Wicomico Co. Exec. responds to calls for Jeep event cancelation

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Wicomico County and Salisbury leaders continue to butt heads over an upcoming Jeep event.

Doubling Down

Safari at the Quarry is set to rumble near Connelly Mill Road on May 4th and 5th.

That’s despite growing calls to cancel the event from residents, the County Council, and Salisbury City Council. On April 19th, the City of Salisbury sent a letter to event vendor, Live Wire Media. In the letter, city leaders informed the company that the property is not zoned for such an event.

However, Monday morning, Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano doubled down on the fact that the event will indeed happen. In a release, Giordano disagreed. She said that her office’s attorneys had determined that the county was exempt from zoning regulations as a governmental agency. Giordano added that the county was also exempt because the event is publicly ticketed.

USSSA Tourney at Risk?

Giordano also brought a new, hypothetical situation into the mix. Will the City of Salisbury try to block events from happening on other county-owned property? Specifically, Giordano made the point of proper usage of the Henry S. Parker Complex in Salisbury. The complex is home to ballfields, walking trails, and other amenities.

“The Complex was constructed in a conservation zone which does not allow such recreational activities to take place,” wrote Giordano. “But, because we, as a governmental agency, are exempt from zoning regulations, we were able to provide a space for all citizens to enjoy and play ball.”

The Executive expressed concern that the City may call for other major events at the Parker complex to be canceled.

“What is to say that they will not do the same thing to Henry S. Parker Complex which we rent to various sporting events, including the USSSA Softball World Series,” Giordano posited. “Are we not going to be able to provide an adaptive space for disabled children to play ball? Will we have to get rid of the sensory trails or sensory pods?”

Giordano ended her statement by calling on county residents. She asked them to contact city leaders to ensure they had no plans of canceling such an event.

Salisbury Mayor Responds

Mayor Randy Taylor tells WMDT that the City’s calls for cancellation of Safari at the Quarry only came after due diligence.

“I had our planning department look at the zoning, and had our attorney look at the zoning, and render an opinion. We sent that letter of what that opinion was. Now, where we go from here is a decision we’re going to have to make on the basis of the facts,” Mayor Taylor said. “I’m not sure all the facts are on the table at this time, but we can certainly settle it, I think, amicably.”

The mayor added that the City does not currently have any plans to cancel the USSSA Softball World Series. He added that, had Safari at the Quarry been properly planned for, the conversation around it may have been much different.

“It’s a matter of just interpreting the existing zoning code, and not having a full opinion,” Mayor Taylor said. “The folks who do the same event over in Ocean City had to get an environmental study, had to get an environmental impact study, had to get a permit. So, there were a bunch of things that they had to do, relative to their use of the property.”

Previously, Wicomico County Council also pushed for Safari at the Quarry to be canceled. WMDT reached out to Council President John Cannon, and did not hear back.