Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Delmar Joint Council Meeting March 27th
Last night the Delmar Joint Councils had their March Meeting. A good turnout of the public was present. It started at 7PM and was over at 9:25PM. There were various proclamations read and approced; American Red Cross Month, Fair Housing month, Municpal Government Works month. The Maryland side of town is requesting, with Salisbury and Fruitland (combined 38% of wicomico County) a tax reduction for duplicate services (services provided by the town and the same service provided by the county).
Spring cleanup for the Maryland side of town will be April 24th and 25th. the Delaware side of town will be on April 27th and 28th.
A Mr. Mcallister presented a display of the signs to be at Delmar Commons.
The Children theater of Delmarva requested a tax abatement for two parcels of land totaling over 21 acres at the corner of Rt13 and Foskey Lane.
Chesapeake Utilities said the holes in the street on Second Street will be repaired by mid April.
The Fire department has requested the parking in front of the Library be stopped. They have been working on this for ten years and it looks like with this Council they will finally get their way.
The Delmar Library wants the Town to give them money for a library expansion. Given a choice of the library expanding or my street sweep I would rather have my street clean. The Library suggested the town pay 20% of the $1.3 million dollar expansion.
The meeting would have been over at 9PM but when public comment was asked for the Woodcreek group had questions. See my previous post on Diane Buckley and the Woodcreek public. The manager of Goodfellas Pizza had comments about the Drug dealing taking place in his parking lot. He said he counted 22 separate drugs deals in one evening. Some one from the police told him he shouldn't expect it to go away overnight as the drug dealers had used that parking lot for two years while it was empty. A good live and let live approach by the police force. Naturally the council blow him off by a "we will look into it".
Spring cleanup for the Maryland side of town will be April 24th and 25th. the Delaware side of town will be on April 27th and 28th.
A Mr. Mcallister presented a display of the signs to be at Delmar Commons.
The Children theater of Delmarva requested a tax abatement for two parcels of land totaling over 21 acres at the corner of Rt13 and Foskey Lane.
Chesapeake Utilities said the holes in the street on Second Street will be repaired by mid April.
The Fire department has requested the parking in front of the Library be stopped. They have been working on this for ten years and it looks like with this Council they will finally get their way.
The Delmar Library wants the Town to give them money for a library expansion. Given a choice of the library expanding or my street sweep I would rather have my street clean. The Library suggested the town pay 20% of the $1.3 million dollar expansion.
The meeting would have been over at 9PM but when public comment was asked for the Woodcreek group had questions. See my previous post on Diane Buckley and the Woodcreek public. The manager of Goodfellas Pizza had comments about the Drug dealing taking place in his parking lot. He said he counted 22 separate drugs deals in one evening. Some one from the police told him he shouldn't expect it to go away overnight as the drug dealers had used that parking lot for two years while it was empty. A good live and let live approach by the police force. Naturally the council blow him off by a "we will look into it".
Diane Buckley and the Woodcreek Public
I will post latter today the events that happened at the Joint council meeting last night, but I feel a special separate post is needed for an incident that occurred last night. As I have posted previously this set of councils are known for trying to wrap up all the town business in one two hour meeting for both sides of town. They almost made it when at 9 PM they ask if there was any public comment. As a town we are blessed with new residents who are not yet aware that public comment at a council meeting is usually brushed aside and no action taken on the comment. The Woodcreek group of residents started asking questions about the parking and lighting conditions at WoodCreek when Delaware Councilperson Diane Buckley busted out with comment that generally went along these lines; "Why are you people asking those questions? We went thru this comment in the last Joint Meeting and now you are bringing it all up again, are we going to have to listen to this at each meeting? This is a joint meeting and your questions are the concern of the Maryland side of town. You should be on the agenda if you are going to speak for very long". Well the poor person asked Mayor Nibbett if there was a separate Maryland meeting to discuss these matters and of course he replied no. So where should the WoodCreek people bring these questions? I am sure Diane Buckley was under pressure to leave as the meeting had gone after 9 PM, but were those comments necessary? Frankly the level of apathy is so bad among the longer term town residents that the Council should be pleased people are taking an interest in the town. The council did manage to break up at 9:25 PM after brushing off other public comment about drug dealing in Delmar. Perhaps I should do a separate post on that issue also.
