Birthday parties and flower deliveries notwithstanding, not all surprises bring delight.

Sometimes, it's a surprise when something you enjoy is taken away. That can trigger resentment.

So it was when the Baltimore County Revenue Authority closed Gunpowder Falls Golf Course in Kingsville and turned it over to the county, at the county's request, to be made into a park.

That did not sit well with golfers who regularly used the course and things got heated at a March 4 meeting, attended by 200 and called by the county's Department of Recreation and Parks.

The county's message? This is a done deal.

In the wake of this comes state Sen. Andy Harris, who introduced a bill in the state Senate requiring the Revenue Authority to hold two public hearings (later changed to one) before closing, transferring or otherwise conveying ownership of a facility or property.

If passed, this would not affect the closing of the Gunpowder Falls course.

One might think county officials and the Revenue Authority would bristle at this new rule, considering it a constraint. Not so.

Once the bill was amended to require only a single public hearing, county officials and George Hale, the authority's chief executive, testified in favor of the bill at a March 25 hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.

"Not terribly burdensome" was how Hale characterized the measure, adding, "These types of issues come up so infrequently."

Given the complacency of those who did the golf course deal, it's questionable how useful the bill would be if it becomes law.

Consider also that the Revenue Authority is not an elected body and has no reason for concern over golfers expressing their ire at the polls.

Finally, how big an obstacle is a public hearing? County officials likely consider it simply a price to pay to get done what they want done.

Harris' bill will do no harm and may at least take away the surprise factor if the Revenue Authority decides to dispose of a property again.

But it won't take away the sting for those who golfed at Gunpowder Falls.

user comments (3)

user misteeta says...

I applaud Senator Harris for passing this bill, and the other representatives who have been supportive of the citizens who have been affected by the closing of Gunpowder golf course. Shame on you Mr. Smith for ignoring the letters sent to your office that were required by a public notice published in the Sunpaper last Nov. The taxpayers who wrote them have yet to get an answer. Instead, a meeting was arranged to meet with Mr. Fred Homan (of your office),Mr. Bob Barrett (Director Rec&Parks), Community leaders from Kingsville, Friends of Gunpowder Golf to discuss. What a joke! When are you going to answer our letters that were sent to you office last December? How about the follow up letter sent to you on April 1 of this year? I guess this is just business as usual.

Posted 8:13 AM, 04.09.09

• Permalink

user irish says...

One of the latest buzz words these days is “transparency” and “transparency in government” is something that is espoused by all those seeking public office. However, it would seem that this idea doesn’t hold true for County Executive Jim Smith and his minions. The recent closing of the Gunpowder Golf Course is a case in point. Unbeknown to the general public, the County unilaterally decided to close the golf course. At no time was any due process involved. The County one day last fall declared that the course was closing and that was that.. A request for a hearing on the publicly advertised transfer of the lease of the golf course property to the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks was ignored. Follow-up letters requesting said hearing have been snubbed. Even letters from several elected officials inquiring about the situation have yet to be answered. In other words, Mr. Smith and his administration are stonewalling everyone. Rumor has it that Mr. Smith is considering running for a higher public office when his term as County Executive expires in 2010. Considering his initial action and then his later lack of action in the golf course situation, the voters might wonder should he attain higher office, just how much “transparency” there would be in the management of that position.

Posted 4:04 PM, 04.10.09

• Permalink

user stevetowson says...

We have the government we deserve. If we want better than these people, we have to elect better than these. WILL WE?

Posted 4:06 PM, 04.10.09

• Permalink