UPDATED: Sussex County Council Recognized Sussex Central Wrestlers & Revisited Several Items in Old Business
UPDATED – 03/05/24 – The Sussex County Council during this week’s meeting honored the Sussex Central High School Golden Knights wrestling team for their championship season. They won the Division 1 championship and finished with a 12 and 0 record for the season. Their last championship was in 2017.
The County and Delaware State Police signed an amended Memorandum of Understanding that will bring an additional 6 troopers to Sussex County over the next three years. The County and State Police have had an agreement that provides additional troopers to the County over the State’s base allocation. The FY 2024 Budget has $4.1-million to support this new agreement. Currently there are 44 additional troopers working in Sussex County – 22 are paid by the State and 22 are paid by the County. DSP Superintendent, Colonel Melissa Zebley thanked the County for the investment they have made in the DSP and “for the confidence you’ve demonstrated in us to fulfill our public safety mission in Sussex County.” Troopers from Troops 4, 5 and 7 joined Col. Zebley at the meeting.
During the 10:15 public hearings, the Council provided a platform for a bond issuance for a nonprofit healthcare organization that operates in Sussex County.
A public hearing for the Beaver Dam Road annexation of the Sussex County Unified Sanitary Sewer District – Millville area brought several people to the podium. They told the Council that this was brought to them many years ago – and nothing ever happened. They are hoping that this will become reality and support the annexation.
Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson appeared before the Council with an amended Memorandum of Understanding regarding the PLUS process. He tells the Council this deals with the standard land use development process and with amendments to the future land use map and that this is an improvement. This adjust the hearing process to first going before the County Planning Commission, then PLUS and then to County Council with all the pertinent information. As things are currently – it goes to PLUS first before County Planners know anything about it. Robertson says this amendment makes sense as these are County land use decisions – dealing with the County’s land use map.
In Old Business – the Council revisited four items. Change of Zone No. 1998 to rezone a little over 2 acres in the area of Old Mill road and Railway Road in Ocean View from General Residential to a B-2 Neighborhood Community District was defeated by the Council with a unanimous vote. Councilman Doug Hudson gave several reasons for turning it down – including the size of the property, that it is in an entirely residential area and the possible uses as B-2 zoning that could occur there.
Ordinance No 23-09 and Conditional Use No 2389 filed on behalf of AWH Properties, LLC are related and still waiting for PLUS action. These applications are waiting for another 30 days.
Change of Zone No 1993 filed of behalf of Ocean One Holdings, LLD – to rezone nearly 65 acres at Routes 1 and 16 from AR-1 to C-3 Heavy Commercial. This was approved by Council with a 5 to 0 vote. Councilman Mark Schaeffer says the proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. He adds that this application will prevent the need to sprawl into agricultural lands to build commercial retail uses – and that the roadway infrastructure will be in place before development occurs.
The Sussex County Council will meet next Tuesday, March 12 at 1pm in the County Administration offices on The Circle in Georgetown.
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The Sussex Central Wrestling team will be recognized by the Sussex County Council for their Division 1 State Championship this past season.
County Finance Director will present an amendment to the MOU with the State Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Division of State Police. This would pay for six additional troopers for Sussex county over the next three years. The County’s FY 2024 budget has $4.1-million to support the new agreement. The County currently has 44 additional troopers to the base allocation for a total of 187 troopers. Of the 44, 22 are paid by the State and 22 are paid by Sussex County.
There will also be a public hearing on a bond issuance not to exceed $80-million of tax-exempt bonds for a nonprofit healthcare organization that operates in Sussex County. Sussex County has no obligation to these bonds – the County only provides the platform for the public hearing.
Assistant County Attorney Vince Robertson will discuss a PLUS MOU with possible approval by the Council.
There are 4 items in Old Business including Change of Zone No. 1993 on behalf of Ocean One Holdings, LLD – for a nearly 65 acre property at Routes 1 and 16.
The County Council meets at 10am Tuesday at the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
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