News Briefs 2/3/23

Milton council to meet Feb. 6

Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6, at Milton library.

Officials will discuss amendment to the Chestnut Crossing plat plan that will pave the way for the development’s streets to be dedicated to the town.

In addition, the Heritage Creek Homeowners Association is making a pair of requests. The first is to have two agricultural wells within the community. The second is to amend the Heritage Creek master plan to modify and expand the U.S. Postal Service mailbox center.

Council will hear presentations from PKS and Company on the town’s annual audit, and from Artesian Wastewater Company on a proposal to install a new force main from Chandler Street to existing lines on Route 16.

In old business, council will discuss a matching grant with Delaware Department of Transportation for a feasibility study of potential one-way streets in town.

Other new business includes a request by Irish Eyes for street closures around Union Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and associated Lucky Leprechaun 5K, a request for a code revision to allow backyard chickens, a resolution to adopt the Sussex County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, resolutions to seek grant funding to complete a water facilities report and a stormwater management study, and finally, an ordinance to update town code as it relates to bed and breakfasts.

Cape school board meeting canceled

The Cape Henlopen school board’s Thursday, Feb. 9 workshop meeting has been canceled. The regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, at Love Creek Elementary School.

Lt. Gov. Hall-Long to address Dems Feb. 8

Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long will be the featured speaker at the Wednesday, Feb. 8 meeting of the 14th Representative District Democratic Committee.

She will discuss current administration efforts to create a healthier economy, improve educational outcomes and deal with health issues like the opioid crisis.

The program will begin at 5 p.m. with a Dutch-treat dinner at Iron Hill Brewery on Route 1 north of Rehoboth Beach, followed by committee business at 6 p.m.  The 14th RD Committee represents Democrats who live in and around Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.

All registered Democrats are welcome to participate in 14th RD meetings. Those planning to attend the Feb. 8 meeting should RSVP by Feb. 7 to c.fruchtman@comcast.net.

Sussex council meeting on Feb. 7

Sussex County Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown. Included on the agenda are a 10:15 a.m. hearing on the Community Block Grant Program and discussions on a master plan zone ordinance and possible ordinance amendments regarding solar farm conditional uses. There will also be a 1:30 p.m. public hearing on three applications filed by Charles E. Turner Jr. for 42 units of multifamily housing on a 9.7-acre parcel on the north side of Route 9 near the Route 30 intersection east of Georgetown.

A full agenda and meeting materials are available at sussexcountyde.gov/agendas-minutes/county-council.

Meetings are in person, live streamed at sussexcountyde.gov/council-chamber-broadcast, and available by phone at 302-394-5036 using code 570176.

Rehoboth workshop slated for Feb. 6

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a workshop meeting at 9 a.m., Monday, Feb. 6, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion on new code relating to awnings, canopies and marquees. It also includes discussions of possible changes to a host of parking-related issues, the need for license agreements for encroachments on public rights of way, and issues related to basement ceiling heights.

A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. Only in-person attendees may make comments. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Rehoboth budget workshop Feb. 6

Rehoboth Beach commissioners will hold a budget workshop at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 6, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda calls for continued discussion on the budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins April 1. City staff presented commissioners with a $35 million budget at the first budget meeting a few weeks ago.

A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net.

Only in-person attendees may make comments. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.

Lewes sets public hearing Feb. 7

The City of Lewes Joint Site Development Ad Hoc Review Committee will meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, at city hall for a public hearing and to review an application from the Gibbs Company.

The Gibbs Company is seeking recommendations from the committee on its request to construct a new commercial building with site improvements at 209 Monroe Ave.

See the meeting agenda and link at lewes.civicweb.net.

NIA applies for on-site wastewater treatment permit

The Nanticoke Indian Association has applied for a permit to construct an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system. According to a Feb. 1 notice from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the system will serve an existing cultural education building plus expansion and have a flow rate of 590 gallons per day. The site is located at 27073 John J. Williams Highway near Millsboro.

The application may be inspected by emailing DNREC_GWDSLegalNotice@delaware.gov or by calling 302-739-9948. Comments or a request for public hearing must be received by Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Lewes mayor, council discusses canal water taxi service

During the Jan. 24 mayor and council priority meeting, Mayor Andrew Williams mentioned a water taxi service in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to connect Lewes with Rehoboth, which had been proposed when Rehoboth opened its canal dock in 2021. 

Williams said he believes it is a tie-in to Lewes’ relationship with the sea, which is a core value, and could help with parking.

City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said she can reach out to Rehoboth to gauge interest in the project, while Williams said he will look at current water taxi data.

Lewes BPW to hold workshop Feb. 10

The Lewes Board of Public Works will host a workshop at 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10, to discuss options presented in a GHD study of the wastewater treatment plant. A public workshop was held Jan. 23 and public comments will be accepted until the close of business Monday, Feb. 6. To submit comments for discussion, go to lewesbpwde.gov.

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

At its Jan. 31 meeting, Sussex County Council approved the following councilmanic grants: $1,000 to Greater Lewes Foundation for its garden expansion and improvement project, and $4,000 to Woodbridge Pop Warner Scholars for its youth football program.