Rehoboth to discuss website updates
The Rehoboth Beach Communications Committee has scheduled a meeting for 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 13, in the city commissioners’ room to discuss requests for quotes received to update the city’s website. The committee will also discuss a draft postcard developed by committee member and resident Hoyte Decker concerning electronic copies of communications for property owners. The committee is also expected to review its policies and procedures, as well as discuss procedures to begin interviews of vendors who responded to the committee’s request for quotes.
Rehoboth to meet with county on wastewater
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will meet with Sussex County executive Dave Baker at 7 p.m., Monday, May 19, in the city commissioners’ room, for an information and question-and-answer session regarding the city and the county’s future wastewater disposal needs. At the workshop meeting Monday, May 5, Commissioner Stan Mills proposed an outline for a path forward, including a history of the city’s wastewater plant and background information on how the city was mandated to stop dumping treated effluent into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal by December 2014. The outline would continue through descriptions and analysis of the current alternatives and culminating in a selection of a future wastewater discharge option. “By having a course outline and timeline, interested parties can plan on attending the entire discussions from beginning to end and be well informed. Like the municipal complex discussions, public input is vital,” Mills said. After the meeting, Commissioner Kathy McGuiness said, the discussion with Baker would help clarify the county’s position and provide the city with some direction. The city and county have been at a standstill on a joint ocean outfall project for months. The county wants the city to chip in an additional $10 million to the proposed $124 million project. The city recently approved requesting proposals from Tidewater Utilities and Artesian Water Co. for a possible spray-irrigation project and also to vendors for an ocean outfall project.
Rehoboth planners to review city parks
The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission will hold a workshop meeting at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 10, in the city commissioners’ room to discuss integrated walks, paths, parks, recreation plans and canal use as part of its mandated five-year review of the city’s comprehensive development plan. With the assistance of consultant Bruce Galloway, the commission will review the city’s current park plans, as addressed in the 2003 plan, and it will receive input from representatives of organizations or agencies concerned with park issues. The commission will identify issues requiring further information and research, as well as additions, deletions, changes or recommendations to be addressed in the updated plan. The commission is encouraging the public to attend and provide input.
Planners to hear motel subdivision case
The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 8 a.m., Monday, May 12, in the city commissioners’ room, on a partitioning request for property at 101 South Boardwalk, also known as the Sunview Motel. The owner, Boardwalk Properties LLC, is looking to divide one lot into two, with lot 1 being 6,538 square feet and lot 2 becoming 5,000 square feet. The commission will begin a preliminary review of a partitioning application for 205 Rodney St. The owners, Mark Ronald, trustee of the Mark H. Ronald trust and Mary Ann Ronald, trustee of the Mary Ann Ronald trust, are looking to divide the property into two. Lot 1 would be 5,002 square feet while lot 2 would be 7,503 square feet. The commission is scheduled to begin discussion and consideration of a major subdivision at 43 Canal St. The owners, Paul Lovett, James Lovett and Donna Benge of Oak Grove Properties, are seeking to divide the property into 15 lots. The commission will also discuss action concerning the recommendations from a special meeting held Thursday, April 24, regarding the rezoning of the Rehoboth Elementary School. In addition, the commission will discuss and possibly take action resulting from the Saturday, May 10 meeting regarding the comprehensive development plan review and update, as well as finalize plans for the June 7 workshop meeting and consider public comment on the plan updates.
County cleans up and collects fees
The county is cleaning up, thanks to an ordinance adopted in October 2007. So far, Sussex County has added more than $240,000 to the coffers in taxes and utility charges as a result of the clean-hands ordinance. County Administrator David Baker said 250 accounts have been brought up date – an average of more than $950 per account. Under the ordinance, the county can withhold building permits, other county paperwork and reviews if bills and taxes are outstanding.
UD to unveil school’s long-range vision
University of Delaware President Patrick T. Harker will lay out the university’s new vision at a daylong forum Saturday, May 10, on the main campus in Newark. The forum, Charting Our Path to Prominence, is the first of its type for the university. The event will celebrate the university’s achievements and look at the school’s bold aspirations for the future. The university’s Strategic Planning Initiative, unveiled last month, included a proposal to develop a full campus in Sussex County. The initiative did not specify where in the county the campus might be developed. The university owns land and has a major presence in Lewes, home of its College of Marine and Earth Studies. The university also owns land and operates facilities near Georgetown. The forum begins at 9 a.m., with welcome remarks by Faculty Senate President Alan Fox, and an opening keynote address by Zhou Wenzhong, ambassador to the United States from the People’s Republic of China.
Milton to make doing business in town easier
Milton Town Council heard recommendations at a Monday, May 5 meeting, on how to streamline the new business application process. Debbie Pfeil, senior planner with the Millsboro-based URS Corp., an urban planning firm, offered suggestions to the council. Town engineer Bob Kerr, with Georgetown-based Cabe Associates, also made 16 recommendations to make it easier for new applicants to do business in Milton. Among his considerations were shortening the process of changing a business’s permitted use, making the process simpler for businesses to put up signs and clarifying the public hearing process.
Milton council OKs changes to district
After receiving no comment at a public hearing Monday, May 5, Milton Town Council unanimously approved changing the permitted use in the town’s light-industrial-use district. Professional offices and medical clinics are now permitted in the district.
Milton garden club recognizes resident
Kathryn Grieg, president of the Milton Garden Club, called for volunteers during a Monday, May 5 town council meeting. Grieg said the club needs volunteers to help plant the downtown planters for the town’s annual summer planting Saturday, May 17. She also thanked Milton resident Marion Jones, who is not a member of the club. Jones raised $165 for the garden club through a drawing for a spring garden cleanup.
Milton town council OKs DEDO program
Milton Town Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday, May 5, to allow the town to participate in a business development program. The town council will now participate in the Delaware Economic Development Office Downtown Delaware commercial district affiliate program designed to revive the town center.
Motorcycle safety is focus of May 10 parade
Motorcycles will be parading through Dover Saturday, May 10, to remind their four-wheeled friends to share the road. At least 150 motorcycles are scheduled to take part in the event. In addition to the 11 a.m. parade from William Henry Middle School, 65 Carver Road, Dover, to Legislative Hall, a display of motorcycles and information on the state’s motorcycle safety program outside Legislative Hall, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will issue an official proclamation naming May Motorcycle Awareness Month.
Sussex hams to hold radio propagation drill
Sussex County Amateur Radio Emergency Service has scheduled a radio propagation drill 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday, May 10. The drill will test amateur radio operators’ ability to provide backup communications for fire and rescue services in case of emergency. The drill requires Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) operators to establish radio contact with other ARES operators throughout the county by using mobile radio equipment installed in personal vehicles to be located at strategic locations in Sussex County. Data collected from the exercise ensures that amateur radio would be available to reliably provide crucial communications when other systems have failed. For more information about the exercise and about amateur radio in general, visit www.sussexcountyares.org.
Brittingham proposes new dress code plan
School board member Spencer Brittingham said he supports a dress code for Cape schools to create an environment conducive to learning and free of unnecessary distractions. District Superintendent George Stone presented to the school board a draft of his proposed dress code Thursday, April 24. Brittingham said Stone’s draft should be adjusted and blue jeans, sweat pants, T-shirts, open-heel shoes, clogs and flip-flops should not be banned from student attire. Brittingham would still have hooded apparel, headgear, sleeveless shirts, slippers and pajamas banned. He said students should be allowed to wear jeans that are not tattered, torn or ripped and sweat pants and T-shirts free of all writing other than that referencing Cape Henlopen sports teams and schools.
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