Public Water in London Towne

From time to time over the years in London Towne, the issue of whether or not we should connect to the public water system came up for discussion. The issue was raised again in 2006 at a Board of Directors meeting. As a result, the Parks and Planning Committee was asked to do research into the issue. This information is presented so that all residents will have a common knowledge base as we discuss “the issue of public water”.

Click Here to read more details about the pros & cons and the petition process

Click Here to View the Most Current Map of the Proposed Public Water Route in London Towne

Status of the Petition Process

For Public Water in London Towne

16 June 2010

Petitions Validated and Feasiblity Study Begins

On June 16, 2010, Anne Arundel County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) sent letters to 1225 property owners in the London Towne community whose properties are on the route proposed by the petition for Public Water in London Towne. The letter stated that the County had received and validated the petition to extend public water to the owners of certain properties in the community. Those who did not receive the letter are not on the route for public water.

The letter also explained that the System Design Section of the DPW will prepare a feasibility study to “determine if the estimated project cost will be self supporting,” and that “once the study is completed, [DPW] will contact you with further information.”

UPDATE:

In Mid-June 2010, we received an email from Mr. Glen Shipley, Assistant Manager of Financial Services for DPW indicating that his department will follow up with the Engineering group each week to check on the progress of the feasibility study and inform us when they are coming to a conclusion. If the project is determined to be feasible, an initial cost estimate will be completed. If the initial cost estimate is at or below $7.39 per front foot, then the County will go to the Final Design and Construction Bid documents.

For those of you who have inquired about being having your properties added to the route proposed by the petition for public water service, Mr. Shipley confirmed that this would not be possible. He advised in his email that the “… only avenue would be to be [sic] to submit a separate petition. If validated, the projects might be co-ordinate [sic] as one but that would be determine [sic] at the time of construction. To [his] knowledge, no one has gone to this next step.”

22 Nov 2009

Petitions for Public Water in London Towne Submitted to Anne Arundel County

All petitions for and against public water that were received by the LTPOA Public Water Committee were submitted to the county the first week in September. The county is in the process of verifying the petitions. Petitions were received from 1,321 property owners, while 706 did not respond. Of the petitions that were received, 895 (68%) requested public water, while 426 (32%) requested not to get public water.

Because a majority of owners did not petition for public water, a proposed route for the water main to over half of the community was submitted that would accommodate the most persons wanting public water and at the same time not provide public water to those persons who did not petition for water, whether by returning negative petitions or by not responding to mailings.

Of the 1,178 properties on the proposed route, 61.8 % of the property owners petitioned for water, 15% opposed water and 23.2% did not respond. One hundred sixty-seven owners who petitioned for water could not be included in the route.

By mid-November, the County had almost completed the validation process. Though some petitions have been disqualified for technical reasons (not all owners signed, property changed hands, no witness, etc.) it appears that there will still be well over 50% along the proposed route, which is all that is required by the County. According to Ms. Gail Rash of the Department of Public Works, the next step is to send the information to the engineering department, which will let a contract to design the system. Ms. Rash is also preparing a mailing list of all property owners on the proposed route to officially inform owners of the process.

A map of the proposed route for the water mains is available by clicking the link below. As you will see from the map, those properties that are not currently on the proposed route are within two blocks of the route, at most. After the water line is installed, it will be much easier for small groups of property owners to petition the county for public water, if they choose to do so in the future.

We have confirmed with Ms. Rash that the clubhouse and all community piers along the proposed route that now have wells will also be provided with public water and will only have to pay the County the $2,100 connection fee.

The LTPOA Public Water Committee thanks the very large number of London Towne Community residents who volunteered their time and energy to help with this project. We also thank the 1,321 property owners who returned petitions.

April 2009

LTPOA Sends Final Notice to All London Towne Property Owners to Submit Petitions

Below is a copy of the final notice to all London Towne Property Owners to submit their Petitions either FOR or AGAINST bringing public water to the Community.

Dear London Towne Property Owner,

Based on the response from two mailing to all London Towne Property owners, we have identified two potential paths to bring public water to parts of the community. Your property is on or near one of these paths.

You are receiving this letter because we do not have a petition from you. We need to know whether or not you wish your property to be included in the petition for water. We expect to finalize the paths and submit petitions to Anne Arundel County in the near future.

A brief fact sheet and a petition form are enclosed. Please read the information and check one of the boxes on the form. Your property information has been included on the form. Then, in the presence of a witness, all co-owners should sign and the witness should sign. (Notary not required.) Please return this form to the address on the return envelop.

Further information can be found at the County web site, http://www .aacounty.orglDPW /Utilities/petition process.cfm or you can call LTPOA Board Members, Joe Oneil (410-956-2687) or Lois Fussell (410-956-2641).

Thank you in advance for your response,

John Rhoads, President

London Towne Property Owners Association

April 2009

PUBLIC WATER INFORMATION

I. The Petition Process

To start the process, a petition area must be defined. It can be a property, group of properties, or a whole community. All properties which adjoin the proposed water line are included in the petition area. A majority of all tax accounts in the defined area must support the petition. All owners listed on the property deed must sign the petition.

When a majority of property owners in the defined area have petitioned for public water, the petition must then be submitted to Anne Arundel County. County officials will validate the petition to ensure that property ownership is current and that all owners have signed the petition and that the signatures were witnessed.

After the petition is validated, the county develops a preliminary cost estimate which is presented to the petitioners. If the costs exceed the ceiling defined in the County code, the project is halted unless a majority of the owners still request the project proceed.

The County currently estimates that it will be two to three years from the submission of the petition to start of construction.

II. Costs

Front Foot Benefit Assessment: Public water petition projects are paid for by the property owner through a Front Foot Benefit Assessment. To calculate an assessment, add the front (abutting) property dimension to the rear dimension and divide this total by two. (For commercial property, the average width is then multiplied by three, industrial property by five.) This average width is then multiplied by a rate calculated from total construction and financing costs. The ceiling on this rate is currently $7.23 per foot. (Once petitions are submitted to the County, this ceiling is frozen.) This assessment is paid for by the property owner over a thirty year period. If the property is sold before the 30 year period, the assessment is transferred to the new owner.

Connection Charges: For residential property, the current connection charge for water is $6,600. The County offers several options for financing this charge over thirty years and there are special provisions for hardship cases. This charge must be paid in full when the property is transferred.

Other Costs: The owners of all developed properties in the petition area will have to hire a plumber to connect the property to the water line within 6 months of when public water is made available. There is a $55 permit required for this action. Property owners will also have to pay for the water they use. Current water cost is $2.32 per 1000 gallons (cost updated 5/14/2009).

FINAL REQUEST

OFFICIAL PUBLIC WATER PETITION

London Towne Property Owners Association I/We have read and understand the public water information provided to us in the "Public Water Information" document dated April 2009.

PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION: Property Owner:

Mailing Address:

Telephone Number: Property Co-owner: Property Address:

Edgewater, MD 21037 Tax Account Number:

Lot Numbers:

We vote as follows:

YES; Connect to public water.

No; Do not connect to public water All owners and co-owners must have their signatures witnessed by a third party. (If more than two owners, use space on back.)

Signatures

Property Owner:

Co-Owner:

Witness (print name)

Date:

Please remit completed petition to : LTPOA Public Water Petition

P.O. Box 356 Edgewater, Maryland 21037-9906