SPECIAL MEETING
July 26, 1977
A Special Meeting of Council was held on July 26, 1977 at 7:30 P.M. with Mayor Legates presiding. Members present were Messrs. McDonough, Weyandt, Muir, Hardcastle, Carey, Witt and Carson. Councilman Bewick was absent.
A special meeting of Council was called by Mayor Legates to consider the distribution of an additional One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in EDA Funds awarded to the Dover Planning Tract which includes the City of Dover and the Capital School District.
The City Manager explained that notification of the additional funds was received by registered mail on July 21, 1977 and that an application accompanied by cost estimates and preliminary drawings must be received in the EDA office within 28 days from that date. He explained that a tentative agreement to divide the grant fifty-fifty had been reached as a result of preliminary meetings with Dr. Powell, Superintendent of Schools and the school board.
Various projects were submitted by Mr. James which included a municipal golf course that would cost approximately $500,000 but would be eligible for a fifty percent matching fund basis from the State. Also submitted were projects that incorporated a 12" water loop line in the area of Horsepond Road, Lafferty Lane, Route #113 and Blue Hen Mall; a 12" water loop line from Acron Lane to North Little Creek Road west on the North Little Creek Road to existing lines and an 8" loop line on the South Little Creek Road from entrance to Schoolview to intersection of Route #113.
Dr. Edward Powell was present to outline the projects planned, to utilize the school districts share of funds. These included completion of certain items at William Henry Middle School and the installation of heat controls and storm windows at the Central Middle School.
Dr. Powell was reminded by Council that the Capital School District received the greater portion of the original grant and perhaps the City should receive a greater amount of this grant to be used for the benefit of Dover residents.
Dr. Powell stated that members of the City staff had cooperated one hundred percent in discussions concerning needed projects both in the City and school district. He felt that these discussions resulted in a decision that would be most advantageous in the utilization of the funds for both parties. If an agreement on division of the grant could not be reached then the City and school district would have to compete for the full amount.
Mr. Witt moved that the school district be notified of Council’s agreement to divide the One Million Dollar grant on a fifty-fifty basis. The motion was seconded by Mr. Muir.
By a unanimous roll call vote, Council approved the motion. Mr. Bewick was absent.
Mr. Robert O’Brien, Kent County Planner, was recognized to address Council on a request that the City allocate half or all of their portion of the funds to help defray the cost of a new County administrative and court facility. He pointed out that Kent County has the highest unemployment percentage of all three countries and Dover represents approximately 18% of that figure. He expressed the County’s disappointment in not receiving any of the second EDA grant monies. The requested monies would be used to expand parking facilities and upgrade the quality of the County building which Mr. O’Brien stated is not a fire rated facility.
Mr. Hardcastle moved that the $500,000 EDA grant be used for projects in the City decided upon by Council. The motion was seconded by Mr. Muir and unanimously carried by a roll call vote, with Mr. Bewick absent.
Mr. Weyandt stressed the importance of updating the City water system to better serve the needs of citizens. He moved that the $500,000 in EDA funds be utilized for the three aforementioned water loop lines as outlined by the City Manager. The motion was seconded by Mr. Muir.
Mr. McDonough informed Council that this would be an opportune time for the construction of a municipal golf course, using only $250,000 of the grant with matching funds from the State. This project would be at no cost to the taxpayers and would be self supporting.
Council noted that the three water loop projects contained a projected total cost of $417,800, leaving a balance of $82,200 unspent monies.
Assuming that the projected cost figures for the three projects are within reason, Mr. James stated that there are other qualifying projects on the drawing board that would consume the entire grants which are included in the five year Capitol Improvement Budget.
On a call for the motion, Council by a unanimous roll call vote, (Mr. Bewick absent) approved the expenditure of $500,000 in EDA funds for installation of the three water loop lines and other qualified projects presented by the City Manager.
Mr. Witt moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Weyandt and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
WILLIAM H. WILLIS
CITY CLERK
All orders, ordinances and resolutions adopted by City Council in their meeting of July 26, 1977, are hereby approved.
CHARLES A. LEGATES, JR.
MAYOR
July 29, 1977
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