Information on upcoming repairs to drawbridge presented at Seaford Council meeting

Jonathan Moore, P.E. supervising engineer with Delaware Department of Transportation, presented information related to upcoming repairs planned for Front Street over the Nanticoke River, Seaford Draw Bridge, to occur between Oct. 1 and April 30. The project is slated to take 10 weeks, and weather will determine the start and completion date. The bridge is 99 years old and is the oldest draw bridge in the state. The cleaning and painting will address active areas of corrosion on the main load bearing of the bridge. 

According to Moore, approximately 8,000 cars pass over the bridge a day. The bridge was last painted in 1992. It is structurally sound but important to take care of the corrosion. The paint protects from chlorides, tidal water, dirt, and debris. The process is six steps, beginning with the installation of a containment system around the bridge structure. This will prevent new paint from escaping as well as keeping the old paint contained. 

When containment is on, the bridge cannot be opened and will be closed for large boating traffic. The blasting process to remove paint will primarily be done during the day. The noise is like a very large shopvac which is most likely to be heard in the nearby apartment complex. A noise survey was sent by the Department of Transportation to the tenants of the apartment complex, however, no one responded.

Information on the upcoming plans for the draw bridge between Seaford and Blades was recently presented at each town’s council meeting recently.

Moore said it is possible that a small amount of work will be done in the evening hours. Once the paint is removed any debris is sucked up by large vacuums. The bridge is then coated with zinc primer, epoxy mid-coat, and polyurethane topcoat. Once the bridge steel is completed, the work on concrete will begin. The concrete will be cleaned and coated with epoxy or silicone-acrylic paint.

Travel over the bridge will not be open to traffic but will remain open to pedestrian traffic for most of the operation. Portions of the operation will require the bridge to be open, and at that time will be free of charge for shuttle service with ADAA access and bicycle storage with a maximum wait time of 15 minutes. Ten days before the project starts, Front Street will be closed to traffic and rerouted to U.S. 13. If you have questions on the project the phone number for DeDOT is 302-760-2080 or by email at do*******@de******.gov.

The first reading on a utility billing program for residential customers was reviewed and approved to move forward with a second reading. The program will calculate the 12 previous months of usage and divide by 10. The two extra months provides a break or time to catch up if the customer needs. A customer’s utility be at zero balance to participate because it is important to not begin the program in arrears. Additionally, the customer must have a one year of billing history at the current residence because everyone uses electricity differently. If a payment is missed it would end budget billing for that season. If a homeowner moves with an arrears the city may place a lien on property. The department will work to get the program in place and news will follow on availability to customers.

The council approved the revisions to the residential irrigation billing policy that includes the opt out option and moved irrigation meters to seasonal status. The computer system is set up with a bill code that would keep reading meters and with no usage it will bill zero. The new revisions take away seasonal status and will allow the consumer to use irrigation and pay for it or lock it out and pay sewer. Additionally, this will allow a leak or issue to show up immediately.

Chief of Police Marshall Craft presented a revision to the employee handbook that would address employee pay during military leave. The new guidelines will allow 96 hours of leave where an employee would receive difference between military and city pay.The revision passed unanimously.

Berley Mears, director of public works, presented three items before council with the first to approve the city-wide clean-up week May 12-16. Information on the clean-up week will be on the city webpage.

Mears updated the city council on the speed bump performance during the snowstorms and requested the current moratorium be lifted for future installations. The speed bumps were installed early June 2023 and performed well during the recent winter weather. The process to request a speed bump begins with a request form and signed petition which must have 75 percent of the households. The street must be local, not a primary bus or truck route, speed limit of 30 miles an hour or less, and a traffic study must indicate 85 percent of measured vehicles exceed posted speed limit. Warning signs of the speed bump could be placed in front of the property. An engineering evaluation prior to installation of the speed bumps to determine if installation at location is in conformance with the criteria and guidelines of the policy. Council agreed to remove the moratorium.

Mears recommended increasing the septage disposal fee for porta potty waste at the wastewater treatment effective April 1 from 7.5 cents a gallon to nine cents per gallon. The reason is that porta potty waste is stronger and takes more energy and chemicals. The request was approved.

Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Katie Hickey reviewed the bids for waste and recycling and the current service provider, Casella, was awarded the contract of $25,479.00. Hickey said the company provides excellent service and is the lowest bid.

Greg Brooke, operations coordinator, presented the bids for transformers and recommended United Utility Supply in the amount of $220,276. Brooke noted the lead times of 16 weeks to 36 weeks. The transformers are for Governor Grant, Hearns Crossing, and Nylon Capital project.

Bill Bennett, director of electric, presented for first reading the recommended changes to municipal code electric rules and regulations. The changes would move the financial burden on developer for extending electrical distribution into the development. The city in previous years spent $100,000 to $600,000 in a budgeted year on transformers and this change would result in many transformers being reimbursed to the city. A second reading will take place at the next council meeting and advertised for 30 days before taking effect possibly in May.

The council members were introduced to new employees Orleana Bland, billing representative, and Lucas David, accounting coordinator.