|
Post by ravens20 on May 16, 2014 15:23:02 GMT -4
Maybe it wasn't his decision and the county decided to do it on their own. Either way, I agree it should be open to the public. If not free at least allow annual passes or something affordable so people can enjoy the beach. d**n he worked out a sweetheart deal.
|
|
|
Post by digger on May 16, 2014 18:14:51 GMT -4
Who is going to enforce this new law? Guess that will be left to the same police that enforce the no alcoholic beverage's, leash law, picking up the poop, and no dumping trash. NO ONE. Since Park & Rec. closes by 4:00 you can't even report people even if you wanted to. I would not have as much of a problem with this if I knew that those using the parks that are not from around here were having to pay as well as I do. For all of you that are running for office and plan to do away with the fee why not add money to the sheriff's office to hire Park Rangers with some teeth. Now that would be a better use of the money than going into one of those good old boys pockets.
|
|
|
Post by alleycat on May 16, 2014 18:59:49 GMT -4
I don't think Wilson gets the beach fee for Conquest, I guess it goes to the county. The irony here is that he is campaigning against the beach permit fee, yet you'll pay hundreds of dollars for the right to use Conquest beach. Even though we, the taxpayers, own it. I think I tried to make that point several times. JBQ or someone kept dumping on wilson and saying the fee was going to him for some bizarre reason. You all need to separate Wilson from the other issues. (note that until yesterday I didn't even know who he was. I am not campaigning/voting for him.) he is not the first person to have made an agreement with a government or other entity to cede property while retaining rights to live on it till death or some variation thereof. What has this to do with beach permits or anything else? He is not charging any fees, nor profiting from them. Just need a scapegoat or what? I tend to aVoid politics like the plague. I tend to avoid republicans! But this is stooopid, isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by bluecrabber on May 19, 2014 6:35:55 GMT -4
Ridiculous.
|
|
|
Post by jackbquick on May 19, 2014 7:11:07 GMT -4
I don't think Wilson gets the beach fee for Conquest, I guess it goes to the county. The irony here is that he is campaigning against the beach permit fee, yet you'll pay hundreds of dollars for the right to use Conquest beach. Even though we, the taxpayers, own it. I think I tried to make that point several times. JBQ or someone kept dumping on wilson and saying the fee was going to him for some bizarre reason. You all need to separate Wilson from the other issues. (note that until yesterday I didn't even know who he was. I am not campaigning/voting for him.) he is not the first person to have made an agreement with a government or other entity to cede property while retaining rights to live on it till death or some variation thereof. What has this to do with beach permits or anything else? He is not charging any fees, nor profiting from them. Just need a scapegoat or what? I tend to aVoid politics like the plague. I tend to avoid republicans! But this is stooopid, isn't it? I would normally agree but since he is making the beach permit fee and the fact that the county is spending too much monies his campaign platform.... If he was so concerned about wasteful spending he could have said in 2008 and 2009 when the county was negotiating the terms that $8 million is enough but no he pushed the county to pay for all the wasteful spending maintaining his property.
|
|
|
Post by alanr on May 27, 2014 9:04:40 GMT -4
First I would like to thank Kristin for the incredible job she has done with all the volunteers. I was there both Sunday and Monday,and well as much as I am against the fee for parking I thought it would help to keep the garbage down to a minimum. What I saw this weekend was a perfect example of what should not have been. Tons of open fires right next to the grasses. People leaving garbage ( I asked a few people as they had been leaving to pick up there crap) Yes I got a few dirty looks but who cares. I saw one guy taking a crap in the grasses 100 feet from the Porta Pot. I wish I had my camera I would have posted a ton of pictures. It's a real shame that a few can ruin everything. I will try and not say anything else but we all know what the problem is. Some people just don't care!
