Kent County

The meeting commenced with procedural items including the adoption of the agenda. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to presentations, specifically recognizing Ryan Quinn from the Department of Public Safety as the March 2026 Employee of the Month for his dedication, leadership in developing the bike team operations manual, and advancements in virtual reality training for EMS. Following this, seven new employees, including paramedics and trainees, were introduced. The first public hearing concerned conditional use application CS2602 for the expansion of a church property to include sports fields and a campground, which the Regional Planning Commission unanimously recommended for conditional approval. The Levy Court subsequently granted conditional approval for this application.

The meeting commenced with the introduction of staff and the pledge of allegiance. An application (A2602) was withdrawn from the agenda. The public hearing portion outlined procedures for testimony regarding zone variance applications, specifically focusing on the four factors from Board of Adjustment versus Quick Check Realy. The main agenda item discussed was Application A2601, submitted by Douglas A and Cindy Jacobs, seeking a variance from the required 25 ft front setback to 10 ft to allow for the construction of a dwelling, citing exceptional practical difficulty due to the Denre easement line and non-buildable line impacting the usable footprint. This application was approved by the board. Business followed, including the election of officers where the current Chair and Vice Chair were reappointed, approval of the minutes from the December 18th, 2025 meeting, and approval of the notice of decisions for applications A25-33, A25-34, and A25-25. The meeting adjourned afterward.

The business meeting included procedural announcements regarding transcription and public comment procedures. Key discussions involved two public hearings concerning the extension of Kent County Sewage District Number One. The first hearing addressed the extension for the Twin Maples mobile home park in the Kenton area, requiring new sewer infrastructure and potential funding through the Delaware Environmental Finance. The second hearing concerned the extension for the Barrett Chapel Road subdivision in the Double Run area, where the developer is responsible for design, permitting, and construction. Following the public hearings, the Court addressed new business, including the award of a contract for Phase Three of the Bio-Solids Capacity Expansion Project to M2 Construction for $24,496,700. This phase involves installing equipment into a new dryer building. The funding strategy for this phase requires utilizing existing capital improvement fees and obtaining an obligation bond for the remaining amount. Additionally, the Court approved a contract amendment to pay a $62,864.17 tariff imposed on dryers manufactured in Germany by Andritz Separation Technologies Incorporated.

The meeting commenced with procedural announcements regarding in-person and online participation, followed by an invocation and a moment of silence for fallen first responders. The court approved the consent agenda. A significant portion of the meeting involved presentations recognizing employee achievements, including the February 2026 Employee of the Month, Justin Hurley from Public Works, and acknowledging new hires and perfect attendance award recipients for 2025. The key public hearing addressed Ordinance LC25-29, a petition to amend the comprehensive plan map and zoning from AR/IG to BG (General Business) for a 1.1-acre parcel located on Maidstone Branch Road, proposed to facilitate parking expansion and accommodate large vehicle turning radius requirements for the existing business.

The meeting commenced with the formal call to order and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the confirmation of a quorum. The agenda for the evening and the minutes from the January 15, 2026, meeting were approved. Key discussions centered on old business, specifically the request from the Delaware Army National Guard (SLV25-40) for a wetlands waiver (187.77 acres) to facilitate the construction of a Readiness Center; this item was lifted off the table and subsequently approved. New business involved the approval of a waiver (SLV25-42) for Elbert Taylor concerning flood plane and wetlands areas for a minor subdivision plan. Additionally, conditional approval was recommended for an application (CS26-02) from Beverly Community Church for a site plan to construct a sanctuary, family center, and education building. Finally, site plan approval was granted to Shaw Shranker Incorporated (S26-01) for a micro brewery and retail space, contingent on adding a bicycle rack. The meeting concluded after Commissioners offered no further comments or business.