Blunt Rochester working for Milton funding
Predictions indicate Milton's population will double within 15 years. Officials are planning for the future, starting with a new multiuse public works building on town-owned property on Sam Lucas Road to include the public works department, storage, offices and a room for public meetings including virtual capabilities.
Town Manager Kristy Rogers said estimates are that Milton's population will increase from the current 3,200 to 7,000 by 2038. Most of the growth can be tied to several large housing projects, with more than 4,000 housing units being proposed.
Officials are hoping that part of the money for the estimated $6.4 million facility will come from federal Community Project Funding. U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., toured the existing building and the new building site Aug. 21. She also met with town officials last September to listen to their concerns and plans for the future. “The two criteria are community need and community support,” Blunt Rochester said, adding that Milton easily met the criteria.
“We've not had a building of this nature in our history. This is huge for Milton,” Rogers said.
“The town’s funding request is to construct a public works facility that will also serve as a meeting place for all council, commission and committee meetings. We are at the mercy of the Sussex County library, and community churches and centers to hold town meetings,” Rogers said. “The town government needs a space that encourages civic participation, where all can attend in person or have the means to virtually connect to participate in meetings. In addition, the new public works facility is designed for the future needs of staff, equipment and materials as the town grows. Lastly, the town’s new facility will be located outside the floodplain, which greatly impacts the current facility property and response of the staff with equipment. Once a new facility is constructed, the current location of 210 Front St. will go through planning to enhance the town’s sustainability, ecotourism and recreation.”
During the tour, Blunt Rochester said Milton's request for funding is one of the 15 projects that have been selected by her office. She said the first goal has been reached, and the project must now pass muster to get on the House budget, then move on to the Senate and then to the president's desk for signature.
“Sen. Coons has also placed this project as one of his requests,” Blunt Rochester said, adding that Coons serves on the appropriations committee.
She said Milton stands a good chance of getting at least $500,000 from U.S. House funds and possibly much more from the U.S. Senate.
“This started with your advocacy and explaining your real needs. The meeting we had was worth it, because it stuck with me,” Blunt Rochester said.
Rogers said one of the top priorities is to relocate the public works department out of a building on Front Street that is in a flood plain. “I've been here with water up to my knees, and that was not a major nor'easter,” said Milton Mayor John Collier.
The mayor said a lot of ideas have been talked about for the future of the current public works building, but no plans have been made.
“This building has stormwater issues, and we've outgrown the facility,” Rogers said, adding the property needs upgrading because it serves as one of the gateways to Milton.
The town's wastewater treatment facility, now owned and operated by Artesian, will eventually be relocated away from its current site on Front Street across from the public works building to the Sussex Regional Recharge Facility on Route 30 west of Milton.
“At some point, we have to do things,” the mayor said regarding future growth.
He said Milton does not have the kind of revenue other coastal area towns have. “Our employees do a lot of work with limited resources,” he said.
