6 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, February 23 - February 29, 1996
VIEWPOINTS
Editorial
Presidential primary a chance to practice
For the past several weeks, newspaper readers, television watchers,
radio listeners, and internet chatters all over the country have
immersed themselves in the parade of candidates seeking to be the
next president of the United States. Eventhough Steve Forbes is the
only Republican candidate who will be making a swing through
Delaware to pick up some votes before the state's Saturday primary,
all of the candidates will be listed on the ballots in the customary
polling places where we cast our votes in the state and national elec-
tions. If you are a Republican, you have a chance to register your
position on the broad spectrum of political leanings represented by
the likes of Forbes, Buchanan, Dole, Alexander and Keyes. If you are
a Democrat, the spectrum is even broader. You can choose between
Clinton or LaRouche.
Given Delaware's size and therefore relative insignificance in the
broad sweep of presidential politics, our first ever presidential prima-
ry, falling as it does after New Hampshire's, really doesn't mean
much. But it does offer us as citizens of a state a chance to send a sig-
nal as to how we are leaning politically.
If nothing else, getting out to the polls on Saturday provides us a
chance to dust off our voting skills and practice for the main event
next November.
Voting is our most basic right in this democracy and we should
exercise that right whenever the opportunity allows.
Letters
Land use concern vibrations growing
The land use vibrations waving throughout the state are a good sign.
Gov. Carper continues to make concern about development of our
state a primary focus of his administration. Now legislation is being
considered which would allow the state to involve itself in zoning
decisions when congested intersections would be affected by pro-
posed rezonings or development.
It's great to see this concern expressed but we hate to see bureaucra-
cy slowing down the process of Sussex County moving for#ard with
'a new land use plan while state efforts are under way.
Zoning, regulations, and other governmental restrictions are definite-
ly a tool for dealing with land use concerns. We remain convinced
however that Delaware's future health also lies with an aggressive
program for acquiring land and development rights through outright
purchases as a more permanent solution.
Without a doubt, land use concerns will continue to be a top burner
issue for years to come.
An ice-covered remnant of a dock or pier stands a lone sentry
on the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park
First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Now Moon
February 26 March 5 March 12 March 19
\\;
Well, let's see. If you were a 40-year-old woman, your car
insurance would runabout $400. As it is, that will be $1,572.50.
Present sewer action
is long overdue
I have read, with interest, articles in
local newspapers with regard to the sew-
er rates assessed by Sussex County for
the West Rehoboth Extension of the
Dewey Beach sewer system.
I applaud John Nevros for taking the
time and expending the efforts to
address, once again, the assessments to
residents served by the West Rehoboth
Sewer District. I also read an article
where Sussex County Council, through
the County Administrator Robert Stick-
els, went through the chronology of th
previous legat action against county
council as well as the legal explanation
of the settlement of the action between
the parties in March, 1990.
Over five years have passed since the
parties resolved their differences. In the
meantime, the ship sailed and in late
December, 1995, reached its destination.
A sewage plant has been built, miles and
miles of pipe have been installed to
transport the sewage to the plant and the
system is operational.
I agree with Mr. Nevros that the sys-
tem, as installed, is expensive. But the
fact remains that the'system is installed
and operational. The money required to
construct the system has been spent and
the loans used to build the system must
be paid. The time to stop the project has
passed.
At several points during the planning
and construction phases of the sewer sys:
tern, Sussex County has made assess-
ment projections part of the public
record. I believe both the county and the
citizens concerned with the sewer pro-
ject over the years have made sugges-
tions that resulted in changes in thepro -
ject and reduced the costs. The county
then lowered the assessment projections
to reflect the changes implemented.
There are as many arguments about what
was or was not done to reduce the cost of
the system as there are citizens served by
the system. The fact remains that the bill
we all received in the mail in early Janu-
ary was not kept under wraps; the county
projected the plan at each step of the
way.
What remains now, it seems to me, is
just how does the pie get sliced to repay
the loans? The state and federal govern-
ment have turned their back to our pleas
for grant funding (common in the 1980s
when other Sussex County systems Were
installed). The county has made the
assessments to the West Rehoboth pro-
ject in exactly the same manner as was
done in the Long Neck project. The fail-
ure of the state and federal governments
to fund the West Rehoboth system to the
level Long Neck was funded is reflected
in the bills received in January.
The old adage about "there is no such
thing as a free lunch" seems to have
come home to roost. Although I share
Mr. Nevros's concern about the sewer
costs to every customer on the system, I
question the timing of this class action.
Is it not years overdue? Is there informa-
tion available from the sewer group's
legal counsel to better evaluate the
prospects of successfully bringing
another action against the county? If so,
what is the proposed remedy, keeping in
mind the money has already been spent?
What will be the costs to Sussex County
Council to defend this suit and how will
those costs be passed back to the taxpay-
ers in Sussex County?
I understand Mr. Nevros hopes to raise
between $50,000 and $100,000 to fund
legal fees in the proposed class-action
against the county and it seems reason-
able that the same amount would be
expended by the county to defend a class
action. Is the only alternative to pour
upwards of $200,000 into the Sussex
County legal system? Could some other
alternative not be found?
Perhaps joining forces and trying to
locate funds at the state and federal level
Continued on page 8
Volume 3
No. 40
Publisher
Dennis Fomey
Editor
Trish Vernon
News Editor
Michael Short
Reporters
Kerry Kester
Denise Marshall
Kristen Seal
Photographer
Angie Moon
Sports Editor
Dave Frederick
Advertising Director
Carol Mawyer Fehrenbach
Advertising
Cindy Roberts
Nancy Tylecki
Classified
Sandy Barr
Office Manager
Kathy Emery
Production Staff
Susan Porter
Deidre Sudimak
Chris Wildt
Production Consultant
Catherine Tanzer Radar
Contributors:
Tim Bamforth
Susan Frederick
Nancy Katz
Geoff Vemon
The Cape Gazette
(USPS 010294) is pub-
lished by Cape Gazette
Umited every Friday at
the Shoppes of
Camelot, 4375 High-
way 1, Rehoboth
Beach, Delaware
19971. Second class
postage paid at
Rehoboth Beach,
Delaware. Address all
correspondence to:
Cape Gazette, P.O.
Box 213, Lewes,
Delaware 19958. Tele-
phone: 302-226-2273.
FAX - 226-2277.
Subscriptions are avail-
'able at $25 per year in
Sussex County; $40
elsewhere.
POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to
The Cape Gazette,
P.O. Box 213, Lewes,
Delaware 19958.
Politics is not a bad
profession. If you suc-
ceed there are many
rewards, if you dis-
grace yourself you can
always wntea book."
- Ronald Reagan
