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Draft Water & Sewer Plan Amendment Public Comment Period

Garrett County Government Department of Public Works
Utilities Division

Garrett County is updating its 2014 Water & Sewer Plan with the 2025-01 Amendment, ensuring the county’s water and sewer systems meet future demand, support community growth, and prevent infrastructure failures. This amendment includes water service expansions, sewer system upgrades, and infrastructure replacements for Grantsville, Gorman, Chestnut Ridge, and Jennings.

🔗 To review the amendment:
Draft Water & Sewer Plan Amendment #5

Amendment Summary
Grantsville Water System Expansion
Section Updated: 3.2.2.1 Town of Grantsville – Service Areas, Problem Areas, and Future Needs
Map Update: Figure 3-4

Extends water service along Hemlock Drive to replace private wells, some with E. coli contamination.
Supports planned housing development and ensures access to safe, reliable drinking water.
Gorman Water System Improvements
Section Updated: 3.2.6 North Branch Potomac River Watershed – Problem Areas and Future Needs, Planned and Recommended Improvements
Map Update: Figure 3-12

Replaces Mountain Road Well #2, which collapsed in 2023, leaving the system without a backup water source.
A new groundwater well will restore system redundancy and prevent future water shortages.
Grantsville Sewer System Expansion
Section Updated: 4.1.2 Casselman River Watershed – Problem Areas and Future Needs, Planned and Recommended Improvements
Map Update: Figure 4-2

Extends sewer service north along Hemlock Drive, upgrading it from a future project to an immediate priority.
Reduces septic system failures and supports community growth.
Chestnut Ridge Sewer System Upgrades
Section Updated: 4.1.2 Casselman River Watershed – Problem Areas and Future Needs, Planned and Recommended Improvements
Map Update: Figure 4-4

Replaces the failing Chestnut Ridge Pump Station to prevent sewer overflows and backups.
Conducts an Infiltration & Inflow (I&I) study to identify and fix leaks, reducing excess flow to the wastewater treatment plant.
Jennings Sewer System Rehabilitation
Section Updated: 4.1.2 Casselman River Watershed – Problem Areas and Future Needs, Planned and Recommended Improvements
Map Update: Figure 4-6

Replaces the Maple Grove Pump Station to improve sewer system reliability.
Removes old septic tanks and installs 74 grinder pumps for better wastewater collection.
Replaces failing gravity sewer mains with a new 4-inch force main, preventing frequent blockages.
Why This Matters
These improvements will:
✔ Provide safe drinking water to more homes.
✔ Reduce sewer backups and overflows that threaten public health.
✔ Improve system reliability to prevent costly failures.
✔ Support future growth and development.

Public Hearing & How to Provide Input
Garrett County encourages residents to participate in the review process and provide feedback on this amendment.

Public Hearing Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Location: Public Business Meeting of the Commissioners
203 South Fourth Street, Room 209 – Frederick A. Thayer, III Courthouse, Oakland, MD 21550 Time: 4:00 P.M.

🔗 The draft of the proposed amendment is available for review online:
Draft Water & Sewer Plan Amendment #5

✉ Submit Written Comments by March 26, 2025
Mail to:
Water and Sewer Plan Amendment Comments
Attn: Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner
203 South Fourth Street, Oakland, MD 21550

Email: swigfield@garrettcountymd.gov

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Jay Ferguson

Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results.