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Town staff updates council on construction projects, upcoming bids and state bills
Summary
Town staff briefed the council on construction progress at the Sussex County Family Court facility, a public works salt barn pre-bid and bid schedule, outstanding metering deliveries, a residential rental inspection RFP, and provided an update on state legislation the town is monitoring.
Town staff provided project updates and scheduling notes during the council meeting and flagged several items for near-term action and monitoring.
Staff reported construction progress at the Sussex County Family Court facility: third-floor drywall, ceilings and soffits were largely complete, ceiling grid work was underway on the second floor, first-floor mechanical/electrical/plumbing was mostly complete and drywall was in progress. Site work on East Market Street was paused due to temperatures below freezing, and crane and precast work were described for the parking structure and front canopy. Staff also said the clock tower element would start near January.
Regarding town projects, the public works salt barn pre-bid meeting was held Jan. 8 (not mandatory) and the bid opening was scheduled for Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. in Town Hall. Staff described the salt barn schematic: open lean-to bays on either end, and three center drive‑thru doors for storing materials such as sand, salt, hot mix or cold patch and other seasonal items.
On other operational matters, staff said they were awaiting 12 advanced meters (AMI) to complete the rollout, and that the town received three proposals in response to a residential rental inspection RFP issued Dec. 12; the responses were under staff review. Staff reminded the council of the planning commission meeting Jan. 15, town office closure Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and noted the Delaware General Assembly’s session and upcoming gubernatorial inauguration on Jan. 21.
Staff also summarized bills the town is monitoring: House Bill 30 (affordable housing production task force) — the town is neutral; House Bill 32 (funding for school resource officers) — the town is supportive; Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 3 (early voting and absentee ballot constitutional amendments) — the town is neutral and tracking potential impacts.
Staff did not provide budgetary line items or contract awards for the projects in this update; the salt barn had a scheduled bid opening and other items were at the RFP or construction stage.
