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Seaford council accepts SRF loan offer for Martin Farms water‑main relocation after public calls for transparency
Summary
Council approved a resolution to accept a $962,400 SRF loan for Martin Farms water relocation phase 1; a resident urged more transparency on how multistage water/sewer projects will affect future rates and property values.
Seaford’s mayor and council voted Tuesday to accept a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan offer of $962,400 to fund Martin Farms water main relocation phase 1, after a public hearing and a period for comment.
The loan resolution (2025‑02) authorizes the city to proceed to loan closing for the water relocation work tied to the Martin Farms development. Councilman Alan Quillen moved the resolution and Councilwoman Grasset seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The project will relocate water mains out of private backyards and into public rights‑of‑way. Director of Public Works described the phase‑1 project as covered by an SRF award that included “100% principal forgiveness” for a related water project in a prior presentation; for the Martin Farms phase 1 water relocation the city presented an SRF loan amount of $962,400 to fund the work.
Public concern and requests: Dan Cannon, a resident who spoke during public comment, criticized city staff for what he called limited public information about upcoming multimillion‑dollar water and sewer projects, and urged council to increase oversight and transparency. “We taxpayers of Seaford deserve to know how these major projects will impact us both in our backyards and in our pocketbooks,” Cannon said. He asked council to study and make available preliminary engineering reports (PERs), citing in particular a Martin Farms PER dated September 24 (year not specified in the comment).
City response and timing: Director Mears clarified that the city has not yet closed on the SRF loan and that staff will move to loan closing and final engineering after the council process. “We have not gone to closing on this loan yet. Once we go through this process, then we'll work with our attorneys and the state's attorneys to go to loan closing,” Mears said. Mears said that construction dates depend on closing, bidding and contractor selection and that sewer work is “a little further along.”
Discussion vs. decision: Council took a formal action to adopt the resolution authorizing acceptance of the SRF loan; staff noted additional administrative steps (loan closing, bidding, contract approval) remain before construction starts.
