Sussex County Council approves contracts, change orders and sewer-district notices in March 25 meeting

Sussex County Council on March 25 approved a series of procurement contracts, construction change orders, sewer-district notice authorizations and small community grants.

Key approvals included: the purchase of 47 replacement cardiac monitors for county emergency services from Stryker; award of a new bookmobile to Tesco Specialty Services for $309,115; a $3,850,800 contract with Denali Corporation for sludge removal at the Wolf Neck Regional Wastewater Facility; and a $1,397,640 purchase order to BioWorks for an aeration-system conversion tied to the Inland Bays expansion work.

Director of Public Safety Robbie Murray told the council the current monitors “have reached the end of their serviceable life” and recommended purchasing new units over two fiscal years; the council authorized staff to negotiate and execute a contract with Stryker for 47 monitors. Rachel Lynch of the Department of Libraries described the bookmobile’s history and operational needs — the county will replace the aging 1998 vehicle with a 24-foot van that does not require a CDL and includes a wheelchair lift and adjustable shelving.

The council also approved multiple engineering items: a no-cost time extension of three calendar days for joint contracts S19-19 and S22-24; final balancing change orders and substantial-completion findings for Paramedic Station 103 and the Pintail Point project (credits of $17,200 and $13,404, respectively, were recorded); and final balance/retention adjustments for the South Coastal Regional Wastewater Facility (a $26,420 decrease and a reduced retainage). The council authorized engineering staff to prepare and post notices for two sewer-district annexation hearings (six parcels along Route 113 for the Millsboro/Miller Creek area and the Crescent Place expansion for Parcel 134-19-24).

On the Wolf Neck sludge-removal contract, the engineering presenter said a generator solution may be needed for sequencing and odor-control work; the council approved the Denali agreement for $3,850,800 to remove sludge from the Wolf Neck lagoon as presented.

Small-community grants approved included $1,000 to the Milton Historical Society and $1,000 to Mariner Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society.

Votes at a glance (each item listed below was approved by the council): - Cardiac monitors: Authorize director of public safety to negotiate and execute contract with Stryker for 47 cardiac monitors (motion carried, unanimous). - Bookmobile: Award contract to Tesco Specialty Services for $309,115; delivery and possession by 06/30/2025 (motion carried, unanimous). - Joint contracts S19-19 and S22-24: Approve change order #1, increase contract time from 240 to 243 days at no additional cost (motion carried, unanimous). - Paramedic Station 103: Approve balancing change order #5, decrease contract by $17,200, grant final project closeout (motion carried, unanimous). - Pintail Point (S21-16): Approve change order #2, decrease contract by $13,404, grant substantial completion on 03/01/2025 contingent on NREC concurrence (motion carried, unanimous). - Wolf Neck sludge removal: Approve agreement with Denali Corporation for $3,850,800 (motion carried, unanimous). - BioWorks equipment purchase: Approve purchase order for $1,397,640 for aeration system conversion as part of Inland Bays expansion (motion carried, unanimous). - South Coastal Regional WWTF treatment process upgrade #3 (electrical): Approve final balance/change order #29, decrease $26,420, grant substantial completion as of 03/21/2025 and reduce retainage to $35,000 (motion carried, unanimous). - Unified Sanitary Sewer District notices: Authorize preparation and posting of public-hearing notices for Millsboro/Miller Creek expansion (six parcels along Route 113) and Crescent Place expansion (Parcel 134-19-24 for 47 lots; motion carried, unanimous). - Community grants: Milton Historical Society $1,000; Mariner Middle School $1,000 (motions carried, unanimous).

Why it matters: The approvals advance capital and operating capabilities for county services (EMS equipment, library outreach, wastewater system maintenance and upgrades) and continue planned sewer-district expansions and construction closeouts. Several items are part of the county's multi-year capital plan and had been budgeted in prior capital programming, the engineering presenters said.

What to watch: Procurement documents, contracts and project closeout reports will be filed with county departments. Engineering staff noted some projects may require additional follow-ups (e.g., generator sequencing for Wolf Neck sludge removal and retained technical support for Inland Bays equipment).