To paraphrase an old Cheap Trick song, the clock is about to strike 10 for Rehoboth Beach’s decision on its wastewater disposal future. However, the city isn’t much closer to making a decision than it was a month ago, even after a presentation by county officials at the commissioners’ meeting on Monday, May 19.
County engineer Mike Izzo and county administrator Dave Baker presented the county’s side of the wastewater equation. Izzo and Baker said the county wants to expand its wastewater capacity and is willing to work with the city on a regional solution. Two things stand in the way.
First, the county wants the city, which has until December 2014 to stop dumping treated wastewater into the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, to select an alternative, with ocean outfall or land based application the likely choices. The city is still debating which alternative it should choose.
That would lead into the second sticking point: the county wants the city to pay an extra $10.6 million towards a possible $127 million ocean-outfall project bringing the city’s cost for the project to $24 million. Izzo and Baker also provided a possible land-based alternative, saying the county has purchased 2,100 acres of land for spray irrigation, although that would also increase the cost for the city.
Mayor Sam Cooper said the county wants to make a decision soon, but the city doesn’t have a lot of time to wait around. Cooper said the city would still look into other options, such as financing its own project, but that no matter what happens, the county will be part of it the solution because 40 percent of the cost of any project will be for Dewey Beach and Henlopen Acres. Wastewater from those municipalities is treated at Rehoboth’s plant.
Commissioner Ron Paterson said the situation is boiling down to who will move first. He said the county could do either alternative, but before the city makes a decision, he would like to see estimates for a land-based application plan from the county. Paterson said the long process of selecting an alternative has been frustrating, and he’s not sure where things are going.
Commissioner Dennis Barbour said he is very interested in seeing more information on ocean outfall, but he was approaching the process with an open mind.
“We need to figure out the best method and educate the public on the pros and cons,” he said.
The commissioners decided to hold further discussions on the subject during Monday meetings, which Barbour opposed. He thinks meetings on a complex issue such as wastewater disposal should be held on weekends.
“If we are going to engage and educate people we have to have it at a convenient time,” Barbour said.
Commissioner Paul Kuhns said the city should begin the process of soliciting vendors and getting prices for a project, whether it is ocean outfall or land-based application. Kuhns said his fear was that if the city selects ocean outfall, while it may be the lowest-cost alternative, the county may decide on a land-based application. He said one thing that may help the city make a decision is the county’s plan to install a wastewater pipe for the Angola area. If the county goes with a larger-size pipe, which Kuhns said is a good possibility because of future development needs, it would help bring some of the cost down for a joint project with Rehoboth.
Commissioner Kathy McGuiness said the meeting with the county was productive but it hastened the need for both sides to reach a decision.
“It’s time,” she said. “We’re in a crisis. We have to make a decision; they have to make a decision. Something’s got to happen.”
The county has taken steps toward moving the process forward by placing the item up for discussion at the next county council meeting, 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 3.
Commissioner Stan Mills said, “I expect we would have this resolved through selection of a discharge alternative before the end of the year - the sooner the better – but thoroughness and hearing from the citizenry is required.”
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County wants to take action on sewer upgrades in June
Sussex County Council members say they want to move forward on a collaborative, regional plan for wastewater disposal with the City of Rehoboth Beach, but neither the council nor the city has decided how best to move forward.
County administrator David Baker told the council Tuesday, May 20, that Rehoboth Beach officials want the county to take a position. He said he would make a presentation on all the options at the Tuesday, June 3 council meeting.
“It does not look like there is a lot of support for the ocean outfall option,” said Councilman Dale Dukes. “Even if they come up with the $10 million.”
Dukes said the county has purchased land to expand the spray irrigation system at the Inland Bays wastewater treatment plant and spray irrigation would be the best option for the county to pursue with Rehoboth Beach officials.
The county spent $28 million to expand the spray irrigation capabilities of the plant.
“We are 35 percent of their system, so we are a major player,” added Council President Finley Jones. “This matter has to move off center.”
Baker said the council wants to make a decision in June, but would probably not make a decision at the June 3 meeting.
Councilman George Cole said money is the main issue. “It’s more about money than anything else. We need to know how to finance this system and make it equitable for everyone,” he said. “It boils down to where we get the money and emphasis should be on that.”
