Editor Note: This is re-published from February 12, 2017
Do Salisbury Residents/Taxpayers Have A Class Action Lawsuit Against The City
During my time of owning Salisbury News I have certainly had a lot to say about the three Mayors over the years. Taxpayers have been so screwed by each: First, Tilghman with the $140,000,000.00 Waste Water Treatment Plant and $14,000,000.00 Fire Palace. Then, Ireton promised in 10 years you'll be able to swim in the Wicomico River BS. Now, Jake Day is all talk and no delivery.
However, there's a LOT still going on none of you are aware of.
For starters, did you know the Waste Water Treatment Plant still does not work?
Did you know that the no swimming signs, (almost 10 years later) are still posted in the River?
Did you know that former Mayor and Staff lied when they stated they had paid the $1.00 to purchase their half of the Government Office Building? That's right, there's no record of any such check and I investigated this recently and the City of Salisbury is NOT on the Deed. Can you say Pollitt/Tilghman.
Did you know that the City of Salisbury, (Mayor Jake Day) is NOT paying their half of the upkeep/maintenance on the building, as formally agreed to in their contractual agreement?
Did you know the County is sending out ALL of the City's tax bills and not only is the County collecting these funds, the City hasn't ever paid the County back for the postage over the past 20 some odd years? Funny how the City has their own finance department too.
Oh it gets even better. Did you know the City, (under contract) is committed to pay the County $100,000.00+ a year since the building was constructed and guess what, there's NO RECORD of the City paying this rent?
I could go on and on about how much money the City owes the County but don't YOU find it interesting how none of this was ever brought up by Rick Pollitt in the past? Don't you also find it interesting how at odds Ireton and Day have been with County Executive Bob Culver? I certainly do!
To think Ireton and Day have been running to whatever press will spew their lies about how the City wants the County to pay them for Fire Services into the County. Don't you find it interesting how often the County Sheriffs Department spends most of their time within the City of Salisbury, yet the County has never attempted to be reimbursed for such services.
Yeah, Day can push skateboard parks, bike routes and pound his chest. He can sell off parking lots for pennies on the dollar, without mentioning the affordable housing units that will go in there. Did you ever think that the City may have sold one of those parking lots so they could fill the bottom floor with a new government office location?
You see, Ladies & Gentlemen, I believe Jake Day is just waiting for County Executive Bob Culver to hand them an eviction notice for failure to pay the County for not only rent but also for half of the monthly expenses. I am told they do pay their fair share of the electric bill but remember, Folks, the City agreed to a new HVAC system in the GOB, possibly costing Wicomico County MILLIONS of dollars and the City hasn't paid back their share of that expense, not a penny. Mind you, the City Council agreed to pay their share.
Since the City signed an agreement to pay the County at least $100,000.00 a year and there's no record of such payments, wouldn't you think the City budgeted this commitment into their annual budget, WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? Isn't that FRAUD? Why haven't ANY auditors picked this up over all these years?
I'm still digging and I'm digging deep. This is not a "FAKE NEWS" story yet I can assure you, none of your local media will touch it.
It should be noted that Executive Culver & Staff were blown away at my FOIA request (questions) and were completely unaware of the findings until they investigated it. I have another article coming soon with detailed answers for each question I asked.
Below is the actually paperwork from the FOIA from Wicomico.
87 comments:
I think Mayor Day is about to get a substantial bill from Mr Culver
Paladin
Can you say "Pulitzer "? Excellent investigative reporting. WBOC is too busy asking questions about pussy-hats at grocery stores, while you go into the bowels of the archive building. If you want something done right, you do it yourself.
Day and Ireton can't be bothered with this trivial stuff. They have to get the city ready for the Anti Trump rally. Can't wait to see big Jimbo marching for the rights of muslims to come here. Anyone know what happened to the nice immigrant family that was displaced when Jakes Daddy bought him the house on the river?
Appreciate your initiative Joe, but actually several in the GOB have been aware of this for some time.
It should help the CE be able to approach The Mayor with some prevailing wind of public opinion. The City will cry complicity and claim overdues are time barred to some extent.
Who is supposed to be watching this for the County? They should be fired for incompetance if not negligence
How come the YEARLY AUDIT didnt point this out and isnt it time the MD IG did a investigation?.
Then again is it the good ole boys doing the Audit ?
From looking at the signatures on the documents, there are lots of other people who stayed silent. Complete corruption in City and County government??!!
This is always the result when democrats are in charge.They waste tax dollars on feel good social issues and let the important ones like paying for services go.
