News Briefs 10/31/23

October 31, 2023 15

Lewes sets special meeting Nov. 3

Lewes Mayor and City Council will hold a special meeting at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 3, at city hall to consider a canal excavation permit for a parcel owned by Showfield LLC. The agenda and meeting link are at lewes.civicweb.net.

Rehoboth planners set special meeting

The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda includes continued discussion and possible approval of a report from the planning commission to city commissioners related to possible abandonment of the easterly portion of Baltimore Avenue. The agenda also includes continued discussion and possible recommendations to commissioners related to city code revisions dealing with site-plan review and subdivision of land.

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 planning group to meet Nov. 3

The Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission will meet at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3, in the city hall commissioners room, 229 Rehoboth Ave. The agenda includes continued discussion and possible approval of a report from the planning commission to city commissioners related to possible abandonment of the easterly portion of Baltimore Avenue. The agenda also includes continued discussion and possible recommendations to commissioners related to city code revisions dealing with site-plan review and subdivision of land. The agenda also includes concept site-plan review for 413, 415 and 417 Rehoboth Ave.

Dewey marketing group to meet Nov. 7

The Dewey Beach Marketing Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Lifesaving Station, 1 Dagsworthy Ave. Members will discuss and possibly vote to recommend to town commissioners ideas for a fundraising campaign for the proposed town hall and police station. For the full agenda and meeting link, go to townofdeweybeach.com.

Carney updates state broadband plan

Gov. John Carney says Delaware continues to work on connecting all households in the state with internet – a feat that would be a first in the nation.

“Our goal is to have Delaware be the first state in the country to connect every home and business to high-speed internet within the next few years. If there is any state that can connect every home and business, it ought to be Delaware,” said Carney in a press release.

“Every family deserves high-quality internet for school, work and entertainment. I want to thank the members of the federal delegation and the Biden administration providing this funding. It’s really making a difference for Delawareans.”

Carney was joined by state leaders and representatives of Comcast, Verizon, Mediacom and the Communication Workers of America at the Innovation Technology Exploration Center in Smyrna to celebrate progress on broadband expansion and preview next steps. With federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act, officials said, Delaware has connected 5,859 homes and businesses, mainly in rural areas of the state, to high-speed internet provided by Comcast, Mediacom and Verizon. Officials said 372 locations await installation, which they expect over upcoming months. Once those residences are completed, officials said, Delaware will have spent $33 million in ARPA funding on broadband connection.

Rehoboth seeks input on traffic, parking

As part of its ongoing traffic and parking study, Rehoboth Beach is conducting a stakeholder survey. The 11-question survey is available via the city’s digital engagement platform, Reach Out Rehoboth.

The questions, developed by city consultant Rossi Group, are designed to determine resident, visitor and business owner priorities for space allocation; understand congestion concerns; and gauge respondents’ comfort level with walking and biking in the downtown area. Participation in the survey is open to anyone, but participants must register on the Reach Out Rehoboth site in order to take the survey.

The survey will close Sunday, Nov. 26, and results will be shared on the Reach Out Rehoboth site and with commissioners during a Monday, Dec. 4 workshop. Preliminary recommendations to relieve traffic and parking challenges are expected to be made prior to Fiscal Year 2025 budget discussions, which will begin in January; the final report is anticipated in spring 2024.

Lewes panel rejects alley abandonment

The Lewes Dewey Avenue Alley Abandonment Committee voted unanimously to reject the abandonment at its Oct. 23 meeting.

The city formed the committee in July in response to a resident request to pave the unimproved alley off Dewey Avenue.

Committee members said abandoning the alley would impact parking for three other residences. The committee has until Monday, Nov. 13, to present a written report to mayor and council.

A meeting link can be found at lewes.civicweb.net.

Sussex County earns kudos for financial reporting

Sussex County’s fiscal management has earned top honors for the 21st time in as many years.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, based in Chicago, recently awarded the county its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2022 comprehensive annual financial report.

The county’s report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the association’s high standards. The document includes the county’s annual audit, showing assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. It also contains information about county demographics and the local economy. That information helps those reviewing the report, such as investors, to better gauge the county’s financial condition.

“We are grateful and proud to be recognized with this very important honor, which is a reflection of a lot of hard work by our talented team,” said County Finance Director Gina Jennings. “Awards are nice, but the truest sense of satisfaction and accomplishment comes from having earned and maintained the trust and respect of not just our peers, but the public we serve. That will always be the pinnacle we strive for year after year.”

Rehoboth looking for traffic, parking feedback

Sussex council awards nonprofit grants

Sussex County Council awarded the following councilmanic grants during its Oct. 17 meeting: $500 to Christian Storehouse for its Feeding the Community program; $500 to Marine Corps League for its 248th birthday celebration; $2,000 to Frankford Public Library for audiovisual equipment; and $2,000 to Family Promise of Southern Delaware for its eviction prevention program.