Delmar Utility Commission March 27th
The Delmar Utility Commission had their March meeting last night at 6:30PM. Items discussed were; the Town Manager and select people meant with Tidewater Utilities for an initial discussion of the agreement between the Town and Tidewater to supply Water and sewer service to the growth area East of Route 13.
Sarah Bynum King, Town Manager, meant with Dr Yu of the Maryland Department of Enviroment to discuss the wastewater treatment plant BNR project. It has been a 10 year effort to have this project approved by the State of Maryland. Dr Yu is one of those people that can turn a $100,000 project into a $500,000 project simply by dragging out the approval process.
Houlihan Development had requested approval from the Utility Commission for EDU's for three of their projects. Only one, FoxRun, was approved. WoodCreek developers request approval from the Utility Commission for 100 townhomes, it was denied.
A representive from Food Lion complained about their water bill going from $230 a quarter to $800. Sarah Bynum King said she would look into it. Frankly their normal $230 bill a quarter seems low to me. One of the problems with the commercial stores in the plaza is their outside faucets. For the most part the faucets are unlocked and available for someone to hookup to 24 hours a day. The Food Lion representive discussed having problems with the people who powerwash the parking lot hooking into their water. Not discussed was the number of homeless people who go thru the Plaza at all hours and fill their jugs from faucets in the businesses at the Plaza. I would certainly question the amount of police time in around Food Lion betwen midnight and 4AM. If a commercial vehicle was filling up a tank on the back of a truck, would the police stop and question them at four in the morning or assume they had an OK from Food Lion to do so? The town itself has had problems in the past with construction companies filling their water tanks from Town fire hydrants without permission or compensation. At 5,000 to 10,000 gallons a fillup it soon becomes a noticeable lost of water.
Sarah Bynum King, Town Manager, meant with Dr Yu of the Maryland Department of Enviroment to discuss the wastewater treatment plant BNR project. It has been a 10 year effort to have this project approved by the State of Maryland. Dr Yu is one of those people that can turn a $100,000 project into a $500,000 project simply by dragging out the approval process.
Houlihan Development had requested approval from the Utility Commission for EDU's for three of their projects. Only one, FoxRun, was approved. WoodCreek developers request approval from the Utility Commission for 100 townhomes, it was denied.
A representive from Food Lion complained about their water bill going from $230 a quarter to $800. Sarah Bynum King said she would look into it. Frankly their normal $230 bill a quarter seems low to me. One of the problems with the commercial stores in the plaza is their outside faucets. For the most part the faucets are unlocked and available for someone to hookup to 24 hours a day. The Food Lion representive discussed having problems with the people who powerwash the parking lot hooking into their water. Not discussed was the number of homeless people who go thru the Plaza at all hours and fill their jugs from faucets in the businesses at the Plaza. I would certainly question the amount of police time in around Food Lion betwen midnight and 4AM. If a commercial vehicle was filling up a tank on the back of a truck, would the police stop and question them at four in the morning or assume they had an OK from Food Lion to do so? The town itself has had problems in the past with construction companies filling their water tanks from Town fire hydrants without permission or compensation. At 5,000 to 10,000 gallons a fillup it soon becomes a noticeable lost of water.
Public Meetings in Delmar
The current mayor and council have set the public meetings times so it is impossible for a citizen of Delmar to attend all the public meetings. As an example the Public Works Meeting and the Utility Meeting are held at the same time in separate rooms. Should you want to attend both it is impossible. It is one more display of the contempt this mayor and council have for the public attending Town Meetings.
