Three years ago Mayor Sam Cooper ran his campaign to his constituents promising to deliver an $18 million City Hall. A referendum was approved by voters based on his promise of an $18 million City Hall. Recently the Cape Gazette has reported that the cost is now nearing $21 million, a 16 percent overrun. No mention during his campaign of any thought of overrunning his budget. When $3 million in interest is added to the final tally, the massive City Hall will have cost the taxpayers $24 million.
This City Hall should be referred to as Cooper's Folly. A huge expenditure such as this for a city that is only one mile around, where 80 percent of its property owners do not live here full time, is truly a folly. The City Hall project study and construction was Mayor Cooper's idea and none of the city commissioners had the guts to go against him. This project is the first step in saddling our city with massive debt that will have to be paid in some way. Any guesses how?
Next up, a $50-plus million ocean outfall project. This project has not received all necessary permits, but again will be managed by Mayor Cooper and his consultants. During a recent meeting I asked the mayor for current cost estimates on this project. No one seems to know, including the commissioners. I bet this is a $60 million project when all is done. This project was also part of the city's referendum and passed by only 36 votes.
Once completed, our small city, where 80 percent of property owners do not reside full time, will be saddled with $70 million to $80 million of debt.
Recently Gov. Carney was looking for ideas to help with the state's budget crisis. Lending money to the City of Rehoboth Beach will certainly not help the state. Everyone needs to wake up to the fact that the City of Rehoboth Beach under the watchful eye of Mayor Cooper and his passive commissioners is steering toward the same fiscal conditions of the United States. Instead of $20 trillion in debt, the city will be $70 to $80 million.
No one in Rehoboth Beach, including the commissioners, really know.
Mayor Cooper is up for re-election in August. Will someone please run against him, win, and end this silliness and work on the future final mess ahead.
Thomas McGlone
Rehoboth Beach
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