Why hasn't Culver and his team been on top of this? You sight Rick as not pushing issue....You say Culver had no idea?????? Seems like his ass needs to be held accountable also. Evict them if they breach the contract sue for the back rent!!! Day is a kid....And not a Mayor, needs to return to daddy at Perdue.
7:32, I stated in the post that Culver was blown away when I filed the FOI request. His staff researched the lease, (for example) and came to learn that the City is in fact in default. Culver stated to me that if I hadn't brought this to their attention they may have never known. He added, he's cleaning up multiple messes like this on a very regular basis. Believe me, Culver will give this the attention it so deserves.
Joe......smoke their ace.
Lying theiving and cheating.
We could start the hanging locally......
Pollitt is Crisfields problem now.They'll be broke in a few years.
Not to change subjects, but how is that TIF for the old mall working out? What is the status of the bonds sold for that purpose?
Muslim Refugees = more welfare voters.
A hearty hats off to you Joe, for ALL you do.
While fraud and breach of contract are serious issues, It is the lack of accountability that spawns this corruption. When those in high paces go unpunished for neglect and derelict of duty....it breeds more schemes by each generation/replacement to further carry out such dirty work/crime.....this is why entire administrations have become corrupt, like a spreading disease it also corrupts society.
There MUST be ACCOUNTABILITY!!
WHO WAS/IS THE AUDITOR THATS WHERE YOU START.
The IG will only investigate if SOMEONE sends them proof so send it to the IG joe ?
why doesnt culver ask for a Investigation by the stete .
Culver has been in office long enough to have sent Mayor Day a substantial bill, IMO. Joe have you spoken with Day and/or Culver about your FOA findings - concerning why the bills in the agreement have not been paid and what the future plans are to correct this situation? I do not put much blame on Day as I do Culver. Culver should have been aware of the agreements, should have been aware bills had not been sent, should have been aware bills had not been paid. Were these bills ever brought up at Council meetings? Why does the city not send its own tax bill to residents? The County had to agree to this - why? Culver, if he has been in the dark on monies owed to the county, has been made aware by you. Can't put much blame on Day if the city has not been receiving bills. There needs to be a paper trail and you have shown there s not one Joe.
"find it interesting how at odds Ireton and Day have been with County Executive Bob Culver? No I do not, to me it is no different than how the Dems treat Trump. Trump does lock horns with the Dems - now its (past) time for Culver to get rough with the city.
How about investigating the fact that some of the local farmers in Wicomico County are being paid to dump sewage sludge from the city of Salisbury on to their fields? I believe Harcum is one of them in the fields just west of the city of Salisbury.
Just think they probably grow crops on this land, and you have to wonder how many heavy metals and chemicals might be in this sludge they are dumping on the land because the city of Salisbury doesn't have adequate sewage treatment?
Jake Day is a joke, all he cares about is getting his picture taken and hero worship. Salisbury is in worse shape than it has ever been.
2 years more than adequate time for CE and his leftenunts to have been on this. Unacceptable that you have to do their job
Read the memo. "Matt and Ed" were copied. I think we all know who Matt and Ed are. Finally Creamer is retiring and the stupid County Council has hired Baker out of retirement. What good was he as the County attorney if he let something like this slide for years? We finally get rid of him and Cannon and crew bring him back! Cannon wears his stupidity like a crown!
Baker should have let Culver know about this on Day 1 of Culver's election. No excuse!
Yeah but it was snowflake Ireton who really started the downturn little jake is just keeping it going.
Need to keep at top. Thanks.
Great job Joe!
Now on to the expensive cozy relationship between the County and Sherriff Mike.
People involved need some jail time.
The sludge site just outside the city limits on Nanticoke Road is a former dairy farm owned by the Adkin's Family and has had sludge from the city of Salisbury "knifed" into the ground for decades. This process has also taken place on multiple farms throughout the county. I can list them if needed.
Did anyone else see the new commercial jakie did promoting down town?
How much did we pay for that.
It was on the CW this morning.
Why are we paying to advertise in our own city ? We already know there is a down town.
Shouldn't the shop owners be paying for that and not the taxpayers?
More corporate welfare for a select few at the expense of the taxpayers.
There is also commercial from the fire department asking for volunteers to come apply.
How pathetic this place is.
Maybe I am missing something or everyone else is, if the city has budgeted a payment to the county for $100,610 per year and there is no record of this payment being made where has the money gone?The city should be coming up with a surplus of at lest $100,610 every year this has not been paid. Am I the only one seeing that, this is not chump change people and it is/was YOUR money. Joe does the city have this payment listed as a yearly expense in their budget?
