No Vote by Sussex County Council on Stillwater Harbor, LLC Appeal; County Finance Department Awarded Again
The Sussex County Council began an hour early Tuesday morning for an appeal hearing on the Stillwater Harbor Subdivision – proposed for the Oak Orchard area off River Road. The County Planning & Zoning Commission, after nearly two years, recommended denial for the proposed project – basing their decision on multiple reasons – including frequent flooding in the area and the property an important forested tract. The Council heard from the developer’s attorney as well as the attorney for Planning and Zoning, but have not yet rendered a decision. That will come at a future date.
During the regular Council meeting, County Administrator Todd Lawson told the Council that the County Finance Department has scored another award – for the 21st year in a row, the County was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. This comes from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada and was for the 2022 comprehensive annual financial report.
A pair of ordinance amendments was revisited in Old Business. Council deferred action on Conditional Use No 2350 and Ordinance No. 23-11 after public hearing was held on September 19th. Council had left the record open for the C-U until the Planning and Zoning Commission was ready to make a recommendation on the application. That is now the next step after the record was closed for the C-U this week. Both ordinances will be revisited for a vote at a future County Council meeting.
Two public hearings were held during this week’s meeting. One was a resolution to approve the issuance of up to $1,865,000 tax-exempt bonds or notes by the Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department. County Finance Director Gina Jennings tells the Council this would refund prior debt originally issued to pay the cost of construction for their fire station on Clayton Street in Dagsboro. To be federally tax-exempt, the bonds must be approved by the governmental unit where the fire department furnishes firefighting services. The County’s part is only as a platform for the bonds to be tax-exempt – there is no obligation to the County government. The obligation of the bonds is solely of the Dagsboro Fire Department. The resolution was approved with a unanimous vote.
A second public hearing was held on a Conditional Use application, No 2351, and was approved by the Council. This is for a landscaping business on about 12 acres north of Zoar Road on Gravel Hill Road east of Georgetown.
The Sussex County Council will not meet next Tuesday. The next scheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, November 7th in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