|
|
|
Post by ravens20 on May 27, 2014 20:23:09 GMT -4
First I would like to thank Kristin for the incredible job she has done with all the volunteers. I was there both Sunday and Monday,and well as much as I am against the fee for parking I thought it would help to keep the garbage down to a minimum. What I saw this weekend was a perfect example of what should not have been. Tons of open fires right next to the grasses. People leaving garbage ( I asked a few people as they had been leaving to pick up there crap) Yes I got a few dirty looks but who cares. I saw one guy taking a crap in the grasses 100 feet from the Porta Pot. I wish I had my camera I would have posted a ton of pictures. It's a real shame that a few can ruin everything. I will try and not say anything else but we all know what the problem is. Some people just don't care! That is terrible. I tried to be positive but my opinion is quickly changing.
|
|
|
Post by oriolesfan on May 27, 2014 20:25:40 GMT -4
DNR and QA County need to get together and hammer this place 2-4 straight weekends to run these scumbags out of here
|
|
|
Post by frankf on May 28, 2014 7:15:50 GMT -4
With all that new money from the parking fees the Sheriff Department, Parks, and DNR should be down there cleaning the park of trash and violators and all will be well. Right?
|
|
|
Post by alanr on May 28, 2014 7:31:33 GMT -4
With all that new money from the parking fees the Sheriff Department, Parks, and DNR should be down there cleaning the park of trash and violators and all will be well. Right? When the word gets around that the violators are being ticketed it will make a huge difference. Parking is one thing but open fires right next to the grass is just downright dangerous. If it was my own brother doing that I would still say something. Kristin and her team are killing themselves to make a nice beach for all of us to enjoy you think the county will give her a little help even if its one or two hours on a Saturday and Sunday patrolling the beach. That would make a huge difference. I guess it's time to start taking pictures again and posting them.
|
|
|
Post by cranky64 on May 28, 2014 8:15:22 GMT -4
¿Qué señales? No entiendo Inglés
|
|
|
Post by jackbquick on Jun 2, 2014 8:54:01 GMT -4
While doing research on why the County's Conquest Beach wasn't free I put together the following chronology. You can decide for yourself who make out best on this deal: (The appraisals are HUGE files. You will need to download them and the open them with a pdf viewer like Adobe Acrobat) December 29, 1986 - Steve Wilson inherits several tracts of land including 133.441 Acres (Liber 268 Folio 733) of Conquest Farms. I am still trying to figure out how the other properties were acquired. February 5, 1993 - An appraisal is performed on "Conquest Farm," 376 Acres and "North Conquest Farm," 370 Acres for $3,550,000 and $2,990,000 respectively. It is a fee simple (i.e. no restrictions or easements) appraisal on the land, Main Residence (Manor House), River House, Cottage (guest house), two other tenant houses, Racquet Ball Court, Barns, sheds and Squab Houses. Here is a link to the appraisal. April 17, 1997 - An updated appraisal is performed on the same two properties for $3,750,000 and $3,000,000 respectively. Here is a link to the updated appraisal. It should be noted that the tax-assessed value of the properties (pg 25) are $1,111,150 and $138,430 respectively). October 29, 1998 (Moeller, Zimmer and O'Donnell are Commissioners at the time): - Both Farms are subdivided. Conquest Farm into a 73.699 Acre Lot and a 76.067 Acre lot with a 227.455 Acre Parcel remaining; North Conquest Farm into a 190.284 Acre Parcel ( SM 26 Folio 74) and 190.284 Parcel ( SM 26 Folio 75). - Steve Wilson's sister's sell both lots of North Conquest Farm (a total of 380.568 Acres) to the County for a total of $2,250,00 (Liber 642 Folio 430 and 434) - Steve Wilson sells 301.174 Acres of Conquest Farm to the County for $2,440,000 (about 301Ac/370Ac x $3,000,000). He retains the 76.067 Acre Lot which includes the Main House, Guest House and River House. (Liber 642 Folio 438) - As a condition of the grants received from various sources used to purchase the properties, Conservation Easements are placed upon all of the above properties ( Liber 642 Folio 442 & 472). Two of the easements restricted use of the Chester River Beach area (now called Conquest Beach) and the Corsica River Access (now used by the Corsica River Yacht Club) to