News Briefs 06/02/17

Dredging is topic of June 5 meeting
Dredging Sussex County waterways will be the topic of a community meeting from 7-8:30 p.m., Monday, June 5, at the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Department at 30 N. Main St. in Selbyville.
State Sen. Gerald Hocker, Rep. Ron Gray and Rep. Rich Collins, as well as officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Division of Watershed Stewardship will discuss a schedule and priority list for future dredging projects. A question-and-answer period will be held, and free ice cream will be served.

Milton comp plan public hearing set for June 5
Milton Town Council will hold a public hearing on an update to the town comprehensive plan at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 5, at the Milton library. The comp plan is available for review at Town Hall, 115 Federal St., during business hours. Residents unable to attend the meeting can submit written comments to Town Hall before the hearing.

Following the hearing, mayor and council will discuss an amendment to town code related to the historic preservation overlay district, an ordinance for community events, upcoming town events, adopting of Sussex County's multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan and other business items. For more information or a full agenda, go to milton.delaware.gov or call 302-684-4110.

Clean Water Rally in Dover June 6
The Clean Water: Delaware's Clear Choice campaign, a statewide effort focusing on the need for additional funding for clean water projects in Delaware, will hold its third annual rally at Legislative Mall on Legislative Avenue in Dover from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, June 6. The rally will include information about the campaign, free food, face painting for children and speeches from local and state leaders. Following the rally, residents can meet with legislators to discuss the importance of funding for cleanwater initiatives. For more information, go to cleanwaterdelaware.org/clean-water-rally.

Sussex Council to discuss special events June 6
Sussex County Council will meet at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 6, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are discussions about the special events chapter in county code and a possible amendment regarding on-premises and off-premises signs. Council will also receive an update on the 2018 comprehensive plan. See a complete agenda at sussexcountyde.gov.

Sussex comprehensive plan workshop set June 5
Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission will have a comprehensive plan workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, June 5, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda is a public workshop update and discussion concerning the intergovernmental coordination chapter of the plan. The public can comment from 9 to 10 a.m. and 1:30 to 2 p.m. See a complete agenda at sussexplan.com.

Memorial Day traffic nearly matches 2016
Nearly 1.21 million motorists passed through Delaware's three toll plazas during the Memorial Day weekend from Thursday, May 25, through Monday, May 29. Overall, motorists in 2017 nearly matched the same number as 2016 – 1.21 million in 2017 compared to 1.22 million in 2016, a difference of 12,861 tolls. Compared to last year, traffic was heaviest on Friday, May 26, with significantly more motorists this year compared to 2016. Dover, Route 1: 94,382 compared to 90,210; Newark, I-95: 115,831 compared to 114,626; and Biddle's Corner, Route 1: 94,449 compared to 87,084. Over the weekend, the Newark plaza served 502,869 vehicles; 347,328 vehicles were served at Biddle's Corner; and 359,426 at Dover's plaza. Sixty-five percent of the counted trips utilized E-ZPass, the state's electronic toll collection system.

Rehoboth board to meet June 5
The Rehoboth Beach commissioners will meet at 9 a.m., Monday, June 5, at the Rehoboth fire hall for their monthly workshop meeting. The commissioners will hear a presentation by city arborist Liz Lingo on an opportunity to seek public financial support for landscaping work around the new City Hall.

In old business, the commissioners will discuss House Bill 130, currently under consideration by the Delaware General Assembly, that would extend the state's 8 percent lodging tax to short-term rentals. The commissioners will also discuss the status of change orders on the new City Hall and the status of the city's wastewater outfall projects.

In new business, the commissioners will discuss an ordinance that would establish new 30-minute parking spaces on the north side of Rehoboth Avenue between Second Street and Lake Avenue. The commissioners will also create an agenda for their scheduled Friday, June 30 meeting on long-range financial planning.

Beachnesting birds in full breeding mode
DNREC's Division of Fish & Wildlife recently announced that on the Point at Cape Henlopen, five pairs of piping plovers are incubating nests, with four more nests on Fowler Beach at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Another piping plover pair is setting up a territory at Gordons Pond in Cape Henlopen State Park.

Two American oystercatcher nests have been found on Fowler Beach, along with three oystercatcher nests on Middle Island in the Inland Bays.

The piping plover was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1986, and the Division of Fish & Wildlife is responsible for its protection in Delaware. Under an agreement and species management plan with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DNREC closes piping plover nesting areas to the public at Cape Henlopen State Park annually to protect birds during their nesting season from March to September. The closure, which includes both feeding habitat and nesting areas at the Point and around Gordons Pond, has been successful, increasing the number of nesting piping plovers to a high of 10 pairs.

Funds available for permanent housing
Nonprofit organizations looking to develop permanent supportive housing for the homeless or people with disabilities can now apply for $1 million in federal funding through the Delaware State Housing Authority. The projects, which may include new construction or rehabilitation, should serve people who are homeless; who are homeless and experience mental health or substance abuse issues; or who have disabilities, particularly those at high risk of homelessness or institutionalization. They must provide long-term permanent housing with supportive services, allowing residents to live as independently as possible. Applicants must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations and completed by 4 p.m., Friday, June 16. They are available at www.destatehousing.com.

Replacement to close Hummingbird Road
The Delaware Department of Transportation alerts motorists that the removal and replacement of a crossroad pipe will impact Hummingbird Road between Route 16 Milton-Ellendale Hwy. and Holly Tree Road from 7 a.m., Monday, June 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 9, pending weather. Detour signage will be posted for motorists. In the event of inclement weather, the road closure will occur from 7 a.m., Saturday, June 10 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 13. Motorists can adjust their routes or travel times by using DelDOT's Smartphone application. The DelDOT app can be downloaded free at the Apple and Google Play stores, or go to www.DelDOT.gov and click on the link to stores.

20th RD District Dems to meet June 15
Kathy McGuiness, Rehoboth Beach city commissioner, is the featured speaker at the RD20 Democratic Committee meeting Thursday, June 15, at Fish On Restaurant, 17300 Village Main Blvd., Lewes. McGuiness will discuss the economic development plan that she prepared for her campaign for lieutenant governor in 2016 that can benefit the local economy. Members and guests gather at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and dinner (optional) followed at 6 p.m. by McGuiness's presentation. The public is welcome.

During her 15 years as an elected Rehoboth Beach commissioner, McGuiness pushed the state to help fund multi-million-dollar streetscape aesthetic and infrastructure upgrades in Rehoboth Beach that helped to attract and retain businesses. As founder of the Rehoboth Beach Main Street initiative, McGuiness worked to transform Rehoboth Beach into a thriving beach town. As a result, she is credited for helping develop Rehoboth Beach into a year-round tourist destination. Professionally, she has work experience as a pharmacist, business owner and realtor. McGuiness currently serves on the boards of Delaware State University, Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth, CAMP Rehoboth and the Delaware Motion Picture and Television Development Commission.

Following the presentation, RD20 Democratic Committee will conduct its monthly business meeting. All Democrats in the district may attend. For further information contact Kerry Thalheim at kerrythalheim@aol.com. RD 20 is the local Democratic Party organization for residents in the Lewes, Coolspring, Harbeson, and Milton areas of Sussex County. RD 20 is an advocate for the common good.
They value community involvement, improving the lives of all residents, promoting the best candidates in elections, keeping government responsive and supporting democratic causes.