Sports
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Indians bounce back with big win
Made by Hand under new leadership
Page A49
Page B1
MARCH 29, 2024
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 21, Issue 13
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Fire-protection fee has support from Schaeffer By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter Delaware House Bill 127, intended to provide each county in Delaware with the ability to impose a fire protection fee on each residence and business, is now on the Ready List in the General Assembly and has the support of Sussex County Commissioner Mark Schaeffer
Dune breach spurs need for repairs
and the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters’ Association. The bill was introduced by state Rep. Paul Baumbach of Newark in April 2023, with additional sponsors, including state Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, who represents District 4, encompassing Long Neck and Oak Orchard, and several cosponsors. The bill would take effect upon being signed into law.
This week, Schaeffer told the Coastal Point that, although the amount imposed per residence and business, and the total amount collected each year, have not yet been determined, one idea is to charge $5 per month, or $60 per year. “But that is still being debated. It would all have to be worked out,” he said. “There would have to be a formula.
For example, a small doctor’s office wouldn’t be charged as much as a bigbox Walmart store. “Right now, it’s still in its infancy. We need to get the legislation passed first, then we would put a plan together to maintain viability. My idea is to get a line item in the County’s annual budget See FEE page A2
A view into forever
By Mike Smith Staff Reporter With ocean waters churning off the coast early this week, traffic along Route 1 (Coastal Highway) was impacted by a breach of the dunes on the north side of the Indian River Inlet, with the overwash depositing both water and sand on the right travel lane and then across both northbound lanes. But state officials were already monitoring the situation, ready to address safety issues. Prior to 10 a.m. Tuesday, DNREC’s shoreline and waterway management section was monitoring waves “at a vulnerable point on the northside Indian River Inlet, and proactively reached out to our partners at DelDOT to coordinate a potential closure of Route 1 northbound,” officials said mid-week in recounting the effort. “A breach at this location is a known occurrence when water levels are high with strong, driving winds and the potential for back-bay flooding.” At 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, they said, a high tide caused a breach a quartermile north of the Indian River Inlet See BREACH page A2
Special to the Coastal Point • Maryfrances Berger
An amazing sunrise from Bethany Beach can make all your troubles melt away.
Millville moves closer to buying stormwater pond By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter The Town of Millville took another step this week toward possible purchase of a road and a stormwater pond within
town limits, with an eye toward streamlining future growth of Evans Park and possible turning the pond — once considered an eyesore — into a small parklike area. In January, the council gave Facilities
& Building Supervisor Eric Evans permission to proceed with an investigation into purchasing Dukes Drive, which runs alongside Evans Park and is currently owned and maintained by the State.
Evans reported back to the council on both matters at the council’s Tuesday, March 26, meeting. Regarding Dukes Drive, Evans See MILLVILLE page A4