UPDATED: Sussex County Council Discusses School Funding
UPDATED – 05/13/25 – The Sussex County Council meeting started with a lineup of public comment from mainly school officials urging the Council to opt for impact fees to help with needed school funding – rather than the current referendums which are the only other option for additional funding. The Council also held a discussion led by Councilman Steve McCarron about school funding and the models used in New Castle County – Voluntary School Assessment, which is a state-run option or what is used in Kent County – impact fees that are collected by and distributed by Kent County. The previous Sussex County Council opted not to act when the VSA was presented to them last year and during this week’s meeting the Council mainly came out in support of the model used by Kent County. The Council voted 4 to 1 on a motion made by McCarron to have County staff craft a measure similar to the school funding model of impact fees used in Kent County. Council Vice President, John Rieley, voted against the motion saying that “it has never been the responsibility of the County to act as a fund-raising agent mechanism for schools” and that these services have always been delivered by the state – not the counties.
The Council heard a presentation from the Vice President of External Affairs at the Food Bank of Delaware, Chad Robinson, who spoke about what they are doing at the Food Bank and the vital role they are playing to address food insecurity across the state.
In Old Business the Council revisited two Conditional Use applications. CU No. 2468 on behalf of Richard H. Bell, III was for a mobilization yard for the Park Avenue relocation project for the storage of soil and materials on just under 6 acres a short distance from Park Avenue off Route 9. An amended measure was approved by the Council with a unanimous vote.
The second application, CU No 2556 on behalf of William Melton for a professional office on Old Mill Road in Ocean View was denied by the Council with a 3 to 2 vote. Council President Doug Hudson voted against the application saying there were too many inconsistancies between what was discussed in the public hearing before P&Z and the County Council – including the hours of operation, number of patients to be seen in a day. He also cited a lack of other businesses in the area, traffic and a lack of need. Council members Jane Gruenenbaum and Rieley also voted against the application.
During the afternoon session, the Council approved two sewer district annexations – one for the Dagsboro/Frankford area – the other the Miller Creek area. The Council approved a Conditional Use application, No. 2474 on behalf of John Elsishans for a private garage on less than a half acre on Butler Boulevard in the Ocean View area.
A Change of Zone No 2017 and Conditional Use No 2462 were heard together – both filed on behalf of Gulfstream Glen Cove for a change of zone from AR-1 to MR Medium-density Residential for 12.3 acres on Burbage Road in the Millville/Ocean View area. This would be for 50 multi-family dwellings. The Council deferred votes on both applications. They will be revisited during a future Council meeting.
The Sussex County Council will meet next Tuesday at 10am. The Council will hear the presentation from the County Administrator and Finance Director of the proposed FY 2026 Budget ordinances. The Council meets in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 05/12/25 – The Sussex County Council will meet this week beginning at 10am in Georgetown. The Council will hear a presentation from VP of External Affairs for the Food Bank of Delaware Chad Robinson. Councilman Steve McCarron will have a discussion related to school funding. In Old Business the Council will revisit two conditional use applications – CU No. 2468 for a mobilization yard for the Park Avenue Relocation Project and CU No. 2556 for a professional office on Old Mill Road in Ocean View. In the afternoon session the Council will hold public hearings to consider two sewer district annexations and three conditional use/change of zone applications.
The Sussex County Council meets Tuesday at 10am in the County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown.
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