By Leann Schenke

DOVER — Kent County Levy Court commissioners will hold a public hearing ahead of taking a vote to amend the fiscal year 2021 budget to fund construction of a new emergency medical services facility and a real property reassessment project.

The hearing will be held during Levy Court’s business meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 25.

County Administrator Michael Petit de Mange presented information about the amendments during a Tuesday meeting.

He said the first budget adjustment comes as the county is in the middle of a construction project to renovate a building that will serve as a paramedic substation.

He said the project began with a budget of $750,000 to acquire property and renovate an existing building. As the project expanded, costs have increased and Mr. Petit de Mange is requesting an additional $960,000 from the fund balance.

“Along the way that project has expanded a little bit with the acquisition of two additional properties from when we started,” Mr. Petit de Mange said.

He said requests for proposals also came in higher than expected.

Mr. Petit de Mange also asked the commissioners to amend the budget to incorporate $5 million from the capital projects budget reserve to fund a contract for real property reassessment services.

He said this is ahead of a project to reassess properties in the county.

Also during the meeting, the commissioners moved a request from the town of Little Creek to the consent agenda in their next meeting.

Sarah Keifer, director of the Department of Planning Services, said the town is requesting that the county take on its property maintenance code enforcement.

Ms. Keifer said this request is identical to one Levy Court granted for the town of Viola.

“I don’t believe the burden would be too great on our staff,” Ms. Keifer said.

The commissioners also approved moving a request to allocate $450 from a community event proportional grant for a street fair in the town of Viola to the consent agenda in next week’s meeting.

The street fair has been held for about five years (excluding last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic).