News Briefs 10/13/17

Rehoboth fox trapped, killed
The fate of a fox in Rehoboth Beach has drawn debate among Rehoboth Beach residents.Local social media posts recently noted the appearance of foxes on the beach, including posts that foxes were being trapped in cages and shot.

 Lt. John McDerby of Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Division said in response to reports, the matter was investigated. No violations were determined to have taken place, he said. McDerby said the foxes were legally trapped by a permitted nuisance-control company on private property.

 McDerby said private pest control companies are allowed, with a permit, to remove a nuisance animal like a fox or raccoon from private property outside of trapping season, which runs from Friday, Dec. 1, to Friday, March 10.He said it is not unusual for an animal such as a fox to be killed in a cage because a fox can look totally healthy and still carry rabies.

 McDerby said once trapped, the animal cannot be released into another environment if it is rabid.

Dewey council meeting set Oct. 14
The Dewey Beach Town Council has scheduled a meeting for 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 14, in the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. For the second consecutive weekend, an agenda item includes a discussion and possible vote to enter into a separation agreement with Town Manager Marc Appelbaum. The agenda also calls for a discussion and vote on establishing a Budget and Finance Committee and an Adopt A Dune Committee. A full copy of the agenda can be found online at www.townofdeweybeach.com, at town hall, 105 Rodney Ave., and on the message board outside the life saving station.

Sussex adds new sewer, water options
Sussex County Council voted Oct. 10 to allow officials to make sewer and water assessments based on either front footage or EDU calculations.
In charging households that will hook in to new water and sewer lines, county officials use a property's front footage to calculate the cost. The new ordinance allows officials to assess instead by EDUs, or equivalent dwelling units, in an effort to make assessment charges more fair. For future projects, county officials likely will calculate assessment charges based on EDUs, but will have the option to use front footage. For example, a single-family home is 1 EDU, while retail space is calculated by 1 EDU per 3,000 square feet.

The ordinance passed by council states existing projects will continue to be billed by front footage, but future projects may be billed by EDU. County Finance Director Gina Jennings said officials left the door open to assess using either method and will have to determine the most equitable way to charge customers on a project-by-project basis. For more information, call the county at 302-855-7700.

Sussex Board of Adjustment to meet
Sussex County Board of Adjustment will hold a public hearing and meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16, in council chambers at 2 The Circle in Georgetown. Nine projects will be subject to a public hearing, and include requests for variances for lot sizes, side-yard setbacks and special-use exceptions from the loading space requirement for Love Creek Development LLC on the southeast side of Route 24 near Camp Arrowhead Road. After the public hearing, the board will review four outstanding requests for variances and special-use exceptions. For more information or a full agenda, go to www.sussexcountyde.gov or call 302-855-7878.

Lewes city council meeting set Oct. 16
Lewes Mayor and City Council will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16, at city hall. Officials will receive a presentation from Department of Transportation representative Sarah Coakley regarding the Lewes Transportation Improvement District.

Council will also consider adopting the 2015 comprehensive plan, while also considering a lease with Lewes in Bloom for a portion of property behind the library to build the Garden for All Ages.

Council will consider a resolution to decommission and abandon several paper streets. Officials will discuss a request from the Donovan Smith Mobile Home Park to annex into the city.

Preston Schell of Ocean Atlantic Companies will be on hand to present his request to rezone 16.45 acres of land between Kings Highway and Savannah Road for medical offices and a senior-living facility. Council will consider action regarding Lewes staff for recycling service as well as discuss acceptance of Phase 1 of the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail. To view the full agenda, go to www.ci.lewes.de.us. For more information, call city hall at 302-645-7777.

Fort Miles master plan open house set Oct. 16
The state Division of Parks & Recreation and the Fort Miles Historical Association will host an open house on proposed capital improvements to the Fort Miles Museum and Historic Area in Cape Henlopen State Park from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 16, at the Lewes Public Library. Proposed improvements include upgrading and expanding parking areas and an outdoor venue area at the north end of Battery 519.

No County Council meeting Oct. 17
Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, Oct. 17. Its next regular meeting is set for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Milton P&Z to meet Oct. 17
Milton Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Milton library. The commission will review, discuss and possibly vote on a request from Larson Engineering for an extension of the preliminary site plan approval for Milton Park Center at the intersection of Route 5 and Route 16. For more information or a full agenda, go to www.milton.delaware.gov or call 302-684-4110.

Rehoboth board to hold Oct. 20 special meeting
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 20, at the Rehoboth fire hall to discuss and possibly vote on the planning commission's motion to dismiss an appeal brought by the developer of the proposed Beach Walk project. Beach Walk is a proposed 63-unit condominium project proposed for a 7.75-acre parcel currently developed as Rehoboth Beach Plaza shopping center. The project came under site-plan review by the planning commission, which ruled that Beach Walk was a major subdivision. They asked owner Keith Monigle and his attorney, Dennis Schrader, to submit plans as a major subdivision. Monigle and Schrader refused, wanting to have their project reviewed under the plans they submitted.

The planners then gave Beach Walk 60 days to submit as a major subdivision and if they didn't the commission would take no further action. When the 60 days expired, Schrader filed an appeal with the city commissioners. The planning commission responded by filing a motion to dismiss. In addition, the commissioners could go into executive session to discuss a document that is excluded from the definition of a public record but may need to be discussed in public.

Rehoboth board meeting cancelled
The Rehoboth Beach Board of Adjustment cancelled its Monday, Oct. 23 meeting due to a lack of agenda items. The board's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 27.

Carney appoints 19 to offshore wind group
Gov. John Carney established a Delaware Offshore Wind Working Group through Executive Order 13 to study potential environmental and economic benefits of developing offshore wind farms. The group will hold its first public meeting at 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 6, in the Delaware Public Service Commission Hearing Room at 861 Silver Lake Blvd. in Dover.

Carney's office announced the following appointments to the group Sept. 30: Chairman Bruce Burcat, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition; Sen. David McBride, D-Hawk's Nest; Sen. Harris McDowell, D-Wilmington; Rep. Trey Paradee, D-Cheswold; Rep. Ronald Gray, R-Selbyville; Department of State Secretary Jeff Bullock; DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin; Robert Howatt, executive director, Public Service Commission; Drew Slater, public advocate; Albert Shields, Governor's Office policy director; Mario Giovanni, director of energy acquisition at Delmarva Power & Light; Patrick McCullar, president and CEO of Delaware Municipal Electric Corp.; Mark Nielson, vice president of staff services at Delaware Electric Co-op.; Jeremy Firestone, director of the University of Delaware's Center for Carbon-free Power Integration; Brenna Goggin, director of advocacy at the Delaware Nature Society; Jeffrey Gordon, president of the American Birding Association; Guy Marcozzi, president and CEO of Duffield Associates; James Maravelias, president of Delaware State AFL-CIO; and Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

DelDOT sets Imagine A Litter-Free Day
The Delaware Department of Transportation is asking Adopt-A-Highway volunteers and others to help clean up Delaware's roadsides during the department's 13th annual Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware event, which will be held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. The rain date will be Oct. 28-29.

DelDOT is encouraging current Adopt-A-Highway groups and volunteers to participate in the event, and it's not too late for new volunteers to adopt a Delaware roadside for cleanup. If anyone would like to adopt a roadside, he or she can contact April Sammons in Sussex County at 302-853-1315.
Participants in Imagine A Litter-Free Delaware should wear safety vests that DelDOT has provided to Adopt-A-Highway volunteers.
For more information, go to www.deldot.gov/Programs/adopt/adopt_a_hwy.