Letter to Editor: Taxpayers Should Not Pay for Dredging

To the editor,

The following is an open letter to the mayor of Ocean City: 

I understand that while everyone in town was so worried about BYOB, the City Council was passing a resolution to pay $1.8 million to a dredging company to dredge Ocean City's lagoons and waterways. Another million or so is planned for dredging maintenance. 

While I am very concerned about the possible contamination that may result from the trace elements from the pressure treated lumber and vessel bottom paints, I am totally shocked that this cost will be unfairly borne by all the taxpayers in Ocean City.

There should be a special tax district created for all property owners who would directly benefit from this project.

What percentage of the Ocean City population will benefit from this? 5%? 10%?  Then why is this cost being unfairly spread among all Ocean City taxpayers? 

Maybe the year-round residency is dwindling because people are really tired of decisions being made that benefit the very few but subsidized by all. 

I am asking that this matter be taken up with Council and that there be a tax district created for the property owners directly benefiting so that this astronomical cost is not put unfairly on the other 90 percent of the population that is not at all involved.

Irene Lorenzon
Ocean City