By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Dec. 7, 2017) The message coming out of Pocomoke City Council on Monday night was loud and clear – the town is open for business and is offering incentives to attract new construction.

To that end, the council approved a 50 percent reduction in fees for new water and sewer connections, also known as tap fees.

The old fee structure was $4,500 each for water and sewer. Now, for one calendar year beginning on Jan. 1, 2018, the fee will be $4,500 for both.

In a letter dated Nov. 6, developer Chris Gilkerson of Amber Ridge II LLC asked Pocomoke City Manager Bobby Cowger to consider a fee reduction for his projects, the Southern Fields, Hillcrest Drive and Woodland Manor subdivisions, which plan to build 20 new homes.

“In efforts to further build momentum in these projects and to keep costs as low as possible for potential homeowners in both of these projects; we would respectfully request a reduction to the water and sewer connection fees assessed by the city of Pocomoke,” Gilkerson wrote.

Cowger, during a public meeting on Monday, asked the council to take that a step further and consider a broader fee reduction for all new developments, good for one year.

“My recommendation is we would … do that for any new any [construction],” he said. “That’s an incentive maybe to boost up the development behind the firehouse and any other lots that we have. That is a very good incentive to get builders and developers to come here. And we certainly aren’t going to lose any money providing two taps at $4,500.”

Taking into account the 20 homes projected by Gilkerson and perhaps another 10 in the town, Cowger said, “You’re looking at $4 or $5 million worth of new assessment base that we would be taxing.”

“That all snowballs into newfound revenue,” he said. “The city’s gotta get aggressive on stepping up and committing themselves to get [new] developments … we need the revenue and we’re not going to get revenue without development.”

Councilman Dale Trotter moved to cut the rate by half for one year. The vote was unanimous.

On Tuesday, Cowger said the new rates were good for both residential and commercial construction. He said additional tax incentives for commercial builders were considered on a case-by-case basis and the town is eager to work with developers.

“Fifty-percent off tap fees is almost unheard of in municipalities, because most municipalities try to use that as a huge money maker against the builders,” Cowger said. “Pocomoke is stepping up and we’re trying to work with developers and builders to bring some new growth down here.

“That’s our way of putting our commitment into revitalizing the city,” he added.