Heritage Creek bond decrease denied
Ocean Atlantic, which owns Milton’s Heritage Creek housing development, requested town officials reduce its letter of credit from $2 million to $328,000. The developer made the request during the Monday, Nov. 2 town council meeting, at which time Ocean Atlantic discussed plans to complete sidewalks as new homes are built. Town council denied releasing roughly $1.5 million because of past problems in other developments. “We’re not just looking at bonds for streets; we’re looking at landscaping, lighting, signs,” said Milton Mayor Don Post. He said it costs the town to redo faulty work and recommended council not reduce the bond amount. While he said he was pleased with the Heritage Creek development, other developers in the past have put undue responsibility on the town because of their negligence. “I have an extreme problem releasing the bond, considering the problems in other developments. I just think it’s a bad business decision to release that much of the bond,” said Post.

Cape board to discuss final 2010 budget
The Cape Henlopen school board will discuss its final fiscal year 2010 budget when it meets Thursday, Nov. 12. District Director of Business Operations Oliver Gumbs said some adjustments have been made since the preliminary budget was approved. The district will receive $6,100 less in federal funding it receives from the Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge and $125,000 less in interest income, due to the economy, said Gumbs. Based on projected received income, the budget predicts an additional $40,000 for cost recovery but $10,000 less in building rentals. Gumbs said the district expects to receive $118,000 more in school choice funds. In other adjustments, the budgets for H.O. Brittingham Elementary School and Rehoboth Elementary School were increased based on enrollment. Expenditures to school choice and charter schools also fell as a result of September enrollment numbers, said Gumbs.

Head Start officials seek another location
Telamon Corp. has withdrawn its request for a special-use exception to build a new Head Start center off Plantation Road and MacKenzie Way near Lewes. The request was met with opposition from several area residents. Gary Johnson, state property coordinator, read a letter Monday, Nov. 2, the night of the county board of adjustment’s vote. The letter stated the organization had received several calls from members of the community who wanted to help find another location for Head Start in the Lewes area. The center currently operates out of a small building in Belltown.

Resident complains of Milton finance records
Milton resident Norman Lester urged Milton Town Council on Monday, Nov. 2, to produce monthly financial statements in a timely manner. He said financial statements are not clear and concise. Last year, the town did not record water and trash collection revenues in its statements, he said. “There’s something institutionally wrong that you can’t produce monthly statements; it’s a disservice to the town,” he said. Milton Mayor Don Post said the administration would consider his suggestions. He also said the town has recorded monthly statements for years this way.

Milton to maintain alleyways in town
Milton Town Council, at a Monday, Nov. 2 town council meeting, approved maintenance of alleys with the exception of those in Cannery Village that were determined to be too narrow for town maintenance crews to remove snow. Cannery Village alleys have not been dedicated to the town. Officials questioned whether the town should maintain an alley adjacent to the Federal Street Art Gallery and Espresso Bar. Town attorney Mary Schrider-Fox said an 1867 deed indicates the alley belongs to the parcel behind the gallery. However, she said, if an alley is used by the public and maintained by a municipality for 20 years, it could be dedicated. Milton Mayor Don Post opposed town maintenance of that alley, but council members argued the town maintains other similar alleys in Milton.

Milton comprehensive plan decision tabled
Milton Town Council, at a Monday, Nov. 2 meeting, tabled a decision to change the scope of work for the town’s comprehensive development plan. The Milton Planning and Zoning Commission proposed 17 minor changes to the scope of the plan in October. Town planners also recommended council accept the plan. The planning commission will hold a public workshop to review the plans and invited town council to discussions. No date has yet been set for the workshop.

Milton students receive H1N1 vaccine
Principal Kevin Mumford said 239 of 537 students at Milton Elementary School received H1N1 flu vaccines at school Tuesday, Nov. 3, the first students in Cape Henlopen School District to receive the vaccine. Mumford said permission slips had been received from parents of 270 students, but because some of them were absent, 239 received vaccines. Public health and school officials are working together to distribute the vaccine through schools, although statewide, the number of children receiving vaccines has been as low as 29 percent in some schools. At Milton Elementary School, turnout topped 44 percent. Division of Public Health spokeswoman Heidi Truschel-Light said children under 10 should receive a second dose of the vaccine. Children who did not receive the first dose may receive a vaccine when the second dose is administered in their schools, she said.

