Challenge For the Candidates

[MMDad]

... what would you like us to discuss next?

What's your take on expanding the nuke plant? How about getting them to foot the bill for a second span in Solomons in exchange for tax breaks and easy approvals? If they balk, the county could insist on a traffic study to determine if there is adequate capacity for evacuation, and they could tie it up in the courts for years.

 

[residentofcre]

What's your take on expanding the nuke plant? How about getting them to foot the bill for a second span in Solomons in exchange for tax breaks and easy approvals? If they balk, the county could insist on a traffic study to determine if there is adequate capacity for evacuation, and they could tie it up in the courts for years.

Have you been reading my notes? I totally agree with your plan. I would definitely back that.

 

[residentofcre]

Yes I would, but only to bring the funds to the County's general fund. Then to properly discuss how those funds would be used. Such as building more roads to bypass usage on Rt.4. Just like the Prince Frederick loop road.

Becky, CRE already has a beautiful private freshwater lake, access to a Bay beach, twice over, campground facilities, equestrian center and more. What else do you want? What else will you pay for, and the CRE residents.
How do you envision "grant money" to be used within CRE? If something does get built in CRE, how are you with letting people outside of CRE using those facilities.

ROADS...

Without getting into specifics, there are about 100 miles of road in Calvert County that are not classified as County Roads or State Roads. We know that 66 miles are in CRE but that leaves another 34 miles in other communities. These roads use to be private. They are no longer private. They are not driveways, they are maintained by homeowners who can not afford them.

When we go pump gas the gas tax goes to the State. Then the State disperses the money to the County for the roads in the County system based on mileage. If you are buying gas and you live on a county road, the gas tax you paid in was fully returned to you. When someone who lives on one of these other roads buys gas, they get only a portion of the return.

One option that has been held out like a carrot has been the Municipality Route. CRE has been considering the question... and I am sure you realize that this would be a very costly proposition if they were to gather the necessary votes. The cost to the State and the County would be staggering at best.

Another option is to figure out a way to return the fuel tax to the communities for the roads that they maintain without current assistance. That is, if for example the county would recieve $200,000 for these roads if they were in the county system, the $200,000 would be distributed from the state through the county and into the community for services rendered. [these figures are made up.... but we have studied the process and it is worth the hassle]

This way the County does not have to maintain the roads, the easement and liability issues are still held in the community, and the roads are maintained.

Would you be willing to lobby for that?

Parks & Rec

As for the parks & rec funds.... I didn't have CRE in mind.... yes we have wonderful amenities.... we would not turn down matching grants but I was not referring to CRE in this matter.

All over the county there are vacant lots that, according to the original plan, were to be used as community playgrounds or parks. The problem is ... in these communities platted before 1980, the park was never built and the funding source was never defined. These vacant lots do nothing to enhance the community in the condition they are in.

Last year there were grants available for Parks. DNR had $6 Million dollars that the county could have requested and then distributed.

My plan, actually, was to hand this project over to the Common Ownership Infrastructure Advisory Committee [COIAC] for planning. It's rough but it's a beginning.

Just so you know... about 18% of the county lives in these Common Ownership communities.... so it's a pretty good idea.... in my opinion....

I don't under any circumstances want to take the tax dollars of the 82% and give it to the 18% but I do want to find funds for the 18% that the 18% has already contributed to. It's time we gave everyone in Calvert County the full use of the tax dollars they paid in.

 

[Vote Flaherty]

ROADS...

Without getting into specifics, there are about 100 miles of road in Calvert County that are not classified as County Roads or State Roads. We know that 66 miles are in CRE but that leaves another 34 miles in other communities. These roads use to be private. They are no longer private. They are not driveways, they are maintained by homeowners who can not afford them.

When we go pump gas the gas tax goes to the State. Then the State disperses the money to the County for the roads in the County system based on mileage. If you are buying gas and you live on a county road, the gas tax you paid in was fully returned to you. When someone who lives on one of these other roads buys gas, they get only a portion of the return.

One option that has been held out like a carrot has been the Municipality Route. CRE has been considering the question... and I am sure you realize that this would be a very costly proposition if they were to gather the necessary votes. The cost to the State and the County would be staggering at best.

