Reader offers suggestion for dune
Editor’s note: The following letter was addressed to DNREC’s Tony Pratt and forwarded to the Coastal Point for publication, as well as to DNREC Secretary John Hughes and Bethany Beach Town Manager Cliff Graviet.
I hesitate to bother you again, but I see from the article in the Coastal Point of March 14, 2008, that the Corps of Engineers recently advised the Town of Bethany Beach that the re-analysis of the dune height will not be completed for several months.
Why the letter from the Corps District Commander was sent to the town is beyond me. The town is clearly on the record that the town’s public officials did not take a position on the issue! The town’s attitude is that the issue is something between DNREC and the Corps, as if either of these two entities have any personal interest in the project.
The letter advises that the analysis will not be performed for several months and any action by the Corps will only follow the three- to four-year replenishment period.
The Corps also advised that the “District’s position is that we will not sacrifice the costs of the dune grass and crossovers to lower the dune.” While such a position is not surprising, considering the cost of the well-designed and constructed dune crossovers, there is an option that could relieve some of the detrimental impact of the dune obstruction of the views from the boardwalk.
An option for DNREC to consider is, upon the hopeful determination by the Corps in several months that the dune elevation could be lowered to the 14-foot elevation, DNREC could proceed after the 2008 season to lower the dune between crossovers only. The crossovers could remain as built and a gradual reduction in elevation by a transition at a stable slope ratio to the 14-foot elevation would be an effective restoration of some view of the beach. The position of benches on the boardwalk would probably be centered on the lower dune elevation locations for the enjoyment of all.
I suggest this option as a last resort because I believe that if the issue is left to the Corps and the town officials through the three- to four-year replenishment cycle, there will be no consideration for dune height reduction. The issue would be “cast in stone,” or sand, long after the 2011 or 2012 replenishment period.
I request your continued effort in communicating to the Corps the concerns of Bethany Beach citizens and beach visitors to restore the lost beach views.
On a personal note, I would really appreciate the Corps response to my past observations made in my letter to you of Nov. 29, 2007, that the dune elevation in Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City seems to be at a 14-foot elevation while Bethany Beach suffers the 16-foot elevation.
John J. Stamm
Bethany Beach
Good bye, good luck and God bless
Editor:
After more than 14 years in the area, I’m moving back to Pittsburgh, Pa. to be closer to my family.
This letter is my thanks to a lot of great people in the area that have played a part in my life.
Thank you.
Leo Brady
Ocean View
Brown gives Ocean View residents his platform
Editor’s note: The following letter was addressed to Ocean View residents and forwarded to the Coastal Point for publication.
Our face-to-face with you, the voters, and each other is over. You’ve heard what each candidate has to say. You’ve read the endorsements from the factions stating whom they endorse. Time is winding down.
There has been only one candidate that has consistently stated that you, the resident, are what it should be all about. You, the resident, are the boss. The issues have been reviewed. Police station, garage, water, budget, salaries and the take-home car policy are some of those issues.
You have choices to make. They are: you can vote for the candidate based on who says they want whom, who says they promise to “fix” the problems, or who says they want change. Change, not for the sake of change, but true change. Change starting with the makeup of the council and change in the operation of the council.
I want you deciding the expenses you are willing to pay for, not the council. I want you to have all the information necessary so your decisions on the issues will not be unheard. I want you to remember the trying times we have been forced into and I want you to send a message loud and clear.
That message is: enough! No more petty politics. No more voting as a councilperson because you belong to one faction or another. No more of the councilpeople voting because they want something.
It is about what the residents want, not the council. No more spending without permission. If they want something, ask. As long as it does not hurt another resident and it is agreed upon by the residents, why not?
I am asking for your support. I am asking that you help me bring our council back under control. Obviously, that means I need your vote. Help me to help you, working together toward positive change.
Wally Brown, Candidate
Ocean View, Third District
Curves offers thanks for local support
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bethany Beach, Ocean View and Millville communities for their support of the 5th Annual Curves Food Drive. Thank you also to our members, who are always supportive of our efforts to contribute to the local communities.
Curves is a national chain of fitness centers for women that believes in contributing to the communities in which they are located. Our food drive is held every year in March. This year, we were pleased to provide the local food bank with 300 pounds of food items. We thank you and look forward to our next community project.
