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Georgetown council backs local anti-crime energy-efficiency program and approves sewer and fiber agreements
Summary
Council voted to provide a letter of authorization supporting a Help Initiative neighborhood program, approved a public-works sewer agreement for the Stokely Center campus and signed an MOU allowing IQ Fiber to build a town fiber network; nonprofits Love Inc. and Springboard updated council on local homelessness programs.
Council members approved several items that aim to expand services and infrastructure in Georgetown: a letter authorizing a Help Initiative program of energy-efficiency and safety installations, a public-works agreement to connect the Stokely Center campus to town sewer, and a memorandum of understanding allowing IQ Fiber to construct fiber in town rights-of-way.
Charles Kistler, executive director of the Help Initiative, asked the council to authorize the organization to operate a program that installs exterior lighting and weatherization measures and partners with Energize Delaware and Delmarva Power funds. Councilmember Christina moved to write a letter of authorization in support; the motion received a second and passed.
Town staff and engineer Ray Gardner presented a draft public-works agreement to provide sewer services to the Stokely Center campus; the state will initially purchase capacity of roughly 20,000 gallons per day and pay impact fees. Council moved and approved the agreement.
IQ Fiber representatives described a planned fiber-optic deployment through Georgetown promising synchronous speeds and no data caps. After questions about franchise revenue impacts for the incumbent provider and construction methods, council approved the MOU allowing IQ Fiber to work in the right-of-way.
Nonprofits Love Inc. and Springboard (Pallet Village/Georgetown Navigation Center) provided extended updates. Love Inc. described a connection-center intake model, case-management services and partnerships with churches and businesses; it said it operates on roughly a $1,000,000 annual budget heavily supported by private donations and requested closer collaboration, including placement of a case manager at First Baptist Church in Georgetown. Judson Malone of Springboard described the Navigation Center’s capital investment (~$2.58 million to date), a four‑year contract with the Delaware Division of Social Services that supports occupied cabins at roughly $40 per bed per day, and outcome metrics showing hundreds served and dozens transitioned to permanent housing. Several residents who had used services gave brief testimonials about moving into stable housing.
Council also approved a $79,000 realty-transfer request tied to a monuments project and then moved into executive session to conclude the meeting.