The American Red Cross and I
About 45 years ago when I was first in the military, out first sargent came by and told us we would all be making a $5.00 donation to the American Red Cross. Now at that time I think I was being paid $65 a month by the Air Force so $5.00 was a high percentage of my monthly pay. I told him, no I was not going to donate the money, so he preceded to work my 18 year old ass over until I finally caved in and gave the money. As of that day I swore I would work against the American Red Cross any way I could. I certainly have not given them any money other than the $5.00 dollars they got that day. So March is American Red Cross Month - may they rot in hell.
SayWA
Washington state has come up with a new tourism campaign. Leading the campaign is a new state slogan for Washington of "SayWA". In order to come up with this state slogan it took a 32 member commission 18 months to develope it. No doubt if they had one less member they couldn't have done it. I don't think it's as catchy as Idaho's "Great potatoes, Great Destinations" or Indiana's "Enjoy Indiana".
Monday, March 27, 2006
Norfolk Southern Engine Exhaust
I walked up to Campbell's Barber Shop (best $8.00 haircut in Delmar) this morning for a haircut. The downtown area was under a smog pollution attack from Norfolk Southern engine 3389 and 3437. The exhaust from these two engines was really bad. Well no sense complaining I knew the railroad was here before I moved here. Since I only live a block from the tracks I am sure the people who lived in my house back in the early 1900's complained about the coal smoke from the engines.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Salisbury City Council Michael Dunn
The "Daily Times" finally got around to running an article about Salisbury City Councilman Michael Dunn and the Sassafras/Westwood development. At least two blogs; "Duvafiles" and "Justice for all" have been talking about it for some time now. Naturally when all of this dies down, everything will continue as usual with the Salisbury City councils or as they are often called the "Clowns of the Eastern Shore". I am waiting to see if this publicity infuences any of the dealings the Delmar Maryland and Delaware town council have been and are involved in.
Also I should mention the great "Letter to the Editor" from Rita M. Jones. I fully agree that a 20 gauge shotgun is the answer to people breaking into your home. I think I would go for a 12 gauge myself. Lewis Calhoun of Delmar says he would use a 12 gauge in his "letter to the editor".
Also I should mention the great "Letter to the Editor" from Rita M. Jones. I fully agree that a 20 gauge shotgun is the answer to people breaking into your home. I think I would go for a 12 gauge myself. Lewis Calhoun of Delmar says he would use a 12 gauge in his "letter to the editor".
Buck Owens
Buck Owens died Saturday at age of 76.Nicknamed after the family mule, Alvin Edgar Owens Jr, better known as "Buck" Owens was best known for his co hosting of the TV show "Hee Haw". For a link to his Crystal Place site in Bakersfield California go to http://www.buckowens.com/food.html#
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Delmar Delaware Property Tax Rate
At one time the Town of Delmar Delaware had the highest property tax rate in Delaware. It currently may not have the honor of having the highest tax rate but it still is up in the top five. Let's compare Delmar to Wilmington. In Delmar we have $1.31 per hundred for Delmar, $.445 for Sussex County, $.2293 for Sussex tech, and a $3.20 for the Delmar School District tax for a total of $5.1843 per hundred of property value. In Wilmington they are charged a New Castle county tax of $.158, a vocational Tech School charge of $.105, a school tax of $1.612 and a City tax of $1.3969 for a total of $3.2719 per hundred. The Delmar tax rate is 58% higher than Wilmington. Now this is a simple look at the property tax rates and there maybe many other taxes to consider. I did not include Per capita taxes in either county. If we consider the percentage of the tax rates compare to the average amount of income the people in Delmar ($26,818) versus Wilmington average income of $35,116 (about 26% higher) than Delmar taxpayers takes an even harder hit. The saving grace is the value of Delmar's property is less than Wilmington property and Sussex County assessment of property values is very low, so in absolute dollars the tax bill is less than Wilmington. New Castle County executive Chris Coon is requesting a 5% increase in the property tax rate for FY2007.
