The deal between County Executive Julie Giordano and LiveWire LLC Brad Hoffman known as "Safari at the Quarry" or "Jeep Fest at the Quarry" exposes the citizens of Wicomico County to many risks. It is rife with disadvantageous contractual terms that may expose Wicomico County taxpayers to significant financial and civil liabilities. It has been entered into unilaterally, under a loophole in the County Charter that allowed it to bypass both public comment and County Council approval. Taxpayers in the neighborhood adjoining the event are only 300 feet away and stand to suffer significant disruption to their quality of life and damage to their property values. These events also pose significant traffic and safety issues for all those who travel or live along Connelly Mill Road. All of us in this county stand to lose the use of this beautiful and unique piece of land as a recreational park to serve the needs of the entire community and not just those who participate in expensive off road events.

Many members of our community showed up to voice our concerns at the March 19, 2024, County Council Meeting. The county graciously heard us allowing time to truly understand what we are facing. Below are links to several statements. More will be added as we gather them. We will also link the recorded County Council meeting once it has been added to their website.

The entire Safari at the Quarry or Jeep Fest at the Quarry project was unknown to both the general public and the County Council until concerned citizens began to see advertising for it on Facebook. They then reached out to Julie Giordano who left them with more questions than answers. Several of these concerned citizens brought the issue to the County Council’s attention through public comment. The County Council affirmed that it was the first they were hearing of it and held an Open Work Session on December 05, 2023. We encourage everyone to view this meeting (linked below) in its entirety to gain a greater understanding of the lack of transparency which has been the hallmark of this deal. Ultimately, Julie Giordano told the County Council that due to the animosity between them on various issues, she did not want to bring this before them so she utilized the County Charter in such a way that she would not have to. She also claimed that she should have made the public aware but that she was still learning and would do further outreach to the affected stakeholders. In the three months since that time, she has made no efforts to do so. The event is now one month away.

The Wicomico County Council meeting video archives can be found on the County website: https://www.wicomicocounty.org/697/Videos-of-Council-Meetings.

The County Charter allows the County Executive to enter into contracts unilaterally without the County Council or public hearings if the contract is for events held within one year of the signed date of the contract. Julie Giordano signed this MOU/Contract with Livewire LLC. for 364 days, one day short of the year which would have required her to hold public hearings. She has clearly stated on record that her intention is to hold the event in order to show that it is successful without any input from affected stakeholders. This is the very definition of "ask for forgiveness, not permission." By doing so, she is changing the face of the property by adding trails, building obstacle courses, and converting the space to "the ultimate 4x4 playground." All of this with no input from the residential communities affected or the county residents who have long desired a park with water activities, hiking, disc golf and pickleball courts. A decision on the highest and best use for such a valuable piece of land that was received through a donation for recreational and surface mining purposes should be made with input from the public. Taxpayers of Wicomico County deserve to be heard on this issue. Linked below (starting about 49 minutes in) is the portion of the Open Work Session of 12/05/23 where Julie Giordano and LiveWire LLC speaks of using this loophole.

Smart Spending Practices weren't followed

• No financial review (proforma) of the event organizer (Live Wire) was done before the contract. This makes it impossible to predict if the event will be profitable for the county.
• No economic or community impact studies were conducted. This raises concerns about potential costs to the county and nearby residents (traffic, noise, etc.).
• Live Wire's financial statements weren't checked. The county doesn't know how much Live Wire will spend, making it difficult to calculate the county's share of profits (likely minimal).
• The profit-sharing structure puts the county at risk. The county has limited control over Live Wire's expenses but shares in potential losses.
• Ocean City's event permit offers a safer approach with a fixed fee instead of profit-sharing.

County May Need More Insurance

The risky nature of the event might require the county to upgrade its insurance coverage, potentially leading to higher premiums. It's unclear if this was considered before signing the contract. Overall, the contract appears rushed and lacks proper due diligence, potentially exposing taxpayers to unnecessary financial risk.