SALISBURY, Md. – More than a year after Jeeps rolled across the dirt at Connelly Mill Park, a new audit has brought the “Safari at the Quarry” event back into the public eye.
The off-road event, hosted in May 2024 on county-owned land near Delmar, was billed as a tourism boost. But it drew criticism from some local residents and members of the Wicomico County Council, who questioned whether the event was properly vetted and whether taxpayers benefited.
A recent audit ordered by the Council found that while the event’s organizer reported a loss of nearly $1,800, the county still spent public resources supporting it. As a result, Wicomico did not receive a 10% share of any profits, as outlined in the agreement with the event promoter.
Council President John Cannon said the audit was meant to clarify the financial picture and restore public trust.
“There was a lot of concern over what the actual totals were, what the real numbers were, whether or not it was beneficial to Wicomico County or not,” Cannon said.
County Executive Julie Giordano strongly defended the event and its value. She cited a projected $112,000 in local economic impact and expressed concerns about how the audit was conducted.
“I really question the entire validity of that audit due to the fact that the way that it was done and things that were added at the end are all for nefarious intent,” Giordano said.
Giordano also pushed back on criticism over the use of county resources, noting there was no language in the agreement that prohibited it. She maintained the event was a good-faith effort to bring tourism to the area.
“There was never anything in the MOU that said no county resources could be used,” she said. “So I’m not really sure where that even came from.”
Cannon responded that the audit process was transparent. "It was done publicly. It was put on display publicly. There's nothing we've done behind the scenes. So I can't see how they could question the credibility to it," he said.
Following the Safari event, the Council approved legislation limiting motorsports and similar events on county property unless formally approved by Council. Giordano said there are no plans to bring back Safari at the Quarry.
Giordano is also exploring long-term uses for the Connelly Mill property, including potentially converting it into a public park.