SNOW HILL– The Black-Eyed Susan left Snow Hill for Taylor’s Island late last week.
Slaughter Creek Marina purchased the Black-Eyed Susan, the Town of Snow Hill’s riverboat, for $24,800. The boat left its dock at Sturgis Park Nov. 22.
“It’s a bittersweet time in that so many held high hopes that the Black-Eyed Susan would be a tremendous tourist attraction and economic engine while others thought the town should never have been in the boat business at all,” Town Manager Rick Pollitt said. “Our intent now is to move forward to implement Mayor Pruitt’s agenda to shore up and improve the town’s aging infrastructure, support the police and fire departments and deliver the services people expect from town hall.”
The town purchased the Black-Eyed Susan, a 149-passenger riverboat, in 2020 with the help of a loan from Worcester County. The boat had a successful season running up and down the Pocomoke River in 2021 but a mandatory inspection in 2022, however, revealed that the vessel needed extensive repairs in order to resume cruises. The inspection revealed numerous repairs, estimated at $600,000, were needed. As a result, the Black-Eyed Susan was docked.
After issuing a request for proposals in September, the town received three bids for the boat. The River House Inn’s Henry Wright, interested in making the boat an entertainment venue, bid $75,000 while Bay Coastal Contracting bid $20,000 and Slaughter Creek Marina bid $24,800.
Before Slow Hill does anything as stupid as this ever again, they need to put it to a referendum. Now they owe the county 25k a year for the next 12 years – stupid.
What a gross misuse of public funds at both town and county level!
Each discussion of this albatross has some form of assertion that it had one successful year of operation but never with any actual figures about the P&L of that year, or any figures about its total costs to Snow Hill from inception to departure.
The Pocomoke is now free to resume its normal color without the massive red ink stain the boat bled into Snow Hill waters.
Not one single article has ever stated what kind of repairs needed to be done. It was never stated who gave the estimate of $600,000. An yet there were no issues with running it up to Taylors Island under its own power. There must be some stupid individuals running the show in Snow Hill.
Some Fool got a Black Eye with Susan !!!!
That fool got a great deal 11:06
NOT a good deal > it will cost MILLIONS $$$$$ > BIG Mistake !!!!
The first thing Snow Hill needs to do is get rid of that sponger Rick Pollitt! He is worthless and a waste of Snow Hill’s money to pay him for propping his fat feet up!
The south end of the county continues to be a mess, and it was stunts like this that killed any opportunity both Snow Hill and Pokemoke had at revitalizing each respective town. Now both are just run down, decaying remnants of a time long past.
YOU are Exactly RIGHT !!! He was Worthless in Salisbury Wicomico County & Crisfield so How does he keep getting these Jobs ????? DUGH !!!!
in ref to RICK POLLIT
He convinces them that he is a big shot and would look good behind their big desk.
Why would anyone WILLINGLY go to either Pokemoke or snow hill?
Depends!!
Or Pampers!