March 22, 2025

Commissioners
Worcester County Government Center
1 West Market Street
Room 1103
Snow Hill, MD 21863

Thank you for your efforts on the behalf of Worcester County residents.

I am proud to be a long term, voting, tax paying resident whose address for the past thirty-three years has been 855 Ocean Parkway in the Ocean Pines subdivision. I have raised my family and conducted a relatively successful business here.

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to watch your Commissioner meeting. I was astonished to hear about the irregular $9.2 Million Dollar loan advanced to some of the 11 separate sanitation districts initially without proper authorization. Apparently this was to help stabilize losses generated by a few of these districts. If I was hearing correctly, there are some Commissioners who believe this loan should be paid back equally by all 11 districts no matter how much they were responsible for the deficit. The notable exception is the Riddle Farm sanitation district. The Riddle Farm sanitary district may very well be the worst offender and yet $2.7 Million of the $9.2 Million has been gifted to the Riddle Farm sanitation district as a grant that does not need to be repaid to the County tax payers. Why?

Commissioners, with all due respect, my understanding is current county law separates each sanitary district which is held accountable and stands on their own. Ocean Pines sanitary district did not contribute one cent to the $9.2 Million Dollar deficit and shouldn’t be expected to help pay off debts generated by other sanitary districts.

Sincerely

 Martin D. Clarke

Cc: Ocean Pines Board of Directors