CUMBERLAND — Allegany County Commissioner Creade Brodie threatened to stop taking his medication as he stormed off after Thursday’s public meeting concluded.
“It’s gonna be worth it one night, I’m not gonna take my damn blood pressure pills and I’m gonna let her fly,” he said. “I can’t take this anymore … all these damn accusations and lies.”
Brodie’s comments followed questions from the public comment portion of the meeting from Chelsea Boor, a commissioner candidate, about 12 county real estate deals that commissioners Bill Atkinson and Dave Caporale recently “ratified,” meaning passed again but legally this time.
The commissioners last year voted to approve the transactions, but at that time did not comply with Maryland law, which includes a hearing process and public notices.
Boor asked Brodie why he abstained from the recent vote on the transactions.
Brodie confirmed he did not participate because he worked for and had business dealings with parties involved with the real estate transactions, which included One Science Drive, BTA of Frostburg LLC and David Weimer.
Allegany County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes from April 3, 2025, show the sales contract for that property, which was the former Hamilton Relay facility, was for $1.2 million “for a new business venture which will be announced on a later date.” The minutes show Brodie also abstained from that vote.
Boor said the issue was important because it involved how the commissioners chose to spend public funds.
“These commissioners are making decisions about property, loans, leases, development money and public resources that belong to all of us,” she said. “This is our money, the taxpayers’ money.”
Boor said the public deserves to know “why the same politically-connected people keep appearing in deals involving county property and county assistance.”
She asked whether the county provided loans, favorable financing and bought property to support private development.
Boor spoke of water problems that Lonaconing residents have faced for years.
In early January 2023, Lonaconing’s water was tested for turbidity and results showed levels far above state and federal standards.
Within weeks, the Maryland Environmental Service arrived to help restore safe and sustainable water for customers of the Midland-Lonaconing Water System. MES is a not-for-profit business unit of the state of Maryland.
Soon after, remedial actions included connection to an Allegany County distribution system for Lonaconing area residents to receive water from Frostburg.
Boor said the county is charging Lonaconing $216,000 per year “just to keep an emergency water connection” available.
“When taxpayers ask why their bills keep rising, they’re told there’s not enough money,” she said. “But when someone with the right relationships has a project, suddenly there’s county property available, county staff involved, financing arrangements considered and public resources committed.”
Brodie said to clear “rumors” that cloud his reputation, he asked Allegany County State’s Attorney James Elliott to investigate him, which Elliott declined to do.
“I’ve served 16 years,” Brodie said of his time as a county commissioner.
“I live … in a little cracker box with a metal roof. I’m 58 years old … married 40 years,” he said. “My God, what’s wrong with (you people)? If you thought it was this crooked, Christ someone would be in jail. This is ridiculous, and I’m not supposed to get worked up.”
Atkinson responded to Boor’s questions and comments.
“The majority of those funds” do not include taxpayer dollars, he said.
“They’re economic development funds, which are separate from citizens’ taxpayer money,” Atkinson said. “It’s money that’s made from economic development … which is a separate pot of money that cannot be used for some of the other ideas and places.”
He said the county expects Lonaconing residents to pay for maintenance of water and sewer lines and improvements made to Frostburg’s water system.
“It’s not fair to all the other citizens of the county to pay for those improvements, and (Lonaconing water consumers) not pay it,” he said. “And they did use the water for quite some time when their plant went down.”
Lonaconing “still (owes) us close to a half million dollars just for the water itself,” Atkinson said.
“As far as Commissioner Brodie, I have known him for a long time, I have worked with him over the last three and a half years, and I can tell you that there is nothing that this man does that isn’t upfront and honorable.”
Caporale also defended Brodie.
“I stand by Commissioner Brodie,” Caporale said. “He’s been a great, honest public servant.”