Baltimore County Public Works Makes Case for Water Tower

Baltimore County is reviewing 23 sites for the construction of a in the area, but residents were warned there are few sites that will make everyone happy.

A wooded lot at the corner of Timber Grove Road and Bond Avenue in Reisterstown is considered a top candidate for the tower because the lot is vacant and is of a proper elevation, Baltimore County Director of Public Works Ed Adams said.

A lower elevation site would force the construction of a larger – and more expensive – water tower.

But nearly 100 people attended the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon (ROG) Coordinating Council meeting Monday evening at to question Adams about the necessity for a water tower, especially at that location.

“Once we move off this site, it’s going to be happy,” Adams said. “(But) every site we look at, people live near.

“That’s the road we are heading down.”

Adams said he would return to meet with the group in October with a team of engineers to answer technical questions and address other possible sites once a Public Works study is completed in September.

More than 300 people have signed a petition to stop the building of a water tower at the corner of Timber Grove and Bond. A Facebook group rallying against the tower has over 300 members.

Adams said a county study concluded a two million gallon water tank needed to be built in the western half of Reisterstown’s fifth zone to increase the amount of water storage for this area to 3.12 million gallons, a level based on numbers gleaned from the 2000 census.

The current storage is just 1.31 million gallons, he said.

But Adams did not immediately provide the other 22 locations being considered, to the dismay of some in the crowd.

“We’re still in the dark, and that’s the county’s fault,” said Jerry Katz, 73, who has lived in Owings Mills for 20 years.

Though he didn’t have the locations available at Tuesday’s meeting, Adams said his office would e-mail the locations to anyone who asked.

“Our report shows you that ya’ll really need the water,” Adams said, adding the community has been lucky there has not yet been a serious problem with water supply or quality.

Some locals have concerns about what they believe will be a 150-foot eyesore built adjacent to a number of homes, which owners fear will lose value. Construction will take about a year.

“I can’t believe somebody would pick that spot,” said Jeff Jaffa, 59, of Owings Mills. “I can see it in a commercial area, but to put in their front yards (is wrong).”

Baltimore County councilwoman Vicki Almond, also at the meeting along with her assistant, Jonathan Schwartz, frequently communicates with leaders of the water tower resistance. She asked residents to remain patient and trust the county will do its due diligence.

“I would like to reiterate, though, that all of the county officials have heard your voices,” Almond said. “Baltimore County is in the process of looking at several other sites that will have less impact.”

State Del. Dana M. Stein, Theresa White, state Sen. Bobby A. Zirkin’s chief of staff, Michelle Bernstein, an assistant to state Del. Dan K. Morhaim and Tony Baysmore, an assistant to county executive Kevin Kamenetz, were also present.

Editor's Note: The spelling of Tony Baysmore's name has been updated.