DNREC should reconsider Deauville Beach contract

For the past four decades, at $1 per year, Rehoboth Beach has leased the lands associated with Deauville Beach from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. In return, the city has performed upkeep and repairs for facilities, and provided services for the public at that section of beach.

During a commissioner meeting in December, Interim City Manager Evan Miller said the contract with the state had expired, and the city was in negotiations to renew it. Miller brought the issue forward because he didn’t feel comfortable going any further without commissioner input.

The reason? DNREC has asked for 10% of parking revenue collected at Deauville Beach. Miller estimated that would be about $10,000 to $12,000 annually. Also, he said, this was negotiated down from DNREC’s original proposal of 15% of all revenue collected at that beach, which would’ve also included tennis court rental and food vending.

A month later, during a Jan. 8 commissioner workshop, Miller estimated the city spends $150,000 per year on expenses related to Deauville Beach. Overall, Miller estimated the city actually loses $25,000 annually covering those costs.

In response, Mayor Stan Mills said DNREC was being greedy and, as a collective, commissioners have tasked Miller with going back to the state agency to start negotiations over again.

To date, DNREC officials have not provided additional information to the Cape Gazette when asked, saying only that the agency and the city continue to negotiate an agreement. To date, the agency is mum on the reason for the increase.

A little over a year ago, DNREC tried to force a restaurant into Cape Henlopen State Park. That tone-deaf proposal failed, and so should this unnecessary money grab. Simply put, Rehoboth Beach has been the kind of steward of public lands the state should want to work with, and it would be nearly impossible for DNREC to replicate on its own the services the city has provided.