News Briefs 3/31/23
Lewes holding public hearing April 3
The City of Lewes will hold three public hearings at the Rollins Center Monday, April 3 beginning at 6 p.m.
Residents will have a chance to opine on the site plan for a proposed commercial building on the Gibbs property located at 209 Monroe Avenue, setback requirements for swimming pools, and regulations for beekeeping.
See the public hearings agenda and meeting link at lewes.civicweb.net.
Deadline to file for BPW election April 6
The Lewes Board of Public Works is holding its annual municipal election, Saturday, May 13 at its 107 Franklin Avenue business office.
Two board seats are up for grabs with each term lasting three years. Anyone interested in running for one of the seats needs to file a letter of intent with General Manager Austin Calaman by 4:30 p.m. April 6.
Five or more qualified voters can file the name of the candidate for the office of the Director of the Board as long as the candidate endorses their written consent.
More information is available at lewesbpwde.gov.
Quest awarded Roosevelt concessions
Lewes Mayor and City Council unanimously voted to award concession services at Roosevelt Inlet to Quest Adventures March 30.
City Manager Ann Marie Townshend said that Quest was the only company to submit a qualified bid.
The contract is for three years.
Tributary named after Harry Funk Lackhove
The City of Lewes voted unanimously March 30 to name an unnamed tributary of Canary Creek to Lackhove Creek.
Lewes resident Steve Brown submitted proposals to Sussex County and Lewes Mayor and City Council hoping to honor the life of his friend Harry Funk Lackhove.
Brown says Lackhove lived near the stream and was a well-known fisher, boat tour guide, and member of the Lewes community. “Captain Speed” passed away in 2014.
The stream is nearly a mile long and located entirely within the Great Marsh.
Tickets still available for Lewes PAC bus trip
During their March 22 meeting, members of the Lewes Public Art Committee said there are still tickets available for their April 13 bus trip to Glenstone museum and sculpture park.
Departing from the Lewes Public Library, attendees will check in at 7:30 a.m. and can expect to return by 5 p.m.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the trip should contact Janet Reeves at parksandrecreation@ci.lewes.de.us.
Milton to swear in new council members
Milton Town Council will meet at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 3, at Milton library where two council members will be sworn-in for new, three-year terms.
Councilwoman Randi Meredith will begin her second term in office, while Scotty Edler will be sworn-in for his first. Meredith and Edler were the only two candidates to file for this year’s election as incumbent Rich Baty declined to file for another term.
Following Meredith and Edler’s swearing-in, council will elect its slate of officers, including vice-mayor, treasurer and secretary and later will make appointments and reappointments to town committees.
For citizens, the council will announce the annual Lifetime Volunteer and Citizen of the Year awards.
In old business, council will discuss a variance request for two agricultural wells in the Heritage Creek development.
In new business, council will discuss a request from the Milton Chamber of Commerce to close a portion of Magnolia Street on Saturday, May 27, for the annual Horseshoe Crab Festival, as well as a request from the Milton Women’s Club for an installation in Milton Memorial Park.
Three developments are on the agenda: first, Chestnut Properties LLC is requesting to split Phase 4 of Cannery Village into two subphases. Phase 4 of Cannery Village is planned for the corner of Cave Neck Road and Front Street. The first phase building out the rear of the parcel and the second phase encompassing the second facing Cave Neck Road. Each phase is planned to build 58 homes.
The second development to be discussed is a plan proposed for Cypress Grove, located at the intersection of Route 16 and Country Road, to partition a section of the 5 acres of commercial property fronting Route 16. The partitioning would see a 2-acre section on the southwest corner near Route 16 and Country Road divided into two lots.
And third, the council will award a contract for infrastructure improvements in Chestnut Crossing.
Council is planning to ratify its votes on two resolutions passed at council’s March meeting related to converting intersections into all-way stops. The intersections are Chestnut/Atlantic/Wharton streets, Federal/Wharton/Mulberry streets, Mulberry/Magnolia/Lake Drive and Mulberry and Lavinia streets.
Finally, council will discuss back-flow prevention policy and an ordinance addressing food truck permits.
