County Council Meeting LIVE

In a packed house at the GOB, the County Council is reviewing a Power Point presentation. Public comment will follow. I will continue to update this Post as things progress.

Council wants to hold off any votes until the next meeting so the public has more time to review the information.

The Power Point is explaining how the Civic Center is such a gem to our community.

The Committee recommended the purchase of additional land for the Civic Center. They're discussing the lack of parking at the Civic Center.

$560,000.00 at risk if they lose the deal on the parking lot. Man, this is a complete crock. They're showing how much the County would lose if they don't buy the lot. I wonder how they've survived all these years.

They have admitted it will cost $330,000.00 per acre through Open Space oney from the State. NOT TRUE.

The State is offering $705,000.00 in hand for the purchase. They conveniently forgot who will pay the balance and are claiming they'll lose a lot of business from surrounding municipalities.

John Palmer, President of Voice is now speaking. John would have liked to see this meeting held at night so the public could attend. Mr. Pollitt claimed this open space money cannot be used for anything else. John is expressing how that is absolutely incorrect. They can divert that money to the roads division. O'Malley even agreed it was a great idea. Just because information is printed in the paper doesn't mean its true. John is concerned about liability. Crossing the road, lighting, the County will have more liability than what they're expressing.

They're going to have to remove the asphalt and they replacing it, adding 50% green space. Has there been any discussion as to what it will cost the taxpayers to "improve" the property, above and beyond the purchase price?

John Pick is now speaking for the Mayor. The Mayor supports the purchase. Blah, Blah, Blah, democrats supporting democrats.

Joe Shiller, (resident) is 100% in favor of the purchase and supports Rick Pollitt's Letter to the Editor.

Barbara Furbush is now speaking representing the Salisbury Kennel Club. They truly do use that space for Dog Show and could in fact lose all of their business if they cannot expand the parking lot and supports the purchase. This is one event I'd personally have to agree with.

One resident stated, if you want to add additional fees to each ticket sale to pay for the lot, good. Until then, these people from the Kennel Club Show are mainly coming in from out of state not paying the taxes to purchase the property.

The Hotel/Motel Association supports the purchase. Aren't these the same people that represent all of those Hotels/Motels that aren't able to pay their County/City taxes?

Getting back to the Salisbury Kennel Club above, Folks, I have to be fair and add, the Kennel Club had quite a reduction in traffic this past year. They suffered paying INCREASES the County charged them for leasing the Civic Center as well as their services, especially the Hospitality Suite. Now add a few million dollars to their overhead. I wonder if anyone will survive renting that space anyway?

Julie Brewington is now speaking, upset about the special interest groups there supporting this purchase. She is also upset with this not being a night time meeting. Our state is $2 billion in debt right now. This is one solution but it is not the only solution, (Very True Julie)

GA Harrison: Firmly against the purchase. We could charge for parking, yet Mr. Politt refuses to entertain such a proposal. I'll let GA express his opinion later.

Zia's is now speaking admitting they are one of the "special interests." He's claiming if they don't purchase the property his people could lose their jobs. Give me a freakin break. Another Government Business forcing taxpayers to spend money to support another local business to survive. I don't eat at Zia's because the food sucks. Mind you, I'm an Italian from the Bronx and grew up on REAL Italian food. You lost my business after the first time I walked into that place. Explain that Sir. Now he just said, "you have to spend money to make money." So WE need to spend our taxpayer money to make YOU money. UNBELIEVABLE!

Mary Ashonte, (sp?) is now speaking. She does support purchasing the land. She believes we'll make our money back. Does this woman just like to hear herself speak? She delivered no facts. She simply said that if you spend the money you'll make it back. OK Mary, do tell us why we should BELIEVE you, just because you say it? How much money has the Civic Center made for the taxpayers so far!

One gentleman is talking about maximizing tourism dollars. Does everyone realize the economy sucks right now. Granted, I'm not saying this is the wrong thing to do but buying land with false money doesn't work for me. That is, unless you have a printing press like Obama does.

Public Comment has closed.