I am adding my voice to the 50 percent (plus?) voices in Queen Anne`s County against locating the FASTC anywhere in Queen Anne’s County, specifically Ruthsburg.
Our county needs real, good-paying jobs. We have been told that FASTC cannot guarantee, nor can they give preference to, local residents for the 400 new jobs they will be bringing to the facility. Hopefully, we can snag a few at what pay-grade no one can say but the remainder of jobs would be filled by people moving into the area. It remains to be seen whether or not that is a good or bad thing.
The Queen Anne’s County vision statement contains the point that we are “a county in which development by some does not impair the quality of life enjoyed by all.” There are many Ruthsburg residents who will lose the enjoyment of their quality of life as a result of this facility locating adjacent to or near their property. I am all for preserving the rights of property owners. But when those rights infringe on the rights of other owners in some pretty major ways (property values for one) I believe some restrictions should apply.
I sat on the Business & Economic Development Topic Committee for the Queen Anne’s County Comprehensive Plan for seven months. I never missed a meeting and I never heard any suggestion that we may want to explore the possibility of growing our county around a military or military-like federal facility. Never, not even from the representative from the Economic Development Commission. Queen Anne’s County rejected the plans for Wye Mills even though the educational complex proposed could have been a centerpiece that Queen Anne’s County could build on. It’s true that there were significant issues to work out but the numbers of Queen Anne’s County citizens against FASTC are way more that the numbers against the Wye Mills project. And yet, here we are…on the brink of getting a military-like facility that probably at least half of the county doesn’t want, even though we couldn’t find the passion to work through the obstacles that could have brought us an educational facility that would surely have brought a variety of benefits to the entire Mid-Shore for many years to come. I hate to think what that says about the priorities of some Queen Anne’s County residents. I can only hope that the residents of Wye Mills will stand in solidarity with the Ruthsburg residents since, but by the grace of God, they could have lost their battle.
And finally, what can we really count on in exchange for allowing one property owner to impact the rights of so many others just because he/she can? That’s really hard to say. I asked the GSA folks what benefit they thought they would bring to our county. They were unsure but would run the numbers through a computer model to see if there was an economic benefit. I asked the Chamber of Commerce. They believe it will bring much-needed revenue to local businesses but, at the time we spoke in late February, they had not yet run the numbers through their computer models so they couldn’t really say with any surety. Since when do we give blind faith to the federal government? I have asked individuals who are pro-FASTC. They had a lot of “if this, then that” type answers too nothing specific. No one I have spoken to has referred to a computer model that can calculate the quality of life gain or loss that the residents of Ruthsburg and by extension, Queen Anne’s County would realize.
This is not just a housing development that many might consider a blight on the landscape. This is development that could very well alter the character of Queen Anne’s County.
This facility will never be subject to county ordinances. They will never have to consider the Queen Anne’s County vision. They will never have to pay property taxes. NEPA requires them to talk to us when they want to make changes but then they can do what they want.
The fact is, if it can happen to Ruthsburg, someday it can happen to any of us no matter where we live and that should be a sobering thought for all of us.
In closing, I would like to say to all those who are afraid to speak out in favor … stop! Say what you need to say. Everyone on both sides who dare to discuss the topic subjects themselves to some potential angry words. Surely you can handle a few passionately unpleasant words for something you believe in! I have not heard one single person threaten bodily harm to anyone on either side of the debate.
If you receive threats, call the sheriff but, for heaven’s sake, speak up no matter what side of the debate you are on. If you don’t, then you have no whining rights later if you don’t get what you want.
CANDY BUSEY
Grasonville