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R C Edition OCEAN PINES • WEST OCEAN CITY • BERLIN MD
April 1, 2025
Volume 2, Issue 7
County Commissioners Bertino and Bunting warn of proposed water and wastewater rate hike tied to financial mismanagement By ROC Edition Staff On March 29, during its regular monthly meeting, the Ocean Pines Board of Directors welcomed Worcester County Commissioners Chip Bertino and Jim Bunting, who addressed residents directly about the county’s proposed water and wastewater rate increases. The commissioners outlined how the draft plan could disproportionately impact Ocean Pines ratepayers and encouraged the community to take action. The March 29 presentation followed a special Board meeting held on March 20, where Bertino and Bunting first briefed the Board on the issue and shared details from a recent Worcester County Commissioners meeting. “This issue is fluid, changing and very complicated,” Bertino said, noting that while Ocean Pines only accounts for a fraction of the county’s current water and wastewater shortfall, its residents may end up paying far more than their fair share. Worcester County operates 11 separate water and wastewater service areas, each designed to be financially self-sufficient. The Ocean Pines wastewater treatment plant currently serves multiple communities, including Ocean Pines, Pennington Commons, Plantation, Pines Plaza, Turville Creek, Ocean Downs, Crabs to Go, Windmill Creek and River Run. Some of these areas only use water or wastewater services, rather than both. Bertino raised concerns about years of financial mismanagement. He said the county had transferred reserve funds between service areas on paper even when no actual revenue existed. This practice contributed to a projected $2.1 million shortfall for the current fiscal year, with $116,699 attributed to Ocean Pines. Under the draft repayment plan, the shortfall would be divided equally among all 11 service areas.
This would raise Ocean Pines ratepayer bills by approximately $32 per quarter, compared to a $1 to $3 increase if calculated solely on Ocean Pines’ actual share of the shortfall. Further complicating the situation is the planned departure of Glen Riddle from using the Ocean Pines wastewater treatment facility, which will eliminate $532,000 in annual revenue. This change could add an estimated $13 per quarter to Ocean Pines residents’ bills. Looking ahead, a $9 million county loan for infrastructure improvements, minus a $2.7 million grant to Glen Riddle, will leave $6.3 million to be repaid over 10 years
at 5% interest. This would tack on another $9 per quarter, bringing the potential increase for Ocean Pines ratepayers to as much as $57 per quarter, though Bertino argued the increase should be closer to $16. “Ocean Pines serves 10,000 of the county’s 18,000 water and wastewater customers,” Bertino said. “And once again, we’re being asked to shoulder more than our share.” Bertino said no legal action can be taken at this time because the plan has not been finalized. However, he strongly encouraged residents to get involved, write letters, attend meetings and speak out.
See WASTEWATER page 2
ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher
One of the many wastewater pumping stations located in Ocean Pines off Beauchamp Road receives wastewater from neighboring communities.
OPA board meeting highlights modified ARC guidelines, residents voice their complaints on influx of maintenance violations By ROC Edition Staff During last Saturday’s Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors meeting, it was stated that a total of 491 maintenance violations were issued. A significant number of these violations were related to leaf accumulation and were issued by the Complaints, Permits and Inspections (CPI) department. The board unanimously voted to escalate eight CPI violations to legal action and approved a contractor to address 22 violations, some of which are related to leaves. The maintenance violations pertaining to leaf accumulation were issued in accordance with the modifications of the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) guidelines made in April 2024 and the Declaration of Restrictions. In Section 10.D and Section 8 A.l. of Declaration of Restrictions, it states that lots, easements and ditches must be maintained and
See ARC GUIDELINES page 4 ROC Edition • Sherrie Clifford, Publisher