Sussex County commissioners appoint Degrroot to regional planning board, approve routine resolutions

The Sussex County Board of County Commissioners on March 11 unanimously appointed Commissioner Jack Degrroot as the county’s representative to the Lake Muskanetkong regional planning board and approved multiple routine resolutions and contract awards.

Director Space moved to appoint Commissioner Degrroot to a term running through Dec. 31, 2026; Commissioner Carney seconded and a roll call vote recorded affirmative votes from Director Space, Commissioner Carney, Deputy Director Degru, Commissioner Henderson and Commissioner Silverthornne.

The board also voted to appoint Bernard Kachakowski as chair of the Sussex County Construction Board of Appeals for 2026. Resolutions A through H and an award‑of‑contract item were adopted by roll call during the meeting.

During the public comment period before the vote, Ken Collins of Andover Township addressed the board about the Degrroot appointment and urged the commissioner to oppose what Collins described as a proposed conversion of a nearby warehouse into a federal immigration detention facility. Collins said the facility would demand “a much higher water draw” and sewage capacity than the area can sustain and asked Degrroot, once on the regional planning board, to “stand with Roxberry and do all you can to oppose this poorly conceived idea for a federal detention center.” Kathy Brennan of Hampton Township made similar water and wastewater capacity concerns.

The appointments and routine resolutions were approved; no formal board action on any detention‑facility proposal was recorded during the meeting.