Another option is to figure out a way to return the fuel tax to the communities for the roads that they maintain without current assistance. That is, if for example the county would recieve $200,000 for these roads if they were in the county system, the $200,000 would be distributed from the state through the county and into the community for services rendered. [these figures are made up.... but we have studied the process and it is worth the hassle]

This way the County does not have to maintain the roads, the easement and liability issues are still held in the community, and the roads are maintained.

Would you be willing to lobby for that?

Let's hypostasize some specifics.
Let's say the average vehicle gets 20 mpg,
and that the average CRE resident drives 5 miles to their home from any
CRE entrance and 5 miles out to exit CRE for a total 10 miles per day,
for a total of 3650 miles per year,
3650 miles divided 20 MPG gets us 183 gallons used,
183 gallons times the MD gas tax of .235 gets us $43.00 per car,
and lets' say 5000 cars are driven in/out of CRE every day of the year,
we get a grand total of $215,025 in gas taxes paid per year.

Now the State has to keep some to maintain the State owned roads
here in Calvert and elsewere. Let's say they keep 35%, that leaves
$139,766.

Although the calculation is simplistic in nature, it's probably pretty close.

I would have no problem forwarding this or a similar amount to the CRE
board, as long as CRE supplied a detailed road plan on how the funds
would be used. Earmaked for road use only.
And as a good faith effort on CRE's part, the CRE board could increase
their dues to match this amount. Let's say there are 3500 homes in CRE,
you would know the actual number Becky, that would be only $40 more
per year per household.

Is this doable Becky?

 

[residentofcre]

Let's hypostasize some specifics.
Let's say the average vehicle gets 20 mpg,
and that the average CRE resident drives 5 miles to their home from any
CRE entrance and 5 miles out to exit CRE for a total 10 miles per day,
for a total of 3650 miles per year,
3650 miles divided 20 MPG gets us 183 gallons used,
183 gallons times the MD gas tax of .235 gets us $43.00 per car,
and lets' say 5000 cars are driven in/out of CRE every day of the year,
we get a grand total of $215,025 in gas taxes paid per year.

Now the State has to keep some to maintain the State owned roads
here in Calvert and elsewere. Let's say they keep 35%, that leaves
$139,766.

Although the calculation is simplistic in nature, it's probably pretty close.

I would have no problem forwarding this or a similar amount to the CRE
board, as long as CRE supplied a detailed road plan on how the funds
would be used. Earmaked for road use only.
And as a good faith effort on CRE's part, the CRE board could increase
their dues to match this amount. Let's say there are 3500 homes in CRE,
you would know the actual number Becky, that would be only $40 more
per year per household.

Is this doable Becky?

In CRE they already pay more than that for road fees.... so that is indeed a workable plan.... Now.... what about the other 34 miles of roads.... Those associations don't have a "Roads" Fee but they maintain their roads out of a very very small amount....

 

[Midnightrider]

In CRE they already pay more than that for road fees.... so that is indeed a workable plan.... Now.... what about the other 34 miles of roads.... Those associations don't have a "Roads" Fee but they maintain their roads out of a very very small amount....

this is one person who will not be paying any more in road dues, we have been being taken for years and years with the roads fees, and hardly ever see any real work done.

why can't we get our tax money to go toward our roads without having to spend more money. Does anybody else in the state have to "match" the gas tax to see their roads reparied?

 

[Vote Flaherty]

In CRE they already pay more than that for road fees.... so that is indeed a workable plan.... Now.... what about the other 34 miles of roads.... Those associations don't have a "Roads" Fee but they maintain their roads out of a very very small amount....

Apply the same formula.

 

[Vote Flaherty]

this is one person who will not be paying any more in road dues, we have been being taken for years and years with the roads fees, and hardly ever see any real work done.

why can't we get our tax money to go toward our roads without having to spend more money. Does anybody else in the state have to "match" the gas tax to see their roads reparied?

I beleive the reason is because the of this. Of the total CRE 2006 budget,
$1,861,316, $986,784 is payroll. Over 50%
See here http://www.poacre.org/Committees/Communications/Roundup/July2005.html#budget

It seems to me that the CRE is not really focused on road maintenance as
it should be. I know I would be frustrated if I knew that half my dues went
to pay someone.

