For anyone following the ongoing zoning discussions about the Lakeside housing development, and its plans to eventually grow to some 2,400 homes, it would be understandable be confused by the number of legislative proposals now circulating which attempt to address waste water capacity at the site in Trappe. At the moment, amendments 338, 347, and 348 remain active which has led to the creation of a salad of parliamentary woes for all involved.
Before Maryland’s Department of Environment can make final approvals of those plans, Talbot County must show that it can demonstrate compliance with the County’s comprehensive water and sewer plan and consistency between the county’s council and planning and zoning commission’s positions.
Las night, council member Pete Lesher proposed an amendment to combine 338 and 347, which would help to resolve MDE’s requirements and close outstanding issues.
The Lesher proposal, which he outlines in his comments to the Council, will be the subject of a public hearing now scheduled for February 13th at 63o pm.
This video is approximately six minutes in length.
Bob wenneson says
Word-salad, yes. Confusing, yes. Or, as was said to convict Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. “What we have here is a failure to communicate”.
Resolution 347, 348, 338. The proposed Lesher/Mielke Amendments to each. The issue really isn’t all that confusing if one simply chooses to NOT read the actual resolutions and amendments. Instead, from the most simplistic perspective it all boils down to the following.
Mr. Lesher and Ms. Mielke feel that the largest project in Talbot County history really should have had a public airing of all the issues that will affect the County citizens and taxpayers and also should have obtained a Planning Commission determination that the project is ‘consistent’ with the Comprehensive Plan. And if it didn’t or hasn’t occurred to date (it hasn’t) then at the very least it should take place when the developer seeks to expand his wastewater permit from the current 100,000 gallons per day to the 540,000gpd needed to build out the full project. One, and possibly three (?), of the Council members feel otherwise or at the very least are just plain tired of dealing with the issue and would like to move on to other matters.
The developer obviously doesn’t want to deal with the headaches and possible revisions to the project (or costs) that might arise with public input and accordingly, through the persistent efforts of its enabler, Mr Showalter, has vigorously resisted any increased involvement of the County citizens. And largely, at most decision-making points thus far, our County Attorney’s office has provided guidance to the county council supporting the developer’s attorney’s arguments.
So, what results from failing to clearly address the obvious underlying conflict? Resolutions with convoluted language are prepared and amendments are word-crafted to try to accomplish what each party seeks to achieve (or avoid). It could all be so simply dealt with by having an up-or-down vote by each Council member to a simple question. Do you believe this project now or at least at some future point should receive wholesale input from the county’s citizenry and approval from the Planning Commission? And if not, do you intend to continue to vote in a manner preventing that from occurring?
And then maybe we could dispense with the word-salad and talking around the issue.
Paul Rybon says
I like Mr. Wenneson’s analysis about the Council muddying the waters ( pun intended) and that’s understandable when we have a divided council. However the real problem is ‘where is the money for upgraded sewerage facilities going to come from’?
K C Dodson says
It’s very apparent that the Town of Trappe Council and Talbot County Council lack the Expertise and Education in regards to waste water, sewer plans and drinking water.
This lack of education or certification in this area has left residents in the middle of this political back and forth game.
Trappe Council consists of a President who did nothing with the $900,000.00 given to the town from the American Rescue Plan in 2020 from Talbot County. His term was to end in 2025 and he now has vacated the position and it’s up for election this March. Speed ahead to 2024 and Trappe is still posting for bids for Trappe sewage pumping station pond scum removal.
This is what happens when Council members who have no
Experience, Education or Certification are making decision in areas they have no clue in !
When will the Town and the County realize, that this is a issue that is complex and essential to residents and requires a company like Easton Utilities to over see the operation, management and maintenance of this Failing water system. Why is Easton the only town in Talbot to have them?
With uneducated council members making decisions on drinking water and waste water, We should all be concerned anyone living in the town or county.
Iowan Adams says
Maybe it is time for Easton Utilities to Expand !