August 2008

By FRANK M. JOHNSON, Mayor, Town of Mt. Airy
As published Aug. 20, 2008

1. Comcast Billing Problems

The change of cable service for Frederick customers has been difficult for many, but an additional concern has arisen with the monthly bills. We’re heard that most former Frederick customers who were switched to Carroll Comcast have been double-billed. They were billed for the month of July by both franchises.

Please be aware that even if you pay the full bill, it will be credited back. However, to avoid paying a double bill, call Comcast at 1-888-Comcast or the Westminster Comcast office at (410) 861-4989. You will need the old and new account numbers when you call. Please let us know at town hall, (301) 829-1424, if this doesn’t correct the problem or if there are other billing concerns.

2. Rain Barrels and Water Conserving Items at Town Hall

Rain barrels are back at town hall and available for town residents who will use them within town limits. The cost is the same as last year, $20. Contact town hall at (301) 829-1424 if you are interested. We have many people calling, so don’t delay if you are interested. Also, the town has free water conserving faucet aerators and shower heads available for town residents who will agree to use them in town.

3. Orange Ribbons Around Electric Utility Poles

Please do not remove any orange ribbons you may see around utility poles. They are there to mark street lights that are not working. Some citizens have alerted us to lights that are out, and some officials have noticed lights being out at night as well.

We have devised a system used by other utility companies to mark the poles and then alert staff during the day so that the outages can be reported. About 50 street lights, so far, have been identified in this way.

Let us know at mtairy2@comcast.net if you notice that a street light is out, with a location, so that we can check it out and get it properly reported to Allegheny Power.

4. Water Conservation is a Priority

Using less water is smart from a cost, planning and environmental perspective – and that’s true both individually and as a community. According to the water use statistics, town residents are conserving water.

Of course, the rain this spring and summer has helped, but it also helps that many residents are refraining from wasting water by letting the hose run and by watering their lawns with above-ground broadcast sprinklers. It’s a fact that watering lawns with above-ground sprinklers (including automatic sprinklers) wastes an enormous amount of water.

Soaker hoses, when watering is needed, are far more effective. Other steps that all of us can take include not running washing machines or dishwashers unless they are full; not letting the faucets run when brushing teeth; and fixing any leaks as soon as possible.

5. Budget Challenges on the Horizon

Even as operating costs continue to increase, revenues may be increasingly limited for the next few fiscal years. Two main sources of revenues distributed by the state - income tax revenues and highway user revenues – are likely to grow very little, or may even drop in the coming months.

The town predicts revenues conservatively, and the five-year budget projections included a presumption that the town would continue its policy of keeping property taxes and water and sewer rates as low as possible. Even so, the town will need to be cautious about new expenditures in order to avoid putting ourselves in a difficult fiscal position.

We are also grateful to staff who continually work to try to keep expenses as low as possible.

6. Commission Vacancies

Positions on the Water and Sewer Commission, Beautification Commission and Sanitation and Recycling Commission are available for anyone who’s interested in serving. Please send an email to me at frankmjohnson@verizon.net or to town hall at mtairy2@comcast.net, or call town hall at (301) 829-1424 if you are interested.