Worcester sportsplex property closing pushed to January 2023

On April 19, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to buy the land for the complex. Originally, the money was to come from the sale of $11.2 million in bonds earmarked for financing a portion of the costs of designing, engineering, construction, equipping, and furnishing the facility.

The decision to push the date back to January comes just three months after County Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young revealed that the bond money earmarked for the purchase could not be used.

Commissioner Chip Bertino, who has opposed the development of a sport complex with taxpayer money, questioned Commissioner Joe Mitrecic about the procedure for applying for funds from the Maryland Stadium Authority and was told it could be comprised of grants, loans, or if the authority finds it feasible, it may even pay for the whole facility.

Mitrecic also told Bertino when a study being paid for by Ocean City officials is completed, the stadium authority will have a better idea of how much money to put toward the project.

Ocean City requested a study that looks into possibilities of constructing an indoor facility at the sportsplex.

According to Mitrecic, Worcester County will put together the concept of the sportsplex and Ocean City, who wants to partner in the project, wants to put an indoor facility their.

Mitrecic also said the county was accused of rushing the project, then suddenly nothing happens, and people wonder why it is not moving.

To clear things up, he added, the county is continuing with studies like the traffic study, to ensure due diligence is done.

The deciding vote to push the date back to January was 4-3 with Commissioners Bertino, Ted Elder, and Jim Bunting voting in opposition.

This story appears in the Sept. 23, 2022 print edition of the OC Today.