Brenda Tilton and the staff of Curves of Ocean View
Resident offers support to Mitchell
Editor:
I am writing to endorse Perry Mitchell for the Ocean View Town Council. I have known Perry for about seven years, and I believe that he is extremely well-qualified to sit on the council. I know he has served for several years on the Ocean View Planning and Zoning Commission and is very familiar with the charter and ordinances of our town from his service on the Commission. We need well-qualified and competent people on the council, and Perry is that person.
While Perry was serving on our HOA board, our front entrance (Savannah’s Landing) and trees were threatened by the possibility of a hookup to a water main. He acted diligently and effectively to prevent the excavation and damage to our trees, and in so doing, protected the beauty of our entrance.
I know that I am grateful and I believe that most residents of Savannah’s Landing are grateful to Perry for his tireless work in protecting our entrance and believe that he has done a fine job while serving us. Perry also excelled in keeping us informed while he served on the HOA Board through his e-mails.
Perry is campaigning on fiscal responsibility and he will use his skills to keep the Ocean View budget balanced in these financially stressed times. I know he will work tirelessly for all of us and will represent us effectively when he is elected to the town council.
Paul Keller
Ocean View
Not in my back yard, please
Editor:
Ocean View zoning regulations do not allow for a gas station to be built in the downtown area for several good reasons. The proposed gas station and late-hour convenience store at 21-23 Atlantic Avenue would result in bright lights, fumes and noise pollution, and added traffic congestion. This is in total disagreement with the Ocean View Town Council’s plan to clean up the Route 26 corridor.
Area residents are in opposition to the proposal because the gas station and convenience store would adversely affect their lifestyle and property values. A compromise proposal has been made, moving the gas station from the main road and placing it at the rear of the site. That proposal would result in the gas station being located immediately adjacent to a small wild life refuge. DNREC would most likely not approve the plan and it should have been a non-starter to begin with.
Just beyond this narrow strip of land are the back yards of Osprey Lane homes. Young children’s bedrooms would be illuminated by the lights from the proposed gas station! Because of the proximity to nearby homes, a noise restriction exists in the area, prohibiting restaurants from playing outdoor music. Typical gas station noises would violate that ordinance.
All homes north of Route 26 currently have well water only. While they will have public drinking water in the future, most wells will remain for agricultural use. Gas stations are known to possibly contaminate ground water.
The new Ocean View Town Council will work toward its vision of a crime-free, environmentally-friendly downtown area. There are plans for sidewalks and bike paths from which shops, restaurants and other businesses can be accessed. Many other positive steps are being taken toward making Ocean View the kind of town where people want to live.
A gas station is not part of that vision. Keep the ordinance the way it is — it’s a good thing.
Lene Kuhblank
Ocean View
Mitchell supports Wood, Mitchell in election
Editor:
The Ocean View financial plan for the next five years presents very serious challenges. These challenges require careful management, long-term focus and thoughtful balance between the competing priorities of the three operating departments, as well as infrastructure maintenance needs.
The candidates best equipped to confront these challenges objectively and thoughtfully are Gordon Wood and Perry Mitchell (no relation to me).
Deficits totaling almost $2 million are projected over the next four years. Only in the fifth year’s projection is the budget balanced.
The financial plan has very optimistic assumptions for revenue from real estate transfer taxes, which rise from one-third to one-half of the town’s total projected revenues over the five years. The plan assumes a rapid and major recovery from the currently depressed real estate market for existing properties, and it assumes $1 million in transfer taxes from the build–out of Canal Landing, which may be significantly delayed by market conditions. Finally, there is always the specter of the state reducing or eliminating our share of the transfer tax.
The current plan provides only part of the funds needed for street maintenance and drainage improvement, as detailed in recent engineering studies. The unbudgeted amount is about $1 million.
We need to elect candidates with long-term vision and balanced perspective to work effectively within the town council and with the town manager to transition prudently through these challenges.
Gordon Wood and Perry Mitchell have the necessary educational background, experience and analytical skills.
Cliff Mitchell, Member of the Ocean View Long Range Financial Planning Committee
Hocker discusses ‘Coffee’ events
Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended my latest “Coffee’s On Me” held on March 20 at Hocker’s Grocery & Deli. I am happy to continue to see new faces at these “Coffee’s” and hope all of my constituents feel welcome to attend.
