News that the U.S. State Department had decided to move the FASTC project to another state was disappointing. Despite wide public support, State Department officials could not risk losing the FASTC project altogether to protracted litigation with Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, Inc. (“QACA”) with the Recovery Act expenditure clock ticking, even though they are knowingly establishing a “sue us and we will leave” precedent.
I disagree with Senator Mikulski that the process worked. How could it, when the process was hijacked before it could be completed. Gone are the 1,800-acre Bay Restoration component, hundreds of jobs, opportunities for local businesses including sheltered employment programs for the disabled, upgrades to the deadly 301/304 intersection, and broadband from Wye Mills to Elkton.
The FASTC demise is QACA’s crowning moment of an effort that started with their big wins in the 2002 County Commissioners’ election and has continued with the 2004 Commissioners’ board expansion and more success in the 2006 election. QACA has created a political environment that allowed them to rewrite the county’s economic story through legislation and litigation. Unfortunately, the QACA economic plan has proven unsustainable. The results are a shrinking commercial tax base, stunted residential tax revenue, and growing public debt service. Yet, the FASTC departure only strengthens QACA’s grip on Queen Anne’s County.
The facts have not changed: unemployment and underemployment remain high, there is little local opportunity for high school graduates, and private investment is stagnant. While there is cheering in Ruthsburg, residents elsewhere ponder how to maintain our schools, roads, and public safety and meet the county’s school construction and public facilities agenda without meaningful economic development or increased taxes at a time when the folks at home cannot face another bill.
QACA’s victory over FASTC comes with it the responsibility to show leadership in creating jobs and meaningful economic growth without fear of a lawsuit so that our community has a broad tax base that supports the public’s demand for services without more tax burden.
Stephen Z. Meehan practices law in Chestertown and is spokesman for the Eastern Shore Leadership Council, a 501(c)(3) organization that works for sustainable local economies and job growth.
Jimbo says
Dear Steve,
Many of us stayed on the Eastern Shore knowing the economic hit we would take. We chose this rural, family-oriented lifestyle understanding that “public services” would be unavailable. We take our own trash to the dump. We plow our lanes and our neighbors too. We donate to the local fire company whether or not we require their services. We help local food pantries. We accept the fact that internet service is hit or miss depending where we live. We depend on ourselves. As for the “county’s school construction and public facilities agenda” – maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what they are planning for our money; it really wouldn’t matter how much they had coming into the QAC coffers, they would spend every dime. QACA’s “grip” on Queen Anne’s County is a good thing. This is farm country. Markets are close, prices are fair. Nobody’s getting rich, but agriculture is sustainable. FASTC is just another flash in the pan, another bill of goods sold by outsiders who don’t seem to understand that we hold dearly the society and culture we have created here over the past 4 centuries. After all, it’s why we chose to stay and thrive with the help of our family and our neighbors.
Jimmy Reynolds
rachel carter goss says
“QACA’s victory over FASTC”..I must disagree with this statement – I don’t see this as a QACA victory – it’s a bully victory. i was surprised that the GSA didn’t turn and run after the first two public meetings in January. The percentage of the QA’s residents opposed to the FASTC being built in Ruthsburg seemed quite small to me. Unfortunately, the majority of that group were so rude that I think the GSA folks realized that another location would be much more attractive in the long run. I was born and raised on the Shore and was appalled by the behavior I witnessed.
“FASTC is just another flash in the pan,”..I must (sadly) agree with this statement – although I might change the word from Flash to Gift. What individual/group/business will want to invest in land on the Shore if they are going to be treated the way the GSA was treated? The land in Ruthsburg was for sale – out on the open real estate market. Someone else will want to buy it (eventually). I wonder if the next buyer will be willing to do with their purchase all of the things that QACA and the FASTC-Ops would like them to do. I think that the folks who are so dead-set in keeping Hunt Ray/Crismer as farms should buy the land. They can make a nice co-op farm with a DMV Fox Squirrel habitat on the back 40.
Hey – Why not? It’s a free country, right!
Bill says
Jimmy, while your prose is flowery and sweet, I’m sorry to say I don’t feel it holds much water. Queen Anne’s County is farm country. But it’s farm country owned primarily by farmers. Most, if not all, farmers are small business people whose equity is tied up in their land. The average farmer in Queen Anne’s County is about 200 acres. With the draconian zoning regulations that have been passed in recent years and probably about to be passed with the new comprehensive plan, many/most of these farmers may have to sell their lifeblood when the bad years come. And they will come. The years of 2002 through 2007 wiped out years of hard work. I know. I farm and lived through them. No longer will farmers be able to cut off some lots to pay expenses. And if it’s not the bad years that cause them to lose the farm, what’s going to happen when the last parent dies and the inheritance taxes kick in. This county’s leadership has done everything in it’s power, with the constant pushing of QACA, to increase the cost of building a home in this county. Biological nitrogen reduction septic systems which have not proven to help with pollution reduction at great cost; APFO ordinance, passed in the 11th hour with no debate or discussion, which took the number of lots available to the farmer from 19 to 4 . Just two of the things QACA has done too us. My favorite, though, is when the planning and zoning department, rewrote the zoning rules retroactively to prevent a disabled woman from developing a sand/gravel pit on her farm to help her pay medical bills and live a comfortable life. This was all done with the QACA in the background saying “do this” and “do that.” The people that run QACA are not from here. These so called evironmentalists are rich, retired and relocated. They live on the waterfront. They are bankers, doctors, lawyers, and in one case a retired planner for a company that built more houses than all the builders on the delmarva. What a hypocrite. These guys have never gotten their hands dirty in their life. They are smart though and they have all the time in the world. But Mr. Meehan is right. Queen Anne’s County is facing a $16,000,000 budget shortfall. Part of the budget problems are without a doubt from poor leadership and the poor spending choices they’ve made. A lot of the problem is from poor policy designed, pushed and promoted by greedy self serving rich guys, i.e., QACA.
rachel carter goss says
Bill – Kudos!
