Letters to the Editor:

An outrageous proposal must be denied

Clinton Bunting’s proposal to build a casino on land in the Delaware Seashore State Park is outrageous, unethical and environmentally irresponsible.

It is outrageous that Clinton Bunting wants the state to give him and his partner 10 acres of state land overlooking the Indian River Bay so he can build a 390,000-square-foot casino-resort complex – 42 percent of this complex would be a parking garage.

It is also outrageous for Clinton Bunting to say that this land is in a high-density, commercial area. Inlet Road leads visitors to a marina, campgrounds and cabins. People come here to fish, hike, paddle, bird watch and sail. How can Mr. Bunting call this high density?

Clinton Bunting says he wants his company to be considered the same as any other state park concessionaire. I doubt that the men who sell bait or hot dogs make $30 million in profit, as Mr. Bunting expects. Does Clinton Bunting really expect us to think of him as just another concession owner?

It is unethical for Clinton Bunting to ask the state legislature to give him 10 acres of waterfront land. His father is Sen. George Bunting, and this land is in his father’s district. Now I assume Sen. Bunting will recuse himself from any vote, but how can Clinton Bunting’s proposal not be seen as having an insider’s advantage? Mr. Bunting is even quoted as saying that he is confident that the General Assembly will pass legislation and select a Sussex County location by the end of this session.

There is irony in the site selected by Clinton Bunting. It is adjacent to the modest building that houses the Center for the Inland Bays.

The Center for Inland Bay’s Web site notes its beautiful location overlooking Indian River Bay and states that this restored Coast Guard barracks was re-designed and re-built using green design and materials so that it could serve as a demonstration project in the Inland Bays watershed for more sustainable design and construction. It serves as a public expression of CIB’s watershed-wide work – to help preserve the beauty and natural resources that make this area so desirable.

Yet, Mr. Bunting wants to build a resort complex with acres of impervious surface and vehicle traffic necessitating a 167,000-square-foot parking garage and 1,100-car parking lot right next to the Center for the Inland Bays. This complex, if built, would be a mockery to all the Center for Inland Bays stands for.

Please take a ride or walk down Inlet Road. Stop by the Center for Inlands Bays. Talk to the staff and volunteers about the Inland Bays and the wetlands. Check out the campgrounds and cottages where people of modest means can enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery and natural treasures of Delaware. Then let Mr. Bunting and his partner know his plans are outrageous, unethical and irresponsible.

Kit Zak
Lewes

Family grateful for support from many
Editor:

The family of Marjorie A. Knox would like to thank all family and friends for their generous donations to Meals on Wheels in Marjorie’s memory.

Both Marge and her husband, Steve, made many friends with the volunteers who so cheerfully delivered the meals to their homes. These kindnesses are very much appreciated.

Carole Michaelson
Daughter of Marjorie Knox

Travalini family grateful for support
Editor:

We would like to thank our wonderful family, friends and community for your overwhelming love and support at our time of great sorrow.

You physically surrounded us, showing your love through your actions in so many ways – praying, sending cards and flowers, bringing food, calling, singing, bringing more food, planning, remembering, listening – being there. Thank you.

Our local businesses fed us well, before, during and after the funeral. Thank you, Al and Theresa Casapulla, DiFebo’s, Fat Tuna, Hocker’s and Capriotti’s. Mariner’s Bethel staff and funeral committee could not have been more helpful at such a stressful time. Milford Hospital, Delaware Hospice and Melson’s Funeral Home, you made a difficult time more bearable through your guidance and many acts of kindness.

All your thoughts and actions are a beautiful tribute to a beautiful life, a beautiful woman, Becky Travalini.

Remember her, speak her name often, share the love she gave each one of us.

The Travalini Family

Addy responds to previous letter
Editor:

Regarding the recent letter from Dan Costello — Though I agree with him that the boardwalk widening and the utilities relocation proposals were/are bad ideas in Bethany Beach, resolving the flooding associated with the Loop Canal, which he wants to move to the top of the “capital projects” agenda, is even a worse idea.

When my great grandfather, John M Addy, and his firstborn son (Will, my great-uncle) completed the dredging to the government canal in 1910, they did not envision nor anticipate the influx of houses being built right on the canal. I suspect they figured if you choose to build in a flood zone you deal with the aftermath.

This has been the case for 100 years. When you build on the waterfront you take on the obvious risks. Deal with it! The same can be said for the beach front properties.

