Growth Supported by Mayoral Candidate Pat Rockinberg Will Not Pay For Itself

Pat Rockinberg supports a 600 Acre Expansion of Mount Airy adding 200 houses, roads that need 500k in improvements, lifestyles that don't conform to Town code, and failing septic systems that could be the Town's responsibility down the line. His opponent, Wendi Peters, is not in favor of this annexation, however on the campaign trail, Mr. Rockinberg continues to call his opponent "big growth" and a proponent of raising taxes.

Rockinberg's stance on this annexation is inconsistent with everything he has touted, including adhering to the 2007 Town Survey where residents clearly stated they wanted Mount Airy to remain the same.

Mount Airy, not unlike other municipalities, has a history of turbulence in attempting to resolve issues related to growth. The guiding document for the Town on growth is the Mount Airy Comprehensive Plan last updated in 2003. The Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission at the time was Wendi Peters and the Town Council Liaison was Dave Pyatt.

During the two-year development of the Comprehensive Plan, which included numerous opportunities for residents to participate, Dave Pyatt never considered adding to Mount Airy’s existing outer growth areas. Pat Rockinberg who served a short tenure in 2004-2005 on the Planning Commission before resigning never explored expanding the outer growth area, nor did he ask for a review of the Comprehensive Plan. In fact, Dave Pyatt, who voted for the plan in 2003, insisted on presenting the Comprehensive Plan at community meetings to reinforce his support.

Fast forward to 2010, why are Pat Rockinberg and Dave Pyatt supporting the expansion of Mount Airy’s outer growth area to include 600 acres south or I-70? Their positions are clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. I frankly don’t have a good answer other than the residents of that area are not happy with Carroll County and want to use YOUR tax dollars to improve THEIR infrastructure.

There is no benefit to current Town residents to annex these 600 acres. The residents of that area are on private well and septic systems, have road infrastructure that does not meet Town standards, and have land uses that are inconsistent with the Town code. The tax revenue generated by this annexation when balanced against expenditures to bring their aging infrastructure up to Mount Airy standards results in a negative $400,000—meaning that current residents will pay for this upgrade at a time when our existing capital improvement plans are being put on hold because of budget cuts.

Does that sound like good planning to you?

Wendi Peters has dedicated herself to ensuring that Mount Airy’s plan for growth retained the Town’s character and was managed in a responsible way. More importantly, and applicable to the job of Mayor, Wendi Peters knows a bad financial deal when she sees one. She opposes spending your hard earned tax dollars to improve a road system that does not bring benefit to existing residents. In the past Wendi Peters insisted that developers of sub-divisions like Summit Ridge, Twin Ridge and Village Gate shouldered the entire financial burden for infrastructure costs.

In supporting the I-70 annexation, Pat Rockinberg shifts the financial burden to current residents—that’s a bad deal from my perspective. Mr. Rockinberg has been touting the 2007/2008 Town Survey that shows current residents want Mount Airy to remain as is and they do not want additional residential growth. This boundary expansion is in direct contrast to what Mr. Rockinberg has promised the residents and in contrast to what the residents stated they wanted for their Town through the very survey that Mr. Rockinberg claims credit for.

The main job of the Mayor in our town is to serve as the Chief Financial Officer and to listen to the people. Through this example, it is clear that Wendi Peters is the better candidate to responsibly manage our tax dollar and ensure that the Town follows through with the wishes and desires of its current residents.

Contributed by John Medve, Mount Airy Resident