At its December 13 meeting, Taneytown City Council approved resubmitting bids for the Memorial Park improvement project.

After both received bids were deemed incomplete for construction to Park’s ball courts, the council reached a consensus to rebid the entire project. Both proposal packages were found to be missing "significant information," Mayor Bradley Wantz said.

Requests for Proposals (RPF) bids are for contracted services to furnish all labor, materials, equipment to install a new acrylic court surface for the park’s three tennis courts, one pickleball, and one basketball court.

Due to the winter season, no work is scheduled at the moment and the rebidding is not anticipated to put the project behind schedule, Wantz said.

RFP bids can be obtained at the town office and must be submitted by January 21.

Engineering Support Rate Schedule Change Approved

Taneytown City Council approved a rate schedule change for 2022 for the city’s engineering firm.

Happy with the services provided by the engineering firm, the Council approved a "minor increase in the rates" with CDM Smith, Mayor Bradley Wantz said.

"Not unlike what we’ve seen in past years," he said.

The council credited the different experts utilized by CDM Smith to the city’s advantage.

The firm is not only familiar with requirements of public works but are very acquainted with the city’s wastewater treatment plant as they are the ones who designed it, he said.

"I am personally very pleased with the level of service we get from CDM Smith," Wantz said.

The firm’s client manager Brian Lubenow works to delegate tasks to the proper staff level, ensuring the city is not paying for senior personnel to perform a more mundane task, according to City Manager Jim Wieprecht.

"So we’re not paying a more senior person for a review that could be done by someone at a lower hourly rate," he said.

Water Allocation Plan Approved

The Taneytown City Council also approved the City’s monthly water allocation plan. The plan details where the city’s water usage caps and how much can be pumped for project management.

Any more usage and the City would have to seek permission from Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), who informs Taneytown how much water can be pumped, City Manager James Wieprecht said.

The city has implemented a voluntary water conservation for some time and continues to ask residents to be mindful and conservative of water usage in general.

The city’s well levels are measured regularly and are at healthy capacities, he said.

According to the water allocation plan, the city has 58,960 available gallons per day.

A total of 15,375 gallons per day have been allocated to City projects including Meade’s Crossing and Meadowbrook phases.

There are 43,585 gallons per day less allocated available and 13,750 gallons per day are available for projects with preliminary plan approval, with a total of 29,835 gallons per day remaining.

The allocation plan will expire this month.