HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Washington County residents will soon pay more to park at Hagerstown Regional Airport and to connect new homes or developments to public water and sewer lines after the Board of Commissioners approved several fee increases Tuesday despite public objections.
The more than two-hour meeting was marked by heated public comment periods, including shouting matches between several speakers and the board president chair over rules and relevance.
Commissioners also assumed interim control of the financially struggling Hancock Rescue Squad, heard a detailed update on the proposed federal ICE processing facility in Williamsport and approved a framework for spending cannabis tax revenue in impacted communities. It was the first meeting for newly appointed Commissioner Neil Parrott.
Contentious public comments set tone
Public comment was lively and often confrontational. Speakers repeatedly challenged the board on transparency, repeated fee increases, commissioner pay raises versus teacher raises, and the handling of the ICE facility.
Commission President John F. Barr frequently reminded speakers to stay on topic and warned that disruptive or irrelevant testimony would not be tolerated. Multiple exchanges escalated into shouting, with the chair directing deputies to intervene when speakers continued arguing after being ruled out of order.
Airport fee increases approved despite strong public opposition
The board began with public hearings on airport fees. Airport Director Neil Doran justified the increases by citing rising costs and needed investments.
“We’re seeing significant increases in costs in the insurance markets… nearly $20,000 in our insurance premium costs. We’re also heavily investing in the T-hangar area” with an upcoming FAA-funded repaving project.
Commissioners approved a modest roughly 3% increase in T-hangar rental rates for private aircraft.
For daily terminal parking fees, they scaled back a proposed 44% jump (from $5 to $7.20 per day) and settled on a 20% increase to $6 per day on a 4-1 vote. Newly-installed Commissioner Neil Parrott abstained.
Public commenters pushed back sharply. Frequent commission critic Shaun Porter, who mostly stayed on topic, argued that aviation is already expensive and pointed to the county’s $10 million surplus. “I think the fact that we have a $10 million surplus means we shouldn’t be raising fees on anybody or anything,” he said. He also criticized the board’s recent 8.14% pay raise compared to the 1% raise given to teachers.
Amber Dwyer, of the Hagerstown Rapid Response advocacy group, expressed concern that the increases favor wealthier interests.
“The parking rates… apply to people who are more in the working class,” she said, adding that the county appeared to be “keeping your wealthy friends happy and not increasing their fees while you are subsidizing them and increasing our fees.”
Another speaker supported the increases, arguing the county should run the airport more like a business to offset costs for taxpayers.
Water and sewer connection fees rising approximately 20%
Later in the meeting, commissioners approved significant increases in water and sewer connection fees for 2027. The water connection fee will rise by $600 to $3,800, while the sewer connection fee will jump $1,700 to $10,300 – roughly 20% increases for both. Public opposition was intense.
Ever the wag, Porter called the sewer hikes “a pretty [deleted] situation,” arguing the county should not seek more money from working families while holding a $10 million surplus. Dwyer again suggested residents were being asked to subsidize other priorities, including potential infrastructure needs tied to the proposed ICE facility, which Hagerstown Rapid Response formed to oppose.
County takes interim control of Hancock Rescue Squad
Among the most significant actions of the day was the unanimous approval of a Memorandum of Understanding granting the county Division of Emergency Services full interim administrative and operational oversight of the Hancock Rescue Squad for up to 36 months.
Emergency Services Director David Hays detailed serious problems at the squad: multiple resignations of administrative officers, a continuing sharp decline in volunteers and more than $70,000 in unpaid bills, some dating back several years.
The county had already begun informal intervention, including rekeying the building for security.
Hays said the MOU will help “ensure that the station continues to operate, that the bills are paid and that the ambulance gets out to serve the public in Hancock.”
He noted the arrangement mirrors a previous successful intervention with Smithsburg EMS. The MOU can be terminated earlier at the board’s discretion.
Hays described the situation as a temporary measure to stabilize emergency medical services in the Hancock area while longer-term solutions are developed. Several commissioners expressed support for moving forward promptly rather than delaying action.
Update on proposed ICE processing facility
County Administrator Michelle Gordon provided a lengthy update on the proposed federal ICE processing facility at the former warehouse on Wright Road in Williamsport. She reiterated that Washington County played no role in the site selection or purchase of the property and has signed no nondisclosure agreement.
Gordon described the facility as “a processing facility and that the new facility is not a detention center.”
Detainees would stay an average of three to seven days before being transferred to a detention center out of state, with approximately 500 beds typically in use. The project is expected to create up to 1,125 jobs, and the federal government has agreed to make the county “tax revenue whole” and cover necessary infrastructure improvements.
She noted that contractor KVG has not yet contacted the county regarding its engineering study for water and sewer needs. Commissioners were not invited to a March 23 stakeholder meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. April McLean Delaney (D-6th District).
Public commenters remained sharply critical of the project, with some describing it as part of a “cruel federal agenda” and linking the approved local fee increases to indirect support for the facility. A federal judge’s preliminary injunction continues to halt major construction at the site.
Community Reinvestment Fund framework approved
The commissioners unanimously approved the framework for distributing funds from the Washington County Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund, supported by recreational cannabis sales tax revenue. The funds are restricted to ZIP code 21740, which includes Hagerstown and surrounding areas disproportionately impacted by past cannabis enforcement.
A recent community survey of 156 respondents helped shape priorities, with top areas identified as health and wellness, youth programs and economic opportunity. The approved plan includes eligibility guidelines for nonprofit organizations, application procedures, monitoring requirements, and annual reporting.
Commissioners welcome Parrott to board
Commissioners officially welcomed Neil Parrott to the board. In brief remarks, Parrott thanked his family, the Republican Central Committee, the governor and the state senate for his appointment.
The board also approved several routine contracts and items, including contracts for
- Dumpster services at the Conococheague Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Substance use treatment at the Day Reporting Center
- Disconnected youth services
- School-based health and mental health programs, and
- Mattress recycling
It also approved a final change order for the rubble landfill capping project, and a letter of commitment in support of the new Williamsport Library replacement project
The 2027 budget presentation, including public comment, is scheduled for May 5.
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