The developers of two new Worcester County housing projects turned over water and wastewater infrastructure this week to the county for operation this week.
The Refuge at Windmill Creek, the first residential planned community in Worcester County in 11 years, will be located next to St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
File photo
By Bethany Hooper, Associate Editor
The developers of two new housing projects turned over water and wastewater infrastructure to the county for operation this week.
As part of their consent agenda Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to accept turnover documents for water and sewer facilities constructed at two development projects – the Refuge at Windmill Creek near Ocean Pines and Salt Life Park in West Ocean City.
Public Works Director Dallas Baker said the infrastructure will now be incorporated into the county’s various water and wastewater systems for operation.
“These are just community turnover documents,” he told the commissioners this week. “These are tying into existing wastewater plants.”
County staff on Tuesday presented the commissioners with the paperwork related to two residential developments in northern Worcester County. The first project, the Refuge at Windmill Creek, will consist of 90 single-family homes, constructed at the former Pine Shore Golf property on Beauchamp Road near Ocean Pines. The community’s water and sewer infrastructure, which services 44 established lots, will be incorporated into the Ocean Pines Service Area water system and River Run Service Area wastewater system for operation by the county.
The second project, Salt Life Park, consists of 34 mobile home sites located off Old Bridge Road in West Ocean City. The community’s water and sewer utilities will be incorporated into the county’s Mystic Harbour Service Area water system and Ocean City Service Area wastewater system.
While staff recommended the acceptance of the communities’ utilities this week, Commissioner Joe Mitrecic questioned the process of accepting wastewater utilities.
“These wastewater plants, they’re going to be alright,” he asked, “and not like some of our other wastewater plants that we’ve taken over?”
Baker clarified that the county was not taking over anyone’s wastewater plant but was simply incorporating the water and sewer utilities into the county’s existing systems. With no further discussion, the commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda, which included the acceptance of the turnover documents.