Wicomico County hears public on $385M CIP; residents press to restore Connolly Mill Park
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Summary
At a Jan. 6 public hearing on the five-year Capital Improvement Program, residents urged the council to keep Connolly (Conley/Connolly) Mill Park in the plan, raised groundwater protection and cost-transparency concerns, and sought clarity on Bering Creek Road funding and health-department facility plans.
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The Wicomico County Council opened a public hearing Jan. 6 on its FY2027–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), during which residents and environmental groups urged the council to retain funding and clear planning for Connolly Mill Park and questioned the accuracy and sources of the CIP’s figures.
County staff read totals showing a five-year plan that includes about $384,848,554 across general and enterprise funds. Line-item totals recited by staff included the Board of Education at $78,643,000, the airport at $60,362,839 and the public library at $15,323,500.
James Doline, appearing as a resident of Wicomico County, described the county’s acquisition of the Conley/Connolly Mill property and urged the council to restore and fund the park after the property was removed from the CIP and used for a private event in 2023. "Please continue to fund this project," he said, citing the land’s potential to enhance residents’ quality of life and the county’s long-term stewardship goals.
Other speakers stressed both recreational and environmental benefits while raising technical and safety questions. Andre Mathias flagged a Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) source-water protection map showing a Zone 1 wellhead protection area overlapping the parcel, urging the council to treat the site with caution and to limit any activity that could affect the county’s drinking-water supplies. The Sierra Club’s Lower Eastern Shore representative urged a low-impact, phased approach that protects old-growth habitat and watershed functions.
Several speakers also pressed officials on other CIP items. Michelle Wright said the state is expected to cover roughly 80% of the cost for Bering Creek Road and that an approximately $300,000 county share would be covered if the state gives final approval. Joe White and other commenters asked the council to provide more detailed backup for several large line items — including the health department, the emergency services building and school safety measures — noting prior requests and what they described as variations between department requests and CIP figures.
Council members acknowledged those concerns and called for additional documentation where estimates are cited without supporting plans or permits. The public hearing closed with no vote on the CIP that evening; the council will consider the CIP as part of its scheduled budget and planning process.
Provenance: Topic introduced in transcript at SEG 103 (staff reading CIP totals); public comment and discussion run through SEG 724.