To the Editor:<\/p>\n
If so many people on both sides agree that Ocean City should acquire the old Perry-Egan Chevrolet lot for public purposes, how did this become so divisive?\u00a0 Many have blamed Michael Hinchman for causing the uncertainty by raising doubts about the two appraisals upon which the City based its $9 million-dollar offer.<\/p>\n
But Mr. HInchman had help in creating uncertainty. We haven\u2019t forgotten that last year, with the exception of Councilman Barr and Councilman Hartzell, the other 5 Council members believed the Tennessee Ave. property was worth paying $700,000 for.\u00a0 When the Administration decided not to go through with the deal we found out the true fair market value last summer when the willing seller met the willing buyer – for $350,000!\u00a0 So, it should be understandable when not everyone shares Council\u2019s certainty.<\/p>\n
Of course, real estate values go up over time. By that simple logic everyone who has sold a property in Ocean City over the past 150 years has been a fool.\u00a0 It\u2019s the pitch that all sellers\u2019 agents use.\u00a0 But the elected officials represent the tax-paying buyers.\u00a0 Does it increase your feeling of certainty to hear them talk like sellers\u2019 agents?<\/p>\n
So why does Council feel so offended? Councilman DeVlieger even said they should place a plaque of shame on the property with all our names on it after the Klause\u2019s build their coastal cottages.\u00a0 I understand that they are convinced $9 million is a \u201ctake it or leave it\u201d offer.\u00a0 Maybe it is.\u00a0 Or, maybe the Klause\u2019s are just the more persuasive negotiators.\u00a0 According to Mr. Klause we will all know soon enough.\u00a0 By October 31st<\/sup> permits will be in hand, pilings will be \u201cin the ground,\u201d and the buyers eager to pay more than $9 million will come out of the shadows.<\/p>\n And that will teach us one more truth. If the sellers are that eager to move forward now, all that talk about doing something good for the City because \u201cit was the right thing to do\u201d was nothing more than words of sentiment with no substance.\u00a0 So, go ahead and build that plaque of shame.\u00a0 Put all our names on it.\u00a0 But be sure to put the sellers\u2019 names at the top where they belong.<\/p>\n We will also learn something about our Council representatives. Pay close attention to the ones who like to brag that \u201cthe City wins either way.\u201d\u00a0 Those will be the ones who didn\u2019t really care whether the City gets the public use or the rateables.<\/p>\n The real test of their desire to do something good for the future of the City will be how confidently they assert our (the peoples & taxpayers) constitutional right of emanant domain. Some will tell you that we shouldn\u2019t do that because we have tried it before and lost.\u00a0 That tells me we should find new trial lawyers.\u00a0 It feels like the coaches on our team are telling us, \u201cwe can\u2019t play against that other team because we have lost before. \u00a0So, let\u2019s not try.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t doubt the Mayor\u2019s good intention here. I believe he does weigh the costs and benefits of every lawsuit the City is part of.\u00a0 I\u2019m convinced he is sincere in believing he acts in the best interests of the City every time.\u00a0 But there is another cost that is uncalculatable.\u00a0 When companies, or cities, or lawyers settle too many cases they attract predators.\u00a0 There\u2019s an old saying: \u201cmillions for trial, not one cent for tribute.\u201d\u00a0 This may be a costly choice at first, but for us, it won\u2019t be in the millions.\u00a0 And in the long run it will be worth it.\u00a0 All will learn not to take Ocean City lightly in the future.<\/p>\n So, if those we elected to represent us are unwilling to fight for us, remember to include their names to that plaque of shame as well.<\/p>\n Jim Tweed, former President of Fairness In Taxes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To the Editor: If so many people on both sides agree that Ocean City should acquire the old Perry-Egan Chevrolet lot for public purposes, how did this become so divisive?\u00a0 Many have blamed Michael Hinchman for causing the uncertainty by raising doubts about the two appraisals upon which the City based its $9 million-dollar offer. …<\/p>\n