REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.- There is an underground ocean outfall pipe that pumps wastewater from treatment plants into the ocean off of Deauville Beach. Sussex County wants to pump more wastewater through the pipe and pay the city to do it.
The county has submitted a proposal to get two million gallons per day of the outfall in exchange for $7.6 million.
Director of Public Works Kevin Williams says the cost seems fair.
"We began reviewing the cost associated with the county's offer and we've looked at it," Williams said. "The staff has looked at it, our consultants have looked at it and the proposal of 7.6 million dollars for that excess capacity is very reasonable."
But some commissioners like Jay Legree have concerns related to the city's growth, the plant's capacity, and the city keeping control of its own plant.
"I think we can lease or give a transmittal capacity, but we must retain control," Legree said. "And I think we can. It's not difficult to do. We just need to set all that out when we do the contract."
The Rehoboth Beach Commissioners want more information and plan to discuss this further but at first glance members of the public feel the price could be too cheap for what the county is asking for.
Michael Strange says that climate change could have an effect on long term plans.
"The number of extreme events which have already been documented by the National Weather Service and other scientists are such that those extreme events are going to cause the Wolfe Neck facility to not to be able to function too many times," Strange said.
There will be another meeting on Monday for these discussions to continue. Mayor Stan Mills reiterated that the county was not invited to today’s meeting and will not invite them until it is necessary.