Agriculture department issues E. coli warning
Approximately 545,699 pounds of ground beef processed by Fairbank Farms in Ashville, N.Y., has been voluntarily recalled at the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service. According to information released by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service Oct. 31, the ground beef may have been sold in some stores in Delaware: ACME, Giant, BJ’s and Trader Joe’s. Each package bears the establishment number “EST. 492” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. The ground beef, packaged Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, had sell-by dates ranging from Sept. 19 through Sept. 28. Though the sell-by dates are past, the Delaware Department of Agriculture is concerned people may have purchased the product and put it in their freezers.  Freezing will not eliminate the bacteria. Consumers are urged to return any product bearing the EST. 492 establishment number to the retail outlet from which it was purchased. For details, call 877-546-0122.

Foreclosure-prevention seminar set for Nov. 12
The Sussex County Department of Community Development & Housing, in partnership with the Delaware Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the State Bank Commissioner, will host another free foreclosure-prevention seminar for those trying to avoid the loss of their homes. The next seminar will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church parish hall, 307 Federal St., Milton. The event is open to the public, and guests may visit at any time during those hours. Delaware continues to experience a high number of foreclosure filings statewide, a trend that began in early 2008. In September, Sussex County recorded 146 filings, down slightly from the one-month record for the county this past July. Officials hope to lower that figure through public education. Gerry Kelly of the Office of the State Bank Commissioner will discuss the foreclosure timeline in Delaware, various options available to people behind in their mortgage payments and the latest information on programs available to residents. In addition to Kelly, foreclosure counselors will be available to field questions from homeowners. There also will be an opportunity to have one-on-one sessions with specialists after the seminar. For more information, call 855-7777.

Milton officials table insurance decision
Milton Town Council discussed increasing its town-employee cost share for health insurance premiums. Milton resident Cliff Newlands urged the council to develop a tiered cost-share program for employees instead of an across-the-board, one-third increase for all employees, a proposal officials are considering. “I strongly object to attempts to reverse the voted-upon terms of town employee benefits,” said resident Judy Shandler during the Monday, Nov. 2 meeting. Milton Mayor Don Post said officials would research tiered models of other municipalities. Since officials need more information, they tabled their decision to increase rates.

Trees and budget to highlight workshop
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will conduct a workshop at 8 a.m., Friday, Nov. 6, in the city commissioners’ room. Commissioners will discuss the city’s budget and financial matters. Included in the budget discussions will be an update on the budget, and current and future revenue sources. The budget talks will end at 9 a.m., followed by public discussion of alternate wastewater discharge methods, including the public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Rehoboth fire hall. Bryan Hall of the Delaware Office of Planning Coordination will give a presentation on urban forestry and the concept of tree canopies. Following Hall’s presentation will be a discussion of a proposed ordinance revising the city’s tree ordinance. The commissioners will also discuss a proposed ordinance that would clarify how a building is to be measured if the building fronts on a divided street or a street with a median. There will also be a discussion on adopting a proposed investment policy as required by governmental accounting standards and recommended by the city’s auditors.

Public hearing set for Nov. 7 on wastewater
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Rehoboth fire hall at 219 Rehoboth Ave. on the selection of an alternative to discharging treated wastewater into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. The city is debating two options: ocean outfall and land-based application. The city is under a court-imposed deadline to have all wastewater discharge out of the canal by December 2014.

Pear Tree Road for crossroad pipes
The Department of Transportation made an emergency closure of Pear Tree Road between Lowes Crossing Road and Westwoods Road near Millsboro for the removal and replacement of crossroad pipes. The road closure began at 7 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 3, and will reopen by 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, weather permitting. Detour routes are posted, and local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access. Traffic alerts and traveler information are available at deldot.gov or tune to WTMC-AM 1380.

Sussex County storm drains to be inspected
The Department of Transportation announced KCI Technologies Inc. and Century Engineering will take inventory and inspect area storm drains from 6:30 a.m. through 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in November, weather permitting. The following subdivisions will be inspected: Fox Hollow, Bay Oaks, Pinewater Farm, Beaver Dam Acres and Lazy Lake. This work will include multiple visits at the subdivisions for photographs, ditch measurements, drainage inlets and pipes. This project is part of the transportation program to reduce water quality effects from its storm-drain systems. The storm drainage inspection program is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which is designed to decrease pollutants entering water bodies nationwide. Anyone who sees a storm drain that needs to be repaired can call 800-652-5600. To report illegal dumping, call 800-662-8802. For more information on stormwater quality visit deldot.gov/stormwater/.

