Sussex needs to support fire/EMS

Sussex County Planning & Zoning Commission recently approved a conditional-use application for 116 mixed residential units near Long Neck. Say what you will about the site plan and location, but one thing that should be applauded is the developer’s commitment to donate $500 per building permit to Indian River Volunteer Fire Company. While those one-time payments totaling $58,000 may be a drop in the bucket for an organization that often needs hundreds of thousands of dollars, the developer further solidified its commitment to public safety by requiring each future homeowner to donate $10 per month to the fire company. At full buildout, that will be an annual contribution of about $14,000. 

Unfortunately, such efforts are not made more often, leaving fire departments and their EMS services struggling to find funding to keep up with growing demand. That issue may be coming to a head this year, as Lewes Fire Department has sent a letter to Sussex County Council saying it will be forced to eliminate its EMS services if it does not receive more financial aid. Other area departments are said to be considering similar action. 

This funding request shouldn’t catch anyone off guard. For years, fire department officials have been outspoken about their inability to keep up with the rapid growth occurring in Sussex County. As calls for service continue to hit record highs, more funding is needed to add and maintain fire trucks and ambulances.

Much like Cape Henlopen School District’s request to Sussex County Council last year to implement an impact fee on new development similar to what occurs in Kent and New Castle counties, we believe county officials should consider requiring developers to earmark funds per home to donate to the fire department serving that area. They should go a step further and, as the Long Neck community developer did, require the homeowners association to collect a monthly donation to support the fire department.

For everyone else, we suggest giving serious consideration to donating when the departments’ annual fundraising mailers hit their mailboxes.