WESTERNPORT — Allegany County commissioners covered a lot of ground Thursday as they traveled to Westernport to conduct their regular public business meeting.
And the commissioners brought good news with them for the area.
Commissioners said they’ve been assured by paper mill officials that the Luke plant and its current employment levels are safe. In fact, significant new investment is on the horizon, said Matt Diaz, county economic development director. Diaz didn’t provide further information on the plans.
NewPage, who owns the Luke plant, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. The plant employs 870 people and the company paid Allegany County $700,000 in property taxes last year.
Commissioner Creade Brodie said 8,000 people in the area including employees and suppliers in timber and other industries were directly affected by the Luke plant.
Westernport Mayor Dan Laffey thanked the commissioners for coming to the town for their meeting. “It means a lot to us. Anytime we ask for help, we get it,” he said.
Commissioners also made several decisions, including approving a mutual aid agreement between the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Cumberland. Sheriff Craig Robertson said that in tough economic times, sharing resources made good sense.
When Commission President Michael McKay asked if the agreement would affect law enforcement in the county, particularly in Westernport, Robertson said the agreement could only help. The office substation in Westernport remains in operation, Robertson said.
The agreement allows Cumberland city officers to assist the sheriff’s office anywhere in the county, even in towns with their own municipal governments. It will also allow the sheriff to access help from the city special response team and hostage negotiators. The sheriff can also loan personnel to Cumberland if requested.
Two new members were appointed to the LaVale Sanitary Commission. County Utilities Division Chief Mark Yoder and David C. Gehauf of LaVale were named to the sanitary commission, which county commissioners recently decided to increase to five members. Sanitary Commission Attorney Nicholas Monteleone had objected to adding members to the board at a previous county commission meeting.
At that meeting, Monteleone said the commission had operated with three members for years and if the county could operate with three commissioners the sanitary commission certainly could. Monteleone said having a county employee on the commission could create a conflict of interest.
Commissioners also approved a change in the transfer tax that will save residents money when buying or selling property. The exemption will be increased from the first $30,000 of the sale price to $50,000, saving $200 for someone purchasing a home, said County Attorney Bill Rudd.
The county water and sewerage plan was also adopted by commissioners.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.
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