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New Castle County finance committee reviews $17.68 million DWRF loan for Richardson Park sewer work, approves community grants
Summary
The Finance Committee discussed Resolution 25-190 to authorize a Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund loan of up to $17,679,097 for Richardson Park sewer improvements and approved multiple $2,500 community grants, while debate over a $2,500 Hagley grant drew mixed votes; no final vote on the loan is recorded in the transcript.
The New Castle County Finance Committee on Oct. 28 discussed a proposed finance agreement with the Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, introduced as Resolution 25-190, to fund construction of a new Richardson Park sewage pump station and associated gravity sewer and force main work with financing not to exceed $17,679,097.
A council member explained the financing terms: “We pay this as a loan at 2% for the term of 25 years,” and noted the county’s practice of servicing similar DNREC loans with interest paid at the end of the term. Committee discussion during the item summarized the scope of work listed in the resolution — 625 linear feet of 42-inch gravity sewer, 70 linear feet of 36-inch gravity sewer, and 520 linear feet of 24- and 30-inch ductile iron force main — and indicated formal legislation would follow in a couple of weeks to facilitate the financing.
The committee also handled a slate of small community grants. Councilman Toole moved $2,500 to Charity Crossings, noting the group “served 615 community people in New Castle County” and that Mill Creek Fire Department provided meeting space at no charge; the motion was seconded and approved. Councilwoman Durham moved $2,500 for the Hagley Museum & Library to help install bird-safe window mechanisms on campus windows; the transcript records several aye and several no responses during the vote and some members as “not voting,” but does not include a definitive roll-call tally in the meeting record. Durham also moved $2,500 to support Strong Towns Wilmington’s Nov. 16 event bringing speaker Chuck Marohn; that motion was seconded and recorded as approved.
The committee additionally heard several budget and ordinance items: Ordinance 25-123 would amend Chapter 13 of the county code governing stormwater maintenance districts (The Oaks); Ordinance 25-128 would appropriate $900,000 from the Tax Stabilization Reserve to the Office of Law for attorney fees and expert witnesses; and Ordinance 25-129 would appropriate $300,000 for a Public Works settlement. A procedural question on Ordinance 25-129 noted that 10 votes would be required to advance that item.
The meeting record does not show a final recorded roll-call vote for Resolution 25-190 in the provided transcript segments. After discussing the loan’s terms, the chair indicated formal legislation would be ready in the coming weeks. The committee adjourned following a motion to adjourn.
