Heuisler: Rehoboth resident has Deauville Beach concerns

In regular political discourse, the “common good” refers to those facilities — material, cultural or institutional — that should exist in a kind of relational obligation between all members of any community.

I am writing as a longtime second homeowner, voter and taxpayer in northernmost Rehoboth Beach (aka The Pines) to express concerns over the timing and administration of an announced state takeover of what we long had been led to assume was our neighborhood’s beach, called Deauville Beach, and which we now learn was rented state property.

This raises broad, unanswered legal, enforcement, public safety, health, environmental, jurisdictional, emergency and many other concerns. They range from the complicated to the routine, and two issues follow. Concerns over public finance, maintenance and environmental questions involve the passage underneath Deauville Beach of an expensive new ocean outfall wastewater pipe system.

And Rehoboth citizens now need all — specific by name, title, responsibility and contact number — state officials to contact concerning any interface with a now state-run and -maintained beach. It is frustrating that such information could not have been interchanged in months during which the community is more present because of seasonal or second-home occupancy.

One part of our local, countywide, statewide and now federal security-related life here up to now has been sharing in the effort to maintain public facilities, such as Deauville Beach, for the sake of one and all. Of course, accepting such responsibilities served our own enjoyment, traditions, economic interests and environmental responsibilities. But the resultant atmosphere and environment in places such as Deauville demonstrate a very responsible community effort for the shared common interests. And so, we would appreciate consistent communication and courtesy.

Stan Heuisler

Rehoboth Beach

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.