THIS is the county councils fault they are the ones who know whats going on but the good ole boys turn away the oversite are the people and when they dont ask They dont tell ?
What does anyone expect from liberal democrats?
You may want to educate yourself before you come on here and talk about things that you know nothing about skippy. It is not "sewage sludge from the city of Salisbury" as you describe. It is chicken waste from Perdue, Mountaire and Tyson. In no way is it sewage from Salisbury. Additionally, ALL of this is permitted by the State of Maryland as well as the Federal Government. These LOCAL farmers have permits in hand that allow this spreading and are inspected on a regular basis to ensure they are conforming to the laws and regulations set forth. In fact, I would go so far as to say these farmers go above and beyond the MINIMUM requirements set forth by the government. They do this because they are LOCAL residents who care about the communities that they live in, serve and conduct business in. Before you come in here spewing "alternative facts" and outright LIES, you should do your research and educate yourself so that you don't look like a complete idiot. It's too late for that THIS time. Your ignorance and stupidity are already on display. Just keep that in mind for future postings. These local businesses provide jobs in our community, donate locally and provide tax money to our county. Coming on here and spewing outright lies about them is not only unfair and reckless but also harmful to their business.
This type of activity doesn't surprise me. Although - it might have surprised me say 20 years ago - I now realize that virtually everything that the Government gets involved-in ends up in much worse shape than if they had never gotten involved at all.
Whether that be Education, EPA, HUD, FEMA, National Health Care, you name it - once your government gets involved in it - it most likely ends up in a disaster. And the same goes with the Lease/arrangement between the City & County.
Are you kidding 7:49 Crisfield is broke now. They cannot do anything without getting a grant. They are just like Salisbury in a lot of ways so I assume Pollitt fits right in. Crisfield has a liberal democrat as mayor so this is what you would expect. Don't forget Ireton kicked off his bid for congress in Crisfield.
There is no "sludge from the city of Salisbury". This is chicken waste from the local Perdue, Mountaire and Tyson plants. All of this is permitted and regulated. Please educate yourself before making reckless assumptions and trying to incite the public. You sound like a fool.
To those of you quoting resolutions from the city and county council, yes, they both approved resolutions to move forward to allow the City to take over 1/2 of the GOB, along with other agreements, maintenance and so forth. HOWEVER, according to County Attorney Paul Wilber, there is NO RECORD of the City ever making the actual PAYMENT to the County. The County Executive and Attorney both stated that there is no formal DEED on record with the City's name on it. They also stated that there is NO DEPOSIT on record for those funds.
Someone clearly dropped the ball. We can only go by what we have been told on the record.
For once I'm thankful you have all this extra time on your hands. It's about time the ignorance and good old boy mentality were purged from this place
It is a fact that the city of Salisbury does pay farmers to take care of their sewage sludge for them and it is dumped on the fields. They also dump chicken waste on the land as well. The smell from this can be very overpowering, when they do this, and it can last for weeks. Looks like I hit a nerve with 9:03.
If you don't think the residents living around these farms don't know this, you are kidding your yourselves. I've seen these trucks first hand out on the fields spraying this on the fields.
The city of Salisbury sewage sludge is hauled to the landfill by city employees. Please do your research before making wild accusations against local farmers.
The sewage sludge from the City of Salisbury is transported to the landfill by city employees. It does not go on local farms. Please stop trying to stir the pot and cause local hysteria.
Let's not forget that the University of Maryland runs around like they are the police and test water in the ditches. The second the chicken manure is spread on the field in the spring here they come taking water samples. Do you know how many times I've run them off of my property as well as others??? They don't ask if they can take water samples, they just trespass on peoples' property and take the sample. So before you open your mouth and accuse the farmers of anything you better get your facts checked. Don't get it twisted to try and take the heat off of sewage plant!!
WTF? You people are hung up on sludge on here when hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars is either missing, mis-spent or possibly emmbezzeled and you are more concerned over sludge and where it is going? But I will bet come time to pay your taxes you cuss up a storm over how high they are! You idiots get what you deserve, this is either money owed to you as a county tax payer or missing from you as a city tax payer, if you rent you are paying those taxes through your rent, and not one of you commenters care! Shaking my head in disbelief!!
Are you saying you're a city person, relocated to an agricultural community, purchased a home near farm land and you know more about farming than those that have been farming for generations? You must be the Baltimorians that have the junk yard with all of those unkempt goats on north West road.
