Weekly Update

Police Activities:

• Police assisted a resident at Carson Court (Butler's Village Town homes) in gaining access to her residence after she locked herself out with her child inside the residence.
• Horntown resident Boyd Sylvester reported that someone had removed a CD player from his vehicle while it was parked at Wal-mart.
• Wal-mart security contacted the police department and requested assistance with a trespassing subject. Police identified Oliver Savage as the trespasser and found that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant. He was incarcerated under a $1500.00 bond in the Worcester County Jail.
• Police assisted the Maryland State Police by stopping a vehicle being sought for a previous robbery of the Goose Creek Store in Westover. The investigation is continuing.
• Judy Lynn Wodjcik was charged with possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance Paraphernalia.
• Police attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Marlon Jenkins. Jenkins refused to stop and eventually abandoned his vehicle on McMichael Avenue and fled away on foot. Drug paraphernalia was located inside his vehicle. A warrant has been obtained for his arrest on these charges.
• Jinika Collick reported the theft of her purse from her unlocked vehicle located at 107 Hickory Street.
• Following a traffic stop, Police issued Jose Antonio Rayes 12 citations for various violations as well as one for an alcohol violation.
• The residents at 101 Hampshire Terrace reported the theft of approximately $40.00 in change from an unlocked vehicle on their property.

Finance Department:

• This week we received a check from Worcester County in the amount of $279,000.00 as their portion of annual support for the Pocomoke City Department of EMS. This was approximately $7,000.00 more than we had estimated in the current budget.

Public Works:

• A lot of grass cutting this week at various sites
• Site preparation for a new shed to be delivered next week in which the Waste Water Treatment Plant will store chemicals.
• A new Street Sweeper will be on display in front of City Hall on Monday night. It will be recommended to the Mayor and Council for purchase.

Old Business:

• Letters have been exchanged with the owner of the Willow Street buildings which have been the subject of a Repair/Demolish Order for the past year. The owner, Rev. Collins, is expected to be at the Monday night meeting of the Mayor and Council to provide his plan for rehabilitation or demolition of the property in question.

Saturday Concert in the Park

Don't forget this Saturday in Cypress Park:


September 8 "SpontaneousCombustion"

Picnic & Concert in Cypress Park
Cypress Park at the Band Stand.Bring a lawn chair food available. Southern Rock, Blues and Hits of the 70's, 80's and 90's.Free boat rides aboard the "Bay Queen" with paid admission!
Admission is only $5. 443-735-0957 for more info

Remembering The Good Reverend

The following are the remarks I offered at the funeral service conducted for Reverend Tom Wall on Wednesday afternoon at Salem United Methodist Church.

Remembering Reverend Tom Wall

The obituary marking this great man’s passing reads:

"He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Corrine; his son, Thomas, Jr. and his wife, Mae Lynn, all of Pocomoke City; and his daughter, Christine, of Fruitland."

Contained in that sentence is one of the greatest double meanings I have ever read. It is clear the writer intended to indicate that Corrine, Tommy, and Mae Lynn all live in Pocomoke City which is true. What is equally true is that “Pocomoke City” is one of the good reverend’s “survivors”.

“Survivors” are those who carry on the legacy. They are the remnant of our lives and they are our character personified. Reverend Wall had expectations that his children and his children’s children would carry on the traits which he held so dear. As his “survivor”, he held the same expectations for the city that he loved and the people who call Pocomoke City “home”.

Reverend Wall encouraged an entire city one person at a time. He was quick to share a good report or put his arm around you and look you in the eye. He spoke life to those who found themselves in a dark place, and he never forgot the cause of the poor and needy among us.

On behalf of a grateful, yet mourning city, I wish to thank his family for sharing him with this community for so many wonderful years. We will not be the same city without his presence, but he has made us a better city by his actions.

As his “survivors”, may we all carry out his legacy of public service, civic duty, and the love and nurturing of our fellow citizens.

May God bless the Wall’s and this city as we heal and move forward.

Meeting with Somerset County on Ethanol Plant

Today I met with the Somerset County Commissioners regarding the plans submitted by Chesapeake Renewable Energy to construct an ethanol plant just over the line in south Somerset County. Councilman Hawkins and City Manager Blake also accompanied me to Princess Anne.

I expressed our concerns chiefly over the consumption of water and the various public safety aspects that left us with some questions. I was pleased that Somerset Planning officials had already begun to take steps in requiring Chesapeake Renewable Energy to provide studies and documentation regarding the water issues as well as overall aspects of the plants operations and its potential effect on our area. Somerset Commissioner Boston recommended that Pocomoke City and Worcester County share a seat at the table with them at future meetings regarding the plant. This was great news to our ears and was agreed to by the full Board of Commissioners.

Several Company officials were also at the meeting. They indicated that they had already drilled test wells into the Pocomoke Aquifer but the results were not very promising. They are still in the planning stages of a drilling into the Potapsco Aquifer (1100 feet) but they have no idea if the aquifer even runs through their property. While they are considering suggestions to use effluent discharge from our Waste Water Treatment Plant (along with one in Somerset County), they seem most interested in the idea of drawing direct from the Pocomoke River. Their engineers are not keen on the idea. and many additional studies would have to be done before this could be considered a viable alternative, but it is an interesting option worth consideration.

They also met with Pocomoke City Fire Chief Dick Gladding earlier today to discuss fire suppression issues at the facility. This was a welcome sign as well since we had not been a part of these discussions until now. I spoke with Chief Gladding and he advised me that the meeting went well and he feels confident that the plant owners will work with him to insure that Pocomoke City has any necessary equipment to deal with ethanol fire suppression or other consequences at the plant.

In summary, I believe the meeting was effective and I appreciate the attitude of the Somerset County Commissioners in being a good neighbor. We waded through some misinformation in the details of the plant and subsequent submissions to the MDE. I believe they will do their best to insure that all of our pertinent questions are answered before they give the final go ahead with the plant.

After listening today, and knowing the paperwork and studies that must be accomplished prior to any water being assigned to this project by the Maryland Department of the Environment, I am not sure if they will be able to solve their water needs at their current location. I am pleased that we will be a part of this discussion from now on and I look forward to a much closer relationship with the Somerset County Commissioners in the future as our areas continue to grow and develop.

More on Rev. Tom Wall

Rest in Peace Brother

Here is a link for Rev. Tom Wall's obituary. I really appreciated the way the family listed "Pocomoke City" as one of his "survivors". I was thinking the same thought.

www.asimas.com/ASIMAS/hollowayfh/obituaryDescription.jsp?domain_id=181&deceased_id=131846