Since returning to session, there were many updates to discuss, including the budget issues, health insurance bills and, of course, the Bluewater Wind proposal. Here are some of the highlights of discussion:
• The Bluewater Wind proposal — I know there has been a lot of confusion over Bluewater Wind’s proposal to build a 150-turbine wind farm in our coastal waters. I favor the project, but I take issue with forcing Delmarva Power into a binding 25-year contract. I fear that taking this action would result in significantly higher electricity prices for Delmarva Power customers.
As chairman of the House Energy & Natural Resources Committee, I assure you that I have spent many hours looking at all aspects of this issue. I propose creating an environment in Delaware that facilitates the construction of the wind farm project, without removing the market pressures that keep costs in check. I think this approach would accomplish the objective of environmentally-friendly power generation without the potentially high cost of a mandated contract.
• The Inland Bays — I continue to work to get boating channels dredged and marked, along with using the dredged material to fortify our Inland Bay islands. I firmly feel that this will lead to much cleaner bays. I am happy to announce that the dredging at Holt’s Landing State Park is complete and that the boat ramp is accessible 24 hours a day. I am pushing to get a much-needed double boat ramp installed at the facility.
• Dental care — I am continuing my fight to increase access to quality dental care to those who can not afford a visit to a dentist in Sussex County. I have recently met with the Dental Society and others hoping to reach an agreement that all will consider fair. This has been a long “fight” but I will continue to work with all involved to reach an understanding that will benefit those who need the services locally.
• New ideas — Not only do constituents listen to my comments and updates, but we are lucky to have caring constituents that bring me information that may help the members of our community. One constituent has given me information on a program that is currently underway in Florida that he feels could also benefit the seniors of the 38th District. I plan to research this program and see if this might be something positive for our district.
I hope to continue these “Coffee’s” and hope you continue to attend and participate. I welcome your comments and I am always glad to see so many interested constituents. You may also contact me by phone (537-6016 — office) or by e-mail (gerald.hocker@state.de.us). Please be sure to check out my Web site for upcoming events at www.geraldhocker.com. We have a lot to be proud of in the 38th District and I will continue to “take the 38th to Dover.”
Rep. Gerald W. Hocker
R–38th District
State still lacking in accepting all
Editor:
It was breathtaking how quickly the bill permitting same-gender charter schools in Delaware sailed through both chambers of the General Assembly. Introduced on Jan. 10, it was passed in the House by Jan. 22 and in the Senate by March 19, in both cases by overwhelming majorities.
This whirlwind happened despite the mixed findings on the efficacy of same-gender learning environments and the disturbing separate-but-equal civil liberties implications.
Compare that movement with the decade-long effort to protect gay Delawareans from workplace discrimination.
A bill outlawing anti-gay employment discrimination was first introduced in 1998 and was quickly defeated, even though a Newsweek poll at the time showed 84 percent of Americans opposed workplace sexual-orientation discrimination.
In 2001, 2003 and 2005 sexual-orientation anti-discrimination bills passed the House but each time died in a senator’s desk drawer. Last year, Senate Bill 141 was introduced but cannot get out of a Senate committee.
Our lawmakers took only two months to pass a bill ensuring that a charter school may discriminate on the basis of gender. They have now begun their second decade of dithering over workplace fairness for the many thousands of Delaware’s gay employees.
Douglas Marshall-Steele
Milton
Martinez envisions more genial town
Editor:
The bickering of our town council has been a sense of amusement to other jurisdictions in Delaware. Let’s encourage our elected officials to be respectful of one another. Ocean View needs a council that can display a business-like approach to complicated problems and work together to find reasonable and common sense solutions.
These are a few of my ideas… and I will work for them if I am elected.
• Communications: A quarterly town newsletter utilizing a volunteer editor. Coffee-and-doughnut casual meetings (similar to Rep. Hocker). I will donate $100 toward the first meeting. Letters to the council — similar to letters to the editor. Avenues to homeowner associations — elected officials as speakers at homeowner meeting. An all-volunteer Ocean View garden club, planting flowers and trees.