The CRE residents should demand from the board a detailed road
maintenance plan. $135, 000 does not buy a lot of "Supplies/Materials" this from is the road budget. You must get angry and active and force the board to change and be diligent for the same for the years ahead. I know it stinks, but any form govenment always needs its' feet held to the fire.

 

[residentofcre]

this is one person who will not be paying any more in road dues, we have been being taken for years and years with the roads fees, and hardly ever see any real work done.

why can't we get our tax money to go toward our roads without having to spend more money. Does anybody else in the state have to "match" the gas tax to see their roads reparied?

Mr Flaherty must not be aware that the homeowners in CRE already pay Road Fees on top of a Special Taxing District and maintenance and operating fees. The fees we already pay are more than the road tax... so we have already matched it before we begin lobbying. [If elected]....

The way it is now the Commissioners [and I believe all of the non-encumbent candidates with the exception of me] are saying they won't even go after the fuel tax that we in the Common Ownership Communities [private platted before 1980 with roads to maintain] pay in. I am looking for others to help us get that money.

FYI... I have already spoken with a couple of the people in Annapolis about this issue and it would fly if we lobby for it.... they would rather find a way to send the money back to the community than go through the building of a municipality. The people of CRE, Drum Point and numerous other communities need to make this an issue....

 

[residentofcre]

I beleive the reason is because the of this. Of the total CRE 2006 budget,
$1,861,316, $986,784 is payroll. Over 50%
See here http://www.poacre.org/Committees/Communications/Roundup/July2005.html#budget

It seems to me that the CRE is not really focused on road maintenance as
it should be. I know I would be frustrated if I knew that half my dues went
to pay someone.

The CRE residents should demand from the board a detailed road
maintenance plan. $135, 000 does not buy a lot of "Supplies/Materials" this from is the road budget. You must get angry and active and force the board to change and be diligent for the same for the years ahead. I know it stinks, but any form govenment always needs its' feet held to the fire.

Mr. Flaherty... you continue to make CRE the scapegoat just like everyone else does. There is a much bigger problem here. 18% of the poplulation of Calvert County is paying for services that they are not getting. That is over 14,000 residents. We go to the gas pump and pay the same fees as those who live in the rest of the county. The amount that we receive back from the same gas tax is not the same. The county does not plow our roads, the county does not trim the trees or replace road signs... and they refuse to do anything to assist us in times of emergency.

I am talking about the gas tax that we all pay in on top of the fees we pay to our HOA [whichever one it may be].

One more little tidbit for you. Our engineers were so busy working on state and county roads that we couldn't get them to give us the necessary plans to complet the Special Taxing District paving.... until we started to look elsewhere....

I made sure that the contract for the actual road construction has a time limit on it with fines so that we wouldn't be another 3 years while the price of materials and labor continues to rise.

 

[residentofcre]

Now here's a good one. Why are we paying, as taxpayers, to help house County employees? Everyone is in the same boat here. Why give preferential treatment to one group over another? Because it make good politics?!
It is a bad plan that ignores the main problem. Runaway housing costs due to way too much cheap money and loose lending standards. A national problem created by the US Gov't and Federal Reserve. Not just a problem unique to Calvert County.

And, "workforce housing" is just another term for affordable.

Our fire and rescue volunteers are not clamoring for pay or benefits. They just want the County to properly support them with the funds they require for equipment maintenance, new equipment and the like.

One of the incumbent candidates was bragging to me lately that he was working to make workforce housing more affordable by offering this carrot to county employees. I asked him how he could approve of using public money for private property [for a county employee]. His reply to me was "the state does it... we're only matching the funds".

This program is in place and funds have already been handed out [with much fanfare I might add]. At least two of the current commissioners have bragged about this effort as one of their finest....

Here's another one for you. What do you think about the generous real estate tax credit? The same commissioners that are so proud of assisting county employees buy a home are also saying the real estate tax credit will take care of the tax increas. "Afterall, it's a savings for anyone who qualifies"

I looked into it.... if your home is worth under $300K [after the new accessment and you make less than $50K gross household income than you qualify. You and I were at the HFAC rally. You know as well as I do that there are very few people in Calvert County who will be able to take advantage of this tax credit.

