You see, a developer decided he wasn't going to build a pretty large, (250 acre) housing development near the Henry Parker Ball Fields. Instead, he came to the County Executive and has offered to DONATE all 250 acres to the County. The land had been zoned for farming and changed for a housing development. So the land brings in around $12,000.00+ a year as it now sits. However, the owner of the land will be asking to bring it back to its former zoning and it will drop down to around $2,000.00 a year.
County Council Members are actually considering NOT accepting the donation of land because they don't want to lose the tax revenue, IDIOTS! Once the owner changes the zoning they won't be collecting crap anyway. On the other hand, there's a LOT you don't know about the possible intent with the County Executive and his plans for its future. I can tell you first hand without exposing this exciting proposal that it is by far one of the most advanced projects in Wicomico County in decades. I'll await the Executives return from the bond hearings in New York, (unlike the rest of the media who knew he was out of town and couldn't get his point of view on this matter) and see if he is willing to expose the possibilities but let me say this, the Council is well aware of his intentions with the land but Cannon seems to have a strong hold on the local media and they are covering it up.
While John Cannon, (and Council) continue to degrade, attack and belittle Executive Culver, along with the rubber stamp liberal media, YOU are being deceived in a very big way. Allow me to explain further. While some of your liberal minded council members and outside tree hugging groups TALK about saving the planet, this land we speak of is also zoned INDUSTRIAL. This means they can put a chemical manufacturing plant on the 250 acres. Did you know this is directly over the Paleochannel? I can tell you first hand, what Culver intends to do with this land secures the safety of the controversial topic. Hmmmm, funny how NONE of the media mentioned this. Funny how they never talked about the rezoning and tax reduction. Instead, they just want to say and do anything opposite of the County Executive.
Let me close with this. Do all of you remember how bad the Council attacked Executive Culver for firing the Finance Director. FUNNY how the Council went on the attack against Culver recently because he had to ask for an additional $100,000.00 and the Council blamed incompetence from the Executives Office. Well get this, Culver will be coming back to the Council for an additional $200,000.00 because they just learned of yet ANOTHER error that now totals $300,000.00 in frivolous errors from the very same Finance Director. Culver was 100% right to get rid of and FIRE this BS artist, the Council came to her defense and now they are attacking Culver on every possible level, yet Culver, (like President Trump) is constantly right but the media and liberal minded Council keep attacking and defaming. It is the Council and Media that are in the wrong and Culver is doing what is right for the taxpayers.
More to come...
Thank you Joe! But why does the owner want to give it away? That's not computing for me.
ReplyDeleteHe should file defamation of character
ReplyDeleteExcellent exposure. Something we never otherwise receive.
ReplyDeleteDamn democraps.
ReplyDeleteYou just don't get it. One of your farmin councilmen is working behind the scene to snatch it up. Wait for it. Give it time. He will quietly own it.
ReplyDeleteA Farmer is not interested in purchasing dug out land that will not grow a crop. Get real.
Delete9:06, I truly do not have an exact answer to your question but I'd assume, (like so many other developers experienced in the past) we have not recovered from the great recession and building, (or committing) to such a massive development simply wouldn't pay off. I know builders and I can tell you they are barely breaking even selling new homes.
ReplyDeleteCANNON = SLUMLORD.
ReplyDelete9:13....you're on the correct track now. If the Council does turn down this land, it will become a new sod farm. Count on it.
ReplyDeleteHe's trying to get rid of it because then he doesn't have to pay taxes on it, plus it counts as a "donation" for tax purposes. This is not some altruistic move, he is just sick of paying on the property and can't sell it, because it's in a terrible location. It's not government's job to bail out a bad investment by a private company.
ReplyDeleteJohn Cannon is a horrible person and he needs to be repealed and replaced.
ReplyDeleteSo, Cannon would rather get $2k a year income from it than the taxes it would generate as a developed, profit making property? Of course that doesn't make sense for the County, but if you look at Cannon's history, he's not about Wicomico County, John Cannon is all about John Cannon! He would LOVE to have his straw men scoop up that land and do the same development himself so John Cannon rakes in the profits!
ReplyDeleteOf course, leaving it up to that greedy bastion would ruin the whole business plan anyway. Bob Culver is way smarter than John Cannon will ever be.
In a nutshell, YES.
ReplyDeleteLet me clear the air on this matter for some. I am now told there are only TWO members now that are against this donation. Marc Kilmer and Joe Holloway. They believe the county owns too much land as it is.
