WELCOME, FARMERS, BUSINESS-PEOPLE, TRADESMEN, NEIGHBORS, AND CITIZENS OF WICOMICO COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS ON A MOVING DEMONSTRATION OF PEACEFUL DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. REGARDLESS OF OUR POSITIONS ON THE ISSUES, WE ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY THE FACT THAT WE CAN MEET IN SUCH A FASHION AND EXPRESS OURSELVES LOUDLY OR SOFTLY AS FREE AMERICANS.
THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT WE AMERICANS TREASURE ABOVE ALL ELSE. WE TREASURE OUR FREEDOM, WE TREASURE OUR FAMILIES AND WE TREASURE OUR HOMES. NOTHING STIRS OUR HEARTS MORE THAN THREATS, WHETHER REAL OR PERCEIVED, AGAINST EITHER OF THESE CORE ELEMENTS OF OUR BEING.
THE LEGISLATION CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS BEEN DEBATED AT LENGTH AND FEELINGS ARE STRONG ON ALL SIDES. SELDOM IN THE LIFE OF A COMMUNITY DO WE SEE SUCH EMOTION AS HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY THIS EFFORT.
FOR ME, I BELIEVE THE GOALS OF EACH OF US ARE THE SAME. I THINK WE ALL WANT TO PROTECT THE RURAL CHARACTER OF WICOMICO COUNTY AND ENCOURAGE A CLIMATE WHERE FARMING, ESPECIALLY, CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AS OUR NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AS ALWAYS, THE CHALLENGE IS NOT TO DECIDE WHERE WE WANT TO GO BUT HOW WE’RE GOING TO GET THERE. IN PRESERVING OUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE PURCHASED THEIR LAND, PAID TAXES ON IT AND HAVE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT IF AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO PART WITH THEIR LAND, THEY WILL REALIZE THE FULL VALUE OF THEIR INVESTMENT.
EVERY ONE OF US, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, IS TODAY OCCUPYING GROUND THAT AT ONE TIME IN HISTORY WAS VACANT LAND BELONGING TO SOMEONE ELSE.
WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY RULES FOR RESPONSIBLE PLANNING AND ZONING, WE CANNOT AVOID OR IGNORE THE IMPACT OUR ACTIONS MAY HAVE ON OUR CITIZENS. WHEN WE TAKE THE AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENT TO THE VERY FRONT DOOR OF OUR HOMES WE MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE DONE ALL HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO PROTECT THE SECURITY AND VALUE OF OUR HOMES.
I HAVE SAID ALL ALONG THAT IF OUR GOAL IS TO GENUINELY SUPPORT OUR FARMING COMMUNITY, THEN ANY PLAN TO REGULATE THAT COMMUNITY MUST PROVIDE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY VALUES. YOU, CLEARLY, DO NOT BELIEVE THE CURRENT LEGISLATION WILL DO THAT OR YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
GOVERNMENT HAS AN AWESOME DEGREE OF POWER OVER US AND, THEREFORE, GOVERNMENT HAS AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO WIELD THAT POWER FAIRLY AND CAUTIOUSLY. I DON’T CLAIM TO HAVE ONE ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE BUT I HAVE CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINED THAT AS LONG AS A SIZEABLE COMPONENT OF OUR COMMUNITY BELIEVES, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO DIMINISH THE VALUE OF THEIR FARMS AND THEIR HOMES, OUR WORK IS NOT COMPLETE.
I HAVE SPOKEN AT LENGTH WITH PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THIS ISSUE AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE WE’RE CLOSER TO A FAIR AND JUST RESOLUTION THAN MANY REALIZE. BUT IT STILL NEEDS WORK AND SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO TAKE WHATEVER TIME IS STILL NEEDED TO RE-DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO FIND THAT SPECIAL PLACE OF COMMON GROUND THAT WILL BRING US TO OUR COMMON GOAL AS ONE COMMUNITY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE CIVIC CENTER ON MONDAY AND COME PREPARED NOT JUST TO SPEAK BUT TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN.
