Old Line Elephant Maryland Conservative Blog

Waste of the Week: Todd’s Inheritance

In last week's "Waste of the Week," we highlighted a water park in Gaithersburg. In our third reader poll, we had a two way tie for first place in what you felt was the biggest waste of taxpayer money on top of Maryland's $1.6 billion structural deficit. So, as the tie breaking vote - SB748 / HB1065 - $300k for renovation, reconstruction, and capital equipping of Todd's Inheritance will be Old Line Elephant's "Waste of the Week"

Last year, I was frustrated that my Delegates (Olszewski, Minnick, Weir) and my State Senator (Stone) had tried to throw $250,000 at Todd's Inheritance. Todd's Inheritance is an old property between Edgemere and Fort Howard that was owned by the Todd Family, people somehow related to Mary Todd Lincoln. The original building was used as a lookout point during the War of 1812. For 300 years, the Todd family owned that property. That's why it's historic - it was owned by the same family for 300 years and was used as a lookout point during the War of 1812. For the record, the building that was there during the "Battle of North Point" was burned to the ground by the British following that battle. As one married to a local resident, I've been hearing stories since I moved here that...the place is haunted. So, it's an old house owned by a wealthy family, with no intrinsic historic value, that generates no tourism business, and that the locals think is haunted. Seriously, what an amazing historic site.

Now, let's look at it plainly, Todd's Inheritance is 4 acres of property owned by the Todd's Inheritance Historic Site, Inc. They do nothing with the property except "preserve it." 2009's $50,000 towards the property helped make it look very slightly less run down and began repairing the fence. It's a waste, plain and simple. That 4 acres of land could be turned into any manner of things to help bring interest into the region - from more farming, to building homes in an area with great schools, or even to build a small commercial center with a grocery store / pharmacy closer to the resident's in Fort Howard, who have all of one way into / out of town.

As a local resident, I object to Todd's Inheritance receiving all this money - I hope it does not get funded and they seriously consider selling the property. Selling it would provide such better investment into that region than anything dropping $300,000 to renovate a historic site no one care about will do. For those reasons, SB748 / HB1065 is Old Line Elephant's "Waste of the Week."

Congratulations to Delegates Olszewski, Weir, and Minnick; and Senator Stone for wanting to put the state $300,000 in further debt to gain votes by fixing up an old building!

Thanks for all the votes this week and feel free to submit your suggestions in the comments section of wasteful spending in Maryland. I'll try to have up next week's poll up on Monday!

EDIT 3/20/2011: Last state funds to Todd's Inheretance were not from 2010, but 2009 and were decreased to $50,000. The post has been modified to reflect this information. Does not change my opinion on the matter.