(7/1) On June 4, Thurmont’s Board of Commissioners voted to purchase property on Water Street in hopes of expanding the town’s Public Works Department in the future.

The property, located at 115 Water Street, is comprised of a 9,583 square foot lot, approximately 0.21 acres, and the home itself is 2,033 square feet in size. The home was listed at $175,000, and the town settled the purchase, acquiring it for $152,000. The property abuts the public works facility on the backside and the town hopes this purchase will help to enhance their ability to increase the Public Works Department as the community continues to grow. In the meantime, the town will look to rent the home before they need to use the property to begin expanding the Public Works Department. Mayor John Kinnaird mentioned that the town may need only use the backside of the property for awhile, while still retaining the front half of the property to rent.

"As the community continues to grow, we’ve seen a need to increase our footprint in that area," said Mayor Kinnaird. "If we can consolidate properties down there to get us a larger work area, I think it’s one of the best things we can do for our community."

All Commissioners were on board with the idea of acquiring the property. "This is a wise investment that already connects to our property," stated Commissioner Marty Burns, "one in which we can turn into a larger complex to serve the needs of our residents when we need to." Additionally, the town owns a separate property located at 109 Water Street, which is currently being rented out. Burns noted that the town has already seen "positive cash flow in that house." Purchasing another property when the time is right is a good decision for the town.

Commissioner Bill Buehrer asked town staff to consider looking into the neighboring property in hopes of acquiring the property in the future. Buehrer requested the town ask for a right of first refusal, which if accepted, would give the town the option to enter a business transaction with the homeowner before the owner enters into a transaction with another party. Mayor Kinnaird noted that after several conversations with the current property owners, it seems as though they are in favor of seeing the town acquire the property in the future.

A motion was made to purchase the property and inquire both officially and informally with adjacent property owners about their future plans with their properties. The motion was passed unanimously. There are no official plans for expansion of the Public Works Department at this time.