Seaford council approves irrigation billing revisions, cleanup week, speed hump policy changes and several contracts and fee changes

Director of Public Works Burley Meares told the council the city will resume a residential irrigation billing practice that reads irrigation meters year‑round but bills zero when there is no usage, rather than moving meters to seasonal status. Council approved the revision to the residential irrigation billing policy by motion of Councilwoman Grasset, seconded by Councilman Bradley; the motion passed unanimously. Under the revision, the utility will continue to read meters; if a meter records zero gallons, the customer will receive a $0 charge for that billing period, but any actual usage (for example from a leak) will produce a bill.

Meares asked the council to set the citywide cleanup week for May 12–16; the council approved that date by motion from Councilwoman Grasset with a second from Councilman Quillen.

Meares also recommended lifting the moratorium on new speed‑hump (speed‑bump) installations and reverting to a previously adopted policy that requires a speed study, local‑street classification, a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less and a petition supporting installation signed by 75% of households on the block. Councilwoman Grasset moved to remove the moratorium; Councilman Quillen seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Meares said installations would be coordinated with paving schedules and that the city will provide materials and a petition template to residents who request a speed‑hump study.

On wastewater operations, Meares also recommended raising the septage disposal fee for porta‑potty waste to $0.09 per gallon to reflect higher treatment costs. Council approved the fee increase, effective April 1, 2025, by motion from Councilwoman Grasset and a unanimous vote.

The council reviewed service procurements and awarded a one‑year (plus one‑year renewal option) waste and recycling contract to Casella; councilman Quillen moved the award and Councilman Bradley seconded. City staff noted Casella was the low bidder by $1,829 and has provided satisfactory service. The council also awarded a transformers bid to United Utility Supply for $220,276 after staff recommended declining the low bidder Bolt Electric because Bolt’s bid omitted an addendum and staff could not confirm vendor information online. Councilman Bradley moved to award to United Utility Supply; Councilman Quillen seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Director Bennett presented a first reading of proposed amendments to the city’s electric rules and regulations that would require developers to purchase and dedicate meters and transformers for new multifamily, single‑family and commercial developments. Bennett said the change follows similar moves by Delaware Electric Cooperative and other municipal utilities and would shift the capital cost of new distribution equipment to the developer; there was no council vote on the matter at the first reading.

Council members and staff discussed logistics: transformer lead times range from about 16 weeks for single‑phase units to 36–40 weeks for some 3‑phase transformers; staff said the FY‑25 budget included nearly $600,000 for transformers, some of which carry into the next fiscal year. For the developer cost shift, staff gave examples: a 57‑lot subdivision would face roughly $173,000 in transformer costs (about $1,000–$1,200 per unit), while a 40‑lot project showed a lower per‑unit figure.

All motions recorded in the meeting passed unanimously.