Port Deposit delays South Main stormwater work after state easements discovered

Town officials said they must revise a planned South Main Street stormwater project after discovering easements and an additional private property that affect the project footprint.

At the Nov. 18 work session Town Administrator Vicky Rinkerman reported the Town received one bid for the stormwater RFP from Lem's Contracting, but that the scope must be revised after staff discovered State Highway Administration (SHA) easements on existing drains and additional property owned by a Mr. Fuller. Rinkerman said she has sent the plans to Ken Fender at SHA for review and has asked the contractor to redesign the project so the work can be contained solely on the 43 South Main Street property if possible.

Why it matters: the presence of SHA easements and privately owned land affects where the town may legally perform work and may change the project's scope, cost and timeline. With only a single bid on file, redesign and any resulting changes could prompt rebidding or renegotiation.

Council members noted the need to resolve property and easement questions before construction can move forward. Rinkerman said she has discussed redesign options with the contractor and will follow up with SHA and affected property owners as needed.

Next steps: plans are under SHA review and staff will return with revised scope and timelines once the easement and property boundary issues are resolved.