I am writing this letter to clarify the misinformation that appeared in a Save Our City email to its followers. The email stated the following: "The project appears on the surface to be worthwhile, but it is not included in the capital projects budget that the Mayor and commissioners have recently instituted. Given that the construction and maintenance of the dock is likely to cost the city and its taxpayers over $1 million, we are concerned it received approval before any detailed discussion of its value to the City, and how it will be paid for. "
The facts are as follows:
• The city received a $300,000 matching grant from DelDOT.
• The Lewes Rehoboth Canal Improvement Association (LRCIA) plans to actively fundraise to at minimum match the $300,000 DelDOT grant with hopes of fundraising additional funding beyond that amount.
• The city has submitted grant applications for additional funding from the state of Delaware and awaits the outcome of those applications.
• The city does not have to commit to the project until funding has been secured. The city commissioners would then vote to move forward or not.
For Save Our City to insinuate that the city and taxpayers would be spending $1 million on the project is completely false. If the LRCIA is successful in their fundraising efforts the project could conceivably cost the city nothing. This project fits within the scope of the city's Comprehensive Development Plan and could potentially relieve the amount of traffic coming across the city's borders. It seems a no-brainer to me.
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