To 8:55 -- the council has asked about this. When the auditors were discussing their report, Marc Kilmer asked Wayne about why the county wasn't getting all the money it should from the city. Wayne never gave an answer. It's on pac 14.
This is a reckless lie. The sewage sludge from Salisbury is transported, by city employees, to the landfill. THAT is a FACT. It is chicken waste that is spread on fields.
You didn't hit a nerve at all. What hits a nerve is uneducated people coming on a blog spreading lies and trying to upset the public and ruin a local business. It is not human waste at all. It is chicken waste and the farmers have permits. Prove your statements. Do a freedom of information act request for copies of checks written to the farmers BY THE CITY to dispose of human waste on local fields. Until you show that, IN WRITING, you have NO credibility whatsoever. Just an ignorant, uneducated idiot spewing made up propaganda.
REAL NEWS!!!!
REAL NEWS!!!!
Mr. Sludge expert here is just one item of proof! Page 9 of http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/Water_Supply/Source_Water_Assessment_Program/Documents/www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/watersupply/SWAPS/Wicomico/City%20of%20Salisbury.pdf
10:14 How does this feel on your nerves? Educate yourself! http://americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_city_lets_sludge
Where are the minutes ??
Sewage sludge is being handled by farmers. Here is just one of many articles proving this.
http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0551E/t0551e08.htm
10:14
I would say based on the information from previous comments proving that farmers do in fact dump sewage sludge for money from cities, you are the ignorant, uneducated ahole! I'll bet you are one of them doing this without a permit and are trying to cover your ass!
Won't be buying local vegetables if they're fertilized with human waste. Thanks but no thanks. That's just disgusting.
Supposedly the waste is pre-treated before it's dumped on farmland. It's the surplus delivered and spread from tanker trucks on farmland. I also saw a documentary on this from a farm in New Jersey. They take the moisture out of the sludge and heat it to turn it into a compost that is used as farm and lawn fertilizer for crops. It still an contain heavy metals in this compost. The other way is to just spray the pretreated waste on the farmland. Cities all across the country are trying to find ways of handling the extra sewage. Salisbury is not alone!
Regarding those property tax bills -- the County sends them as part of the billing for the County tax -- so it has no out of pocket cost to mail. And the County gets a fee for the service (and possible interest on the funds from the time of receipt until transferred to the City - not sure about that). This is an arms length deal by the County, so it has no basis to complain or seek more money from the City.
Then there is the lack of any differential (reduction) in the County tax on properties in Salisbury, Delmar, Fruitland, etc. Recall that an independent study said that a significant differential was both fair and reasonable to reflect that the City does its roads, police, etc. But Pollitt and now Culver have refused to even consider any relief.
And then there's the ripoff of the City for fire and emergency services that the City provides in the County. Again, Pollitt and Culver have stalled for years over this outrage.
Plus, much of the County's tax revenue comes from the property and businesses in Salisbury (and to a lesser extend Delmar and Fruitland), but much of the county property pays a much lower "ag" tax rate.
Net: the County should thank Salisbury and those other towns and treat them much better than in the past and present.
Here's a real hoot: that Plaza Gallery building that Gillis donated to SU for a $ 4 Million tax credit is assessed for property tax at 1.5 million.
Gillis is making money again, no surprise - Those who have - will always find a way.
How can you expect the local government to pay its bills when the federal government is heavy in debt? Its just one big cluster right now. Looks like Day will be getting a huge bill from the county after being such a dingleberry with Culver over the fire department. Serves him right. Ante up, buttercup.
Let's hope Culver has the nads to school the fool
No wonder da bury has no money for things as simple as fireworks or christmas lights,its all been wasted so thanks to Joe for digging up the truth on these corrupt officials.
NINE MONTHS LATER and still in the toilet we shall live. WOW!
LOL 9 months to the day 342. Culver needs to do something about this sooner than later. It's been swept under the carpet for way too long.
Does the city give the county a pass if they're late on their parking spaces around the building Wicomico OWNS? Probably not. Why is Culver allowing this to continue without recourse?
I forgot all about this. WOW is right!
If they owe all this money to the county, where the F are they getting the money for the festival?
The county pays for those parking spaces? Why? It's county property. They shouldn't have to pay anything for those spaces. The city should be paying for THEIR parking spaces. Evict the sons of bitches already!
Wow , I just got home and found this post! Thanks for the information , now what the hell is going to be done about it ? Culver , get on the stick and get some out of town lawyers , Day needs to pay.
Who was in charge of monitoring the City's payments . . .I am almost sure it was former County Administrator Matt Creamer. And what makes matters worse is that his former role as County Council administrator makes him complicit in this whole fiasco.
