order of importance understanding that they may not all be completed in the next year. "We know we’re not going to have enough money to fund everything this year, so we’re just going to try to stack it up as we go so that what’s not funded this year will hopefully get funded next year," Eyler said.
The exception is the Howard Street sewer replacement project, which is estimated to cost $320,000. Because of the high cost, Eyler plans to apply for grants to pay for this project rather than using capital funds. "It’s just too much for us to handle coming out of the sewer fund," he said. Town Manager Jim Humerick said that with stormwater included in that project, it’s closer to $500,000.
In order of importance as presented at the April 8 meeting, the wastewater department intends to use their capital funds for the following projects: truck replacement, raw screen overhaul, I tracker flow meters for I&I, replacement of three HVAC units, lab seal unit replacement and the replacement of IR air compressors.