Jimbo says
Dear Bill,
I don’t know a soul involved with QACA, but I do know a whole bunch of ungreedy, non-self serving, fairly poor local individuals who are just fine with the County slowing growth.
rachel carter goss says
ungreedy, non-self serving, fairly poor local individuals :
What about all of the people who would just like to provide a good and comfortable life for themselves and their families…that attribute is neither greedy nor self-serving.
Unless I have am living in another universe, it takes money to buy groceries and clothing and insurance and gas for cars – to pay rent and make mortgage payments – to buy the things it takes to make/provide goods and services in order to make a living – like paint…wheat…ad space – to provide books and bus service for the children in the school systems…
“The only one sure thing is change” ge
Andrea says
Thanks, Steve, Rachel, and Bill ….
I am one of those MAJORITY of QA voters who supported the training center. I was also horrified at the reception we gave to this huge gift of federal funds which, guess what, would have preserved and improved at least 90% of the open space on the site. I was embarrassed at the vitriol and invective spouted by the same people who pride themselves on “small town courtesy.”
What will go there now? The land is still for sale (free market, remember that). How about another housing development to sit empty and lower all our housing values some more? Hog rendering plant? Smells yummy! Monoculture non-local farm? Sure, let’s send more money out of county. At least the Feds would have been constrained by their own copious rules & regs to minimize harm to the site.
What about the Ruthsburg store? I was so happy to see improvements finally being made to that previously dumpy site. I’m sure the owner went into no small amount of debt because of the business potential that was, and now is not, there.
What about our vastly-needed infrastructure improvements? Do you think anyone in their right minds will want to invest in this county after the way we abused GSA?
To the very small minority of you who made this not happen, congratulations, and I hope you don’t scream too loudly when this county remains economically stagnant for another 20 years. You can explain to your kids that they will have to go out-of-county if they want jobs, because Mommy and Daddy are beholden to some false ideal that never really existed. Taxpaying workers will continue to flee, and retirees will continue to flock here and not pay taxes.
I say this as a REGULAR QA voter : I will be watching who among my elected officials is enslaved to the QA”C”A and I assure you, not only will they never get my vote, but I will work tirelessly to remove them from office.
rachel carter goss says
Andrea – we may have been sisters in another life…
Please take the time to read the letter/comments on The Spy by Mrs. Ashley…
rcg
Gren Whitman says
Gosh! The letter to the Spy from Janie Eby Ashley and this op-ed comment by Steve Meehan suggest that Queen Anne’s County is in fact run by the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association; if so, a first in Maryland!
There seems to be so much resentment against newcomers and people who can t-h-i-n-k!
I’ve never been a witness to so much confusion.
Get a grip.
Here’s five suggestions for a QAC action plan:
(1) Send a citizens’ delegation to Kent County to learn how it’s done! Start with our county commissioners and Chestertown’s mayor.
(2) Elect town councils and county commissioners capable of working and planning together.
(3) Take and deep breath and agree on what’s good for the county and what’s not.
(4) Un-elect Del. Richard Sossi and elect a Democrat who can actually get things accomplished in Annapolis!
(5) Start with #4!
rachel carter goss says
Jimmy – Jay Falstad of QACA is one or two booths over from you in the Farmer’s Market 😉
Larry G. says
Good idea Kent County folks, let’s change counties for a spell. You all have LEADERSHIP in Kent. Queen Anne’s is in bad need of that talent. The egos have gotten in the way and the memories are short. Those in office have forgotten the voters who hired them and put them in office. So easy to see the errors when you do not live across the Chester Bridge in QAC. Keep us in your prayers in November when we attempt to sort this thing out but the prospects are not good or healthy. We face a very divided political community and county.
Brenda says
I came to QAC because friends told me that the people will work hard to keep government from building it up and turning it into Montgomery County. The first thing by colleague said to me is that the County Commissioners choose private schools for their kids and vote “our” way. Luckily, I have no kids, can afford private services, and don’t mind traveling across the bridge to shop. Mr. Meehan and the rest of you trying to raise your families in Queen Anne’s and Kent counties, I agree that FASTC and other development would be great for the county economically. But things that I don’t want come with better economics. Therefore, I vote for people who protect my interests and go after those who speak against my interests. That is the way the system works. I am poised for the good fight along with my checkbook.
Larry G. says
Mostly probably, FASTC will go to another place which will be up to the challenge. Obviously, Queen Anne’s does not fill that bill. However, Senator Barb could not get the job done, ditto The Congressman, ditto the County Commissioners, and the Ruthburg scene. All were frozen in fright and scared of the changes which would accompany their operation. Changes— jobs, boost for the businesses in the County, growth for the real estate, and many, many intelligent people who would come to the area for training, and clean growth! Each and every one of these advantages would add to the tax base and debt in Queen Anne’s County.
Wonder HOW these mentioned political folks would vote on this FASTC if they could do it over again? Queen Anne’s County comes out as a loser once again, because the officials did not bother to hear their citizens. They merely ran scared with a tiny group of ranting citizens from Ruthsburg. Wonder how many of them even voted in the last County election? Wonder how many will vote in the Fall, if they are even registered?