Mat Creamer is one of the recipients on the memo from Joe Schiller. Why wasn't he on top of this in 1996? Damning if you ask me.
Somerset County is even worse!!! How can we get reporting of the nepotism and self interest that is lowering property values by more than 3% per year, while the northern regions) Rex Simpkins & Charles Fisher Districts) of Somerset increase in Value.
Laws are not being applied here.
the county council along with Culver need to get the county residents their money back. Culver cant be blamed for all of it when we have a do nothing county council. Get on this, we want our money back! Can we all refuse to pay our taxes until the city pays up to us? No we can't so pay up Day!
why are blind eyes being turned by this? You know if the good ole boys get elected next year this certainly wont change. It will get worse. This needs to be settled now.
It's time for this city to pay up and realize if not for the county it would be a broke stagnant cesspool. The city fire service when it comes to volunteers is a complete joke. Station 2 hardly ever gets out, station 16 takes 20 + min to get a volunteer crew. county fire companies have to constantly come into the city to bail them out whilst they beat their chest thinking that just because they get a paycheck for something others do for free they are big city firefighters. Let me assure you tothe fact that they are not. The mayor better wake the hell up and take any help he can get before there is a serious fire in the city. But the arrogant asses won't use the people they themselves trained because they got tired of the BS from hoppes and his goons most all of them two faced . This city has been going down the toilet since Paul Martin was mayor.
Can’t believe the city has been ripping off county residents like this. Just sinful. 🖕🏻
Bob Culver better realize he is the county executive and get that money or cut all funding to all the city , tired of my county tax money being spent on the city . We need improvements in the county, screw the crappy city. If you don't start supporting the county you will not be re elected. Grow a pair or get back on the porch!
Time to drain the swamp in Salisbury and Wicomico County.
County has only been screwed if they admit it. After 9 months of no change it shows they do not care. Joe you've done all the work getting the County evidence. Is the County now waiting for you to carry the case to Court? If the City owes all the money you and Crow says, I sure don't blame the City for not paying (if a bill was even sent)
Let the County pay for the City of Salisbury police service.
The City does not need to provide since they pay for the City Police AND the County police . DOUBLE TAXATION FOR CITY TAXPAYERS
Why hasn't Joe reported what the city of Salisbury has placed in the news paper pushing for a county commissioner
Hey Joe.... uh, this says the lease ended in 1996 and the City owns half of the building after that. IIRC that was aactually even discussed in the news back then. My memory isn't what it used to be, but I do remember that being covered that the City, sometime in the late 90s finalized the deed for 50% of the building.What gives?
Politicians lying, cheating and stealing?
Their rich friends doing sweetheart deals that screw the taxpayers and let them but ANOTHER 30 rental houses?
Or sell public property to private individuals for pennies on the dollar, who then turn around and sell that same property for huge profits?
Who wants to act surprised?
The only surprise to me is that they aren't hanging from a tree.
8:59, Obviously you don't follow SBYNews close enough.
Look, I have explained this numerous times, hopefully I won't need to do it again.
I am the one that caught this to start with. I am the one who brought out so much attention the Mayor, (Tilghman) had, (allegedly) a check for $1.00 made out to the county to purchase 1/2 of the GOB.
The county council had the deed changed to add the city of Salisbury to the deed and council president Gail Bartgovich signed the deed.
HOWEVER, that's where everything ended. Even though Tilghman stated to the press they had delivered the $1.00 check, they lied. The city NEVER signed the deed and never delivered the check, therefore they failed to purchase their half of the building. ALL of this was a scam between Rick Pollitt and Barrie Tilghman. A lot like a $35,000,000.00 waste water treatment plant turning into a $140,000,000.00 WWTP.
Folks, you really need someone competent to run for Mayor.
Culver has a Lot on His Shoulders,
believe me. He needs the publics
support-----the City, County sure
don't give him any. Most are a
corrupt bunch on the Council. They
want thing run like they've been
run, it's their " Good ole' boys"
Network! Most need to be voted out!
Bottom line, the City owes the County a lot of money. They're in default even as recent as last summer when they failed to pay their share of the new AC system. They need to be evicted. Surely Cannon, Devco or Rinnier will gladly rent them space. Of course, they'll have to pay rent for the first time in eons and the administration hasn't factored in their illegal budget the costs of renting, maintaining and utilities for their keep. Guess the might have to turn to the other line items in their budget and adjust accordingly. Their problem.
Why didn't Day relocate the city to the old Firehouse instead of letting the Daily Mistake move in?
Post a Comment