CRE Board Considers Fuel Tax Revenue

[residentofcre]

The following is my opinion. I have not passed this by the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Ranch Estates.... I am looking for your input...

The Board of Directors of Chesapeake Ranch Estates has been offered the opportunity to receive a share of the fuel tax paid at the pump in Calvert County. If accepted, these funds are to be used for the maintenance of about 66 miles of road in the community.

The Community used to be gated. A vote of the membership almost a decade ago, called for the removal of the gates. After the removal of the gates, a third entrance opened near the intersection at HG Truman Road and Rousby Hall Road. The road from HG Truman Road to Gunsmoke which created the new entrance, was installed by the County after the community agreed not to put up gates to close the road to county traffic.

Although the legislation which would allow the County to draw down funds from the State in order to return them to the community has been in place for some time, this is the first time the legislation has been used in Calvert County. The research and legwork was largely accomplished by Ed Harvey, President of the POACRE Board 2005-2007 and John Gray, past President of the Board of Drum Point.

As we all know, though, there is always another side to any story....

There are members of the Board who would stop the funds from coming into the community. Among the reasons these members have found to complain are the requirement that the community allow the roads to remain open [leave the gates down] forever, allow the County to have an easement [so so the roads become part of the County inventory to be maintained by CRE], and some say it's not enough, because at this point the vehicle registration will not be passed through to the community. There are also some who are opposed fearing the county is only after the beaches, ponds, and lakes. These opponents say that a road easement would allow the county to exceed the land on either side of the paved surface allowing them to take over Seahorse Beach.

Your comments and insight are requested by me....

 

[This_person]

The following is my opinion. I have not passed this by the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Ranch Estates.... I am looking for your input...

The Board of Directors of Chesapeake Ranch Estates has been offered the opportunity to receive a share of the fuel tax paid at the pump in Calvert County. If accepted, these funds are to be used for the maintenance of about 66 miles of road in the community.

The Community used to be gated. A vote of the membership almost a decade ago, called for the removal of the gates. After the removal of the gates, a third entrance opened near the intersection at HG Truman Road and Rousby Hall Road. The road from HG Truman Road to Gunsmoke which created the new entrance, was installed by the County after the community agreed not to put up gates to close the road to county traffic.

Although the legislation which would allow the County to draw down funds from the State in order to return them to the community has been in place for some time, this is the first time the legislation has been used in Calvert County. The research and legwork was largely accomplished by Ed Harvey, President of the POACRE Board 2005-2007 and John Gray, past President of the Board of Drum Point.

As we all know, though, there is always another side to any story....

There are members of the Board who would stop the funds from coming into the community. Among the reasons these members have found to complain are the requirement that the community allow the roads to remain open [leave the gates down] forever, allow the County to have an easement [so so the roads become part of the County inventory to be maintained by CRE], and some say it's not enough, because at this point the vehicle registration will not be passed through to the community. There are also some who are opposed fearing the county is only after the beaches, ponds, and lakes. These opponents say that a road easement would allow the county to exceed the land on either side of the paved surface allowing them to take over Seahorse Beach.

Your comments and insight are requested by me....

Can you cut this down even more succinctly?

What do you need to do to get money from the county, specifically?

If you take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents?

If you DON'T take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents?

 

[tommyjones]

Can you cut this down even more succinctly?

What do you need to do to get money from the county, specifically?

If you take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents?

If you DON'T take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents?

I think that if we do get this extra money from the county that the HOA should REFUND an equal amount to each member in good standing as we are already being double taxed by the HOA for the roads via the STD of $250/ year, AND the roads fee of about $175/year.

If this money is recovered by the HOA, i think the roads fee should be returned to the members.

 

[residentofcre]

What do you need to do to get money from the county, specifically? We would have to grant them an easement... allow others to use the roads that we build and maintain at will...

If you take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? It would mean a return of at least $100,000 per year of the taxes we pay at the pump

If you DON'T take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? Things will stay as they are now and the money will continue to be used all over the State...

 

[This_person]

What do you need to do to get money from the county, specifically? We would have to grant them an easement... allow others to use the roads that we build and maintain at will...

Isn't that the way it is now?

If you take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? It would mean a return of at least $100,000 per year of the taxes we pay at the pump

If you DON'T take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? Things will stay as they are now and the money will continue to be used all over the State...

So, things would effectively stay the same, but you'd have about $100,000/year? Would you then, as suggested above, lower the fees by $100,000 for the property owners?

 

[Toxick]

What do you need to do to get money from the county, specifically? We would have to grant them an easement... allow others to use the roads that we build and maintain at will...

Without gates, can't they do that anyway? What's to stop anyone from zipping into CRE at any time and ride along the roads?

If you take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? It would mean a return of at least $100,000 per year of the taxes we pay at the pump

Would this mean our normal dues would go down? At least the road fees?

If you DON'T take it, what does that mean in difference to the residents? Things will stay as they are now and the money will continue to be used all over the State...

bleah...



Sounds to me like the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[residentofcre]

The idea of lowering the fees may be premature.

