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NOVEMBER 23, 2018
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
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Differential case goes to appeal City Hall’s tax beef moves to next level
MORGAN PILZ/OCEAN CITY TODAY
WORN AND WEARY More than 1,500 worn, torn or otherwise unusable American Flags await special treatment last Saturday after being brought to the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines to be burned in a fire pit during a U.S. Flag Retirement ceremony. (Story on page 26)
What plugs up storm drains? Everything Contractor will take underground video to assess debris
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Nov. 23, 2018) After spending $100,000 last month to clean storm basins along Coastal Highway in conjunction with the State Highway Administration, excessive blockages have required an outside contractor to videoscope pipes in search of
clogged sections. Public Works Director Hal Adkins said the city is working with the state, which owns and maintains Coastal Highway, Philadelphia Avenue and Baltimore Avenue, plus the associated storm drain systems, to address recurring flooding from heavy rainstorms. Adkins said state highway crews spent about three weeks using a jet vacuum truck to clean storm basins on Coastal Highway north of 123rd See SUBSTANTIAL Page 7
Sand and litter fill this drain on Coastal Highway to the point that storm water just won’t flow as it should.
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Nov. 23, 2018) Pressing forward in its longstanding battle for a tax differential agreement with Worcester County government, Ocean City last week appealed a lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that was rejected by Circuit Court in October. City Manager Doug Miller said the town decided on Oct. 30 to appeal the case to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. “At this point we’ve taken the action, but have received no answer,” he said. Miller noted the Court of Special Appeals, which convenes in Annapolis, currently has a packed docket that could extend response time. The Town of Ocean City filed suit against the Worcester County Commissioners on Jan. 16, regarding the resort’s right to a split tax schedule that would levy one property rate on Ocean City property owners and another on county properties. While not specifically requesting a tax differential, the suit asked the court to rule if Ocean City was entitled to a separate tax under Maryland law. In an earlier interview, Mayor Rick Meehan said Worcester County Circuit Court rejected but did not dismiss the suit, which enables the town to pursue an appeal process. For years, the mayor and See RESORT Page 7