[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6640498,"mediaKeyId","2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5","parentId",2555932,"title","Council hears concerns about Sam’s/Friendship House services, SWAT at school and landfill expansion; committee follow-up requested","audioSeconds",302,"startMs",2104000,"endMs",2406000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5&start=2104&end=2406","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5/thumbnail_2104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640498/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Council-hears-concerns-about-SamsFriendship-House-services-SWAT-at-school-and-landfill-expansion-committee-follow-up-requested","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640498-da09ea73dfc2124d84a5224ffe4cd6c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181229&Signature=hAHwFJ2XMZS43dwcBpff~6tynU-MtyRZ22qSzpvrRDHHNkd~m5lRJdjc3cLgsn~M1~DU1KwhWI8A8bT62LkDxz-73axxO63lzYbCQHt10-EenIHdcPmO7hAHyYeFBb7HWr0rVU78HsBuxvj06vah4r7AQGKLGG4HayuVNl5tpY~AGP27hILDsm3RRwI9jambXIbs9p2YLI7hK5KkKM~gnPs1Ume73RvS6EBYaMNiTlGNeRTt4N86gOnDwM2gqYm-5TasW91iZxv1iFMH6xCKz7RZq7uh8whcpcuAn1bvM8jIpZQDDZONj9Mv1fpccSwEnxRFp5bYQYHZQ66ZC19RGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Castle County","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Speakers and council members raised multiple public-safety and community-service concerns during the meeting, including the county’s support for the Friendship House, the appearance of a SWAT team at an elementary school, the role and effectiveness of county intervention teams, and a landfill height proposal by Waste Management.

Dora Williams, a county resident, described services by Sam’s (a merged church site) and the Friendship House and asked the council to consider \"housing first\" and low-barrier access. She noted that the council previously provided funding to the Friendship House; Councilman Street reiterated the council had appropriated just over $9,000 recently to the Friendship House and emphasized the county does not operate the program.

Councilman Jay Street raised a public-safety concern after a recent incident in which Wilmington police placed a SWAT team in front of an elementary school. \"We had a SWAT team in front of 700 children who were who didn't do anything but go to school that day,\" Street said, and he asked what the county’s intervention teams did in response. Street pressed for accountability and said he was considering whether continued funding for intervention teams is justified if they do not intervene in events such as the school incident.

Street also raised questions about Waste Management’s proposal to extend landfill height, saying Waste Management sought an \"additional 60 feet\" and that he wanted clarity on current height and timing of closure; he called the proposed elevation—in his words—unacceptable and urged staff to provide answers.

Council leadership responded that they would gather answers: the council president offered to add an intervention-team update to a future public safety committee meeting and staff said they would provide follow-up on landfill height and closure timing. The meeting record shows council members asking staff to prepare responses and to schedule an update on the intervention teams and their activities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Castle County - New Castle County Council - Mar 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Speakers and council members raised concerns about treatment of people experiencing homelessness, use of SWAT at a Wilmington elementary school, performance of county-funded intervention teams, and Waste Management’s proposed landfill-height increase; council members requested committee follow-up and information from staff.","taxTitle","New Castle County, Delaware","taxId",12637,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640503,"Resident urges county to ensure fairness after large reassessment increases",272,1758000,2030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5&start=1758&end=2030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5/thumbnail_1758000.jpg","/articles/6640503/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Resident-urges-county-to-ensure-fairness-after-large-reassessment-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640503-091d5b82e62b2b5ef9c31b4e823de3e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181229&Signature=LX51SJV0qv5u1TFaQvimz0~~9I-J9pxspm2-wFmlpN5qXlateEOJ~nuQUD1MDODKfkhWvpRnDUEoRq5FLv-6fngxThGyZh~IMv6dW4Z2lOiJ7sSGh6ToSqTEq4OtZLTRaW0ivCZWZJeM1bdgoSmG95svUPV6ug73hdLUbe6eadkE0B6grNRD2nJdNooDMSySgP7cGhtrzd-kEVuFmEVa25EKUkNsuZssWIaxpuDZj3QpdOiwCW70Aq2oBp7zaWbyXgUMtlyhFa89nMUjue5WKsXxm6gav4dqfG6L7SOa746K0iVfNDXOdkAQCM5fHxrtEjUgyy8fYxLmm5PK4CQ4OA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eunice Woodard, a New Castle County homeowner, told the council she received a reassessment notice from Tyler Technologies that raised the assessed value of her home by $100,000. Woodard said the rapid increase—after decades without reassessment—could raise taxes and homeowners insurance costs and asked the county to ensure the appeals process is fair and to consider the impact on households on limited incomes.

