Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce

In a surprise move the Wicomico County Council chose Dr. Rene Desmarais as the new County Executive.

He beat out the odds on favorite Republican Delegate Carl Anderton as well as former county employee Michele Ennis.

The vote was four to three with Council President Larry Dodd and council members Nicole Acle, Ernie Davis and Joe Holloway voting for him.

Supporting Anderton were council members Council Vice President John Cannon and council members Bill McCaine Josh Hastings.

Wicomico County hosted its first annual boat parade and resource fair yesterday as it Goes Purple this month to mark the drug addiction epidemic.

The awareness event saw several boats decorated with the color as they traveled down the Wicomico River to the Brew River Restaurant.

WBOC reports that there were vendors set up to educate people about addiction and ways to fight the opioid epidemic.

Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver has called for Council President John Cannon to step down from his leadership position.

Culver issued a three page letter outlining his complaints yesterday.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that they include the former Poplar Hill pre-release corrections facility on Nanticoke Road.

Officials want to make it a residential drug treatment center.

But Culver says Cannon has not been responsive on the issue.

In addition, he complained that Cannon has interfered with the county executive functions.

The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce has been out discussing Wicomico County’s property tax revenue cap after a series of recommendations that include replacing it or eliminating it altogether.

The measure approved in 2001 limits an increase in the revenue from the property tax to 2 percent a year or the Consumer Price Index whichever is less.  

Any change would take five of the seven votes on the county council.

John Palmer who spearheaded the original cap told WBOC that adjusting the cap would be “political suicide”.

Wicomico County handed over a check yesterday for $265-thousand to fund scholarships for qualifying students who attend Wor-Wic Community College.

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore will handle the funds and distribute the money for the scholarships.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that the students must be Wicomico County residents and recent high school graduates.

The money will cover their tuition and fees.

This year they must apply by July 29th.

They must also maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

The Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder says Wicomico County must find a compromise between residents and poultry growers over the proposed mega-chicken house in Wicomico County.

In addressing the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce this week he said he recognized the importance of the poultry industry calling it “the lifeblood of the economy” on the Eastern Shore.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that he added that there have to be parameters for such operations.

The Torches Event will not be part of the annual Salisbury Festival.

That’s the word from the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.

WBOC reports that Chamber President Ernie Colburn sited potential copyright infringement and not meeting the standards of the Chamber.

The event was a way to show appreciation for the arts community in downtown Salisbury.  

Salisbury property owners are going to see a new fee.

This one that is set to take effect next year would pay for efforts to curb flooding and reduce pollution spilling into the waterways that flow into the Chesapeake Bay.

The City Council unanimously approved the storm water fee whose dollars will be dedicated to upgrading the city’s failing drainage system.

The measure survived a last ditch effort by the CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Ernie Colburn.

He wanted the council to wait until the incoming Republican Governor Larry Hogan takes office.