The future of White’s Ferry continues adrift after owner Chuck Kuhn announced Rockland Farm declined the $1.1 million offer to buy the Virginia landing area.
In a statement, the owner of Rockland Farm, Libby Devlin says the offer was turned down because it was a flat fee instead a volume-based fee. She detailed the long-standing negotiation with Kuhn.
“Rockland Farm has made several offers to date to get White’s Ferry to reopen and we would like to set the record straight,” said Devlin. “We were in negotiations with the Browns to buy the ferry and the land when Mr. Kuhn stepped in and bought it. But he would never disclose the price or the terms of the deal. We asked for 50 cents per vehicle with a 30-year renewable lease, but Mr. Kuhn said no. We offered to buy the ferry and land at 20% more than he paid, Mr. Kuhn said no. We offered to buy the Maryland landing and bring in an independent operator who would pay him 50 cents per vehicle, Mr. Kuhn said no. We offered to enter binding arbitration with the only instruction to choose the fairest offer, Mr. Kuhn said no. All that it would have taken to get the ferry open would be to increase the fee by 50 cents per ride for the use of our landing, but Mr. Kuhn said no.”
Kuhn says he has run out of acceptable options and now wants to sell the ferry to Montgomery County. Devlin says this is good news. And if the price is disclosed the farm will consider buying the ferry assets for the same price. Then Rockland Farm will bring in an independent operator to get the ferry up and running again without further ado.
“We have also located a nationally based company that will work with both sides to get a ferry up and running again and operate it,” wrote Devlin. “However, Mr. Kuhn has refused to work with this company and has told them that he intends to be the ferry operator. Rockland Farm has also made an offer to both Montgomery and Loudoun Counties for a permanent easement on our Virginia landing in exchange for a volume-based fee. Our offer is still on the table. Finally, we are willing to work with Loudoun and Montgomery Counties to exploring realigning our landing, acquiring a vessel, putting in a maintenance facility and operating the ferry from Virginia using the independent operator we have found”.
During a media briefing Monday, County Council President Evan Glass said the ferry needs to be operational again. Glass added if there is interest in selling the land to Montgomery County or the state, there should be a conversation about whether it is a good deal.
