At the Wicomico County Council meeting today, the Council, with the suggestion of the County Executive, decide to reject the offer to donate the acreage on the south side of Connelly Mill Road. A limited "Phase 2" environmental study found very high levels of lead (and some other compounds) on the site and that more extensive testing would be required to determine the extent and source(s) and the contamination and how much it would cost to address and remediate the situation. A replay of the meeting will be available to watch on PAC-14 shortly.
The environmental study was done at the urging of Councilman Joe Holloway, who was concerned about the condition of the site.
I was watching that meeting and Weston Young all but blamed the lead poisoning on the City of Salisbury Police Department. He also said the Salisbury police would set up targets through out that property and shoot the targets there. If that is what they have been doing all these years without permission then they were trespassing. What if kids were playing around in the woods or someone was hunting and those gung ho Salisbury police officers shot one of them. Sounds to me that the City of Salisbury has some explaining to do.
If the County had a beneficial interest in that parcel and the value of interest was affected by the City. Let's see if Mr Young calls out the City for this or is reigned in again by ineffectual BB.
Joe Holloway always uses common sense and critical thinking skills. He's my councilman and we appreciate all he does for the taxpayer. Wish he was president of the council.
Way to go, Joe. Maybe that's why the owners, mostly local hot-shots, want to give that land to the county if it's badly polluted. And it was a borrow pit too.
I watched the meeting on PAC 14 seems as there was already test wells on the property. The owners of this property probably already knew it was contaminated.
Smethurst is a very knowledgeable about land and land condition. I am glad Joe did his due diligence as some council members where blinded by a free gift. Not sure people are aware but the state of Maryland has purchased about 6,000+-acres this summer of the Lower Shore counties. I hate to see any more land go to government, purchased about 1/2 the land mass of Wicomico County since 1996. I am really surprised that Mr. Culver wanted land out of the private sector and proposed uses that directly competed with the private sector. Most council members and Young proposed land uses that are not allowed in the current zoning, four wheel, shooting range, burrow pit, etc The rules that the private sector has to use. Good job Joe.
The site is inside the city, so both Salisbury and Wicomico County would lose tax revenue in the future. Joe Holloway deserve thanks from all of us for his diligence.
If it's the same piece of land that I am thinking - it used to be used as a debris pit for construction debris. High amounts of lead, nickel, and cadmium, indicate that it could have also been used as a junkyard.
Has anyone ever thought that this might be the reasons why the owner/owners are so eager to give-it-away?
Incidentally, Connelly Mill Road lies directly over the County's primary water source - Paleo Channel. It could be another LOVE CANAL?
Kudos to Joe Holloway, the taxpayers' eyes and ears on the Wicomico Council.
ReplyDeleteBoy I bet that pissed cannon off!! I pray they have sense enough to take the same stand with Jake day and his fiasco
ReplyDeleteShould have been done earlier and at the donor's expense.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we have professionals.
Thanks Joe for making sense.
John Hall still wants the county to accept that donation.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteJohn Hall still wants the county to accept that donation.
December 19, 2017 at 5:38 PM
Well Liberal John, what do you expect.
I was watching that meeting and Weston Young all but blamed the lead poisoning on the City of Salisbury Police Department. He also said the Salisbury police would set up targets through out that property and shoot the targets there. If that is what they have been doing all these years without permission then they were trespassing. What if kids were playing around in the woods or someone was hunting and those gung ho Salisbury police officers shot one of them. Sounds to me that the City of Salisbury has some explaining to do.
ReplyDeleteIf the County had a beneficial interest in that parcel and the value of interest was affected by the City. Let's see if Mr Young calls out the City for this or is reigned in again by ineffectual BB.
DeleteJoe Holloway always uses common sense and critical thinking skills. He's my councilman and we appreciate all he does for the taxpayer. Wish he was president of the council.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Joe. Maybe that's why the owners, mostly local hot-shots, want to give that land to the county if it's badly polluted. And it was a borrow pit too.
ReplyDeleteI watched the meeting on PAC 14 seems as there was already test wells on the property. The owners of this property probably already knew it was contaminated.
ReplyDeleteWe have to keep Joe Holloway on the Council in next years election. Not sure about Matt H.
ReplyDeleteIs this the land between Naylor Mill and Connelly Mill where the range is located?
ReplyDeleteJust heard that WBOC is running an interview about this land with Joe Holloway and someone from the County Executive's office today at 6PM.
ReplyDeleteSmethurst is a very knowledgeable about land and land condition. I am glad Joe did his due diligence as some council members where blinded by a free gift. Not sure people are aware but the state of Maryland has purchased about 6,000+-acres this summer of the Lower Shore counties. I hate to see any more land go to government, purchased about 1/2 the land mass of Wicomico County since 1996. I am really surprised that Mr. Culver wanted land out of the private sector and proposed uses that directly competed with the private sector. Most council members and Young proposed land uses that are not allowed in the current zoning, four wheel, shooting range, burrow pit, etc The rules that the private sector has to use. Good job Joe.
ReplyDeleteThe site is inside the city, so both Salisbury and Wicomico County would lose tax revenue in the future. Joe Holloway deserve thanks from all of us for his diligence.
ReplyDeleteGreat news: Joe Holloway is running again for County Council.
ReplyDeleteIf it's the same piece of land that I am thinking - it used to be used as a debris pit for construction debris. High amounts of lead, nickel, and cadmium, indicate that it could have also been used as a junkyard.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever thought that this might be the reasons why the owner/owners are so eager to give-it-away?
Incidentally, Connelly Mill Road lies directly over the County's primary water source - Paleo Channel. It could be another LOVE CANAL?
Joe Holloway is Wicomico County's watchdog.
ReplyDeleteHas this been reported to the state and federal environment offices?
ReplyDelete