NOVEMBER 16, 2023
FREE
BERLIN • NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY• OCEAN PINES
OP fire co. to build new south side station Disagreement over who will own property sends OPA, company on different paths By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (Nov. 16, 2023) Two years of talking about whether to replace or renovate the Ocean Pines South Side Fire Station has taken on a different tone and direction, as parties on both sides of the table are now debating who should own the land and the building. In September, a fire station work-
ing group reviewed an outline of a proposed agreement between the Ocean Pines Association and the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department that said, “the land and station ownership under both stations will belong to OPA to allow for funding options to be secured by real property and eliminate easement and zoning issues.” It also reads, “OPVFD/OPA agree that if the active number of OPVFD volunteer firefighters falls below (to be determined) and/or the requirement for paid firefighters exceeds (to
be determined), OPVFD will cease to operate with all assets going to OPA in accord with the current agreement.” A Sept. 13 memo by General Manager John Viola and Ted Moroney, the chair of the fire department working group, proposed “OPA will be responsible, in coordination with OPVFD, for maintenance and upkeep of the station and property. The land and property may/will be used by OPA as collateral both now and in the future to fund construction and/or future expansion.”
But on Nov. 13, the fire department’s board of directors responded with a hard “No” via a letter to Viola. “We will begin the renovation process with existing funding and funding we get by other means,” Dave VanGasbeck, president of the OPVFD, said. Ocean Pines leadership might want ownership of the land and building, but that could affect the future of the fire department itself. According to the Worcester County Charter for fire companies, a See OPVFD Page 7
Berlin ready to bid Tyson demo project Engineers conclude grant will cover more work than what town had estimated
CINDY HOFFMAN/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
SKY HIGH
The Berlin Christmas tree was brought in by horse drawn carriage, but then the big equipment came in to get it placed in front of the Atlantic Hotel, thanks to Berlin Electric and Public Works.
By Cindy Hoffman Staff Writer (Nov. 16, 2023) The Berlin Town Council unanimously approved a request for proposals drawn up by its engineering consultants for the partial demolition of the Tyson’s processing plant at Heron Park on Old Ocean City Road. Andrew Welsch, the senior structural engineer for Salisbury engineering firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel told the council and Mayor Zack Tyndall on Monday that the building has been split up into eight sections. He believes there is enough money from the $500,000 demolition grant provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove sections one, two and three, which are in the worst shape. But if money does not cover all three sections, Welch proposed doing a partial demo of section three. Sections four through eight are in fair to robust condition, Welsch said. If there are additional funds,
Welsh recommended they be used to clean up debris in sections four through eight, including suspended ceilings, insulation and loose paint. Work will include the closing up of existing openings in the buildings. It’s expected that demolition could be complete by April 2024. The Town of Berlin purchased the Tyson’s plant and its land, now called Heron Park, for $2.5 million. The town owes $2.3 million on the property. Opteon Appraisal this summer conducted an updated appraisal of parcel 57, which is just the land where the plant stands. In 2022, the property was appraised at $800,000 as residential zoning. The updated appraisal assessed the property at $1.2 million as B2 business zoning, based on the assumption that demolition of the building would be complete. The RFP proposes only partial demolition of the building due to a lack of funds to demolish the entire structure. The hope is that a developer will be interested in finding a use for the remaining structure.
Offering the Pelvic Wave
80% Effective in Treating Urinary Incontinence CALL TODAY!
Spelled Different Because We Are Different® FYZICAL-DELMARVA.COM
FYZICAL of Ocean Pines 11204 Racetrack Rd, Suite 101 • Ocean Pines, MD, 21811 410-208-1525
FYZICAL of West Ocean City 12472 Sea Oaks Ln, Unit 1 • Berlin, MD 21811 410-747-3522