Confusion Reigns on Sewer Issue
Commentary by Joe Reynolds

Is there anyone in Ocean Pines who isn't confused about whether bringing new developments into the Ocean Pines sewage treatment plant is good or bad for current ratepayers?

Confusion reigns on what may well be the most important issue facing this area of Worcester County. County Commissioner Tom Cetola, the general leading the charge bringing in new subdivisions, has failed his constituents in Ocean Pines on this issue. Cetola's answers to questions from members of the OPA Board of Directors on 12/21/2004 didn't help. Director Tom Sandusky asked some important questions about the possibility the Ocean Pines plant might be forced to use spray irrigation, and where the waste water might be sprayed. Cetola replied that it could be sprayed on the Ocean Pines golf course. OPA General Manager Dave Ferguson explained this would be a problem due to setback requirements from existing homes along the course. Golfers might see spraying treated sewage as more than a setback problem.

Sandusky then asked Cetola if he could guarantee the Ocean Pines plant will not be required to go to spray irrigation if these outside areas are brought into the system. Cetola answered, "No."

Under additional questioning, Cetola finally said, "I don't have all the answers."

Cetola and his cavalry of Bud Church, Louise Gulyas, and James Purnell appear unconcerned about their obligations to protect ratepayers in the Ocean Pines service area. People in Ocean Pines should demand "all the answers" on this issue before the county proceeds. There is too much at stake. If Cetola and the three commissioners outside Ocean Pines who support him have their way, a decision to bring in Pennington Commons subdivision is imminent, whether we have all the answers or not. Commissioners Boggs, Bloxom, and Shockley have thus far voted to wait for all the answers to protect the interests of Ocean Pines.

Here's what we do know:

1. The County Commissioners broke their promise to have a non-binding referendum before expanding the Ocean Pines service area.

2. The County Commissioners broke their promise to not bring in areas outside the existing Ocean Pines area until the State approved additional treatment capacity and an increase to the sewage discharge permit.

3. Some members of the Ocean Pines Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee have broken faith with the people of Ocean Pines, the very group of people the committee was established to protect.

4. There is no need for the county to rush to a decision on Pennington Commons; the subdivision already has a permit to proceed with its own spray irrigation system.

5. The County Commissioners have not yet even set a firm dollar value on what developers will be charged to connect to the Ocean Pines plant.

6. The County Commissioners have absolutely no obligation to provide sewer service for new developments.

7. Any increase in plant capacity and gallons discharged require State of Maryland approval of a changed county Comprehensive Plan and a permit for additional discharge into the St. Martin River. At this late date, the county has not even submitted these requests to the state -- much less received approval.

8. Hasty action on this issue has the potential of costing Ocean Pines ratepayers a great deal of money over the long haul.

Cetola and other advocates point to the need for income from additional outside connections to keep down rates for existing Ocean Pines rate payers, yet the vast majority of the income is earmarked for future capital improvements -- like another plant expansion to bring in even more new subdivisions. Tom Sandusky fears this could lower property values of people living around the plant. None of the money can be used for operation and maintenance of the plant. It cannot even be used to pay off some of our existing $24 million debt on the plant. Commissioner Sonny Bloxom said in regard to the connection fees, "A newspaper up that way seems to be making people think these outside connections will lower their EDU charges. That is not the case." Rates will be going up regardless, due to normal increases in cost of living, etc. Cetola's "additional income" argument fails the reality test.

Tom Cetola is a good man and a good county commissioner overall, but on this issue he is absolutely wrong. Unfortunately, the issue is not a minor one; it is one that will shape this area for decades.

Cetola should carefully consider the following words of the OPA Board of Directors, representing their unanimous opinion on bringing Pennington Commons into the Ocean Pines sewer plant:

"So, if the commissioners decide to accommodate one developer who has placed a significant amount of money next to a demand that you hurry your decision and ignore the time it takes to make the process work properly, are you doing the best thing you can do for the county? We think not. The developer, who stands to profit handsomely from getting sewer processing capacity from Ocean Pines, should take the risk.  This means that the county should have a discharge permit IN HAND BEFORE any plant capacity is allocated."

The OPA Board request doesn't begin to go far enough, and it comes much too late. Unlike Cetola, however, the OPA Board has at long last decided to look out for the people of Ocean Pines in the matter. Hopefully, even as a self-styled 800-pound political gorilla, Ocean Pines hasn't arrived too late with too little.

Cetola's orchestrated plan is on a fast-track and may be unstoppable. Ocean Pines lot owners may have no recourse, other than the ballot box in two years -- but the damage of a wrong decision now cannot be undone later.

We can only hope Tom Cetola will decide to do right by the people of Ocean Pines when he casts his vote on Pennington Commons. It would be unfortunate if OPA President Dan Stachurski is correct when he says Ocean Pines only has one and a half commissioners.

Tom Cetola can be emailed at tcetola@beachin.net