Maryland Day
Today is the day picked to celebrate the founding of Maryland 372 years ago. I wonder if present day Maryland would live up to the founding fathers expectations?Friday, March 24, 2006
Delmar Property Tax
Property tax is the main source of revenue for the town of Delmar, Delaware. The last time a property assessment was made was about 1989. Obviously since 1989 the cost of goods and services the town purchases has gone up but the revenue from the property tax assessment base has not. Even I, an on going fighter of government waste can see that a reassessment of our property is required.
I think there should be put in place a town charter mechanism to reassess property every eight years. This would routinely increase or decrease the town assessment base and give property owners a chance to become use to routine assessment. Eight years is also long enough so the town government will not be flush with an on going influx of cash and end up like the Hogs feeding off the Wicomico County tax base. As I recall the 1989 assessment cost the town of Delmar, Delaware between $25,000 to $50,000 to do. No doubt now it would be in the $50,000 to $75,000 range, unless there is some State of Delaware help out there. If the reassessment only brought in enough revenue to cover the appraisers cost than it would be a waste of time doing it.
It is my understanding that currently any new property, since 1989, build in the Town of Delmar is assessed at one half it selling price. I do not know if this applies to commercial property. Is the State Line Plaza assessed at one half of it real value? I guess the low income apartments properties in Delmar are assessed at half value as they were built after 1989. The ideal was to make it fair to builders of new property because someone in the town government felt a 1989 property assessment was only half the value of what the property would be worth in 2006. Mayor Outten new annexation and proposed houses being built in Delmar Delaware would only bring in a tax base of half of the actual selling value. No doubt a selling point for real estate developers. I disagree with that procedure. I think once a house is sold in a fair and open market transaction than the selling price becomes the new assessed value of the property. After all when the appraisers come thru they determine the value of a house based on selling prices of comparable property.
Property taxes are unique in that the services provided by the revenue is equally distributed to everyone but the way the property tax is paid is totally unfair. By this I mean two home owners, one owning a $60,000 home and the other owning a $240,000 home both pay the same property tax rate. Obviously the $240,000 home owner is paying 4 times what the $60,000 homeowner is paying yet he gets no more in town services than the owner of the $60,000 house. In truth the $240,000 home owner probably lives in a recently newly built development and he has new streets and services. The $60,000 homeowner probably lives in the old part of Delmar and will require street repavement, street sweeping etc oh I forgot the Town of Delmar doesn’t do that for anyone so I guess the services are the same.
I think there should be put in place a town charter mechanism to reassess property every eight years. This would routinely increase or decrease the town assessment base and give property owners a chance to become use to routine assessment. Eight years is also long enough so the town government will not be flush with an on going influx of cash and end up like the Hogs feeding off the Wicomico County tax base. As I recall the 1989 assessment cost the town of Delmar, Delaware between $25,000 to $50,000 to do. No doubt now it would be in the $50,000 to $75,000 range, unless there is some State of Delaware help out there. If the reassessment only brought in enough revenue to cover the appraisers cost than it would be a waste of time doing it.
It is my understanding that currently any new property, since 1989, build in the Town of Delmar is assessed at one half it selling price. I do not know if this applies to commercial property. Is the State Line Plaza assessed at one half of it real value? I guess the low income apartments properties in Delmar are assessed at half value as they were built after 1989. The ideal was to make it fair to builders of new property because someone in the town government felt a 1989 property assessment was only half the value of what the property would be worth in 2006. Mayor Outten new annexation and proposed houses being built in Delmar Delaware would only bring in a tax base of half of the actual selling value. No doubt a selling point for real estate developers. I disagree with that procedure. I think once a house is sold in a fair and open market transaction than the selling price becomes the new assessed value of the property. After all when the appraisers come thru they determine the value of a house based on selling prices of comparable property.
