Bob King Understands Mt. Airy's Challenges

The following was submitted by Risa Misra of Mt.Airy

On May 7^th I’ll be voting for Bob King for Mt. Airy Town Council. 

Bob moved to Mt. Airy in 1992 because it was a nice place to raise children.  For the past 20 years he has worked to enrich the lives of an entire generation of children through his efforts with the Mt. Airy Youth Athletic Association (1994-2001), the Mt. Airy Parks and Recreation Commission (1997-present), and Calvary United Methodist Church(2007-present).

In 20 years, Bob has seen Mt. Airy’s landscape change. Through it all he has consistently worked well with volunteers, Town and County staff, and elected officials to further our best interests by acquiring parkland and generating ball fields, bike and foot trails, and recreational programs for citizens of all ages. 

Bob understands the challenges of maintaining a vibrant community, one that remains affordable and provides a high quality of life for the majority of existing residents, and also supports local businesses. He understands that good schools, good roads, a safe and reliable water supply, and local recreational and employment opportunities are necessary for this generation and future generations to thrive.  

Bob’s long record of service shows that he is willing and able to reach across the table to make good things happen. I believe that is exactly what Mt. Airy needs.

Rita Misra

Guest Blogger

IT’S YOUR TOWN, LET’S HEAR YOUR VOICE!

Attention 

Mount Airy Residents! 

 In the Spring of this year, Be Local Mt. Airy, a local organization aimed at actively seeking to strengthen our town’s sense of community, sense of place, and local self-reliance, set out to perform a community needs assessment. After months of focus groups and then analyzing and assessing the data collection, they've finally launched their official community survey. 

On December 3rd, a message was sent out to focus group participants announcing the final survey launch.

This survey is for you if you…..

 

• Live in the 21771 zip code

• Are 9-99+ years of age

• Have thoughts and opinions you want to share?

Note: This survey asks about your wishes and concerns. The question and responses came directly from your fellow citizens during the spring needs assessment. The survey does not ask what you like most about Mt. Airy. Participants in the needs assessment and the 2008 survey were very clear about that: small town / rural feel, sense of community, community events and sense of safety.

Please invest a little time to share what is important to you. To make sure your opinion counts complete the entire survey before exiting out.

Click on the appropriate link below:

ADULTS:AGES 18 & UP

YOUTH: AGES 9-17

Please forward this BLOG POST to friends, neighbors, family members or co-workers who live in the 21771 zip code!!!!
 

**If you would you like a paper copy of the survey please contact: 

Erin Tunkel        erintunkel@shattuckandassociates.net
Teresa Shattuck teres@shattuckandassociates.com
Bill Butts             billbutts@hotmail.com

Thank you to BeLocal Mt. Airy and the Mt.Airy Kiwanis Club for all your hard work; we all look forward to the final results!

Rockinberg Showing Leadership? Please!!!!!

Where's The Water?

You know it’s bad when they call in the “big guns.” Where has Todd Eudy been hiding? Under a rock? Isn’t he the guy who barely shows up for Water and Sewer Commission meetings, but Pat Rockinberg and gang argue he can stay on even though the council developed rules and guidelines for such instances. Well, yes…I believe he’s the guy. 

  

In this weeks Gazette, Eudy states 

“I appreciate how he (the Mayor) frequently references and carries out the vision of our residents as reflected in the 2007 Town Survey.”

Let’s gets one thing straight. The 2007 survey was analyzed only for political purposes serving the Rockinberg anti-growth, anti- business political machine agenda. If Rockinberg was really behind what the residents wanted, he wouldn’t have promoted a “not in my back yard” response to the Rigler Annexation proposing a community center. A community center that 63% of the residents said they wanted in the infamous 2007 survey. 

Mount Airy will be much better represented when the new survey is completed by the Be Local, Mount Airy group. Results will be analyzed objectively by those who do not have an agenda or a political ax to grind.   

In 2006, Eudy did nothing but bring hate to our community. Divide and conquer was his motto. He savagely attacked three council members who worked tirelessly for this community trying to bring the amenities that this community needed and still does. I’ve made many friends on the"other side" since that time I would never want this community to go backwards in time. The kind of venom and animosity Eudy brings to the table is what we all must stand up against and demand better. I hope residents will see Eudy for what he really is, a shit stirrer, and understand the reasons why he is suddenly surfacing--there's an election year coming right up. 

Do you remember “The Quorum?”  How could you forget? Well, one could argue that’s exactly what we have now with Pyatt, Strong and Helt; Helt being the wild card for sure. You never know which way the wind is blowing with Helt, but typically and as of late…it blows towards Rockinberg and gang. (BTW, who he has positioned in every commission and every nook and cranny of our Town’s government.) 

This new “Quorum” is anti-economic development and developer, anti business, anti work where you live if possible, anti collaboration of all stakeholders in the community, and with the exception of Helt on occasion, have shown they are not willing to embrace different ideas, solutions, recommendations and suggestions in order to work together to solve problems. 

They don't even accept the notion that we have any problems.

Leaders have vision. Leaders can see things from all angles and embrace different ways of looking at a situation, issue or problem. Leaders embrace their team and work with each person to develop a healthy, strong, professional relationship among colleagues.

