Share: 

News Briefs 06/01/18

June 1, 2018

Andy & Opie Fishing Tourney rescheduled
The Andy & Opie Fishing Tournament, slated for Saturday, June 2, has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 9, due to expected inclement weather. Registration is at 8 a.m., and the tournament is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Milton Memorial Park, Milton. The event is free and bait is provided. Go to www.getkidshooked.com or call 645-7177 for details.

Lavender Festival moved to June 9
The Lavender Festival at Lavender Fields at Warrington Manor, originally planned for Saturday, June 2, has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 9, because of the weather forecast. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 pm. Admission is free.

Visitors can stroll through the lavender fields and attend demonstrations provided by Lavender Fields staff. Activities will include workshops on making wreaths, and growing and cooking with lavender and herbs. Baked cookies, scones and other treats featuring culinary lavender will be available at the Cottage Store. Go to www.facebook.com/LavenderFieldsAtWarringtonManor for more information.

Milton council to hold June 4 public hearing
Milton Town Council will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 4, at Milton library on a proposed $895,000 water infrastructure project. The project includes building a new water main to connect to the Wagamon's West Shores development, and a new well and treatment plant near Shipbuilder's Village. The project would be funded by the state, which has given preapproval for a 20-year loan at 2 percent interest. Following the public hearing, council could adopt a resolution setting a Saturday, July 21 referendum for a vote on the project.

Council will hear a presentation by Sussex County officials on capital improvement plans to the Milton library. There will also be presentations by the Delaware Patriot Guard and Chesapeake Utilities, the latter relating to a natural gas expansion.
In old business, council will discuss and possibly vote on an ordinance related to fines and penalties. Council will appoint members to the Board of Special Election, discuss an ordinance in the town code related to water, and discuss a request by Milton Little League for a donation toward a lighting project.

Testing planned on Indian River Inlet bridge June 5
DelDOT contractor Pennoni Associates Inc. will be doing load testing on the Charles W. Cullen Bridge over the Indian River Inlet from 9 p.m., Tuesday, June 5, until 5 a.m., Wednesday, June 6. This will require periodic closure of all lanes in both directions for short durations throughout the night. In between bridge closures, there will be one lane open in both directions on Route 1 northbound and southbound.

McGuiness endorsed by carpenters union
In a May 30 press release, Kathy McGuiness announced she has received an endorsement from the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 173, which represents members in Delaware. "I'm humbled and honored to receive this endorsement," said McGuiness, a candidate for state auditor, in a prepared statement. "As Delaware's auditor, I will work to ensure that working families' tax dollars are properly spent." McGuiness has also received endorsements from the Delaware State AFL-CIO and the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council.

Rehoboth personnel committee meeting set June 4
The Rehoboth Beach Personnel Committee has scheduled a meeting for 8 a.m., Monday, June 4, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for an update from City Manager Sharon Lynn on a compensation study and a discussion of goals and action timeline for Fiscal Year 2018-19. For more information call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth board workshop set June 4
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners have scheduled a workshop for 9 a.m., Monday, June 4, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion of formatting policies, a roles and responsibilities handbook for committees, and possible charter changes. It also calls for a discussion on off-street parking and financial participation for the Association of Coastal Towns. For more information, call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth board special meeting set June 4
Rehoboth Beach commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for 1 p.m., Monday, June 4, in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for discussions on the wastewater treatment plant's capital improvement project and jurisdiction over various wastewater treatment functions. For more information, call 302-227-6181. A full copy of the agenda can be found at town hall or online at www.cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Henlopen Acres planners to meet June 4
Henlopen Acres Planning Commission has scheduled a meeting for 11 a.m., Monday, June 4, in Town Hall, 104 Tidewaters, Henlopen Acres. The agenda calls for an update on the state-mandated comprehensive plan. A full copy of the agenda can be found on www.henlopenacres.delaware.gov.