the public on a "Reservation Basis." The terms of these Easements were mutually agreed upon per a sales agreement. Here is a link to the sales agreement. - Steve Wilson enters into a reserved rights agreement with the County (Liber 642 Folio 421) which includes exclusive use of the airstrip, the ability to lease the two tenant houses, enjoy unhindered access to the County-owned property and limit operating hours of the County-owned property. Here is a link to the Reserved Rights Agreement. April 2001 - Two appraisals are submitted for the 76.067 Acre lot that includes the Main House with a conservation easement. Both are in the amount of $3,250,000. Here is a link to one of the appraisals. It should be noted that the tax-assessed value is $964,936. September 2, 2003 (Cassell, Cupani, Niedomanski, Koval and Ransom are Commissioners at the time) - The County purchases the 76.067 Acre lot that includes the Main House for $3,500,000 (Liber 1147 Folio 553) - Steve Wilson revises the reserved rights agreement with the County (Liber 1147 Folio 533) to include a life tenancy of River House and Guest House. He also retains use of the Main House for a transition period of 7.5 years. Here is a link to the second agreement. August 31, 2004 - The reserve rights agreement is amended (but not recorded in Land Records) to allow Steve Wilson to occupy the Main House as long as he continues to maintain the landscaping and mowing. Here is a link the third agreement. (Cassell, Cupani, Niedomanski, Koval and Ransom are Commissioners at the time) December 23, 2008 - The reserve rights agreement is amended (but again not recorded in Land Records) again granting a life tenancy of the Main House with the County responsible for property taxes, insurance, major maintenance of the Main House, and grounds-keeping. Steve Wilson agrees to make an annual payment of $12,000 to the County, adjusted for inflation by the Consumer Price Index. Here is a link to the forth agreement. (Wargotz, Ransom, Billups, Gunther and Fordonski are Commissioners at the time) So Steve Wilson was in mutual agreement to make his beach he sold to the county restricted access. Don't you think he could have negotiated to make it free to the public? Sounds like the county would have done whatever to get his property. Isn't he a registered democrat who switched parties just to run because there are more republicans in the county and his election chances go up?
|
|
|
Post by oriolesfan on Jun 2, 2014 11:09:10 GMT -4
What a sweet scam he pulled. Go figure
|
|
|
Post by KITransplant on Jun 2, 2014 12:24:39 GMT -4
While doing research on why the County's Conquest Beach wasn't free I put together the following chronology. You can decide for yourself who make out best on this deal: (The appraisals are HUGE files. You will need to download them and the open them with a pdf viewer like Adobe Acrobat) December 29, 1986 - Steve Wilson inherits several tracts of land including 133.441 Acres (Liber 268 Folio 733) of Conquest Farms. I am still trying to figure out how the other properties were acquired. February 5, 1993 - An appraisal is performed on "Conquest Farm," 376 Acres and "North Conquest Farm," 370 Acres for $3,550,000 and $2,990,000 respectively. It is a fee simple (i.e. no restrictions or easements) appraisal on the land, Main Residence (Manor House), River House, Cottage (guest house), two other tenant houses, Racquet Ball Court, Barns, sheds and Squab Houses. Here is a link to the appraisal. April 17, 1997 - An updated appraisal is performed on the same two properties for $3,750,000 and $3,000,000 respectively. Here is a link to the updated appraisal. It should be noted that the tax-assessed value of the properties (pg 25) are $1,111,150 and $138,430 respectively). October 29, 1998 (Moeller, Zimmer and O'Donnell are Commissioners at the time): - Both Farms are subdivided. Conquest Farm into a 73.699 Acre Lot and a 76.067 Acre lot with a 227.455 Acre Parcel remaining; North Conquest Farm into a 190.284 Acre Parcel ( SM 26 Folio 74) and 190.284 Parcel ( SM 26 Folio 75). - Steve Wilson's sister's sell both lots of North Conquest Farm (a total of 380.568 Acres) to the County for a total of $2,250,00 (Liber 642 Folio 430 and 434) - Steve Wilson sells 301.174 Acres of Conquest Farm to the County for $2,440,000 (about 301Ac/370Ac x $3,000,000). He retains the 76.067 Acre Lot which includes the Main House, Guest House and River House. (Liber 642 Folio 438) - As a condition of the