Chesapeake Beach budget passes with current tax rate

Twin Beaches news

Friday, June 19, 2009

During public comment, a resident of Windward Key stood up and told the council to think about how much property assessments have increased in the last few years and gave current assessments of property at Windward Key. A single townhouse lot is 1,600 square feet and assessed at $320,000 each, with the structure also valued at $320,000, for a total assessed value of $640,000, he said. The parcel of land that the Windward Key development sits on is 1 acre total and is assessed at $9 million, he said, adding, "Who's going to pay $9 million?"

Mayor Bruce Wahl thanked him for his comment and added that the state assesses the property, not the town. Earlier Wahl said he did not expect the assessed value of property to continue to increase.

"It's going to either flatten or decline," he said.

The $8.4 million FY 2010 budget was passed by the council after passing an amended exhibit to move some items around to other funds, and after several motions and discussions of raising the amusement tax on gambling machines. The amusement tax amendment passed with a 4-2 vote, despite Wahl's comments that it was not legal. At a press conference Monday, Wahl said the town will not seek the extra .25 percent tax on gaming revenues and the rate will remain at .50 percent of gross revenues.

One of the budget adjustments discussed was an extra $10,000 for improvements to Kellams Field.

"We need to increase it to do the work," said town treasurer Leslie Porter. Town engineer Paul Woodburn stepped in to explain a two phase plan that he suggested to renovate the field. The entire field needs to be redressed and sloped, Woodburn said.

"We'll tackle the most aggressive issues first," he said.

In the first phase, the plan is to solve the pertinent issue of drainage and raise up the center of the football field. Then in phase two, the plan is to regrade the field and create a pipe system. Phase one is anticipated to begin mid-summer. It was suggested to ask the state for assistance with the project.

The town is already taking advantage of a 1 percent stimulus loan with the $ 1.5 million D Street rehabilitation project, which is underway and in design.

"We've got a tight deadline to meet and need to get the bids in," said Woodburn about meeting the criteria for the loan. The project will include gray water (waste water treatment plant discharge) piping for future uses.

Contracts awarded

The council awarded the boardwalk replacement project to Pioneer Builders in the amount of $16,757 for 165 feet of the "original portion of the boardwalk" at the north end of Bayfront Park. The bid needed to be approved this month to retain the $50,000 grant, Woodburn said.

The town awarded McGladrey & Pullen the FY09 audit for the town's finances in the amount of $36,000, plus out of pocket expenses not to exceed $3,000. It is the company the town has used in the past, Porter said, adding "They are very thorough and very timely."

The town awarded a contract for emergency transient boat tie ups and equipment to Michael O'Keefe Homeworks in the amount of $28,441, contingent upon the Department of Natural Resources approval of the project.

The town is applying for grants to replace the deteriorating finger piers at the state boat ramp at Fishing Creek West.