Seaford Council welcomes two new police officers, review Cook Out restaurant’s preliminary site plan

The Seaford City Council welcomed two new police officers, Samuel Brumbley and Kani Kane, who completed the academy and begin their work for the city.

The council approved a request by Habitat for Humanity for a subdivision of a property located on East King Street into two lots for single family homes. The plan for the property, which is located behind Royal Farm, is to build two homes similar to homes seen throughout the town.

The council was presented with a preliminary site plan for the construction of the Cook Out restaurant and drive-thru with parking and utilities. Owners O&I Sing LLC of 22928 Sussex Highway will demolish and rebuild a 3130 square foot building with parking.

New Seaford police officers were welcomed to the department at the recent council meeting. Shown are Deputy Chief Tyler Justice, Cpl.  Shawn Wilson, Patrolman Kani Kane, Patrolman Samuel Brumbley, Lt. Ashley ‘Matt’ Mills, Sgt. Eric Chambers and Chief Marshall Craft.

Seaford Industrial, LLC, property owner of a 106-acre parcel of land on North Sussex Highway, requested a sketch site plan review for a proposed business park. The vacant land is a wooded area, some with some farming and wooded area. The proposed 12 building business park with mixed use from warehousing to indoor recreation. The developers have a vision of a future sports complex with a two-story parking garage and additional paved parking. The project would be developed in six phases beginning with the infrastructure and as tenants are acquired, the project will move forward. Brett Davis, managing partner presented to the council the concept and ideas for the project. Davis, along with his partner, owns additional business parks described as flexible warehouse space, one in construction in Dover, and one completed in Frankford, fully occupied with a sports training facility. Davis said, “We are a big proponent of putting infrastructure in the ground,” and added, “we are not here to dictate what we put on a site, we are going to prep a site and then whatever the demand or the city drives toward us, we are hoping to build that.” 

The property is a highway commercial zone and phase I will also include three 50,000 square foot buildings set back on the property with solar panels on the roof tops. The developers are working with DelDOT and the preliminary site plan was approved by the city, which is a five to 10-year project with a cost of $125-150 million.

Ben Hearn, project manager engineer with GMB, Inc presented for approval a Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Loan in the amount of $1,535,000 for the Martin Farms Sewer Relocation Project. The Phase I project will install approximately 1,750 linear feet of 12-inch gravity sewer main and seven manholes, 185 linear feet of ten-inch gravity sewer main, and 36 new laterals within the city between Rodney, Reed, and King Street. This project will relocate gravity sewer mains from the backyards of private residences to the streets at the Martin Farms residential neighborhood. The project area is south of Stein Highway and north of West Locust Street, between Sussex Avenue and North Willey Street. This was the first public hearing and a second public hearing will be held before the council may enter into debt for the project.

Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Katie Hickey presented the bids for the Riverwalk railing onstallation. The project received four bids, and the department recommended the council approve the low bidder Marshall Property Management for a total of $18,000. The project in the Oyster House Parking connects the fishing dock and will provide necessary safety.

Director of Electric Bill Bennett reviewed the recommended changes to the safety shoe policy. The original policy was enacted in 2002 and last revised in 2018. The current adjustments are for inflation and the change of title and position of Line Crew Superintendent. The approved changes were to raise the allowances 10 percent.

Additionally, Bennett reviewed the second reading of electric changes to municipal code on electric rules and regulations. Bennett said that other utility companies have already updated policies, and this city update will bring in line to what Delaware Co-op made in 2024. The code will now place a financial burden on developers for the cost of bringing electrical systems of transformers and meters into the development.

In the liaison reports it was presented that fire calls are up 22 percent in the first three months in comparison of 2024.

The city of Seaford municipal election is Saturday, April 19 at the City Council chambers, City Hall, 414 High Street, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Two people have filed, councilman Orlando Holland and Jose Santos for one three-year term.