SNOW HILL – Worcester County officials voted Tuesday to cancel the contract to purchase land on Route 50 for a sports complex.
In the same meeting two new commissioners were sworn in and leadership of the board changed from Commissioner Joe Mitrecic to Commissioner Chip Bertino, the commissioners vote 4-2 to end the contract to purchase the Harrison property next to Stephen Decatur High School.
“The purpose of this motion is to cease all involvement Worcester County has in construction of a sports complex in Worcester County,” Commissioner Jim Bunting said. “It is not intended to hinder in any way an individual or entity in privately owning and operating a sports complex in Worcester County and I look forward to them coming forward.”
After several years of talking about the potential for a sports complex in Worcester County, the commissioners voted 4-3 in April to move forward with plans to purchase 95 acres owned by the Harrison family next to Stephen Decatur High School. The three who voted against the purchase, Bunting, Bertino and Commissioner Ted Elder, have been vocal regarding their concerns about the proposed $7.1 million land purchase in the months since.
At the close of Tuesday’s meeting, and with two previous supporters of the sports complex — Bud Church and Josh Nordstrom — no longer on the board, Bunting made a motion to end the contract and cancel any related consulting contracts. The motion also instructed staff to cease any studies or planning related to the project. Commissioner Caryn Abbott seconded the motion but Mitrecic urged his peers to wait before making any decisions. He said the commissioners hadn’t even had a face-to-face meeting with the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) since it released its study on the sports complex last week. The study, which was paid for by the Town of Ocean City, indicated development of a complex would cost about $153 million but that there was potential for significant state funding. The study reviewed the costs and impacts of a sports complex consisting of eight to 10 tournament quality fields and a 125,000 square foot indoor facility.
On behalf of the Sports at the Beach complex in Sussex County, I’d like to thank the Worcester County Council for killing this project. There were concerns in Sussex County that a similar sports complex in Worcester County would introduce competition in hosting youth sporting events, but the Worcester County Council has now ensured no future competition for Sussex County. Thank You.
Citizens did not want it. It went as it should.
Metricic got TOASTED! He tried every possible way to get this done behind closed doors, and the public spoke. His arrogant ways haven’t changed one bit since he left the Council.
This was a monumental statement for him to join his neighbor Paddock.
Blue Water Development is in the works getting ready to buy. They will make millions off of this new endeavor! Kudos to them.