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Grants totalling $1.9 mill. to go to stormwater upgrades

BERLIN– The town won a major stormwater victory on Tuesday as they announced a more than $1.9 million grant proposal was accepted by federal and state agencies.
Stormwater has been an important issue in Berlin for more than 20 years. The town established the stormwater utility in 2013 and began improvements on West Street.
In May, a public hearing was held during a Mayor and Council meeting regarding the Hudson Branch Stormwater Project, a proposal that included substantial improvements on Flower and Williams streets in two stages, as well as improvements near Graham, Grice and Nelson streets in additional phases.
To fund the project Berlin applied for $800,000 in Community Development Block Grant money, as well as $874,048 in Federal Emergency Management Agency grants.
On Tuesday the town announced the $1.9 million in grants, coming from three government agencies. Berlin received a $165,000 grant from FEMA, $800,000 in CDBG funds and a $962,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for stormwater improvements.
The same agencies denied the town similar grants requests last year.
“We kept being assured as the money became available that we met all the qualifications but, just like everything else, you have to kind of get in line and get in the pipeline,” Mayor Gee Williams said. “I think it was a matter of perseverance, and they got to see that we took what money we had and did that demonstration project (on West Street) which, I have to say I think is a little more progressive than most towns. If you can’t do something big, do something you can afford. I think that made an impression on them that we’re really serious about this.”
Williams said the town considered the West Street Project an emergency because a resident’s home was being undermined by stormwater issues.
“It was obvious to everyone, and now he’ll never have to worry about it because it was done properly,” Williams said. “The thing we learned from it that was very encouraging is that it actually had more benefits downstream than we ever thought. We’re all learning that together – it’s helping to slow down the water.”
As the water slows – but doesn’t become stagnant – Williams said it allows “the earth to do its job of treating and purifying the water.” Since the West Street project was completed heavy rains have had less of an impact on problem areas.
The Hudson Branch project will be done in four phases, addressing flooding issues in Berlin as well as improving water quality in the receiving waters that discharge into the coastal bays.  
“I think it’s not unrealistic that before this project is done we’ll get together funding support for the next phases,” Williams said. “I think, hopefully, what we’re doing will encourage other municipalities in the county and the region. This is a good thing.”
Williams also deflected the notion by some that the stormwater utility – which costs residents about $50 a year – was merely a “rain tax.”
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if we had take the attitude that some had that this whole stormwater challenge is an attack on the citizens and that we made a rain tax – to me that is such a bunch of hooey,” Williams said. “I don’t even listen to it anymore. We’re in the middle of it and we have confidence that we’re doing the right thing and I’m just sorry it took technology and the political will of the public this long to really address the problem, but now that we know what to do we’re going to do it.”
Berlin staff will give an update on the Hudson Branch Project during the Sept. 22 Mayor and Council meeting.  The public is encouraged to attend.