Response to Culver news release

GO HERE to see Executive Culver's original press release on this matter.

Response to Culver news release

To all:

First I would like to address Mr Culver's statement in his recent press release that certain Council members have created hysteria in the KIlbirnie-Walstons Switch neighborhoods.  In the 2016 Md. Dept of Environment (MDE) documents, the project in question is addressed as an Urban Service agreement. Earlier this year it came back to the Council as a pre-annexation agreement. Concerns arose after the citizens found out it was to be a pre-annexation agreement and no longer an urban services agreement.  They wanted to know when and why this changed.  I do not call that hysteria but a desire for additional information and clarification.  Many made contact with myself and other Council members requesting a public hearing. If you live in the County and found there was going to be a pre-annexation agreement in your neighborhood wouldn't you want more information?

The Council has also heard great concern from the area's volunteer fire department. Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Department has been providing excellent service to these neighborhoods for years. In the past few years they have lost area to the City of Salisbury which affects their funding and recruitment.  In most situations, their response time has been less than the response time from City equipment. They are not disagreeing with the water line going to the airport, just that the bigger picture is that the citizens of Wicomico County need to be heard. Their fear is that the closest and most appropriate fire/EMS service is not utilized for calls due to annexation.  The current Fire Service Agreement does not protect their fire service area.

On April 17th, a fellow Council member requested from the County Executive's Office, that the Airport Manager and the engineer over-seeing the water project from the contracted engineering firm be present at our next Council meeting to offer answers to some of these questions.  The County Executive's office replied that the Airport Manager was not involved in the project and a question "what would be the purpose of the engineers being at the meeting." We took that as a"NO" to the request. The question now is," Why can't the County Council and citizens get any answers to valid concerns?" There are no engineers on the Council that can answer these question. Are we to understand that the Council is suppose to approve a large financial agreement that could have long ranging impact on the citizens of that area when the necessary information is being withheld from Council and homeowners? Four Council members agreed that more information was vital before voting for the project.

The City has said that it has no interest in any further annexation in the area at this time. However, one only has to look 1/2 mile North from Walstons Switch road to see areas that have been annexed. While this water line has been deemed a denied-access line, it would only take a request from the City and/or County to the State of Maryland to change this designation.  Also, if this water line is vital to the development of our airport, why is it being said that it cannot be used for the adjacent Airport Business Park?

In summation, some County Council members have been vilified in the media and in emails from people that don't even work or live in the area, for not just signing on the dotted line. When in fact, the responsibility actually rest on the shoulders of the County Executive's Office for not being forthcoming with information in a timely manner to the Council so that an informed decision could be made. And the County Executive bears a responsibility to inform and reply to the requests that the citizens have a voice by holding a public forum. Trying to push this vote through without more transparency and during a time of National crisis seems suspect at best. Why the rush?  The Council is more than willing to work collaboratively with the Executive's Office but when requests for information, questions on projects, etc. are met with resistance, silence or accusatory press releases, that is hard to do.

Sincerely,

Wicomico County Councilman, District 5

Joe Holloway

Councilman Bill McCain responds to Joe Holloway

To all:

Joe, I have to respond to your response because of its inaccuracies and lack of facts. You keep referring to fears of annexation. Please read the water agreements. There is no “annexation” of anything taking place. The City of Salisbury does not do urban service agreements anymore and have not for some time. Any provisions of water outside their municipal city limits requires a pre-annexation agreement. This does not mean anything is being annexed and in fact to relieve any such fears the Airport agreement includes a clause/statement that no such agreement can be considered until 30 years have passed. You fail to mention that very important clause in any of your statements. In addition, you also fail to mention that the City of Salisbury cannot just annex anyone’s property. Property owners have to petition to be annexed.

You also fail to mention the fact that the water line is a dedicated denied access line that only permitted purpose by the Maryland Department of the Environment is to provide potable public water to the Airport. Residents cannot tap into the line.

As the County Council representative of the citizens in the area you are referencing, you should take the responsibility to help them understand the facts and explain to them the facts. You also failed to mention and inform your constituents that the construction contract was extended 90 days in February and expires May 12. Which creates an urgency of this matter. The County Council’s failure to act for the second time regarding the construction contract will certainly cost our taxpayers significant dollars probably in the hundreds of thousands. Not to mention the threatened future of our most treasured Airport asset. The State of Maryland recognized the importance of this project and thus awarded the County 4 million dollars. Another fact you failed to mention. This delay tactic will now place that in jeopardy. Trust me, other counties in the State of Maryland will be happy to take our 4 million dollars and put it to use in their counties.

It is even more disappointing to see statements in your conclusion about trying to accuse the Council of trying to pass the resolution through without transparency and during the current climate.  This project has been in the works for nearly four years, publicized often, and this agreement was just discussed in detail in a council public open work session in January.

The public is able and welcomed to send the County Council any concerns and have done so over several weeks. All public comments regarding this issue that are submitted have been shared with all council members. Thus, delaying for a public hearing which is not required for a resolution serves no purpose.

I will continue to advocate to make Wicomico County a better place to live, work, and play.

Bill McCain, Wicomico ,County Council At Large