Raesly, Jacobs sworn in as Henlopen Acres commissioners

Henlopen Acres held its annual organizational meeting Sept. 12, swearing in two new commissioners and then appointing a whole new slate of town officers.

The town held its annual election Aug. 30. Candidates Lee Raesly and Alex Jacobs defeated incumbent Jeffrey Jacobs, who is not related to Alex and had been the town treasurer. A little more than a month before the election, former Mayor Joni Reich, whose seat was not up for re-election, stepped down. Commissioner Tim Hidell served as acting mayor, while resident Lyndie Hertrich was sworn in to serve out the final year of Reich’s three-year term.

The Sept. 12 meeting began with Raesly and Alex Jacobs being sworn in. The appointments of town officers was next. All the votes were unanimous: Hidell will remain as mayor, Hertrich was named president pro tempore, Raesly was named treasurer, Commissioner Tiffany Derrickson was named secretary and Town Manager Anna Fagan was named assistant secretary.

Following town officer appointment, commissioners approved a slate of volunteers for various committees: Norma Lee Derrickson, Thomas Donnelly and Robert Reed to the board of adjustment; David Robinson to the environmental approval committee; Suzanne McDermott to the planning commission; and Linda McGavin, Lynda Moses, Andrea Pedigo and John Scheurer to the tree committee.

Comp plan

Every 10 years, the state requires all municipalities to rewrite their respective comprehensive plan – a document used to guide a town’s growth and development. The Henlopen Acres Planning Commission began the process for rewriting the town’s 2024 comprehensive development plan in August 2023. The town conducted a public hearing in late January, then submitted it to the state for Preliminary Land Use Service review shortly after. During the meeting Sept. 12, commissioners voted in favor of submitting it to the state for final approval.

Raesly, who was chair of the planning commission through the development of the plan, said there had been a few minor changes since the last time it was discussed by commissioners, but nothing substantial. This is a great plan, he said.

These plans are a labor of love, said Hidell.

Looking forward, Raesly said the town will now resubmit the plan to the state, which will hopefully formally approve it.

Pickleball lawsuit

Henlopen Acres commissioners finished the organizational meeting by voting unanimously in favor of pursuing a settlement in the lawsuit the town filed against Commissioner Jacobs last summer.

Last June, the town filed a lawsuit against Alex and Carey Jacobs, who the town says illegally installed a pickleball court along the side of their house. The Jacobses installed an electric vehicle charging pad, but painted the pad blue and green, and striped it with white lines to play pickleball. The town argued that under the town code, only the board of adjustment is authorized to approve a recreation court. Additionally, if approved, it must be in the rear yard behind the dwelling with appropriate screening and fencing to limit the impact on neighbors.

In May, Chancery Court Magistrate David Hume IV said there are issues of material fact that must be resolved before complete relief can be granted properly.

Following the organizational meeting, Hidell and Ron Poliquin, the attorney representing Jacobs, said they could not comment on the settlement because it involves ongoing legal matters.

Water usage

A few years ago, in an effort to increase reliability in the case of an emergency, Rehoboth Beach officials allowed Henlopen Acres to connect to the city’s water system.

The town has since had to use that hook up a number of times. As part of her town manager report, Fagan said Rehoboth Beach contacted the town about installing a water meter to track the amount of water. There will be an upfront cost of $8,000 to install the meter, she said, and Rehoboth will charge $8 for every 1,000 gallons used.

Commissioners were generally on board with the proposal, but had questions about the actual costs. Fagan said there was a 24-hour period this past summer when the town was on the city’s waters. The town used about 60,000 gallons, which would have cost $480, she said.

Commissioners voted in favor of Fagan moving forward with drafting a formal agreement with Rehoboth.