Sports
Biz
Fun
Unified team excited to back on track
Coastal Kayak finds new owner
Lords’ Mercantile to host artists
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APRIL 11, 2025
THE LOCAL VOICE OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Volume 22, Issue 15
FREE
South Bethany to decide on 52-percent tax hike By Susan Canfora Staff Reporter The South Bethany Town Council could approve a tax increase of nearly 55 percent at the Friday, April 11, meeting, a $200-per-year increase for the average homeowner and a hike Mayor Edie Dondero said she believes is necessary — especially since it hasn’t
riled objections. “I got one e-mail from a resident, and one person was in the budget workshop that we had, so that was two complaints. The tax revenue we would be collecting would increase by 52 percent,” she said. At the March 27 budget workshop, the council voted 6-1 to approve a tax rate of 0.51 per $100 of assessed value.
The current tax rate is $1.30 per $100 of assessed value — but property owners would pay around $200 more on average due to higher county property assessments this year after a courtmandated statewide property reassessment. The Town needs $14 million during the next few years to pay for long-term capital-needs projects, including flood mitigation projects, rais-
ing bulkheads, raising the height of certain roadways and dredging. “We certainly didn’t want to have to increase taxes,” Dondero told the Coastal Point, “but with the continual rise in costs for everything, it was inevitable. We haven’t had an increase
See BUDGET page 6
Fenwick to preserve a slice of nature By Kerin Magill Staff Reporter One of the last pieces of undeveloped land in Fenwick Island has been donated to the Town and will soon become a nature preserve. The land — two lots that sit across from Fenwick Island Town Hall at Coastal Highway and Bayard Street — will be named the Faucett Okie Nature Preserve, in honor of the family that donated it to the Town. Environmental Committee Member Deborah Cowell reported to the town council on Friday, April 4, on work that needs to be done on the property so that the public can enjoy it. Cowell asked the council to consider paying Brother Nature Landscaping of Fenwick Island $4,346 to remove debris from a “trash pit,” fill the pit with fill dirt, remove some bamboo around a cherry tree, trim dead branches from the tree, chip the wood from the removed materials and use the chips to create paths in the park. Special to the Coastal Point • Maryfrances Berger
See NATURE page 3
There are few better times of the year than the tulips taking center stage in downtown Bethany Beach.
Millsboro officials discussing both present and future By Laura Walter Staff Reporter The Millsboro Town Council discussed a stack of topics on April 7, highlighting some good things and planning future to-do lists. The Garden Club of Millsboro got
some love this month, receiving multiple thanks throughout the night. Since forming about 18 years ago, the club members have donated countless volunteer hours toward town beautification, including maintenance of 34 planter pots. “The Town enjoys a wonderful rela-
tionship with the garden club. They help us out with Cupola Park and other locations,” Mayor Kimberly Kaan said. Half-a-dozen members represented the club that night, smiling as Kaan lauded their “willingness to get out and lend a hand. … Thank you, ladies, for helping beautify our town.”
Since Cupola Park will be getting an official facelift, including a new pavilion in June or July, the council discussed the small public cooking grills. Ultimately, the majority of council members and See MILLSBORO page 5