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County approves DNREC groundwater monitoring sponsorship, project change orders and landfill monitoring increase
Summary
Council approved Sussex County as sponsor for a $150,000 DGS/DNREC grant to add monitoring wells, approved a $19,726 change order for the James Farm campus and approved a $30,000 increase to Weston Solutions' landfill monitoring task order.
Sussex County Council on Feb. 25 approved several engineering and environmental items brought by the county engineering department, including sponsorship of a state grant for groundwater monitoring, a minor contract change order at James Farm Ecological Preserve and an increase to a closed-landfill environmental task order.
Mike Harmer, county engineer, described a request from the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS), at DNREC's request, for the county to sponsor a $150,000 Chesapeake Bay implementation grant to add groundwater monitoring wells in the west side of the county (Laurel/Trap Pond area). Harmer said DGS will install monitoring wells and collect water-quality samples; the council approved the county serving as local sponsor so the grant application may proceed.
Patrick Brown, speaking for the county's park/James Farm project, said the James Farm educational and maintenance buildings are near completion and that Change Order No. 4 for contract C23-21 would increase that contract by $19,726.60 to address a post column cap connection. The council approved the change order and councilmembers suggested arranging a site tour for newer council members when construction finishes.
Harmer also requested authorization to increase the Weston Solutions task order for continued environmental professional services related to monitoring at the closed Laurel landfill. Council approved a $30,000 increase to the Fiscal Year 2025 task order (from $100,000 to $130,000) and authorized the county engineer to approve FY26 and FY27 task orders in accordance with approved budgets and procurement policies. Harmer said the county conducts annual December sampling and reporting for closed landfills and had received EPA 5-year review findings requiring updates to quality assurance plans.
Each of the three motions was moved and seconded and approved by recorded council votes. Harmer and Brown told council that monitoring trends at the closed landfills are generally favorable, and that the additional work is an update and compliance effort required by agency review.
