Gruenebaum seeking change through better relationships

A month into her new role as Sussex County councilwoman, Jane Gruenebaum said she’s been busy meeting stakeholder groups, officials from local municipalities, state representatives and others.

There needs to be an exchange of information to create better working relationships, said Gruenebaum. This council truly intends to make real change, she said, addressing the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce’s membership luncheon Feb. 26 at the Lighthouse Cove Event Center in Dewey Beach.

Gruenebaum was elected in November and sworn into office in early January. She represents District 3, which covers Delaware Bay and Atlantic coast communities, including Broadkill Beach, Dewey Beach, Henlopen Acres, Lewes, Long Neck, Prime Hook Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Slaughter Beach.

Gruenebaum said one of the reasons she ran for office was because she’s concerned about how sprawl has become the dominant form of development and all the trickle-down effects that has on life in Sussex County. It’s been too lopsided, and that’s led to unintended and unwelcome consequences, she said.

Gruenebaum said she’s not anti-development. Instead, she said, she’s pro-development that planned infrastructure can support, she said.

Gruenebaum was asked how county council could help control sprawl. Recognizing limitations on what county council has control over, she said the code is too vague. Ordinances could be written better and with specific guidelines to provide clarity, which is what developers want too, she said.

Gruenebaum was speaking the day after Sussex County officials discussed how property tax rates in the county will be affected by reassessment. County staff have estimated a tax rate of 2.15 cents per $100 of assessed property value, down from 44.5 cents, which was set in 1973.

Gruenebaum said she thought the previous makeup of county council erred when it decided to go through the reassessment process with the goal of not increasing tax revenue. She said she didn’t think there should be a big increase, but there are real needs the county has to address because the cost of running the county is increasing.

There are needs that can’t be addressed by today’s budget, said Gruenebaum.

The chamber’s next membership luncheon will be at noon, Wednesday, March 12. Sussex County Land Trust Executive Director Sarah Bluhm is the featured speaker. The luncheon will be held in the second-floor event space of Nicola Pizza, 17323 Ocean One Plaza, Lewes.

The chamber’s annual awards luncheon and installation of the board of directors is scheduled to take place Thursday, March 20, at the Cambria Hotel, 17222 Hood Road, Rehoboth Beach.