On February 4, The Democratic Club  of Queen Anne’s County hosted a lively discussion on the topic of the proposed Ruthsburg site for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center(FASTC).  In the club’s continuing effort to inform and enlighten its membership on issues important to county residents, knowledgeable speakers were invited to present their perspectives on the issue.  Guest speakers were Mr. Mareen (Bob) Waterman of Business Queen Anne’s and Mr. Jay Falstad of the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association.  Both speakers have been very outspoken on the issue, with Mr. Waterman strongly favoring the facility and Mr. Falstad strongly opposing.    Mr. Waterman began by saying that as citizens, we have an obligation to our government regarding our country’s security.  The State Department is looking for a site within 150 statute miles of Washington, DC, for a consolidated training facility for their employees, and the Ruthsburg site qualifies.  He described some of the functions that would take place at the facility, indicating that there would be ground level explosions but no aerial ones.  He emphasized that having this facility in Queen Anne’s county would bring economic benefit in the form of new jobs, possibly as many as 400. The new jobs would be both technical and manual and would be a welcome boost to the county, particularly in these difficult economic times.  He cited labor statistics which indicate that for every 100 new jobs added to a locale, approximately 60 additional local jobs are created because of the new  business to restaurants, gas stations, contractors, dry cleaners, etc.  He also pointed out that the proposed 10,000 students training at this facility annually would likely spend money here since they would look for recreation, food and other activities in non-class hours.  He felt strongly that this would be a net benefit to all QAC citizens, even those in Ruthsburg and surrounding areas, because the facility plan would ensure environmental and safety standards.    Mr. Falstad spoke strongly to the negative opinion, which strongly allies with many of the people living in the Ruthsburg area.  He challenged the assertion that this facility would bring jobs to the county, citing a similar facility in New Mexico, where that was expected and never happened.  Mr. Falstad described his visit to that site and his meeting with townspeople there, who expressed great disappointment over the lack of new local jobs and the loss of tax revenue, since the Federal facility pays no local taxes.  He reminded the audience that the proposed Ruthsburg facility will sit on 2000 acres of prime, productive farmland, which is surrounded by horse farms and a State Park, and would dramatically and irreversibly change the character of that area into a fenced, guarded, secured site with substantial increased traffic in that area.  He also reminded the audience that there is no commitment for any additional money to build an overpass at the already congested Rt. 301/304 site and that any tax revenue currently coming from those 2000 acres would vanish.  He emphasized that concern for the environment is only one part of his opposition; his visit to New Mexico convinced him that there is no guarantee of any economic benefit to the County.  He pointed out that even most of the County Commissioners, after they had more facts, went on record opposing the proposed site, as he, his organization and many residents of Ruthsburg do.  The audience of all club members had a wide variety of questions for both speakers. The moderator, Rob Babbitt, past president of the club, kept the discussion ongoing for almost an hour. An informal poll taken at the meeting indicated that not many minds were changed, but most attendees felt they acquired a deeper understanding of the relevant issues.