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Milford Council approves ordinances, sets bond referendum hearing and adopts five-year solid-waste rate plan
Summary
Milford City Council on Tuesday adopted two ordinances — amending the property maintenance code and revising the city's fiber-optic rules — endorsed a DNREC mosquito-control agreement, approved a bond-referral resolution for planned water infrastructure and adopted a five-year solid-waste rate plan following a consultant's presentation.
Milford City Council voted Tuesday to adopt amendments to the city's property maintenance code, revise its fiber-optic ordinance, endorse a DNREC mosquito-control agreement, begin the referendum process for planned northwest-area water infrastructure and adopt a five-year solid-waste rate plan.
The property maintenance amendment — listed in the agenda as "ordinance 20 25 0 2" — adds a definition and enforcement pathway for "habitual offenders" of the property maintenance code and raises the fines for property-maintenance violations. Solicitor Rob Pierce told council the change "would amend chapter 174 by defining what a habitual offender is, and adding a section related to a habitual offender violation." Pierce also said the ordinance would change the fine schedule, describing an increase in the minimum and maximum amounts as shown in the council packet.
The amendment passed on a council voice vote. A motion to adopt the ordinance was seconded by Navia Zayko; the council clerk recorded the voice vote as "Aye" and the motion passed.
Council also adopted ordinance 20 25-03 to amend chapter 125 of the City Code covering fiber optics. A city staff presenter told council the change removes a table of fees from the ordinance and instead relies on individually negotiated fiber-use agreements, saying the change is intended to "lessen the burden on administrative staff, to remove any kind of inconsistencies in our language, and thereby streamlining our city ordinance." Katrina seconded the motion; council approved the ordinance by voice vote.
On mosquito control, council endorsed the annual DNREC (Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control) municipal endorsement that allows DNREC to conduct mosquito-control spraying within city boundaries. That endorsement was approved by motion and voice vote.
On financing infrastructure, finance director Lou Vitola presented a resolution to initiate a bond referendum to finance long-term water improvements in the northwest area of the city, including a water tower, production wells and treatment capacity. Vitola said the project "should fall in the $6 to $7,500,000 range" and stressed the council that staff view the work as best financed with long-term debt that will be repaid from impact fees. He said the referendum would be a "no tax increase, no utility rate increase referendum." The resolution to initiate the referral and set a public hearing was approved; Vitola said a public hearing is scheduled for the March 10 council meeting and the special election is tentatively scheduled for April 26, 2025.
On solid waste, the council adopted a resolution establishing solid-waste rates for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 following a presentation from Utility Financial Solutions. Consultant Dawn Lund said the firm's review shows the solid-waste fund would otherwise run operating losses and that a 4% annual rate track over five years would restore positive operating income and cash balances. Council approved the rate schedule on a motion and voice vote.
What happens next
- The council set a public hearing on the bond referendum for the March 10 council meeting and staff said notices required by the referendum schedule will follow. - The adopted property-maintenance ordinance will take effect according to the normal ordinance-adoption process; fines described in the council packet will be imposed through justice-of-the-peace court as described by staff in the packet. - The solid-waste rate schedule adopted is planned as a five-year track; the consultant described it as a 4% annual increase to restore operating income and build reserves.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 20 25 0 2 (amend Chapter 174, property maintenance; habitual-offender language and revised fines): adopted (motion seconded by Navia Zayko; voice vote recorded as "Aye"). - Ordinance 20 25-03 (amend Chapter 125, fiber optics; remove fee table; rely on fiber-use agreements): adopted (motion seconded by Katrina; voice vote recorded as "Aye"). - DNREC mosquito-control municipal endorsement (agreement to permit spraying inside city limits): endorsed (motion approved by voice vote). - Resolution 20 20 5-2 (initiate bond referendum for northwest-area water improvements; no tax/no utility rate increase as described in staff presentation): approved (motion seconded; voice vote recorded as "Aye"). Public hearing set for March 10; special election tentatively April 26, 2025. - Resolution on solid-waste rates (five-year rate schedule; consultant recommended 4% annual increases): adopted (motion and voice vote).
No roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript; the items were approved by voice vote. The motions and the packet details listed above are the official record in the council packet and meeting transcript.
