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Hearing Tuesday NOTE: Sussex Beat is a mix of news, analysis and commentary by Eric Magill, publisher of Sussex County Online.
As expected, Sussex County Council delayed a vote on a conditional use application for a proposed plant that would pelletize chicken waste into fertilizer near Laurel at a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999. Council delayed a vote on the proposal for at least a week after listening to supporters and opponents of the plant for five hours. Council will hear further testimony from lawyers for both groups on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The public may also submit written comment until that time. The Sussex County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Nov. 18 to recommend approval of the 100x630-foot plant proposed for 210 acres west of U.S. 13A north of Sussex 485. Attorney Michael J. Malkiewicz represented more than 1,000 neighboring property owners who signed a petition to oppose the conditional use application for a 100- x 630-foot plant on 228 acres south of Blades. John A. Sergovic Jr. represented Perdue-AgriRecycle, the joint venture between Perdue Farms Inc. and AgriRecycle Inc. set up to own and operate the plant. Sergovic said the proposed site was chosen for its proximity to chicken farms and available manure and that the site lies within a county defined development area. Sergovic said railroad and truck traffic and noise around the plant would be minimal, that the plant would not be used for industrial or manufacturing purposes, and that a buffer of Leland Cypress trees would be planted on a 4- to 5-foot high berm to reduce the plant's visibility. He also said the disposal of the manure would benefit the county environmentally and economically and that air and water cleaning systems would ensure biological safety at the site. Residents near the site were not convinced. Malkewicz cited their concerns that their property values would be adversely affected, that a pelletizing plant has never been tested before, and that the plant would be clearly visible because of a 90-foot steam tower. Malkewicz also questioned the testimony of Perdue-AgriRecycle that pellet production would only be 80,000 tons per year when its marketing materials state that production would be 90,000 tons in 2000 and 165,000 tons in 2001. Agriculture industry representatives favor the plant, which would convert chicken waste into fertilizer pellets to be sold to Midwestern and international farmers, because it would help them reduce the level of nitrates chicken waste produces. They say it would also save the local poultry industry money and the local economy jobs because it would reduce their costs in disposing of their chicken waste. The plant has faced stiff opposition from neighboring property owners fearing the plant's potential odors, noise and environmental impact since the deal between Perdue Inc. and the State of Delaware to locate the plant there was announced.
The Milford Planning Commission approved plans for a 200,000-plus square foot Wal-Mart on Airport Road to replace an existing 72,000-square foot store by a 7-1 vote Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999. The Wal-Mart Supercenter would be 204,896 feet. Irvin E. Ambrose was the only commissioner to vote against the plan, citing concerns of the larger store's impact on small, local businesses. The commission said Wal-Mart must promise to place fences on any side of its property facing residential or agricultural properties, receive the proper permits for its propane storage tanks, and receive approval from the Delaware Department of Transportation for improvements to U.S. 113 in front of the store's proposed entrance before beginning construction. Neighbors complained that storm water from the existing Wal-Mart overflows and floods adjacent properties -- the commissioners said Wal-Mart must clarify who is responsible for maintaining the storm water maintenance ponds.
Former Judge William Swain-Lee, made famous during the infamous Thomas Capano murder trial, started campaigning for the Republican nomination for Governor in the 2000 Election on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, with stops in all three counties. Swain-Lee campaigned in Sussex County at the Brick Hotel on The Circle in Georgetown at 3 p.m. and differentiated himself from the other candidates by saying he was not a career politician and that the state wasn't providing its citizens the quality of life they should have. Swain-Lee said Delaware has the potential to have the highest quality of life in the country but that it doesn't because the state is so poorly run. He also said he wouldn't engage in negative campaigning, either against the other Republican candidates or against the Democrats, unless he was forced to. Among Lee's opponents for the Republican nomination are Lt. Governor Ruth Ann Minner, House Speaker Terry Spence, businessman Dennis Rochford, and Delaware Chamber of Commerce president John Burris.
You can voice your opinion on Sussex County issues in the Sussex County Online Forum or cast your vote on various Sussex County issues on our online poll. Just follow the links below to make your voice heard and your vote count:
If you're looking for medical information on the Internet, a good place for basic information about medical topics is Drkoop.com, a site led by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. In addition to reference material on more than 60 conditions, the site also provides breaking medical news and a dozen medical forums broken down by topic. You can search the site by symptom or by illness or disease. Local News Index | News Index |
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