 

[Sharon]

I beleive the reason is because the of this. Of the total CRE 2006 budget,
$1,861,316, $986,784 is payroll. Over 50%
See here http://www.poacre.org/Committees/Communications/Roundup/July2005.html#budget

It seems to me that the CRE is not really focused on road maintenance as
it should be.

We could save almost $250K/yr. if we just got rid of the totally USELESS security department.

Thankfully, we did get rid of the old biddies that "guarded" our entrances/gates by sitting on their azz watching TV.

 

[Midnightrider]

We could save almost $250K/yr. if we just got rid of the totally USELESS security department.

Thankfully, we did get rid of the old biddies that "guarded" our entrances/gates by sitting on their azz watching TV.

i agree, now that the gates are down, our security concerns could be seen to by th police as in a normal community, and the amenities can be overseen by seasonal help.

 

[residentofcre]

We could save almost $250K/yr. if we just got rid of the totally USELESS security department.

Thankfully, we did get rid of the old biddies that "guarded" our entrances/gates by sitting on their azz watching TV.

I tried to do that.... For years CRE has been afraid to loose the security guards because at the Neighborhood Watch meetings the police keep talking about how they know the people and they catch them for the police.

I keep saying we don't get fair representation.... I want equal protection under the law.... I love CRE but I don't think the old system of security is a workable plan anymore. With all the taxes we are paying to the county, they should be happy to put full time police officers in our community around the clock....

 

[Sharon]

With all the taxes we are paying to the county, they should be happy to put full time police officers in our community around the clock....

We did at one time. I don't know about it now though. If you need MSP or CCS they will come out. They have legal authority here. They have radar patrol often enough. Who needs the monkey force. We'd save on salaries, vehicles, gas, and insurance. If you call CRE security, most likely all they'll do is ask if you called the cops.

Over the years, some of the CRE security detail has been provided by... a-hole ex-cops, power hungry wanna-be's, and (a rumor I heard) a registered sex offender. <--- Any truth to that last part? :shrug:

 

[residentofcre]

We did at one time. I don't know about it now though. If you need MSP or CCS they will come out. They have legal authority here. They have radar patrol often enough. Who needs the monkey force. We'd save on salaries, vehicles, gas, and insurance. If you call CRE security, most likely all they'll do is ask if you called the cops.

Over the years, some of the CRE security detail has been provided by... a-hole ex-cops, power hungry wanna-be's, and (a rumor I heard) a registered sex offender. <--- Any truth to that last part? :shrug:

I don't know if the last part is true.

One thing I am sure of is that this is just one more example of why we should either become a municipality [which will cost the county and state the most money] or get our fair share for all the taxes we pay in. I'm not just talking about CRE either.... I am talking about all of the old private communities that are no longer private.

I have found that the people who reside in these communities have always been willing to pay a fair share for the maintenance of the common properties. We pay these taxes in though, and we should get something back for them. The fuel tax is a major example. This would not cost the other residents of the county a singe red cent.

 

[Vote Flaherty]

Mr. Flaherty... you continue to make CRE the scapegoat just like everyone else does. There is a much bigger problem here. 18% of the poplulation of Calvert County is paying for services that they are not getting. That is over 14,000 residents. We go to the gas pump and pay the same fees as those who live in the rest of the county. The amount that we receive back from the same gas tax is not the same. The county does not plow our roads, the county does not trim the trees or replace road signs... and they refuse to do anything to assist us in times of emergency.

I am talking about the gas tax that we all pay in on top of the fees we pay to our HOA [whichever one it may be].

I am not making CRE a scapegoat, I am only calling it as I see it. And your
statement "...and they refuse to do anything to assist us in times of
emergency." Give me one example where the County refused
assistance in an emergancy to CRE residents. And please, give us some
numbers to back up your arguments.
How much money are we talking here. A percentage of gas taxes for roads
is one thing. But you see, if the County were to give CRE more than that, or
perform other services outside of those funds for CRE roads and other
maintenance, you would have to allow other county residents access to CRE
amenities. Because then some portion of all Calvert residents taxes
would be used to fund CRE projects.

