Nylon project timeline is presented to Council
The city of Seaford congratulated newly promoted Gregory Brooke to superintendent of Seaford electric department. The current director Bill Bennett will retire in 2025 and said he watched Brooke work his way through the ranks. Brooke said as a lifelong Seaford native he is grateful for the opportunity.
Brooke began his career in the electric department as a foreman and is someone who has Seaford in his heart.
“He is proactive and lives in town which means a lot to be active in the department. I am glad Greg came out on top from interviews, which did not surprise me,” said Bennett.
The Seaford City Council congratulated Greg Brooke as the newly appointed electric department superintendent. Shown are City Manager Charles Anderson, Mayor Matt MacCoy, Brooke, Director of Electric Bill Bennett, and Councilman Mike Bradley. Photo by Lynn Schofer
Councilman Mike Bradley said he is pleased that Bennett chose a person that worked his way through the ranks in his 10 years. Bradley also said of Bennett, “Bill is true Seaford as he continues to leave a positive legacy for what he has done in the past and extending it on into the future.”
Block grant- The application to state of Delaware Community Development Block Grant program was presented by Mike James, Sussex County director of community development and housing. The presentation’s purpose is to include Seaford in the application to the state of Delaware community development block grant. The funds are for low to moderate income families. The program guidelines include income brackets and also mandates home ownership with a lien. The program covers basic repairs of roofs, doors, windows, and some other needed repairs. This also includes a priority to stay in the home with a time pay back depending on the amount of the project. Seaford has been active in the program for five years helping over 24 households. There are 17 on the wait list and the program is open to more applicants. Council approved the request to participate in the grant.
Nylon center- Robert Herrera of 9th Street Development Company provided council with an update on the progress of the Nylon Capital Shopping Center. Herrera shared there are signed letters of intent with perspective lessee but will wait until the leases are signed to announce the businesses. Herrera said local creamery Vanderwendes signed on as a tenant. He also said they are in the market for new tenants that are family-friendly and centered. An updated aerial was shown with minor changes from discoveries made during demolition.
Herrera spoke on an updated project schedule with demolition of the buildings and interiors to be completed by the end of 2024. The first tenant, Community Bank, will take occupancy Jan. 31.
In May 2025 the BrightBloom center for children with autism will be completed for occupancy. The target for the outside shell of Del Tech is August 2025, TidalHealth is October 2025, and November 2025 for the Mill building shell to be completed.
In September 2025 the first phase of the rear site work will begin with phase II for front site work beginning in October 2025 through March 2026. The offsite work will begin February 2025 and continue through April 2026. This work will include improvements to Tull Drive, Atlanta Road, and Sussex and Stein Highway. The Mill will have 20 small offices at $400 per month along with an Innovation Center. The space, per Herrera, is great for those who work from home and need a better outlet to focus on the work, also meetings, gatherings, and businesses could benefit from The Mill. The Mill currently has over 600 small businesses benefitting from the spaces in other locations. The website is www.themillspace.com which will provide more information as well as leasing. As a note, Herrera clarified for residents that the bowling alley remains but the club has been demolished.
HELP- HELP Initiative Executive Director Charles Kistler provided an end of the calendar year progress on Seaford Violent Crime Reduction Initiative. Also included in the presentation was Food-ON, a program for feeding children in hunger. The program relies on resources such as law enforcement to share when someone is in need. The funds from American Rescue Plan spending (ARPA) provide “GO Bags” and Food pouches for kids. The program saw a need through law enforcement to help feed kids and the pouches have helped many after 911 calls. Kistler noted locally Chief Marshall Craft has been important in this role because it is all around multi-family complexes for community focus engagements.
“It is what community policing is all about and all we can say is thank you,” said Kistler.
The HELP Initiative was awarded additional funds to continue the Seaford Violent Crime Reduction Initiative and the FoodON program. The HELP Initiative works closely with law enforcement to identify people in need of energy efficient lighting, health and safety kit measures to residents in high crime locations and multi-family complexes. The Light-On program to date has provided over 2,000 new lights, 464 solar flood lights, and serviced over 1,000 homes.
Paid Family Medical Leave- The council approved the recommendation to use Sun Life Assurance Company for the newly required state of Delaware Paid Family Medical Leave and Short-term Disability. All businesses that employ 10 or more are required to provide the benefit beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The Delaware paid leave program is to care for a new child up to 12 weeks, care for a family member with a serious illness or injury up to six weeks, personal serious health condition up to six weeks, and issues that arise from an overseas military deployment up to six weeks. Full program guidelines are available at the Delaware website. Currently the city offers a short term program with employee contribution and Sun Life is the current program for life insurance. Seaford Human Resource Coordinator Annette Montgomery told council Sun Life is easy to work with on claims.
Pump station- The council approved a recommendation for award of construction contract to Bearing Construction of Seaford to complete the pump station 16 odor control improvements. The cost of the work is $99,200 which is under the budgeted amount for the project.
Lawn irrigation meter billing- Director of Public Works Berley Mears presented for approval a policy related to residential lawn irrigation meter billing. The recent code change allows the city to install a separate water irrigation meter and bill based on usage. The department presented a recommendation that helps to implement the changes. There is an “opt-out option” for customers with irrigation systems wherein the city will lock out the water irrigation meter and stop billing. There will be no charge for the water disconnect up to June 30, 2025 and thereafter the city will monitor the meter for usage. The billing cycle for water usage will be March through October consumption. The city will offer assistance to customers in installing new irrigation service and pits.
The Public Works Department will install a new service meter and pit to the property line at no charge if the property owner agrees to pay for the materials. The program will be offered until Dec. 31, 2025. The city will also offer a no interest loan to cover the cost of the materials. Mears remarked that he is available to call with any concerns or safety issues with the system.
Councilman Alan Quillen inquired how the department is identifying the ones that do not have a pit or a meter. Mears said the department does not know of many that have inground residential irrigation systems and does not have a program to go out to identify them either. If identified, then the owner will be required to install the meter.
Other business- The first reading of amendments to Chapter 5 of the Municipal Code Article 6 Adult Use Retail Marijuana business licenses that would add license requirements to city code was held. The annual license fee will be $1,000. There will be a second reading prior to council vote.
Seaford Council voted on the holiday decorating contest Dec. 1-3 and will award prizes to city residents with the top three decorated places.