Property taxes are unique in that the services provided by the revenue is equally distributed to everyone but the way the property tax is paid is totally unfair. By this I mean two home owners, one owning a $60,000 home and the other owning a $240,000 home both pay the same property tax rate. Obviously the $240,000 home owner is paying 4 times what the $60,000 homeowner is paying yet he gets no more in town services than the owner of the $60,000 house. In truth the $240,000 home owner probably lives in a recently newly built development and he has new streets and services. The $60,000 homeowner probably lives in the old part of Delmar and will require street repavement, street sweeping etc oh I forgot the Town of Delmar doesn’t do that for anyone so I guess the services are the same.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Sarbanes won't run again
Good News for Wicomico County, Wicomico County Council President Anthony Sarbanes said he will not run for re-election. Now if the TaxPayers of Wicomico County can get rid of Marvin Long and Edward Taylor maybe they could produce an effective Country Council. Of note those three also voted to reverse the annexation process that had been in effect for several months.
WalMart Bags
I am sitting here watching a Walmart plastic bag blow around in the wind from a limb in the top of a tree. I have no doubt Walmart has produced enough bags to cover the face of the earth. I have never viewed myself as a recycler. I do however take my old newspapers to the Delaware recycling can and I try to find a place to take all those damn plastic bags. In Delmar, Food Lion has a recycling bin in front of the store on the outside. So you only semi have to look like a rag picker hauling plastic bags to the bin. Since most of the bags are from Walmart I prefer to take them back to WalMart. Walmart (North Salisbury Store) use to have a cardboard box for plastic bags as you entered the store. It has now been moved to the customer service area. It virtualy ensures I will not be lugging my plastic bags thru the store to put them in their recycling bin. You would think a Company that generates that much packaging material would be out in front of the pack in encouraging recycling.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Delmar March Meetings
This month the Planning and Zoning meeting will be at 7 PM on March 23rd, Thursday. The Utility Meeting and Public Works meeting (separate meetings) will be 6:30 Monday March 27th. The Joint Council Meeting for Delmar will be at 7 PM Monday, March 27th.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Furniture Stores
More Furniture Stores for Delmar. Much like Laurel, which is known as the town with the most traffic lights per capita, Delmar is becoming known as the town with the most furniture stores per capita. Let us hope all of those developments that are planned materialize, in order to keep these stores in business.Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Wicomico County Council Meeting March
I watched channel 14 tonight which showed the last Wicomico County Council meeting. At the end of the meeting Councilman Ed Taylor expressed his dislike for the Revenue cap. I have voiced my viewpoint before that the county council were like hogs feeding at the trough before the revenue cap was voted into place by the voters of the county. It is my opinion that if the voters of the county approved the revenue cap then the only comment from the president and councilmembers should be that the Revenue cap is the official position of Wicomico County. Any other comment such as saying it should be removed merely show the arrogance of the Wicomico County Council. The Hogs are hungry again and instead of trying to utilize the county tax money effectively they are once again trying to feed the loose spending they have. Those members that do so should be removed as they do not represent the people in Wicomico County. If they want to save money they can start by looking at the medical contracts and medical services at the Detention Center. Once again thank God for "Voice".
Chesapeake Utilities on 2nd street
Chesapeake Utilites at work on second street. Anyone one who has drove down Second street in the last few weeks knows it has patches all over it. The construction crew said they had replaced the cast iron gas line under the street and were now hooking up services. They said as soon as they were done and the asphalt plants start back up the patches would be repaved. So I guess they are protecting us from gas leaks by improving the service. I wonder if Delmar charges for street cuts when someone cuts the street to dig a hole. A long time ago when I worked for a gas utility, Ocean City would charge us $1.25 a foot for each street cut we made plus we had to get a permit and had a time limit to repave the street.