Those are not the traits of our current Mayor. 

Don’t agree with his opinion? He will write a letter to the editor instead of discussing in a mature, business like, adult manner. If you write a letter regarding your opinion, he sicks one of  his goons after you. (Eudy, Blatchford, Basement Boy Falletta, Curley) Want to obtain documents under Freedom of Information as a resident? He will charge you. Want to be annexed in to Town (not a resident) he will go to bat for you! (Hmm. I wonder what the politicians were going to get in return?) 

You may think he’s doing a bang up job, but I ask you this Mount Airy; Since he’s become Mayor...

• Has he fostered an environment where business feels confident? NO. 

• Has he worked with MAMSA, Economic Development and the Planning Commission to create a strong foundation where business is encouraged and welcomed into our community? NO. 

• Has he utilized the 2007 survey and it’s findings to bring a community center or something for teens to do? NO. 

• A middle school for Frederick County? NO.  (In fact, he didn't even know that the Frederick County students no longer attended New Market Middle.)

• Has he taken the steps to come up with solutions to Mount Airy’s long standing infrastructure problems, such as Water, Sewer and Traffic? NO. 

There’s been much discussion lately about our “reserve” funds. The reserve funds have been sitting, earning interest from impact fees developers are required to pay for FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE. 

Wake up Mount Airy. Those funds aren't for emergencies or to balance the Mayor’s Budget. Those funds are a promise to YOU, the residents who  have been waiting for two decades for Mount Airy to get with the program and fix it’s infrastructure problems. 

Shame on you, Todd Eudy or anyone else who thinks this Mayor is showing leadership. Real leadership starts with action; not false promises, lots of empty talk…. and most of all, spin.

Building Bridges in Mount Airy

Today I am sharing a letter from my friend, Rita Misra. Rita and I share similar passions regarding schools and recreation as it relates to small town life.

Four years ago, I definitely would not have called Rita my friend. Rita was a staunch advocate against the ever famous Zeltman annexation that I strongly supported.

We were both able to see past those differences and quickly reach consensus when we worked together on the Committee for Schools. While analyzing the possibility of bringing a regional school to Mount Airy, we recognized right away that although our challenges in each county were indeed different, we both shared the same philosophy and ideology; bringing schools within the communities they serve.

Over the past four years I have gotten to know Rita and have come to greatly respect her views and advocacy for our Town. I am proud to call Rita my friend.

The same goes for many people in Town who I have come to know after the 2006 election. We have such a vibrant community filled with many residents who feel very strongly about the Town they so love. It is for that reason I feel compelled to reach out to each and every citizen of this great Town and emphasize that we must come together. I have said it this in many public statements; we must stop drawing lines in the sand.

Rita originally wrote this letter to the editor of the Carroll County Times and the Frederick News Post. However, they are no longer accepting letters regarding Mount Airy's election. Rita agreed to allow me to publish this message on the Mount Airy Blog.

Thank you Rita!

Peters Better Qualified to Manage the Town

I live in Mt. Airy. In 2005 I actively opposed the Zeltman annexation because I believed the agreement tied to it did not account for the impacts associated with bringing substantially more homes to town.

On Monday, I will be voting for one of the Council members who supported that annexation, Wendi Peters, in her bid for Mayor. Let me try and explain why:

Both mayoral candidates are good neighbors and both should be honored for their years of dedicated service on behalf of the town. But at this juncture, I believe Ms. Peters is better qualified to manage the town and bring more voices to the table.

Ms. Peters did not move to Mt. Airy to “get away” from anywhere. She grew up in Mt. Airy, went to school to get a political science degree and train as a paralegal, and then returned to raise her son in the house in which she was raised. Although her son attends Frederick County schools she graduated from South Carroll High; this gives her unique insight into the complexities of improving facilities and services in a town split between two counties. Ms. Peters has also witnessed, firsthand, the transformation of Mt. Airy from a small rural town to what some now describe as a bedroom community. I believe she understands the challenges associated with preserving all of our existing neighborhoods, while enhancing opportunities, and keeping taxes low.

I am concerned by the lack of rigor and consistency in the recommendations made by the other mayoral candidate during his recent term on the Planning and Zoning Commission. For example, last year P&Z recommended against the annexation of an 8 acre parcel that has long been designated as future growth area, surrounded by densely developed property within town. P&Z decided this parcel should only be annexed as “passive open space'” effectively shutting the door to proposed economic and recreational opportunity that the majority of citizens have consistently expressed the desire for. Only months later, P&Z recommended annexation of a 600 acre parcel that was never included in the town’s Master Plan, which includes no open spaces designated for public use, but which includes over 200 homes, aging roads, and a variety of commercial entities. Furthermore, it was recommended that the 600 acres be annexed under zoning that encourages low density residential sprawl.

At a time when revenues are plummeting and public safety and educational funding is being cut, I believe it is more important than ever to elect a mayor who will bring together a broad cross section of citizens, staff, county and state representatives, and even investors, so that we can preserve the best of what we have and pave the way for a brighter future for our children.

Rita Misra

Town of Mt. Airy resident