If we turned the road fees into paving funds, widened and paved more roads, then we could bring in more fuel taxes... the complete 66 miles of road [paved] would generate more income than the mileage we have now.

There are also some who feel that the county gaining an easement at our amenities mean they will take them from us. This is, in their opinion, a problem. I see their point... the far outside possibility might exist... but what would be the benefit? There is no parking, the beach requires upkeep, and is a real money pit after a hurricane. The majority of our common property would not be affected by any easements we give...

It is a membership vote... not a board vote... and it will require "giving up" an easement... this is something CRE has not done in the past.

What if the easement caused the county to have enough land and easement to extend Lusby Parkway all the way through to Gunsmoke... would that make a difference in your vote?

 

[residentofcre]

This was posted in my Karma

"Can we open up the other roads that lead out of the ranch club, its not gated anymore why are the closed. IE: Coyote to Rousby Hall and the road that connects the ranch club and drum point."

That's really an interesting take on this topic...

There is currently a petition going around to open up a fourth entrance at the end of Little Cove Point. There have been requests over the years that we open up the gates all over the community.

Using Coyote & Rousby Hall, there has always been a gate there, so those on Coyote have been living with that possibility for years. Those at the end of Little Cove Point Road have had a quiet cul de sac in their back yards. At Coyote there would be no added cost to open the gate. At the end of Little Cove Point Road, there would be a cost of at least $100,000 to pave Bunk House down to Little Cove Point. People who live on a quite cul de sac would now live right on a busy intersection. People who have homes between Little Cove Point Road would now live in a median strip. What a change that would be, going from raising children on a quiet cul de sac, to living in the middle of a raceway. We already have a problem with speeding now that we are paving roads.

Likewise, those of us who live near the new shopping at Rousby Hall and HG Truman have already seen an increase in trash in our yards due to the increased traffic. Upgrading the roads in the community leads to these problems as well.... Has anyone see the movie Cars?

So the question remains, do we take the money and finish our upgrade and then do away with some of the fees? Or do we keep the status quo?

See I knew there was a good reason to check Karma periodically... thanks for that...

 

[exnodak]

I have my entire life's investment in my home in CRE. I have paid dues for more than a decade for the privilege of accessing private amenities. Many more of our members have paid since the 60's only to see Board after Board give away the last remaining vestige of their hopes and dreams.

The last thing in the world I want is to be living in the path between a public beach and the rest of the world. Once the easement is signed, our amenities become public without the right to say "no". That's OK with me, but I expect a refund of all the dues I've paid to keep them private since I've been here.

The easement that has been signed by the CRE President (and rejected by DPPOA) isn't restricted to travel across our roads. It isn't specific enough for that, so it is basically giving the county the right of access to do anything they want on the common properties INCLUDING PUBLIC SEWERS. The temporary nature of the current agreement gives them plenty of time to do the engineering studies they need before a more permanent situation can be arranged. After that, they have a clear shot.

Then there is the spectre of gambling. As we've seen in Connecticut, the County Economic Development Authority saw it fit to take peoples homes to make shopping centers on the water front. Once there are public easements here, what is to stop the County or the State from taking the clubhouse and beach and stables for a new casino? We even have an Airstrip for the "high rollers". The only thing that would stop this is keeping the roads "PRIVATE- NO COUNTY FUNDS".

I've heard all the statements I need about "They already drive on our roads". That is NOT and argument, its an excuse. There is a big difference between not enforcing access to our private road system, and giving away the entire system of defense that bulwarks our privacy. There is a big difference between being tolerant of trespassers, and giving them a right to trespass.

How much of the money that is expected in this deal will have to be expended to cover the repairs necessary because of the added burden of the extra traffic? If you know anything about decaying roads, it takes only a little additional traffic burden to increase the maintenance costs exponentially. I doubt seriously that the quid pro quo is sufficient to even cover the additional damages.

Then there is the liability insurance. We are already overburdened with liability premiums due to a lot of bad decisions by the POACRE Board. By keeping our roads private we have a thin veil of protection if some kid from DC comes down here and kills himself on our roads. However, if we INVITE public access, the insurance will skyrocket. We could see $100,000/year in premiums.

Then there is our non-profit status. The kind of easement and the payment by the County is INCOME. And, because it is in the form of a lease, it is taxable income. And it is taxable at CORPORATE rates. This Board could destroy our 501-c-3 standing by conducting themselves in this manner.

But, above all, the agreement that has been signed is simply not legally entered, and is null and void. An easement, whether its temporary or permanent, is a transfer of property title and/or lease. The POACRE Board is specifically barred (POACRE Bylaws "Powers and Responsibilities of the Board, Section 5, Article (m)) from making any such agreement without consent of the majority of homeowners. But, as we've seen in the past with the LTC entrance, such "void" agreements tend to stand.

 

[Pushrod]

We already have a problem with speeding now that we are paving roads.

Why doesn't CRE put in speed bumps on the side roads that are being paved to cut down on the speeding? Even on the unpaid roads. This most definetly works on keeping the speeds down and is not THAT great of an expense.