THIS DEBATE HAS DIVIDED FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND EVEN FAMILIES. IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY. SURELY WE ARE NOT THE FIRST FARMING COMMUNITY TO FACE THE THREAT OF LOSING OUR WAY OF LIFE. THERE IS A HISTORY, I AM CERTAIN, THAT CAN SHOW US HOW OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM SUCCESSFULLY.
I SAY LET’S TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS RIGHT AND WHILE WE MAY NEVER WIN THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF US WE CAN DO BETTER THAN WE HAVE . WITH RESPECT FOR YOUR HEART-FELT CONVICTION AND IN THE SPIRIT OF BRINGING UNITY TO OUR COMMUNITY, I ACCEPT YOUR PETITIONS AND WILL CONSIDER THEM CAREFULLY WHEN THE LEGISLATION REACHES MY DESK.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
16 comments:
That's about as fair as it can get. Everyone concerned needs to sit down and study, and bring an equitable solution to Monday's meeting. This is a hard problem with an answer.
And that's what I have to say about that.
Why is this in ALL CAPS? It makes it difficult to read. Can't you fix this? Thank you.
If you think Pollitt's BS is bad, you should have heard Cannon -- much worse.
It's not where we are going but how we are going to get there?
I am not sure I understand that part.
Sounds like the destination has already been determined and they are just going to use Map Quest to get there.
Who is the dude in the tan jacket and glasses with the green pants? I see him at several events for the county? That isn't the PIO is it?
Friends, the destination isn't clear, so how we get there is the second consideration. We can choose: a suburban nightmare, OR a vibrant (not like what we have today) Salisbury and vibrant little towns with stable and productive farmland for as long as nature will allow. Its up to us, the landowners. Once we make that decision only then can we decide how to get there. I'm 100% certain no one's land will be lost through eminent domain, and I don't want to see anyone lose value in their land unless they're justly compensated for it. Anyone who donates or sells development rights, that's their business and I won't speak ill of them. If we do choose the SBY+towns+farmland path, we've got to find a way where landowners have a reasonable expectation about their farm/land's future, developers cannot or at least do not perpetuate sprawl, and we re-invest in Salisbury and our towns. It might not be easy, but those are the markers we have to hit on whichever road we take to the better of our two possible destinations.
bla,bla,bla,bla -lies all lies
Down zoning won't cure sprawl. The cities and towns will continue to annex and swallow the rural lands of Wicomico County. Unfortunately, the rural landowners will be the only ones to pay the price of this flawed policy.
I prefer the rural character of this county. The hell with subdivisions. The farmers feed us and are the backbone of this country. Protect them.
9:59 A-Men!!
I'm a farmer and I don't like developement either, but I'm not willing to have the growth solution put only on my back. Everyone in the county should pay for this. Step up to the plate and pay me for my development rights and I will smile. Until then, keep your hands off what I have worked years for.
Just read in The Daily Times that Lee Richardson wants a county land preservation program. Interesting that he would want more when he recently received $400,000 for his developement rights and yet he believes the taking of them by the county for $0 from other farmers is appropriate. The Richardsons have for years sold lots off of their property but now wants all the rest of the farmers to be disfurnished of the same thing.
Absolutely true 6:57!!!! Thank you for pointing that out. Everyone should be aware of Lee Richardson's motives as he supposedly "represents" farmers.
I wonder if the couple other farmers who support taking the property rights from the landowners have sold their developement rights? If so maybe they should send the money back if they don't think it has a money value.
I think this problem is bigger than this I have heard Pollitt is going to furlow Deputies I hope the county citizens are safe if this happens there will be slower response times if there are less deputies working security at the courts will be down this is a unsafe move
Hey, somebody tell me if it's true that Pollitt gets a police interceptor to drive at the taxpayer's expense? With his salary, he can drive his own if this is true, huh? Yeah? Police interceptors should be used for - ya guessed it - Law Enforcement.
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