grants received from various sources used to purchase the properties, Conservation Easements are placed upon all of the above properties ( Liber 642 Folio 442 & 472). Two of the easements restricted use of the Chester River Beach area (now called Conquest Beach) and the Corsica River Access (now used by the Corsica River Yacht Club) to the public on a "Reservation Basis." The terms of these Easements were mutually agreed upon per a sales agreement. Here is a link to the sales agreement. - Steve Wilson enters into a reserved rights agreement with the County (Liber 642 Folio 421) which includes exclusive use of the airstrip, the ability to lease the two tenant houses, enjoy unhindered access to the County-owned property and limit operating hours of the County-owned property. Here is a link to the Reserved Rights Agreement. April 2001 - Two appraisals are submitted for the 76.067 Acre lot that includes the Main House with a conservation easement. Both are in the amount of $3,250,000. Here is a link to one of the appraisals. It should be noted that the tax-assessed value is $964,936. September 2, 2003 (Cassell, Cupani, Niedomanski, Koval and Ransom are Commissioners at the time) - The County purchases the 76.067 Acre lot that includes the Main House for $3,500,000 (Liber 1147 Folio 553) - Steve Wilson revises the reserved rights agreement with the County (Liber 1147 Folio 533) to include a life tenancy of River House and Guest House. He also retains use of the Main House for a transition period of 7.5 years. Here is a link to the second agreement. August 31, 2004 - The reserve rights agreement is amended (but not recorded in Land Records) to allow Steve Wilson to occupy the Main House as long as he continues to maintain the landscaping and mowing. Here is a link the third agreement. (Cassell, Cupani, Niedomanski, Koval and Ransom are Commissioners at the time) December 23, 2008 - The reserve rights agreement is amended (but again not recorded in Land Records) again granting a life tenancy of the Main House with the County responsible for property taxes, insurance, major maintenance of the Main House, and grounds-keeping. Steve Wilson agrees to make an annual payment of $12,000 to the County, adjusted for inflation by the Consumer Price Index. Here is a link to the forth agreement. (Wargotz, Ransom, Billups, Gunther and Fordonski are Commissioners at the time) So Steve Wilson was in mutual agreement to make his beach he sold to the county restricted access. Don't you think he could have negotiated to make it free to the public? Sounds like the county would have done whatever to get his property. Isn't he a registered democrat who switched parties just to run because there are more republicans in the county and his election chances go up? What--another Democrat pretending to be a Republican? I noticed that in one of the other races where a former Democrat candidate is now running as a Republican. I guess if your chances are slim at winning in the general election, you can try and pass yourself as a Republican and hope to fool enough primary voters.
|
|
|
Post by lainey on Jun 2, 2014 12:32:16 GMT -4
I don't know anything about Mr. Wilson being a democrat. Ive never heard anything like that.
|
|
|
Post by cruzincat on Jun 2, 2014 15:55:29 GMT -4
Is there a cliff notes coming soon? Something along the line of how he benefitted versus what he gave up, and how/if the people of QAC benefit or not? Long term versus short term as well?
|
|
|
Post by cranky64 on Jun 3, 2014 8:18:05 GMT -4
Boy can you imagine the deals this guy could make as a commissioner?
|
|
|
Post by KITransplant on Jun 3, 2014 8:46:44 GMT -4
So has anyone actually been to the beach yet since this pass requirement has been implemented? Say I want to get a one-day beach pass and I'm over at Matapeake, do I park my car, and then go over to the clubhouse and buy it, or is there somebody at the beach there to take your money as you approach?
|
|
|
Post by jackbquick on Jun 3, 2014 9:01:51 GMT -4
Here's one CliffNotes version: Wilson sells 302 Ac of his 376 Ac farm to the county for $2,440,000. Based on the $3,000,000 appraisal for the the full 370 Ac, the remaining portion (containing three homes) is worth $560,000. A few years later, he sells the remaining portion to the County for $3,500,000 but retains the right to live there for the remainder of his life. That sounds like a sweetheart deal to me. Wonder why he is saying he sold it at a loss on his FB page?