Rehoboth animal issues group to meet
The Rehoboth Beach animal issues committee has scheduled a meeting for 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 4. The agenda calls for continued discussions on the installation of dog waste dispensers and a dog run on the beach. The agenda also calls for discussions on changing the time leashed dogs are allowed on the Boardwalk to 10 a.m. in the summer months like bicycles and allowing dogs on the Boardwalk before May 15 and after Sept. 15 to match the parking season schedule.
The meeting will be conducted in the commissioners room of city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave. A full agenda, meeting materials and a livestream are accessible at cityofrehoboth.civicweb.net. To comment, a person must attend in-person. For more information, contact the city at 302-227-6181 or information@cityofrehoboth.com.
DBCL holds reception for new police chief
The Dewey Beach Civic League will hold a reception for Dewey Beach property owners to meet new Police Chief Constance Speake at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 6, at the Dewey Beach Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave.
Chief Speake will be available for questions and is looking forward to the 2023 season.
Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Property owners should have recently received a mailer from the DBCL regarding membership.
A main purpose of the civic league is to create a sense of community. Board members would love to hear ideas regarding the DBCL and Dewey Beach in general.
Dewey committee recommends auditor
The Dewey Beach Audit Committee voted unanimously March 28 to ratify a vote taken March 14 to recommend town commissioners approve Mitchell Titus as the town’s new independent auditor. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Mitchell Titus now includes partner Dan Kinney, who had previously performed the town audit while employed with former auditor Cohn Reznick. In January, Town Manager Bill Zolper informed commissioners that the town would need to issue a request for proposal for a new auditor because Cohn Reznick advised him they could no longer perform small municipal audits at their firm.
Dewey marketing committee to meet
The Dewey Beach Marketing Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 4, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will discuss and possibly vote on recommendations to commissioners for the top five tagline submissions received for the town contest. For the full agenda and meeting link, go to townofdeweybeach.com.
Gov. Stockley Road closes until April 7
The Delaware Department of Transportation announces the closure of Governor Stockley Road between Route 113 and Bethesda Road through Friday, April 7, for paving work. Detours are as follows: Eastbound: south on Route 113, left onto Avenue of Honor and then left onto Bethesda Road back to Governor Stockley Road. Westbound: South on Bethesda Road, right onto Avenue of Honor, right onto northbound Route 113, back to Governor Stockley Road.
Sussex council off April 4 and 11
Sussex County Council will not meet Tuesday, April 4, or Tuesday, April 11.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 18, in the county administration building, 2 The Circle, Georgetown.
Sussex awards grants to nonprofits
Sussex County Council presented the following councilmanic grants during its March 28 meeting: $2,500 to Nanticoke Senior Center in Seaford for a new sound system; $1,000 to H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in Milton for its 19968C Vikings Robotics Club and $1,500 to the 19968M club to attend the VEX-IQ Robotics World Championships; $2,000 to Cape Henlopen Senior Center for its Rehoboth Concert Band fundraiser; and $2,000 to Fraternal Order of Police Sussex County Lodge No. 2 for its charities supported by FOP Lodge #2.
T-hangar contracts approved
At its March 21 meeting, Sussex County Council approved two contracts for construction of a new T-hangar at Delaware Coastal Airport.
On the recommendation of assistant county engineer Mark Parker, council awarded a contract of $467,900 to The Whayland Co. for building construction and a $319,990 contract to A-Del Construction Co. for site work and utility installation.
Funds for the project come from the county realty transfer tax fund. Parker said space in the hangar will be leased.
Wheels for Meals event set June 3
The Wheels for Meals Jack O’Hollaren Annual Bike Ride, sponsored by the W.E. Cross Charitable Foundation, sets off at 7 a.m., Saturday, June 3, at Hudson Fields, 29763 Eagle Crest Road, Milton.
Cyclists choose from 100- 40-, 25- and 10-mile courses.
All proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels Lewes-Rehoboth and Sussex Cyclists.
The rain or shine community celebration includes a cookout, music and libations.
To register by Saturday, April 15 and receive a T-shirt, go to bikereg.com/mowlr.
For more information, call 302-645-7449.