Salisbury Vehicle visits Delmar
It would appear Salisbury has as many problems as Delmar in keeping their Municipal owned vehicles in their town limits. This morning a Salisbury Fire Company vehicle was parked in Gordy's parking lot. For years and years we have had problems of the Delmar police department vehicles being seen outside the town limits. I guess Maybury is just too boring for them.
I am back
The Nanking Cherry Bush is in bloom in my backyard.
I have been off the internet for a few days due Comcast improving the system. Whatever they did to improve the system knocked my neighbor and I off the internet for a few days until they came by and fixed it yesterday.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Delaware Prison Health System
Well it looks like the Federal Government is going to investigate the Delaware Prison Health system. Delaware Correction Commissioner Stan Taylor says he is "eager to help the Federal Investigation". Obviously a fool. No one should help the Federal Government investigate anything as it does not effect the outcome one way or another. The end result is we (Delaware taxpayers) will end up paying more and like Education (you know how well that one is working) it will be mandated by the Federal Government. Once they come in they will be back every year at least to reinvestigate. What we need is someone who will stand up to the Federal Government and stop their on going encroachment on State and local rights.
The common complain is the inmates are not receiving "Proper" health care. Lets take a realistic look at this. If the "inmates" were free and on their own they would be going to social services for health care or in most cases just ignoring any kind of health care. I understand the current cost for inmate health care in Delaware prisons is $25 million a year. The inmates complain about health problems because they receive a little special attention while in jail. It breaks up the day for them by going to see the Doctor or Nurse. Most have poor health habits and are in a poor state of health when they are jailed. Is it up to the state to return them to perfect health? At the Wicomico County jail I worked at, the inmates received better care than I did. The fact is most inmates are scum. Their families who make such a boo hoo about their son, brother, etc not receiving health care would be kicking their asses out into the street if they were required to care for them. They rise hell with the newspaper in hopes of setting themselves up so they can sue the state and no doubt the state will cave in and settle with them.
The Delaware Prison system does have problems. First they refuse to make public records public. Second, they have a shortage of guards. Third, they lack leadership. Most of all this leads back to Governor Minner.
Again, my answer to lack of guards at prisons is to hire foreign correctional officers. The chicken plants, construction companies, fast food places, etc all do it, why not state positions? New blood and a different outlook into the prison system is needed.
The common complain is the inmates are not receiving "Proper" health care. Lets take a realistic look at this. If the "inmates" were free and on their own they would be going to social services for health care or in most cases just ignoring any kind of health care. I understand the current cost for inmate health care in Delaware prisons is $25 million a year. The inmates complain about health problems because they receive a little special attention while in jail. It breaks up the day for them by going to see the Doctor or Nurse. Most have poor health habits and are in a poor state of health when they are jailed. Is it up to the state to return them to perfect health? At the Wicomico County jail I worked at, the inmates received better care than I did. The fact is most inmates are scum. Their families who make such a boo hoo about their son, brother, etc not receiving health care would be kicking their asses out into the street if they were required to care for them. They rise hell with the newspaper in hopes of setting themselves up so they can sue the state and no doubt the state will cave in and settle with them.
The Delaware Prison system does have problems. First they refuse to make public records public. Second, they have a shortage of guards. Third, they lack leadership. Most of all this leads back to Governor Minner.
Again, my answer to lack of guards at prisons is to hire foreign correctional officers. The chicken plants, construction companies, fast food places, etc all do it, why not state positions? New blood and a different outlook into the prison system is needed.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Politically Correct
As to be expected I am not someone who is politically correct. I think part of it is as you get older you realize you do not have much time left and you don't need to waste it on bullshit. I was talking to my daughter tonight about art history and the art history class she is taking at Delmar High school. She referred to a sculpture done in 400 BCE. Naturally I thought it should have been BC and anything after the birth of Christ was AD. At Delmar High School dates are referred to as BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era). Can you be anymore correct than that?