\"A hundred thousand dollars,\" Woodard said, describing the increase she saw in her assessed value and adding that many residents are on fixed incomes and could be affected by sudden changes. She said she planned to file an appeal and asked the county to consider the broader community impact ahead of tax bills due in July.

Council members responded that reassessment does not automatically change the tax rate and that the county would work to provide updated guidance. One council member told Woodard the tax rate had not yet been adjusted and that the rate was likely to be reconsidered after the reassessment process.

County staff and council members offered to provide updated appeal information to participating residents and to help clarify next steps. No formal policy change was proposed at the meeting.","A resident whose home valuation rose by $100,000 during a countywide reassessment asked New Castle County to ensure the appeals process and rate-setting will protect households on fixed incomes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640508,"Resident urges transparency on data‑center and cultivation energy use as summer demand nears",81,1037000,1118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5&start=1037&end=1118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5/thumbnail_1037000.jpg","/articles/6640508/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Resident-urges-transparency-on-datacenter-and-cultivation-energy-use-as-summer-demand-nears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640508-70513f1bb28e83b61e372477c5288a29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181229&Signature=k1-2phd-eGFJNneo~w7F9b4xcJR5L9d8f1nKx2100FKGlOXamguuNd-OS3Z92bfsTH7ure6Fm722VNQBFgxviAvIUTmouLHXYtvCQCeZv82V-IxDFgq2JKS4MEeVoWAc2HUWYcf~XeF0LGDo-JtX0E8oDDAzDr5qhH6b~jWWu-hnAab09~lO04L4fLr~~Xavxh31gmOTrNbqAUx1K7pSdB~FEBdfW41Y3SbBdtwSsu7dmHHN5FoBH5Rz4W0kJexEu0Xc0QHAGh73ndmjZz1D14kP2q8CVWnX0WE-Euhfkcl5mbrqO3ZuxzKtvlZWS1GUNfTfSda2VgqPd2g4TRUPfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rob Bullock, who identified himself as president of the 913 Alliance Community Alliance, told the council that area data centers and licensed marijuana cultivation facilities draw substantial power from the same grid as county residents and that the consumption levels are not transparent.

\"The amount of power that those data service centers are consuming is enormous, and they're not being transparent,\" Bullock said during public comment, adding that only one of the local facilities had disclosed its consumption. He said the county has multiple data centers—\"we have 6 in New Castle,\" including locations in Wilmington and Newark—and warned that planned marijuana cultivation facilities (which he said number about 61 licenses) could add to peak summertime demand and upward pressure on utility prices.

Bullock asked the council to watch for pending energy increases and to advocate for state-level disclosure requirements so the public and local officials can plan for grid impacts. Council members did not take formal action during the meeting but acknowledged the concern and suggested it may require state-level engagement or coordination with utilities.

