County's reception of FASTC has far-reaching implications 

Throwing down the gauntlet

Four Seasons revisited – with a vengeance! 

Process of elimination

Did I miss something?

Things are getting crazy again

more Bill Evans

MAP SOURCE: | The Washington Post - February 23, 2010

You’ve probably read about the 2,000 acres that the Federal Government is proposing to purchase near Centreville for a “hard skills training facility”.  But is it a hard skills facility after all?   What exactly defines "hard skills"?  There is a lot of information on this subject. 

This will have a major impact and influence on our entire county.  Come to the meetings and hear for yourself.  You can also keep close tabs on this issue through this site and the Citizens for Greater Centreville site (http://cgc.centreville-md.net/).

3/9/10 - The news and opinions are coming in faster than I can keep up, check back often.

It seems to be "business as usual" at Business Queen Anne's...  read more

Group organizes for FASTC support read more

Proponents say fed center could be boon 
Chamber and business leaders say FASTC could breathe new life into local economies  read more

Metrinko: Local businesses threatened with boycott over FASTC support  read more

Survey finds majority of QA residents favor FASTC   read more

Expert says FASTC poll was legitimate 
Research groups says 403 people interviewed came from each area of Queen Anne's County read more

Georgia federal training center said to benefit community 
"I don't see any negatives," says Chamber of Commerce president  read more

Talbot, Caroline looking for alternative sites for FASTC  read more

QA residents clash at FASTC forum  read more

Federal FASTC forum draws 100s  read more

U.S. State Department training site draws concerns   read more

Download The Hunt Ray Farm Sale Brochure(1.9 MB) - Click Here

Residents see new FASTC info, voice concerns read more...

Check out This Video, and the Letter to The Commissioners/ Editor from Susan Hale, Past President of the Bay Area Association of Realtors... And a Rebuttal. Click Here
This 37-minute documentary (video in four parts) tells the story of a small town in Hidalgo County, New Mexico that, in a time of economic need, welcomed a federal security training facility into its midst. The story of how that came about, and what happened subsequently, is told by the residents themselves, against the background of a starkly beautiful Southwestern landscape. A must see no matter what position you have on this issue.  Is this an apples to apples comparison?  You decide. 

Some in Md. town call anti-terrorism training plan a dud read more...

Kratovil has questions, GSA has answers. read more... 

Bill Evans Chimes In... read more...
More Letters to the Editorcan be found here

January 29, 2010
 Received this today  from a KIDL web site visitor... 
" Please refer to the documents attached to the article entitled "We're Not Buying" on the CGC website. This is the link: http://wordpress.centreville-md.net/?p=1805 . The Dec 3rd solicitation concurred with the hard skills information GSA and the Department of State provided the Queen Anne's County commissioners back in August.  I have that documentation in the 2,000+ pages I have received from information act requests. Thanks." 

Jan 30 - A Queenstown resident sends us an email full of useful links and information, Click Here. 

FaceBook Groups:  (you must join the group to see the content.  If anyone is denied membership please send an email to the KIDL Web Guy right away. )
- Discuss and Stay Informed: Proposed Security Training Center in Ruthsburg, MD

- The REAL facts regarding the FASTC project in Ruthsburg

RFP that discloses the types of activities to be conducted there (and an email that questions the posted information, and the reply) . read more...

Commission gets earful about fed training site
 QA's Commissioner Gunther favors project 
In their first meeting since withdrawing support for the project and after two contentious public meetings last  week, the Queen Anne's County Commission on Tuesday received a generous helping of public opposition to the proposed federal training site. read more...

GSA bows to Mikulski's pressure
The General Services Administration has agreed to comply with the demands outlined by U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., to better address community concerns about the proposed Foreign Affairs Security Training Center in Ruthsburg, but is it too little too late? read more...

Group asks for QA training site inquiry 
Officials also critical of proposed Queen Anne's County project
 A Queen Anne's County environmental group has asked for an investigation into the federal government's decision to locate a security training center outside Centreville, as elected officials step up their own criticism of  the project.  read more...

Below are two more links to items that you should be sure to read.  The first is an article from the Star Democrat about a citizens meeting on this subject.  Below that is the RFP that discloses the types of activities to be conducted there. 

Citizens ready to fight State Dept. training center in QA

About 100 people came to a Dec. 17 meeting at the Ruthsburg Community Center to express their views and ask questions about the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center being considered for the Hunt Ray Farm property. 
read more...
About 100 citizens who came to the Ruthsburg Community Center on Dec. 17 were advised to contact Queen Anne's County, state and federal officials to ask questions and express comments on the plan by the federal government to build a large facility in Ruthsburg that would serve as a training center for security personnel assigned to U.S. embassies. read more...

RFP that discloses the types of activities to be conducted there (and an email that questions the posted information) . read more...

