A month ago, I wrote about Sussex County, built on a foundation of cards, all wobbly. Beset by overdevelopment without infrastructure first, Sussex County will have failing schools, not enough medical resources to handle a growing population, roads that are no match for the traffic on them, first responders in danger of not getting to people in time. The impact on our water supply and sewage treatment plants has to be an issue too. We need an adequate public facilities ordinance now!
I just read about something I had not considered – the added cost of dog control! Ron MacArthur’s front-page article recounts the burden now placed on Delaware’s Office of Animal Welfare and how its contract with Sussex County for services has increased $158,000, to reach a total of $1 million this year! The state took over dog control from Sussex County in 2015, and since that time, the population in Sussex County has risen by 39,956. In 2023, OAW responded to 6,600 service calls out of 22,000 statewide! According to OAW officials, their office is facing a deficit of $598,000. So, what does this tell us? That yet another part of our infrastructure is failing and it’s going to cost Sussex County more each year to meet its contractual obligation to the state. If it costs Sussex County, it costs us! Are developers going to pay their fair share of this burden? I doubt it.
The OAW contracts with Brandywine Valley SPCA for sheltering abandoned and abused dogs in Sussex County. I know full well the challenges facing the staff at Brandywine in Georgetown, as I am there every Wednesday morning; cats and dogs are in full supply, then and every day. Is the solution to tell people moving to the ever-growing number of new communities springing up right and left, do not bring Fido as you won’t find a veterinarian to help you? And if your dog is lost, hope there is enough OAW help to get it picked up and taken to Georgetown. I had never given this foundation card a thought; the domino effect is coming like a freight train!
Before I close, I just have to comment on the letter in favor of the gas station in the Angola area. For one thing, there is EV charging available at the Giant, 2.8 miles from the Angola area; other gas stations are within four miles, including another Royal Farms. And local residents have not opposed widening Route 24; we want it widened, all the way to Millsboro. And if you think a gas station/convenience store will not impact traffic in the Angola area, you are mistaken. Please note the writer does not live in the Angola area, but closer to the Millsboro Royal Farms! And if you think DelDOT will fix this all up, I refer you to the five roundabouts on Kings Highway, and the Five Points fix, sure bets to win awards and the accolades of all local residents.
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