Maybe the best solution to this problem is for CRE to give all the roads
in CRE to the County. Or, maybe the leadership of CRE will have to bite the bullet and raise those road fees and actually spend it on that.
But nothing is going to happen unless CRE residents demand proper
leadership from those they elect to represent them.
You can't have it both ways if you want to remain a private community
and restrict access to CRE assets.

I am not trying to be adversarial here Becky, just calling it as I see and
am always open to further discussion.

 

[residentofcre]

I am not making CRE a scapegoat, I am only calling it as I see it. And your
statement "...and they refuse to do anything to assist us in times of
emergency." Give me one example where the County refused
assistance in an emergancy to CRE residents. And please, give us some
numbers to back up your arguments.
How much money are we talking here. A percentage of gas taxes for roads
is one thing. But you see, if the County were to give CRE more than that, or
perform other services outside of those funds for CRE roads and other
maintenance, you would have to allow other county residents access to CRE
amenities. Because then some portion of all Calvert residents taxes
would be used to fund CRE projects.

Maybe the best solution to this problem is for CRE to give all the roads
in CRE to the County. Or, maybe the leadership of CRE will have to bite the bullet and raise those road fees and actually spend it on that.
But nothing is going to happen unless CRE residents demand proper
leadership from those they elect to represent them.
You can't have it both ways if you want to remain a private community
and restrict access to CRE assets.

I am not trying to be adversarial here Becky, just calling it as I see and
am always open to further discussion.

CRE does a better job of clearing the roads than the county does. Some of the people in Drum Point are disappointed with the maintenance performance of the county on the two roads that were recently taken into the County System. We have the talent, and the equipment.... we just need the money to take care of our own roads.

Unfortunately, CRE is trapped by covenents. They cannot raise the road fees more than the cola %. I would prefer to talk about all common ownership communities and not just CRE, however: We have made some very excellent progress in the past year.... like:

We have paved more roads, outside of the Special Taxing District, this year than any other in the last 6.
Our Special Taxing District paving has progressed further this year than in any of the past 3 years.
We have also started the work on upgrading and updating our amenities which has never been done in the history of CRE [which only began in 1991].
I developed a survey, it was published in the Round Up Times and the return was actually as good as the County showed in the last election voting %.
We also re-wrote the rules and regulations to include animal control changes that should have been done years ago.
I also instigated the change in CPA firms by bringing in a Southern Maryland Firm this year to help us streamline the daily functions.
We are in the process of a 30 year plan which should be ready for a special membership meeting before the spring meeting.
Finally we are re-writing our building regulations. The section on new homes should be done within the next couple of months. There is some clean up and a couple more informational meetings before it will be ready to present for a vote.

Up until Isabel FEMA funds were never available for any disaster. In 1992 the Ice storm tore thru CRE and other communities. None of the communities had any assistance with clearing the paths to get any emergency vehicles in or out. Also.... since Isabel... we have been informed by the county that we do not qualify for FEMA funds again because that was a one time shot. It's a good thing the Federal Government sees it differently. We have never gotten MEMA or LOCAL funding.

I am glad you are worried about sounding adversarial... that means we are talking these issues out...

When we really start discussing both sides of the issue here in this forum we sound meaner than we are.... I am actually smiling with every post.... It's amazing that we can discuss the issues like this .... some of the things we can talk about in the forum have never seen the light of open discussion before. They need to be talked about and straightened out....

I sent an email to Doug Parran and asked him to join us. He says he does not do "chit chat". This is great discussion.... I hope he will change his mind. I have had no reply from any of the other candidates.

 

[luthersomd]

questions???

THe "Ice Storm" was in 1994. How did you all get FEMA support after ISABEL? Did they just come down out of the goodness of their hearts? Or was there political support to get those funds?
Perhaps a little credit is due here!!

 

[residentofcre]

THe "Ice Storm" was in 1994. How did you all get FEMA support after ISABEL? Did they just come down out of the goodness of their hearts? Or was there political support to get those funds?
Perhaps a little credit is due here!!

Yes... credit is due... and sorry... I meant '94...

We are very happy that our Delegate O'Donnell and Senator Dyson got them to help us. The only way we could get that assistance was the Special Taxing District classified us as a "Quasi Government" not unlike a municipality.