County Council's Oct. 27 agenda: $4.1 million in sewer plant change orders, Joy Beach bonds and a solar hearing

Sussex County Council's Oct. 27 agenda included more than $4.1 million in change orders for the county's wastewater treatment upgrade, the Inland Bays extension of Treatment Process Upgrade No. 3. It also listed a bond ordinance of up to $4,892,000 for the Joy Beach Phase 2 septic project and a hearing on a solar array near Lincoln.

The county hasn't posted minutes from Oct. 27. This story is based on the agenda and meeting packet. Audio of the meeting is posted in part 1 and part 2.

Morning session

County Administrator Todd Lawson was scheduled to lead discussions on the county's land use plan update and on carrying out Senate Bill 23 and House Bill 450. James Adkins, director of the Carvel Research and Education Center, was on the agenda for a presentation.

The engineering items included two change orders for the Inland Bays extension of Treatment Process Upgrade No. 3 at the county's wastewater facility, according to the packet. M.F. Ronca & Sons had Change Order IB-014 for $2,811,800, covering a process air system and changes to Pump & Blower Building No. 1, plus added yard piping and work in the elevated storage tank. BW Electric had Change Order IB-005 for $1,350,420.79, for electrical work in the same building. The county Engineering Department recommended both.

Other engineering items included Change Order No. 4, at $24,910.74, on electrical construction for the Wolfe Neck plant upgrade, a partnership with the Lewes Board of Public Works. The packet puts the new contract total at $5,454,456.10. The agenda also listed a $43,300 additional services proposal for mechanical, electrical and plumbing renovations at the County Administration Building, possible introduction of the Joy Beach Phase 2 bond ordinance, and a contract amendment with Davis, Bowen & Friedel for construction administration and inspection on the Slaughter Beach sewer extension.

Also listed were a grant request from the Town of Georgetown for the Mayor's Reception on Return Day and a closed executive session on land acquisition.

Afternoon hearings

Three public hearings were set for 1:30 p.m. One was the Briarstone annexation into the Sussex County Unified Sanitary Sewer District in western Sussex, near Greenwood. Another was Conditional Use 2616, filed by TPE DE SU519 LLC, for solar arrays on 31.3 acres zoned AR-1 on the west side of North Old State Road and the south side of Haflinger Road near Lincoln. The last was Change of Zone 2061, filed by Sandie LLC, to amend conditions on recreational amenities for 4.29 acres in an MR-RPC district off Plantations Boulevard near Lewes.

What the Oct. 20 minutes show

At its Oct. 20 meeting, Council approved three solar conditional uses, each by a 5-0 vote, according to the posted minutes.

Ordinance 4096 covers Conditional Use 2639, a 47.20-acre array on Sycamore Road near Laurel filed by Sunrise Solar Inc., with the Planning & Zoning Commission's conditions. Ordinance 4097 applies to Conditional Use 2597, filed by Lonesome Road Community Energy Initiative LLC, on a 28.64-acre parcel with about 13.45 fenced acres. Council amended the perimeter buffer condition first. Ordinance 4098 governs Conditional Use 2601, filed by Woodpecker Road Energy Initiative LLC, on 39.281 acres. Council amended the conditions to keep inverters at least 400 feet from homes on other properties and to require monitoring for noxious weeds.

Council voted 5-0 to defer action on a fourth solar application, Conditional Use 2652 from Sussex CSG3 LLC. The minutes give no reason, but the applicant had asked to change some conditions, including a timber noise barrier and privacy screening.