News Briefs

Milton council approves Heritage Creek Phase 4

Milton Town Council gave final subdivision approval Sept. 9 to Fernmoor Homes for Phase 4 of the Heritage Creek community.

The phase contains 42 lots, including 17 single-family homes, three triplexes and 22 town homes. Council’s vote was unanimous. For more information, call town hall at 302-684-4110.

Sussex County Council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Sept. 10 meeting: $3,000 to Georgetown Historical Society to help replace roofs in the Marvel Carriage Museum; $1,000 to City of Rehoboth Beach for the Delaware State University Marching Band performance; $3,000 to Lewes-Rehoboth Association of Churches to help cover costs for the community resource center to connect to the City of Rehoboth Beach water system; $1,000 to Rehoboth Beach Film Society to help with costs associated with theater projection equipment at Cape Henlopen High School; and $1,000 to Delmar Historical and Arts Society to print walking tour handouts.

Council presents grants to nonprofit agencies sponsoring events and providing services to county residents.

DNREC presentation at Sussex council meeting

Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the county administration building on The Circle in Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a presentation on sediment and stormwater regulations by Frank Piorko, division director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Division of Watershed Stewardship.

See a complete agenda at sussexcountyde.gov.

ESRC plans community meeting Sept. 23

The Eastern Sussex Republican Club plans a community discussion at its next monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 23, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Hampton Inn, 18826 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach.

The meeting will be held to discuss recent topics in the local news, including  local congestion and land-use priorities,  agency responses to stormwater overflows, changes in local electric power and sewer rates, schools, jobs and business.

For further information contact easternsuxrepcl@yahoo.com.

Milton budget talk continues Sept. 16

Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, at the Milton Fire Department to continue work on the fiscal year 2014 budget. Milton’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. Also on the agenda is the appointment of a new member or members to the planning and zoning commission, the appointment of a land acquisition committee to explore a new well location and discussion of an ordinance to amend the employee handbook.

For more information, call town hall at 302-684-4110.

Rehoboth planners cancel meeting

The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission has cancelled its Friday, Sept. 13 meeting due to a lack of agenda items.

The commission’s next scheduled meeting is Friday, Oct. 11.

Milton police committee to meet

The Milton Ad-Hoc Police Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, in the conference room of WBOC at 1 The Square. Topics to be discussed include the police department's policies on take-home cars and response to out-of-jurisdiction calls, memorandums of understanding between Milton's police and the state police, and officer retention. For more information, call town hall at 302-684-4110.

Lewes sets hearings on zoning amendments

Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold public hearings on amending sections of zoning code related to flood plain definitions, and adding a new article related to small wind energy systems.

Hearings begin at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23, at City Hall. For additional information about the amendments, visit City Hall, Lewes Public Library, or go to ci.lewes.de.us.

LHA sets annual meeting Sept. 20

Members of the Lewes Homeowners Association and all residents of Lewes are invited to attend the association's annual meeting at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, at the Lewes Public Library.

Three members will be elected to the board of directors for a term of three years ending with the annual meeting in 2016.  Nominations will be accepted until the annual meeting and from the floor before the elections.

Following the short business meeting, Lewes Mayor Jim Ford will update the attendees on some of the key issues and challenges facing the City of Lewes.  Questions will be accepted from those in attendance.

Citizens of Lewes are encouraged to join the Lewes Homeowners Association to help support the Candidate’s Night and other informational meetings.

For more information contact Lewes.Homeowners@gmail.com or go to leweshomeowners.com.

Markell named to national committee

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell was named to the National Governors Association Executive Committee by NGA Chair Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and NGA Vice Chair Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. The association is governed by the nine-member executive committee. Through the executive committee, governors set the association’s priorities and determine its activities. For more information, visit www.nga.org.

Giant Food gas station planned for Route 1

The Route 1 corridor will soon have another gas station. Sussex County Planning and Zoning has approved preliminary site plans for a Giant Food fuel facility along the southbound lanes of Route 1 at the location of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. The facility will have six fuel islands but will have no access from Route 1. Access to the parcel will be from adjoining properties. Before a building permit can be issued, the county's planning and zoning department must review final plans with approvals from county and state agencies. Also at its July 11 meeting, the commission approved a preliminary site plan for a 7,200-square-foot indoor batting facility for Sports at the Beach along Route 9/404 near Georgetown.

Veterans LGBT Group forming Sussex Vet Center

This group will focus on the unique needs and concerns of the LGBT community as it relates to the ongoing difficulties they may be experiencing as a result of their military service. Those who at any time in their military career experienced sexual assault or harassment are invited to join this group. This group will offer support in a safe and confidential environment.

For more information, call 302-225-9110.

Federal funds will aid in Sussex home repairs

Sussex County has received just over $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funding and $500,000 in home rehabilitation funds for fiscal year 2013.

Specific funding of $64,000 each for the Coolspring and Mount Joy areas in the Cape Region was set aside to cover eight home rehabilitations. In all, the funding will cover home repairs for more than 200 homes.

Snyder-Hall considers run for Senate

Rehoboth Beach resident Claire Snyder-Hall has filed paperwork with the State Treasurer's Office to explore a run for Senate District 6, which includes Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton and Harbeson.

“I am considering a run for the state Senate, because I would be an effective advocate who will accurately represent all of the citizens of the district,” Snyder-Hall said in a press release.

Snyder-Hall said she is a retired educator with extensive experience in the classroom and has held numerous leadership positions.   Snyder-Hall said her experience facilitating discussions and engaging opposing perspectives are skills that have prepared her for contentious political debates.

The district’s current Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, was elected to a two-year term in November 2012. For more information, email claire@clairesnyderhall.com or go to clairefordelaware.com.

Sussex awards $4.4 million for airport work

Although the bid was 40 percent higher than estimates, Sussex County Council voted 5-0 to approve a bid of $4.4 million from George & Lynch of Dover for milling, paving and electrical work as part of the county airport's runway extension project. The bid award is contingent on receipt of 90 percent of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration, said Jim Hickin, airport manager.  The remaining 10 percent of the costs will be split between the county and state. Hickin said the price was driven up by the lack of local electrical contractors bidding as a subcontractor on the project.

Lewes property owners asked to clear plants

When walking along sidewalks in the City of Lewes, pedestrians shouldn’t need to step out into the street to get safely around branches, shrubbery and ground plantings overhanging sidewalks.

Lewes Mayor and City Council are asking property owners and others responsible for grounds maintenance to trim and cut back excess plant matter.

“It’s a significant problem to solve,” said Ted Becker, a Lewes City Council member who said he walks in the city and has encountered overgrown sidewalks. At the June 10 Mayor and City Council meeting, the panel approved a Lewes Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommendation to encourage property owners to address the problem.