Dewey planners meeting set June 1
The Dewey Beach Planning Commission meeting and public hearing is set for 6 p.m., Friday, June 1 at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The commission will discuss the draft porous paving ordinance on bulk standards changes, side-yard setbacks and half-story clarifications. The commission will possibly vote to recommend via ordinance to Town Council to clarify porous paving requirements and a separate ordinance to modify the zoning code regarding bulk standards.

Parish seeks District 4 Sussex Council seat
Republican George Parish is eyeing another run at the District 4 Sussex County Council seat held by George Cole, R-Ocean View. In 2013, Parish announced plans to run for the seat during the 2014 election cycle but later withdrew his plans when Cole announced he would run for his ninth term. Cole was first elected in 1986. Making the announcement last week, Parish said he has formed an exploratory committee called the Let's Fix It Campaign.

He's advocating for transportation improvement districts, balancing infrastructure with development by considering a transfer of development rights program in the Inland Bays area, advocating public-private partnerships, tax incentives and enterprise zones, and approving homestead tax exemptions for permanent residents. Parish said he would not run against Cole if he files. "I will not primary George Cole," he said. The 76-year-old Long Neck resident, who was Sussex County clerk of the peace from 2004 to 2012, ran unsuccessfully for state insurance commissioner in 2016. Cole has not announced his intentions for the upcoming election. The filing deadline for all candidates is noon, Tuesday, July 10.

Plans move forward on Love Creek project
After a project redesign on recommendations from the state fire marshal, the developers of Love Creek Marina off Route 24 have received preliminary approval to move forward with the project. At its May 24 meeting, Sussex County Planning and Zoning voted 5-0 for the project, which includes 180 multifamily units, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and 500 feet of retail space.

Planning and zoning commissioners expressed concern over the more than 400 parking spaces shown on the site plan in an area near Love Creek and other wetlands. Sussex County planner Jamie Whitehouse said the developer has expressed interest in exploring a greener option to parking instead of traditional asphalt or cement. There will be a 50-foot buffer including landscaping and a gravel wetland protecting Love Creek as well as on the south edge of the property. The final site plan is subject to review and approval of the Sussex planning and zoning department staff.

Sussex County Council meeting on June 5
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, in the county administrative building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a presentation on the Delaware Agricultural Land Preservation Program. See a complete agenda at sussexcountyde.gov.

Memorial Day weekend sees Route 1 traffic up
During Memorial Day weekend, more than 1 million motorists passed through Delaware's three toll plazas. Estimates indicate more than $3 million was collected. From Thursday, May 24, to Monday, May 28, the Newark toll plaza on I-95 served 494,593 vehicles; 361,171 vehicles passed through Biddle's Corner, and 367,431 vehicles went through Dover's toll plaza, both on Route 1. Traffic counts were up from the same period in 2017 a total of 13,843 at Biddles Corner and 8,005 at Dover, but down 8,276 on I-95. Overall, 13,500 more vehicles used the state's toll plazas over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend compared to the 2017 holiday period. The busiest day of travel was May 25 at all toll plazas. Sixty-seven percent of the counted trips utilized the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system.

Workshop set on Georgetown Gateway
The Delaware Department of Transportation will hold a public workshop from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, June 11, to get input on proposed improvements at the intersection of Route 9, Airport Road and Sand Hill Road in Georgetown. The workshop will take place in the Sussex Academy cafeteria, 21150 Airport Road, Georgetown. DelDOT officials will present the design for improvements to the existing intersection of East Market Street and Airport Road/Sand Hill Road. Improvements will consist of roadway realignment, additional turn lanes, signal improvements, pavement resurfacing, bike lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks, transit stops and lighting improvements.

Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2020. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded DelDOT a $7 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant for the Georgetown East Gateway Project. Interested persons can comment during the workshop or can send comments to DelDOT Community Relations, Att.: John Caruano, PO Box 778, Dover, DE 19903 or email dotpr@state.de.us or fax 302-739-2092. For more information, phone 1-800-652-5600 or 302-760-2080.

 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter