Last week's 2009 A New Year with New Opportunties discussion had a great turnout.  While the attendees were enjoying the refreshments, afterwards, a couple of Hughesville residents took the opportunity to, once again, approach Commissioner Graves on the Chaney rezoning request in Hughesville.  Earlier last year, Commissioner Graves was quoted in the Independent as saying, at some point, Hughesville was going to have accept someone with the financial wherewithal, to develop in Hughesville. 

Part of the presentation of the meeting last week, was to introduce the developer of Hughesville Station, a project which Hughesville residents have endorsed.  This same developer has also created a concept plan for the revitalization of the Hughesville Barns.  It was pointed out to Commissioner Graves, that Hughesville now has that developer with the financial wherewithal to make things happen - Hughesville doesn't need Chaney.  His response was Hughesville was still going to have to compromise with Chaney.  WHY? 

If Hughesville has to make "a compromise", here is MY suggestion:  Last April, Chaney Enterprises had completed mining on two properties around the Waldorf area.  These properties were now less valuable because they had been mined, but, NO PROBLEM!  The county took both properties off of Chaney Enterprises hands, by purchasing them with Open Space $$$ from the state.  The price tag was $3,250,000 EACH.  How sweet was that for Chaney Enterprises!  Here's my compromise - round up some more open space monies and take the Hughesville property off Mr. Chaney's hands, as well.  And, if Mr. Chaney really meant what he said about his dreams of donating land to CSM and the American Red Cross, bless his soul, he can still, certainly, do that.