All the monies in the world will not “stem the tide.” As Porky Pig used to say, “You buttered your bread. Now sleep in it.”

Bill Addy
Bethany Beach

IRS discusses lost employee in crash
Editor:

On Feb. 18, a small plane was intentionally crashed into a building in Austin, Texas, where almost 200 IRS employees work. This wanton act of violence took the life of Vernon Hunter, 68, who served his nation as an IRS employee for almost three decades.

In today’s world, it is difficult for some to see beyond the labels – to see the person. Mr. Hunter worked for the IRS – a difficult and demanding job. But he did his job fairly and he did it well. He was a dedicated public servant who respected taxpayers and their rights.

There are tens of thousands of Vernon Hunters working at the IRS, helping taxpayers navigate a difficult tax code that we did not write and collecting the taxes to keep our nation vibrant and strong.

For some in America, the IRS will always be viewed as a faceless bureaucracy. But they are wrong. In fact, it is an organization of hard-working people whose love of country and spirit of public service were embodied in Vernon Hunter — a spirit that lives on in them today. I sincerely hope that is one lesson we can learn from this terrible tragedy.

Doug Shulman, Commissioner
Internal Revenue Service
Washington, D.C.

Thomas addresses his stance on Wichmann
Editor:

An elected official breaking the law, discovery, cover up, investigations, hearings and reprimand of an elected official. Sounds exactly like a story that could be coming out of Washington. Sadly, it is not about Washington, it is about Ocean View in 2006.

On March 9, the Ocean View Town Council will decide on whether to remove the censure of Councilman Bill Wichmann. It is important that the citizens recall exactly what the censure was about. It involves Wichmann’s misdeeds concerning the installation of a generator for his beloved new police station.

Because of Wichmann, the wrong generator was purchased. He attempted to fix the problem by hiring, without authorization, personal cronies to modify the generator. They completely bungled the job, and the generator was made inoperable and the warranty was voided. It is estimated that Ocean View has spent nearly $40,000 and three years trying to get the $48,000 generator working. It now works but is unreliable.

Let us review the 12 misdeeds that led to the censure: Violation of Section 6.101 of the Town Charter, violation of Section 6.102 of the Town Charter, violation of Chapter 40-1 and Chapter 40-1-A of the Town Ordinances, attempting to use his position as councilman to influence a town employee to take action that would have resulted in a cover-up, making verbal threats against a town employee, making a false statement to the Town Council, failure to comply with the mayor’s requests for information and four lesser charges.

There was never any doubt of Wichmann’s guilt. He admitted it. His alibi: The ends justify the means. It is in the public record.

Ex-Mayor Meredith now feels that the Ocean View Town Council’s actions were too harsh. He now wishes that he had never voted for the censure. A convenient change of position. Mayor Meredith wants it both ways. He was for the censure before he was against it.

Let us go back in time and review Meredith’s role. At a meeting on the afternoon of July 18, 2006, Meredith expressed his concerns about his role in the Charter and Ordinance violations. Mayor Meredith alluded that he knew about the violations and did nothing. He expressed his concerns about what would happen to him if this issue was elevated to the state Attorney General. He stated that he was going to vote for the censure and put this behind him. It was a vote cast to protect himself.

A review of the July 18, 2006, council minutes: Meredith clearly stated that Wichmann had violated the Town Charter and town ordinances. Mayor Meredith speaking: “The first three items in the censure have merit,” and “The first three items dealt with the fact that the procurement system had been violated, and he felt that he was obligated to vote yes.”

The censure of Bill Wichmann is not a blot on Ocean View. The real blot is Wichmann’s breaking of the voters’ trust and placing himself above the law. Some will say it was no big deal. Isn’t this one of the things wrong with our country today? Elected officials always thinking that they are above the law. The laws are for the little people.

Wichmann is big on law and order. He has voted for the establishment of many ordinances that put restrictions on the citizens of Ocean View. These ordinances carry penalties if violated. He expects the town staff to enforce these ordinances. No excuses. Yet he cries foul when he is held accountable for his ordinance violations. There is nothing wrong with this type of accountability. There is no double-standard. Maybe Washington could take a lesson from Ocean View on how it deals with elected officials who abuse the citizens they work for.

The facts are irrefutable. Wichmann broke the law. He was censured. The censure was upheld by the Delaware State Integrity Commission. Quite a legacy.

Roy Thomas
Ocean View