If this happens, we would lose a valuable Kent Island representative in the very midst of the comprehensive plan process.  The Citizens Advisory Committee and the various Topic Committees brought forward some very good recommendations.  Now it is in front of the Planning Commission to hopefully implement these recommendations.  Steve urges below that it is important for Kent Islanders to contact Commissioners Wargotz and Billups (ewargotz@qac.org; cbillups@qac.org) and tell them your views on why they should not appoint a professional developer or anyone with extensive real-estate holdings in QA County to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

I continue to be concerned that the local Land Development Cartel is flexing their muscle to apply undue influence on the QAC Government, especially the Planning & Zoning Commission. It appears they've convinced or pressured a few of the QA County Commissioners to see things their way. This should be very concerning for ALL of the citizens of QA County, especially those who enjoy the remaining natural resources. I'd appreciate if you would send the following commentary to the KIDL e-mail recipients.
 Many Thanks,  Steve Kougoures

Our neighbors from Business Queen Anne's (BQA) have been developing some imaginative newspaper ads and attending County Commissioner's meetings with rhetoric designed to get us all to think that the current global economic downturn is being worsened by the Commissioners and Planning Commissioners of Queen Anne's County. We all know that business is bad and workers, especially tradesmen, are suffering everywhere. Business in Maryland is bad, some businesses are closing, many commercial properties are empty and conditions in states like Florida are horrible! Homes are not selling in QA County, or anywhere else, and yet BQA is advertising that all would be better if the County would just let them increase development.  That's what they're really saying and it's absurd! Otherwise, why would they target the Planning Commissioners? One of their recent fairy-tales includes a drawing of a charming castle that could be QA County. If they were honest, the picture of what they want for QAC would include row after row of condos and enough fast food restaurants lining Rt. 50 to make it look like Glen Burnie. Times are tough and that's no reason to panic or abandon the excellent balance that the current Commissioners and their Planning Commissioners have crafted to preserve this beautiful County that many of us love. Don't be fooled, stay the course and help one another, because if our County is ever overbuilt, the legendary QA quality of life will be simply a memory. I strongly urge all of you to contact Commissioner Wargotz and Commissioner Billups and tell them your views on why they should not appoint a professional developer or anyone with extensive real-estate holdings in QA County to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Best regards for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a wonderful holiday season!
Steve Kougoures
Chester

Of course many of you are wondering - what the heck is going on?  So far there is still no news.  The original Queen Anne’s Conservation Association “maps case” is pending a court decision.  The Hovnanian appeal of the State’s Board of Public Works denial of state license is pending.  Wonder how this might play out with election next year if O’Malley/Franchot are not re-elected – whether a new board could go ahead and grant the license and/or decide not to defend decision?    read more

Chester Haven Beach Property – approximately 175+ residential units

This property is located off Piney Creek Road, next to Gibsons Grant – on the Chester River just past the entrance into the ExtraMart.  It is on the County Commissioners agenda for meeting this Tuesday (8/25) for amendment into the master sewer and water plan.  Lots of history and issues on this.  Will put out something more complete.  This property is referred to as the Brown Property or Chester Haven Beach.

QAC Comprehensive Plan

At this point, the recommendations are “no more major subdivision development on Kent Island” (hmmm, where have we heard this before?), no more IDA (intense development) zoning in critical areas, no more major subdivision development on agriculture zoned land and ag zoning of 1 in 25 (similar to some neighboring counties).  These recommendations seem to represent the majority citizen input from all the visioning workshops as compiled into a Vision Report.

However the final meeting of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the County’s Comprehensive Plan is this Monday, 8/24 – in the Planning and Zoning meeting room at 160 Courseval Drive, Centreville.  Starting at 3:00 the CAC will review maps and Topic Committee recommendations.  At 6:30, the CAC and all the Topic Committee members will meet.  There will undoubtedly be lots of push-back and all this could be lost.  Your attendance and support is especially important this time – because QAC commissioners adopted a provision that strengthens our Comprehensive Plans.  Whatever the CAC recommends will go to the Planning Commissioners in September.
Vineyards of Queen Anne’s (old Walmart Property Pier One Road)

The owner of the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club plans to expand his weddings-and-special events empire on Kent  Island to include a hotel, restaurants, a spa, an event center, shops and even a working vineyard. Thanks to the Capital and Pamela Wood for a very complete article.  Read the aticle. 

If you have not written to thank the Governor and Comptroller – please do it now. 

• Coordinating with other community organizations on Kent Island and in Queen Anne's County. 
• Networked with anti Wal-Mart and Site 104 groups, and anti-sprawl groups in Queen Anne's and adjoining counties as well as the western shore.
• Pursued appeals of the MDE permit to increase sewage effluent discharge into the Bay.
• Investigating the actual current sewage discharge of the KNSG Treatment plant.
• Pursued legal actions appealing the State Critical Area Commission's approval of the Four Seasons' growth allocation; and seeking judicial review on the determination of "deficiency" of the Citizens' Petition for Referendum of the County's Ordinance granting growth allocation to Four Seasons.
• Examining other large development plans that have been submitted to the county.