Buehrer pledges to remain team player, push for 'right type of growth' for Thurmont

Oct. 10—While serving on Thurmont's Board of Commissioners for about 12 years, Bill Buehrer said, he's worked with other commissioners and the mayor as a team to improve the town.

He said he doesn't take individual credit for anything the board has done and emphasized that everything is the result of collaboration.

Buehrer is the only incumbent in the upcoming election for two seats on Thurmont's Board of Commissioners. If re-elected, he said, he will remain a "team player" and use his years of experience to continue advancing Thurmont.

"I work for what's best for the town, not what's best for Bill Buehrer," he said.

At the end of the month, residents will vote on seats on the Board of Commissioners that are currently held by Buehrer and Wes Hamrick.

The other candidates are Ed Schildt, Marty Burns, Bob Lookingbill, Christopher Stouter and Grant Johnson.

The town's election will be held on Oct. 31 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Guardian Hose Company activities building at 123 E. Main St.

Buehrer, a retired licensed funeral director, moved to Thurmont in 2006. He said when he first moved from Frederick, his interest in economic development and services for older adults motivated him to get involved in local government.

Burns, a former mayor and town commissioner, asked Buehrer to run for the Board of Commissioners in 2010. Buehrer was elected in 2011 and will complete his third consecutive term the day of the town election.

Buehrer praised the other board members, as well as Thurmont's staff and chief administrative officer, and emphasized how essential each person is to the town.

With the current board, Buehrer pushed to fix infrastructure throughout the town, such as constructing new sidewalks and new streetlights. Buehrer said he specifically advocated for adding streetlights to the town's Main Street area.

Additionally, Buehrer and the current board have worked with the town's economic development division to bring more businesses to town.

"We now can brag a little bit. For the first time in 25 years, all our storefronts are full," he said. "When I first got involved, maybe a third were occupied."

He also said the town has "zero crime" due to the Thurmont Police Department and has neighborhoods anyone can safely walk in or bike and drive through.

"Things are very positive. You don't see homeless people on the street. You don't see drug dealers on the corner," he said. "You don't see any dilapidated buildings. You don't see vagrants in our park."

Buehrer said he's in favor of "slow growth, but the right type of growth" for Thurmont. If re-elected, he wants to push for industrial and residential development to meet goals in Thurmont's Master Plan.

The Thurmont Master Plan outlines development goals for the town. The document specifically aims to develop the local economy, revitalize the downtown area, connect existing and future neighborhoods, and guide development of future neighborhoods.

Buehrer said annexing land for development is necessary to further growth outlined in the master plan.

Buehrer and the current board previously voted in 2022 to annex over 16 acres of farmland and zone it for high-density residential use. Residents then voted to reject the annexation in a referendum in January.

Buehrer said the annexation defeat "showed that democracy works" and that people's voices are heard, but he doesn't think the rejection was the right decision.

"There were people ... that were opposed to the high-density housing, but they're now the same people that don't want to pay additional taxes," he said. "We've got to have growth to meet our financial requirements to run the town."

If reelected, Buehrer said, he wants to annex land in Thurmont's industrial area to bring more industrial businesses. He will continue efforts by the current board to improve the town's infrastructure.

"I'm very black and white," Buehrer said. "What you see is what you get."