CUMBERLAND — Lonaconing Mayor Jack Coburn said he wanted to correct “disturbing” statements recently made by Allegany County commissioners.
Commissioners Bill Atkinson, Creade Brodie and Dave Caporale on multiple occasions have discussed money — often $500,000 — that the town owes the county.
The issue dates to 2023, when tests of Lonaconing’s water showed high turbidity levels and the town was connected to an Allegany County distribution system so that Lonaconing area residents could get water from Frostburg.
The county paid Frostburg for the water that went to Lonaconing, and in recent months has discussed possible ways, including litigation, to be reimbursed.
However, “nobody ever mentions how much we have paid,” Coburn said. “We do pay $10,000 a month. I have the canceled checks.”
Coburn said Lonaconing so far has paid the county nearly $680,000 for the water bills.
“The price tag on the water that we used was $769,311.20,” he said. “So that balance on the water itself, is $91,037.43.”
Coburn said the county also billed Lonaconing roughly $436,000 for use of the water line.
He addressed comments Atkinson made last month that county officials had reached out to Lonaconing “to work through this,” but “they have not been willing to sit down at the table with us to have an open discussion.”
Coburn refuted those comments Thursday.
“That’s not true at all and you know that,” he said and added Lonaconing officials met with county officials in April to discuss the issue. “I have never, ever, in 29 years ever told federal, state or county (officials) that I don’t want to meet with you.”
He invited the commissioners to discuss the bills and payments at a future meeting.
“I just want the facts to be put out there,” Coburn said.