Kayak launch for Rehoboth Beach canal dock not likely

Rehoboth Beach officials resumed budget discussions Feb. 6, and while no final decisions have been made, it appears there’s no appetite for a kayak launch at the canal dock next to Grove Park.

A decade in the making, the $1.2 million dock opened to the public in May 2021. From the beginning, the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Improvement Association, the recently dissolved group that spearheaded the project, included a kayak launch as part of the plans. However, higher-than-expected construction costs saw the kayak launch removed.

At the first budget meeting a few weeks ago, Mayor Stan Mills asked if the commissioners would like to have a kayak launch installed or simply move forward with routine maintenance at a cost of a few thousand dollars a year. The question was left open, but it didn’t take long for the door to close at the most recent meeting.

Commissioner Toni Sharp said she received a phone call after the first budget meeting and was told it would be ill advised to vote in favor of spending more money on the dock.

Commissioner Patrick Gossett said he had received similar phone calls.

Sharp also questioned how City Solicitor Glenn Mandalas would let the city enter into a memorandum of understanding that included language about finalizing an agreement, but then not follow through on finalizing the agreement before the LRCIA dissolved. He owes the city some money, said Sharp.

Mandalas was not at the budget hearing, but Mills defended Mandalas, saying city council at the time pushed the project through.

At the end of the discussion, Mills asked again if anyone had an appetite for a kayak launch at the canal dock. No one spoke up.

The Feb. 6 meeting was the second budget meeting for the next fiscal year beginning April 1. As proposed, the city would have a budget of approximately $35.4 million – $21.9 million for the general fund; $3.7 million for the water fund revenue; $9.6 million for the wastewater fund revenue; $200,000 between municipal street aid and police grants. It’s a 17.5% increase on the current year’s budget. As proposed, there’s about $10.5 million in capital improvements, employees would see a 3% raise and there are no increases in parking prices.

Assistant City Manager Evan Miller said a new department – fleet services – has been created for the upcoming budget. He said the mechanics had been under the streets department, but they were working on vehicles throughout the city’s fleet and the change would allow for better accounting of time spent. As proposed, the department would have three mechanics and a budget of about $250,000.

As projected, the water fund would see about a $1.2 million surplus, which balances out the excess expenditures in the general and wastewater funds. The water fund is a good source of revenue, said Finance Director Burt Dukes.

The Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company and the Rehoboth Beach Public Library were on hand making their annual pitch for donations – $150,000 and $75,000, respectively.

Fire Department Vice President Warren Jones said he would like to see the department and the city come up with a permanent funding mechanism. Commissioners weren’t against the idea, but they said they want to make sure other government entities are paying their fair share of costs.

The city is slated to resume budget discussions in city hall, 229 Rehoboth Ave., at 9 a.m., Friday, Feb. 17.