Referendum petition pops up to stop Ocean City’s purchase of World Gym
OCEAN CITY, Md. – Ocean City is in the process of purchasing World Gym. World Gym is apart of the new water treatment plan in Ocean City, acting like a puzzle piece for their construction on 66 and 67th street. We’re told this site is centrally located for the whole length of the island.
There are three water treatment plants in the area and we learned a week ago, that the one they want to replace is close to 60 years old. Public Works Director, Hal Adkins says, “It’s getting near it’s useful life there’s no room for expansion or no room for long range planning for desalinization, should we face chloride level issues. So it was a wise move. We’re actually purchasing it from the bank that owns and by law we are required to pass an ordinance.”
After the council passed the first and second ordinance, community members began to voice concerns. Tony Christ believes this would cost taxpayers money. “It’s actually funded by one of the biggest bonds in Ocean City, $28 million bond so it is tied to water bill it’s tied to taxes too,” Christ tells us.
In order to get the ball rolling, Christ teamed up with a former councilman Vincent Gisriel to create a petition referendum. “A property like this just a few feet of Coastal Highway is much more valuable as a commercial property or residential and we lose tax revenue when we buy up properties,” Gisriel says.
And while we couldn’t get Mayor Rick Meehan on camera, the town of Ocean City did release a statement:
“The purchase of this specific Parcel of property is Part N Parcel to a much larger planning effort that involves the bayside block of land located between 66th and 67th Streets. Though the Petitioner, who is not a Public Works Official nor Engineer, indicates there are “…..other properties” and “….would be better suited on a different piece of property…”, I, as Public Works Director for Ocean City for 35 years, am at a loss as to what ,nor where, they are referencing. Further, the property is owned by Wells Fargo and was recently acquired by them due to a foreclosure on the Gym. The Town is in fact purchasing the property from a “willing seller”. Additionally, and for total clarity and transparency, this is NOT a taxpaying entity as the Petition alludes. The Gym owner had failed to pay taxes (State, County, and Local) for the last three years amassing a tax burden in excess of $71,000.”
This will petition will be open for 40 days and they need 1,027 signatures, which is a percentage of the registered voters.
The treatment plant project includes World Gym coupled with the recent purchase of the VFW Facility and the eventual purchase of the Parcel owned by Sandpiper Energy.
If everything goes as planned, they will likely break ground five years from now.
As for the referendum petition, it will be up and available until January 29th.