• Teamwork: Reduce bickering among elected officials. Eliminate the long, punishing tirades among councilmen. My corporate work with self-centered prima donnas provides me with the experience to resolve personnel disputes. After a town meeting, a councilman came up to me and said he was getting back at a fellow councilman by playing hardball. The work of government is not a game! Together we can work towards establishing a standard where frank and open discussions are encouraged but respect and ethics are not discarded.
• Empathy: Perhaps nothing more than the Golden Rule. Treat others as you would like to be treated. At council meetings I have seen disgraceful exhibits and complete disregard for people in general. At a town meeting, the mayor asked the town manager if our water rates were competitive with surrounding jurisdictions. The town manager replied: He did not research it, He said it didn’t make any difference, people would pay! At another, the town council approved a 407 Annuity Retirement Plan for its employees. When asked for additional information, the town manager said he had not looked into the plan’s sales costs or the yearly management fee. I believe this shows a complete lack of respect for our citizens, as well as our employees.
• Finances: I believe much of our present problems have come about because of mismanagement and poor communications. I would encourage the town council to review all aspects of our financial position. I would appoint a Blue Ribbon Committee of prominent non-elected citizens. They would work with the council, assisting in conducting a non-partisan review on many of our present policies, such as all the town take-home vehicles, the number of employed policemen and the police station, the status of the almost $4 million stashed away in various banks, as well as employee salaries and overtime pay.
Yes, we need to be concerned if the transfer tax comes up short, but we need a working town council to contribute their suggestions. At town meetings, I continue to see one individual almost pushing other councilmen away because he and the town manager know best.
“Evil triumphs when good men do nothing!”
I ask for your vote.
Joe Martinez, Candidate
Ocean View, Third District
Resident throws support behind Mitchell
Editor:
Perry Mitchell, of the four candidates for the position of Ocean View’s Town Council representing the third district, would be the most qualified. Perry holds a master’s degree in public administration and continues his professional career as a college professor of political science as a part-time adjunct professor. His knowledge of government (local, state and national) gives him the unequalled expertise among the candidates to serve in an elected office.
I have had the opportunity to serve with Mr. Mitchell on the Board of Directors of our community homeowners association. His parliamentary knowledge has been a valuable asset to the board’s performance.
Perry has also contributed to a major project of clearing the drainage ditches in our community; coordinating the efforts of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Sussex County Correctional Institution.
Perry Mitchell had formed a group called Consumers for Alternative Power in 2006 to explore an electricity co-op and later to lobby for the approval of a hybrid plan for energy to benefit the consumers of Delaware in their increasing expenses for energy.
Perry has made repeated trips to our state capitol to meet with state senators and representatives and state agencies to promote alternative power. He testified before the Public Service Commission in 2006, proposing a hybrid plan. This hybrid plan ultimately was adopted by the Public Service Commission. Last month he testified before the Senate Energy Committee trying to get the legislature to act on the proposed wind park.
For the past few years, Mr. Mitchell has served on the Ocean View Planning and Zoning Commission. This experience has afforded him the opportunity to learn the history and anticipate the problems that we may face in the future. It has also given him a close-up observation of the operation of the Ocean View Town Council and the employees of our township.
The benefits of the election of Perry Mitchell will not be limited to his neighborhood or to District 3, but rather to the whole of Ocean View.
Joseph C. McCourt
Ocean View
Wood garners endorsement
Editor:
I have concern over the just considered and approved five-year budget plan for Ocean View.
Our town council talks often about the need to rely less on transfer taxes in the future. We have seen what the reduction in transfer tax income has done to our town planning.
Now we have a five-year plan that has still more reliance at the end of five years on transfer tax income as a percentage of the budget. This is not wise. The Ocean View Town Council has given us a year to see what happens with the transfer tax revenues, but I am not optimistic.
We have to budget realistically. We will know soon as we get into the new fiscal year, and we may have to make major adjustments. Will transfer taxes meet budget? In the face of wide concerns for the economy and plunging real estate sales, I have good reason for not being optimistic.
We need a change. We need a council which will look at all budget options. We need to utilize our facilities efficiently. We need fiscal responsibility regarding the use of our facilities. How can candidates be for fiscal responsibility while at the same time not supporting a full and accurate assessment of our space needs and space availability?
We need straight talk.
I am voting for change, integrity, experience and capability. I am voting for Gordon Wood for mayor. I hope you will too.
Joseph A. Scott
Ocean View