By Glenn Rolfe

LEWES — A final solution to a manufactured-home community’s chronic septic and water issues is in place.

At least that’s what its residents hope.

At a meeting April 14, Lewes officials voted to annex the Donovan Smith Manufactured Home Community, a step toward connecting the neighborhood to the city’s public works system after citations for unsafe drinking water there.

“These people need fresh water, and they need to be able to have confidence (that,) when they flush their toilet, it is really going to be flushed,” said Mayor Ted Becker.

The annexation is following efforts by state agencies to connect Donovan Smith to municipal water and sewer, the pilot project of the Delaware Clean Water Initiative for Underserved Communities established by Gov. John Carney.

In December 2021, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the secretaries of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Department of Health and Social Services, authorizing a $2.74 million loan to the Lewes Board of Public Works to link Donovan Smith to the city’s central sewer system and a $2.87 million loan to the board to connect it to the municipal water system.

“It’s a huge step in the right direction,” said Sussex County Councilman Mark Schaeffer, who represents the area. “But I’m confident that the city will be able to run sewer and water in there and help these poor people that have suffered for over a decade.”

The project comes after DNREC’s citation of the park’s owner twice in 2021 for unsanitary conditions from its failing septic system, which posed a threat to residents’ public health.

The initiative will be funded by loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. DWSRF provides support to drinking-water systems through the Disadvantaged Community Subsidy program, which ensures that loans can be forgiven for projects benefiting the most vulnerable communities.

According to Mayor Becker, connecting the park to city water and sewer could occur without annexation. However, Kenneth Burnham, Donovan Smith’s listed owner of record, requested it, the mayor said.

“They could have (gone without annexation),” Mayor Becker noted. “However, there is a cost differential in providing the service — a 50% increase in the cost of providing water and sewer to those properties that this BPW serves that are outside the city limits. That was the crux of the issue. Mr. Burnham said that, based upon the expenses that he was going to incur and his obligations, … he could not carry that additional added cost. He said he would not sign the agreement for the loan or the monies … if he was not annexed.”

Additionally, Mayor Becker said there was a condition placed on the approval of the nearly $6 million in funding that the property be annexed.

There are other benefits to Donovan Smith inhabitants. Under the transaction’s terms, for a period of 20 years, the owner — not the residents — will bear all water and sewer utility costs, plus residents will be insulated from rent increases based on those charges and the cost arising from installation of the water and sewer.

Mr. Burnham is in the process of making the agreement official.

“That (annexation) was the last thing that we were waiting on, so that we could sign everything,” he said Tuesday. “I started signing papers today. There’s about 40 pages’ worth this morning.”

The annexation — encompassing approximately 21.6 acres on Donovans Road — changes the parcel’s zoning from agricultural residential to residential low density.
Plus, infrastructure work will require new roads in the park.

“To put the sewer and water lines in, obviously, they are going to have to excavate the road area. That would necessitate new roads being put in, which would be a big help, also,” said Councilman Schaeffer.

Mayor Becker said plans are for the main sewer line to be extended along Donovans Road, beyond the entrance to the park, to Savannah Road and, subsequently, across Savannah Road to several other properties.

According to the city, the estimate for competition of the project is 12-18 months.

“It pretty much will be in the hands of the Board of Public Works,” Mr. Burnham said. “They are the ones that are getting the money and going to install the infrastructure.”