State courts seek qualified interpreters
The Delaware Administrative Office of the Courts is seeking qualified interpreters to assist non-English-speaking litigants. To become qualified, candidates must attend a one-day orientation program, successfully pass a written and an oral examination, and be cleared through a criminal history check. Court interpreters are contractual employees and work on an hourly basis. The first step in the accreditation process is to attend the one-day orientation from from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, at the Delaware Technical & Community College Corporate Center in Dover. Among the topics to be covered at orientation are the role of the interpreter, code of ethics for professional interpreters, modes of interpretation and certification testing. For details, call Maria Perez Chambers at 302-255-0166 or send email to maria.perez-chambers@state.de.us.

Search ends for missing man swept into inlet
A 54-year-old man who slipped off a jetty Sunday, Oct. 25, at Indian River Inlet remains missing, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. A witness reported Myungtiki Kim of Vienna, Va., fell off the rocks and was knocked into the inlet after a wave crashed into him. The witness, who called Suscom at 1:30 p.m., said Kim – who was wearing a blue raincoat and wading boots - was carried into the inlet. The Coast Guard led a multiagency search-and-rescue effort for nearly five hours the day the man went missing. By 6 p.m. that night, however, the Coast Guard and local agencies suspended their search, saying they presumed the man to be dead. “The Coast Guard involvement ended. There’s been no further developments on our part,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Chris McLaughlin, of the Coast Guard Air Station, Atlantic City, N.J.

Dewey Beach police chief rehired
Dewey Beach Police Chief Sam Mackert will serve the town for another five years. Commissioners voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 26, to extend Mackert’s contract. The vote was followed by a shower of applause from the audience. Commissioner James “Zeke” Przygocki praised Mackert’s ability to seek out and secure grants for Dewey police. Mackert’s contract was set to expire Dec. 10.

Dewey rental tax nets $209,800
Dewey Beach Commissioner Marc Appelbaum said revenue from the town’s new accommodations tax totals $209,800, and more is on the way. “We’re getting money each day,” Appelbaum said during the Monday, Oct. 26 budget and finance committee meeting. Of the 750 properties with a business license to rent, he said approximately 150 had yet to submit taxes. Appelbaum said some aren’t due this year. Dewey officials have been tracking tax compliance with a spreadsheet. The town sent several letters reminding residents who rent of the tax, but Commissioner James “Zeke” Przygocki said he was impressed by the rate of voluntary compliance. “To see that there is so much coming in on the honor system is commendable,” Przygocki said. The 3 percent accommodations tax was due Oct. 15. Lewes to hold Angler’s Nest hearing The Lewes Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Angler’s Nest major subdivision request at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Lewes Public Library. The hearing is to receive public comment on R.J.L. Family Enterprises LLC’s request for a major subdivision composed of 17 single-family home lots on 5.19 acres along Anglers Road. Written comments on the proposal will be accepted at City Hall until 4 p.m., on the day of the hearing.

Lewes BPW changes meeting dates
The Lewes Board of Public Works has changed what would have been the panel’s regular November and December meeting dates because of possible schedule conflicts with Thanksgiving and Christmas. November’s meeting will be at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18; December’s meeting will be at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 16. Both meetings will be at City Hall.

AG’s office addresses manufactured housing
The Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection Unit will hold an informational meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Indian River Fire Hall in Long Neck. The unit will brief manufactured home owners about the Manufactured Home Communities Act and other issues affecting residents. Rep. John Atkins, D-Millsboro, a member of the House Manufactured Housing Committee, urges homeowners to attend the meeting to learn more about issues and available services. The General Assembly passed House Bill 107 this year, which requires manufactured home park owners to allow homeowners to pay land-lot rental fees monthly, unless the tenant prefers to pay rent on a yearly basis. Members of the Delaware Manufactured Home Owners Community Association say owners of six manufactured home communities in the Long Neck area are illegally trying to get around the law. Some homeowners say Pot-Nets Communities owners are using HB 107 to raise rents on anyone who chooses to pay monthly. That charge is denied by park owner Robert Tunnell III. House Majority Whip Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, chairwoman of the Manufactured Housing Committee, has said the problem is in interpreting the law. She also said House attorneys are looking into HB 107’s legal ramifications.

Easter to remain on council schedule
When Sussex County Councilwoman Joan Deaver, D-Rehoboth Beach, requested council to remove the word “Easter” from the county’s 2010 schedule, she met with no success during the Tuesday, Oct. 27 meeting. In what is usually a routine approval of the upcoming year’s schedule, Deaver, who took her seat in January, said some of her constituents had a problem with the word. “I have a lot of friends who are Jewish,” she said. She said she would prefer the schedule to use the word “spring” instead. There was no second to the motion, so the words “Easter holiday” will remain on the schedule, as will “Christmas holiday,” to which no one took exception. Seemingly annoyed with the discussion, Council President Vance Phillips, R-Laurel, then asked Deaver a question: “Are there any other traditions you would like to trample on?” Deaver did not answer except to mutter, “Next year.”