The council did not present technical estimates of load, nor did utilities or state energy officials appear at the meeting. Bullock’s account reflects community concern about transparency and the potential for nonresidential large loads to affect local rates and grid reliability during high-demand periods.","A community leader told the New Castle County Council that area data centers and proposed marijuana cultivation facilities draw high electricity from the same grid as residents, urging state-required disclosure and planning for summer demand.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640513,"Resident urges removal of state preemption clause for Auburn Valley; DNREC secretary to meet with community",481,1168000,1649000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5&start=1168&end=1649","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5/thumbnail_1168000.jpg","/articles/6640513/New-Castle-County/Delaware/Resident-urges-removal-of-state-preemption-clause-for-Auburn-Valley-DNREC-secretary-to-meet-with-community","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640513-7c414e153f689cea2d9fdbd3c088d8b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181229&Signature=UsKlNv59ovP8KAgo0Y0ozh7l~l8kKR~nqQnWBQmTAk2co05gWLwQUxWMf3cjxCA3cT2BHaqNE0TckA-vY9J7WcpTtPmCfRXmogZFSO-7-0T57OmA7J11HCjGokQzMbvTSX9RlpZ8cHj9jTkeojqDrRkDJd6H3NCO4QpCH4IdB51osj-RDSjRVMyWVlLbX2NxYL-vzI~1vXgUgKSKs692HfXDcHunX2avC1BBGwYk-SPh1MeLt6wJgzu56bRbaoeaczNqw92TQwZyhB4UCkUm83bagDCt~wsaXw2K0Pti6mOtr8oClsgr8z03DYwxkixoasxK1ohVKff4MsJ3onnxkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carlos Alejandro, a Hockessin resident and business owner, told the New Castle County Council that a sentence in the state bond bill — identified in the meeting as Section 88, Auburn Valley Project — currently states that implementation of Auburn Valley elements \"shall not be subject to the zoning, subdivision, land use, or building code ordinances, or regulations of New Castle County.\" Alejandro said that language has been in the bond bill since 2011 and that it removes the county’s land-use authority for the named project area.

\"The implementation of the transportation, stormwater management, demolition, remediation, redevelopment, and parks and recreation element of the Auburn Valley Master Plan shall not be subject to the zoning, subdivision, land use, or building code ordinances, or regulations of New Castle County,\" Alejandro read aloud from the bond bill and said the clause led to development decisions that bypass county land-use review.

Council members responded during public comment. Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick and others suggested following up with state lawmakers; Councilman Street and Councilman Carter described the concern as serious and noted past instances where state-level decisions preempted local land‑use review. Councilwoman Durham said she had spoken that day with DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson, who had assured her \"everything is on hold in terms of DNREC permitting\" and that Patterson intends to meet with Alejandro and other community members to review the matter.

Council members said the issue may be appropriate for further discussion at land-use committee meetings and urged Alejandro to provide written materials. Council members did not vote or adopt any ordinance on this topic at the meeting.

The transcript shows council members acknowledging the longstanding nature of the language in the state bond bill and discussing the balance between state-level redevelopment authority and county land-use expertise. No county action to alter the bond bill language was recorded; council members advised the resident to pursue legislative change with state representatives.

The council president and staff offered to accept Alejandro’s materials and forward them to the appropriate council members; Councilwoman Kilpatrick asked Alejandro to email the materials to her for follow-up.","A resident told New Castle County Council that a sentence in a state bond bill (Section 88, Auburn Valley Project) removes county zoning and land-use authority from certain parcels; Council members and staff said DNREC has authority under the bond bill and DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson has placed permitting on hold and will meet with community.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6640518,"New Castle County Council approves five measures, including committee rule change and refunds",496,456000,952000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5&start=456&end=952","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555932-fc74b55d26bc6f9ce573fc1327e0e7c5/thumbnail_456000.jpg","/articles/6640518/New-Castle-County/Delaware/New-Castle-County-Council-approves-five-measures-including-committee-rule-change-and-refunds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640518-982c81b1f40848992ee996518c7659b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181229&Signature=ntLaZW3bgGpptJaFso0sBI0odZapFpIuqBIKmUuH2nDhrs0t3Iki7iq2tx9nRrNG9d1P4k7YckRz~2pemQMnl-qjG~wi5zuojXvU2Bsb3aFipAlrDP5eNwYODXWMRGtoAr8K91b9GTmTMpAxFhIq4Bp9sePUJYGl~vCdc8AD6g0S3m~3rVku4QhwvRogbsOD0ubnr~AKzPvX2xo3tQLwrHo9j14VxhrVocvXkhfEiYzFz2j2HOI5Rw6AH-ygHRJ1CTCu8GywDdzQGBLIjpxZVnJyeF2cPFCiJ0tCX~Jx7I~vrpX0hQhIKeqyoNas08m0nRYeObwOOEZYR-q~PvuvyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Castle County Council voted unanimously to approve four refund resolutions and a procedural change affecting committee leadership and enacted an ordinance updating council committee co-chair rules.

