News Briefs 07/21/17
Fitness center request on Sussex agenda
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 25, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are possible votes on two conditional-use applications. Quail Valley 1525 LLC has submitted an application for a fitness and therapy center on a six-acre AR-1, agricultural-residential, parcel along Savannah Road, Lewes.
Blessing Greenhouses and Compost has filed for a business that includes composting, mixing, blending, bagging poultry by-products and potting soil products for trucking and wholesale distribution on a 32-acre parcel of AR-1 land at 9372 Draper Road near Milford. See a complete agenda at www.sussexcountyde.gov.
Misdemeanor DUIs now entitled to only one trial
A new law, signed by Gov. John Carney, has made it so that Delaware drivers charged with misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence will now receive only a single opportunity for a criminal trial. House Bill 207, introduced by Rep. Helene Keeley, D-Wilmington South, addressed a provision in Delaware law allowing DUI defendants who were convicted in Justice of the Peace Court to have their case retried on the merits in the Court of Common Pleas.
Under the new law, Justice of the Peace Court will be able to accept guilty pleas in DUI cases, but only the Court of Common Pleas will be able to hear trials for those defendants who choose to go to trial. This change, which took effect immediately, is advocated by both the Department of Justice and the judiciary, streamlines the criminal justice system, provides consistency in the disposition of these serious offenses, and alleviates the impact of multiple trials on civilian witnesses, police, and prosecutors.
Verizon Cell on Wheels in Dewey Beach
In anticipation of a high concentration of smartphone users this summer, Dewey has agreed to allow Verizon to temporarily set up a Cell on Wheels next to the town hall annex, 1505 Coast Highway. Mayor Dale Cooke said Verizon approached the town about boosting cellphone and internet reception in Dewey during the summer months. He said the communication company has agreed to pay the town about $8,600 for the use of the space next to the annex building. Verizon also entered into an agreement with Rehoboth, and placed a COW next to the water tower at 229 Rehoboth Ave.
Dewey planning group to meet July 21
The Dewey Beach Planning Commission has scheduled a meeting for 6:30 p.m., Friday, July 21, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. The agenda calls for a public hearing regarding the town's 2017 Comprehensive Development Plan. The document was finished by the working group in early spring, given back to town council to look over and then forwarded July 14 by the council to the planning commission.
The agenda also calls for a discussion and possible vote on what type of work should require town building permits and what type of paperwork should be required for conditional use applications.
Board set for Dewey's 2017 municipal election
During the July 14 meeting, Dewey town council unanimously approved the appointment of Gloria Rogers, Marty Tarr and Beverly Corelle as members of the Dewey Beach Board of Election. The three appointees have worked together for the past four years. Dewey's 2017 Municipal Election is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16. Beginning Monday, July 31, an absentee voter affidavit will be available. Voter registration and candidate filing deadlines are set for 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17. Three of five council seats are up for re-election – Mayor Dale Cooke and Commissioners Diane Hanson and Mike Dunmyer.
Dewey to OK securing of law enforcement area
Following a request made by the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System, Dewey council approved to spend about $7,000 to install a dividing wall with doors and an electronic encoded lock upstairs in town hall. The wall would separate the conference room and police offices. Mayor Dale Cooke said Dewey Police Department asked for DELJIS to perform a review of the upstairs area and that it was being requested for security reasons. He said the wall and electronic locks will prevent unauthorized people from using police computers. Cooke said the wall with doors would cost $2,860 to install, while the lock would cost $4,015.
Commissioners meet July 21 in Rehoboth
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will meet at 7 p.m., Friday, July 21, at the Rehoboth fire hall in order to select officials for this year's city election. The commissioners will appoint an inspector of elections and two judges to serve as the election officials for the Saturday, Aug. 12 municipal election. The appointment of an inspector and two judges is mandated by state election law.
Sussex residents asked for transportation ideas
Sussex County officials are seeking public input as they prepare their annual report to the Delaware Department of Transportation for consideration in the 2019-2024 capital transportation program. Residents and property owners with ideas for road improvements, pedestrian walkways, public transportation and other related infrastructure and services can make comments at www.sussexcountyde.gov and clicking on the link to fill out a suggestion form.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 28. County administration will review all suggestions and then compile a draft report for county council's consideration before submitting it to DelDOT in September.