Sussex County has a good first quarter
There was a little good news for a change on the economic front for Sussex County government as the county revealed a surplus for the first quarter ending in September. However, as Finance Director Susan Webb was quick to point out, it will be short-lived. Webb presented the first-quarter financial report at the Tuesday, Oct. 27 county council meeting. “We had a good bump in revenue in the first quarter,” Webb said. “It was one of the best quarters we’ve had. October’s numbers do not look as good.” The county finished the first quarter with a modest surplus of just a little more than $408,000, thanks to an increase in home sales and a decrease in expenses. In keeping with the season, there were some treats, but the report also harbored a few tricks. Although building-related revenues exceeded expectations, other funds and grants have yet to trickle into county coffers, causing an overall decrease in first-quarter revenue of 2 percent, Webb said. Interest earnings were down 72 percent, or about $81,000 from the budgeted amount. Because of the increase in home sales, due in a major part to the $8,000 first-time buyers federal tax credit, all real estate and building-related revenue in the county was more than budgeted. At $3.7 million, realty transfer taxes were $600,000, or 17 percent more than budgeted. Building- and construction-related revenue is over budget by almost $100,000, or 13 percent from the last fiscal year. Recorder of deeds revenue was almost 17 percent over budget to $900,000. Expenses were down in most departments by a total of more than $640,000. Total revenue was $11.3 million, while total expenses were $10.9 million on a budget of $11.5 million. The period covers July 1 through Sept. 30.

HINI claims third Delawarean’s life
Delaware’s Division of Public Health announced another H1N1-related death. The divisoon reported an 80-year-old Sussex County woman died Saturday, Oct. 24, in a Delaware hospital. Because she doesn’t fit the typical age profile, additional H1N1 investigation was conducted to confirm her status. “Our hearts go out to her loved ones,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, the division’s director. “As with most H1N1-related deaths, this individual had multiple other existing medical conditions.” The other two recently reported cases in Delaware were a 15-year-old New Castle boy and a 35-year-old Kent County woman, both of whom had additional health complications. While people 65 years and older are much less likely to become ill with novel H1N1 flu, when people in this age group get the infection, especially those who are immunocompromised, their risk of poorer outcomes is increased. This is not surprising given that people 65 and older are generally considered at higher risk of serious flu-related complications, including those requiring hospitalization, from seasonal flu illness. Certain groups of people are at higher risk of complications from the H1N1 flu, including people with chronic underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and those who are immunosuppressed. For most healthy people this has been a mild infection. For tips to reduce the chance of infection or for more information, visit flu.gov or de.flu.gov.

Inland Bays group discusses education
Members of the Citizens Advisory Committee to the Center for the Inland Bays met Oct. 21, and had a lengthy discussion about a PowerPoint presentation designed to educate the public and visitors about the bays and their watershed. Committee President Ron Wuslich said the group plans to offer the presentation to show how citizens can become involved in protecting the Inland Bays, but no dates or locations have been announced.

Sussex council approves sewer funds
Sussex County saved nearly $475,000 on its design contract, but council voted to spend $5.2 million on two contracts as part of the $26 million expansion and upgrade of the Angola sewer district project. At its Tuesday, Oct. 27 meeting, county council awarded a $3.7 million contract to A.P. Croll and Son Inc. of Georgetown for work on two pump stations and installation of 19,000 feet of 8-inch pipe along Angola and Camp Arrowhead roads. Council approved a change order to reduce its design contact with Whitman Requardt and Associates from $1.5 million to 1.1 million and to award a contract of $1.5 million to the company for contract administration and construction administration for the six contracts needed to complete the project.

Cape board adopts facilities-use fees
The Cape Henlopen school board approved a fees schedule for use of high school athletic facilities. District Business Director Oliver Gumbs said during the board’s Oct. 22 meeting that everyone affected by the fees has read the document and given feedback. He said the high school appointed a secretary to coordinate use of facilities. District school plant specialist Tyrone Woodyard said that’s how all the district’s schools manage facilities and that he gives final approval. Board President Camilla Conlon and members Andy Lewis and Noble Prettyman were absent from the meeting.