The actions were taken during the council’s regular meeting, where roll calls recorded 13 yes votes on each item and no recorded no votes or abstentions.

Councilman Paul Cartier, who handled several of the refund items, said for the record that refunds exceeding $20,000 must be approved by county council and that the finance department had reviewed the requests. The council then approved the resolutions by roll call.

In total the council approved: Resolution R25-043, approving a refund for tax parcel 06064.00241; R25-044, approving a refund for parcel 07034.20341; R25-045, approving a refund for parcel 10006.00032; and R25-046, approving a refund for parcel 11022.00015. Each resolution passed with a roll call of 13 yes votes.

Separately, the council approved Resolution R25-047, amending New Castle County Council procedural Rule 5 concerning county council committee co-chairs. Councilman Smiley presented the measure and said it followed discussion at the finance committee.

The council also considered and adopted Ordinance 25-019, which amends New Castle County Code Chapter 2 (Administration), section 2.020.11 on county council committee co-chairs; the ordinance passed on a 13–0 roll call.

Several other ordinances were introduced for consideration at a future meeting. Those introductions included: Ordinance 25-021 to amend the grants budget to appropriate $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) via the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services for a wastewater grant (DHSS 2025) to the Department of Public Works (details not specified in the meeting); Ordinance 25-022 to amend the FY2025 capital program and appropriate $29,600 from the Delaware Department of Transportation’s Community Transportation Fund for the Department of Public Works Greenway Systems Capital Project (details not specified); Ordinance 25-023 to provide for installation of LED street lights in the Overlook at Bayberry subdivision and to create a light tax (details not specified); and Ordinance 25-024 to amend the grants budget to appropriate interest income ($6,390.25) and program income ($163,310.29) to the FY2024 HOME Investment Partnerships Program administered by the Department of Community Services, Division of Community Development and Housing (details not specified).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution R25-043 (refund of duplicate tax payment, parcel 06064.00241): approved, roll call 13 yes
- Resolution R25-044 (refund of tax payment and sewer fees paid in error, parcel 07034.20341): approved, roll call 13 yes
- Resolution R25-045 (refund of duplicate tax payment, parcel 10006.00032): approved, roll call 13 yes
- Resolution R25-046 (refund of duplicate tax payment, parcel 11022.00015): approved, roll call 13 yes
- Resolution R25-047 (amend procedural Rule 5 on committee co-chairs): approved, roll call 13 yes
- Ordinance 25-019 (amend County Code Chapter 2.020.11 on committee co-chairs): approved, roll call 13 yes

Introduced (no action taken; details not specified at meeting): Ordinances 25-021, 25-022, 25-023, 25-024.

The council meeting transcript records the roll-call tallies for the passed items and shows no recorded public objections during the roll calls for those measures. Further hearings or committee recommendations will be required for the introduced ordinances before they return for final action.","The New Castle County Council unanimously approved four duplicate-tax refund resolutions and a change to council committee rules, and approved an ordinance updating committee co-chair rules; several budget and capital ordinances were introduced for future consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears concerns about Sam’s/Friendship House services, SWAT at school and landfill expansion; committee follow-up requested

Resident urges county to ensure fairness after large reassessment increases

Resident urges transparency on data‑center and cultivation energy use as summer demand nears

Resident urges removal of state preemption clause for Auburn Valley; DNREC secretary to meet with community

New Castle County Council approves five measures, including committee rule change and refunds