|
|
|
Post by burnerbill on Jun 3, 2014 9:44:44 GMT -4
I wonder... is Steve Wilson running for commissioner so he can return some "favors" as commissioner in line with what he got? How come he couldn't sell all that property to other private parties versus the county? What a deal to only have to pay $12K a yr (plus inflation) to live where he lives!!! How do I sell my house to the county so they can do all the major maintenance, pay the taxes etc.. (plus have the headache of the septic system) and live in it for less than what I pay now? I guess I am not "connected" enough!
|
|
|
Post by jennyg on Jun 3, 2014 15:17:38 GMT -4
A friend of mine went to the beach here last week, met her husband after he got off work, with their 4 children to walk and picnic. They live in Centreville. The signs about the permits are small. They received a whopping $50 ticket on each of their vehicles. How about a warning? How about sell them a permit for $35 at that time? This sounds just like a way for the county to make money and keep out respectful people from enjoying the local beaches. Ridiculous. And this "plan" really does nothing to stop those leaving their crap everywhere and having their van drop off 20 people for a day of fishing and trashing the place.
|
|
|
Post by KITransplant on Jun 3, 2014 15:40:06 GMT -4
A friend of mine went to the beach here last week, met her husband after he got off work, with their 4 children to walk and picnic. They live in Centreville. The signs about the permits are small. They received a whopping $50 ticket on each of their vehicles. How about a warning? How about sell them a permit for $35 at that time? This sounds just like a way for the county to make money and keep out respectful people from enjoying the local beaches. Ridiculous. And this "plan" really does nothing to stop those leaving their crap everywhere and having their van drop off 20 people for a day of fishing and trashing the place. Just ridiculous. Have we gotten an answer as to who is enforcing this and how much they are being paid to ticket people? I want to see a cost/benefit analysis at the end of the year. I highly doubt that the revenue obtained from ticketing and passes will exceed the amount it costs to sell these things and the cost of enforcement.
|
|
|
Post by frankf on Jun 3, 2014 18:47:12 GMT -4
Love Point Deli was selling the passes, but apparently had so many coming in to buy them that they couldn't handle regular business. Since they apparently were doing it as a FREEBIE for the County, and it was negatively affecting their business, they have stopped selling them.
You can be sure that the ONLY enforcement will be the ticket writing going on in the parking lot. No one, as usual, will be patrolling the park itself.
|
|
|
Post by ravens20 on Jun 3, 2014 23:20:32 GMT -4
A friend of mine went to the beach here last week, met her husband after he got off work, with their 4 children to walk and picnic. They live in Centreville. The signs about the permits are small. They received a whopping $50 ticket on each of their vehicles. How about a warning? How about sell them a permit for $35 at that time? This sounds just like a way for the county to make money and keep out respectful people from enjoying the local beaches. Ridiculous. And this "plan" really does nothing to stop those leaving their crap everywhere and having their van drop off 20 people for a day of fishing and trashing the place. Good, that's exactly what should happen. I'm sorry about your friends but giving out warnings isn't feasible. Yes I agree the signs should be bigger and more noticeable.
|
|
|
Post by cranky64 on Jun 4, 2014 7:56:17 GMT -4
Really don't intend to go anymore. Once in a while we would go to Matapeake to take a short walk, but I don't see it being worth the hassle and money now. I wonder how widely known this tax... I mean fee is known? Can you imagine this summer how many times a mother with a car full of screaming kids will pull up only to, well hopefully to see the signs. What does she have to do? Turn around and try to find a place to buy a permit with the car full of kids going nuts! It is a cash grab nothing more. A friend of mine went to the beach here last week, met her husband after he got off work, with their 4 children to walk and picnic. They live in Centreville. The signs about the permits are small. They received a whopping $50 ticket on each of their vehicles. How about a warning? How about sell them a permit for $35 at that time? This sounds just like a way for the county to make money and keep out respectful people from enjoying the local beaches. Ridiculous. And this "plan" really does nothing to stop those leaving their crap everywhere and having their van drop off 20 people for a day of fishing and trashing the place.
|
|