Zwaanendael Women’s Club of Lewes phone books now available
The Zwaanendael Women’s Club of Lewes’ 57th edition of the Lewes telephone directory is now available. This fundraiser helps the club maintain its historical building located at Third Street and Savannah Road in Lewes, fund scholarships for Cape Henlopen High School and Beebe School of Nursing students, and support other local charities. Club meetings are the third Tuesday of each month, September through May. Membership is open to all women of Lewes and outlying areas. Included in the telephone book is the information for placing an ad for the next year’s publication. To get books, be included in future books, to correct an error or for more information, call 947-2640.

Planners approve Love Creek subdivision
The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission granted preliminary approval to Vesco LLC for the Love Creek Landing subdivision, a 183-lot development along Robinsonville Road near Lewes. In the 4-0 vote Thursday, Oct. 22, commissioners lauded the developer for taking extra steps to protect the parcel, which is the headwater for Love Creek. The development will have a density of 1.12 units per acre with 102 acres of open space, noted Commissioner Mike Johnson. But by the same vote, commissioners recommended denial of a conditional use for 30 multifamily units on the same parcel. That recommendation has been forwarded to county council. “There are no other condominium or townhouse units in the area,” said Johnson. “Lower-priced condo units could negatively impact neighboring properties’ valuations. Multifamily units are not in character with the area.” Johnson’s motion for denial also contained a provision to allow the applicant to reapply to integrate the multifamily section into the regular subdivision with an expedited review. After the planning and zoning decision, the applicant withdrew the conditional-use request and a planned county council public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, was taken off the agenda. The subdivision request does not require council action.

Cape distrcit to use all allocated state units
Cape Henlopen School District Human Resources Director Tim Buckmaster presented the district’s final unit count to the school board at its Thursday, Oct. 22 meeting. Buckmaster reported the district had 4,560 students as of Sept. 30, qualifying it for 360 state units. He said the district is using all but one-tenth of one of those units.

Rehoboth planners’ meeting cancelled
The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission has cancelled its Friday, Nov. 13 meeting due to a lack of agenda items. The next meeting is scheduled Friday, Dec. 11.

Lewes council sets November meeting
Lewes Mayor and Council will meet at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, at City Hall, for the panel’s monthly meeting. The meeting would normally have been held Monday, Nov. 9, but it was rescheduled because some council members have travel plans or other schedule conflicts.

Beebe cancels all free flu shot clinics
Beebe Medical Center has announced that all free flu immunization clinics are cancelled. Despite continued efforts to obtain vaccine for seasonal flu, the supplier, Sanofi Pasteur of Swiftwater, Pa., reported only 100 of the 2,200 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine that were ordered are available to be shipped to Beebe Medical Center.

Sussex County seeks photos of nor’easters
The Sussex County Emergency Operations Center is asking for the public’s help in providing photographs of flooding or any other effects from the fall season’s first round of coastal storms that occurred Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 15-18. Emergency Operations Center Director Joseph L. Thomas announced Monday, Oct. 19, that residents can now send their storm photos through the county website for emergency planners and National Weather Service forecasters to review. Go to sussexcountyde.gov/stormphotos to upload images. “These days, everyone has a digital camera or a picture phone that can capture in an instant what’s going on right in front of them,” said Thomas. “The public can and does serve as an invaluable resource in events such as these, giving emergency officials on-the-ground observations. Certainly someone out there has pictures of this weekend’s storms, and we would encourage them to share with us what they saw. That helps us to better plan for future weather events.” Two separate storm systems, both nor’easters, moved through Delaware during the weekend, bringing with them gusty winds and causing minor to moderate tidal flooding along Sussex County’s oceanfront and Inland Bays, particularly during high-tide cycles. However, no serious damage or injuries were reported. Thomas said he hopes to use the new storm photos feature for future weather events.

Progressives to meet Nov. 8 in Lewes
A Dining with Progressives dinner and town hall meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, at Fish On Restaurant in the Villages of Five Points in Lewes. The meeting following the dinner will be moderated by Rebecca Young and Rob Robinson. Young is vice chairwoman of the New Castle County Democratic Committee and New Castle County at-large member of the state Democratic Executive Committee. Robinson is a public defender and recent Delaware House of Representatives candidate from the 37th Representative District. Young and Robinson will discuss their views on campaigning in Delaware and lead a discussion on how to elect candidates to county and state public offices. Attendees will be encouraged to offer their views on elections in Sussex County. Attendees who wish to make an announcement about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities or membership in organizations should send a notice to prog2009@aol.com prior to the meeting. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to prog2009@aol.com or call Joanne Cabry at 226-5019.