ReplyDeleteWhen you watched the piece on WBOC this morning their most definitely implied the donation would NOT FLY. Again, piss poor reporting. It's no wonder they keep showing the exact same commercials day in and day out. I mean, how many elderly people are lining up to go into a nursing home. WBOC have lost the majority of advertisers because people just aren't watching their station or muting the screaming commercials.
Hey Joe why has Culver kept his plans so secret but you know about them?
ReplyDeleteJust an honest question in search for transparency
2:37, Who said his plans were or are a secret. I said I would not discuss what I know until Culver returns from his trip. So, why are YOU such a secret HIDING behind anonymous, are you in fear of something?
ReplyDelete...but... but...but you always play the game "I know something you don't know but I can't reveal it" Most of the time we never hear about it again because ytou know diddly squat
Deleteits property being donated to the county. Why would you say no to that? you think it may not be worth now but what about 10-20 years from now. None have crystal balls but its crazy not to except the offer of that property.People that have vested interests will look out for themselves. That's how the world evolves, not that it makes it right. The council need to step back on this one and let Culver do his job. Why does Kilmer think the county has to much land now? As that may be true but its being donated isnt that better then getting that land in other ways? would the county prefer to get that land thru non paid taxes? Stop the crap and let Culver do his job!
ReplyDeleteSince it adjoins the ball complex, it only makes good sense to accept the donation for future County expansion. That is, unless "someone" (John Cannon) can buy the property now and then sell it to the County at a HUGE profit.
ReplyDeleteGosh, how freaking obvious is this?
I always wondered how Smethurst was able to use the land as a surface mine when burrow pits are specifically prohibited on top of the Paleochannel?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteHe's trying to get rid of it because then he doesn't have to pay taxes on it, plus it counts as a "donation" for tax purposes. This is not some altruistic move, he is just sick of paying on the property and can't sell it, because it's in a terrible location. It's not government's job to bail out a bad investment by a private company.
October 6, 2017 at 10:53 AM
BINGO!!
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteSo, Cannon would rather get $2k a year income from it than the taxes it would generate as a developed, profit making property? Of course that doesn't make sense for the County, but if you look at Cannon's history, he's not about Wicomico County, John Cannon is all about John Cannon! He would LOVE to have his straw men scoop up that land and do the same development himself so John Cannon rakes in the profits!
Of course, leaving it up to that greedy bastion would ruin the whole business plan anyway. Bob Culver is way smarter than John Cannon will ever be.
October 6, 2017 at 12:53 PM
"Bob Culver is way smarter than John Cannon will ever be." John Cannon did't owe the County $6,000 dollars, Bob Culver did and couldn't pay his taxes. That is why there wasn't a tax sale last year.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteA Farmer is not interested in purchasing dug out land that will not grow a crop. Get real.
October 6, 2017 at 8:22 PM
Exactly. This land is worthless, that is why Smethurst is trying to "donate" it for a tax write off.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI always wondered how Smethurst was able to use the land as a surface mine when burrow pits are specifically prohibited on top of the Paleochannel?
October 6, 2017 at 10:02 PM
That part is not on the Paleo Channel. A small portion of it might be close, but no cigar.
When a county or state or the USA consents to receive a gift of land, the taxes are lost. Every acre owned by government I see as lost dollars for budgets. Budgets do not go down, thus causing our taxes to go up, to make up for the lost tax base. IMO government should NOT be in the business of removing land from the tax roles.
ReplyDeleteResponding to 9:06 AM Poster that said - Why is the developer want to give their land away to the County.
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Just like Joe said in his response - Wicomico has not fully recovered from the recession of 2007. And the developers know this. It is very similar to the Old Mall Property whereby the Life Insurance (owner) was assessed over 100k per annum. Guess what - it was assessed for well over 10 years at that rate - and so the City/County coffers grew by over $1,000,000 dollars.
And so the developer knows very well that he might not get the rezoning back to the former agriculture - tax rate. And this decision is not up to the Wicomico County Council - as it will be handled by the Planning and Zoning Board - many of which members were appointed by none other than Rick Pollitt. You see even Bob Culver hasn't completely filled-in the vacant gaps created by Pollitt.
IMHO, and being a lifelong residence of this County/State - it is no longer safe to conduct ANY business in Wicomico County. The business environment is simply to dicey and unpredictable to make investments into anything.
ReplyDeleteSalisbury is not safe anymore for any business after dark. Looks like and has the crime of baltimore city every day
ReplyDeleteMaybe not, but they sure do have some rather swelled heads. They actually think they have more power than the people do. Their job IS NOT to tell us what to do.
ReplyDelete