By Glenn Rolfe

DAGSBORO — Motorists with lead feet be warned: Dagsboro police are narrowing in on speeders.

The little Sussex County town surrounding the junctions of U.S. 113, Del. 20 and Del. 26 — crossroads for beachbound traffic and commuters alike — is experiencing an ongoing trend in speeding cases and complaints.

The posted speed limit for Main Street, Clayton Street and Vines Creek Road — the thoroughfares through Dagsboro — is 25 mph.

“We’re doing our best to address the speeding complaints. But we can’t be everywhere,” said Dagsboro Police Chief Steven Flood during mayor/Town Council’s virtual meeting Monday. “If you look, consistently, we’re running 200 and 300 tickets a month. That’s a lot.”

As an example, Chief Flood noted that Sgt. Nick Disciullo, on duty last weekend, wrote about 20 tickets during his shift.

“We’re doing the best we can to address what we have going on,” said Chief Flood.

Dagsboro Town Councilman William Chandler III said he witnesses speeders from his Main Street residence.

“I understand the problem because I am frequently up very early. And if any of the officers were on Main Street or Clayton Street like at 5:30 in the morning, I would say the average speed has to be between 50 and 60 mph,” Councilman Chandler said.

Chief Flood agreed.

“I think the high speed on Clayton this weekend was 54 mph. It’s a mess,” he said.

Also Monday, mayor and council voted 3-0 to approve a request from Masonic Lodge No. 37 to construct a meeting hall on the lodge’s Church Street-Main Street property, behind an existing structure.

The town’s Planning Commission recommended approval for the facility following a presentation by the lodge at a July 1 meeting. The lodge seeks to place the new meeting room behind the existing building and to leave the current structure there until members can remove it when financially possible, said the commission’s vice chair, Cathy Flowers.

“The only concern in this regard is the parking, once the existing building is removed, will be in the front of this parcel, and this does not comply with the code, as it states that the parking is to be to the rear of the building,” said Ms. Flowers. “After discussion and the fact that the town will be able to use the new parking area for (Clayton Theatre) parking or for general municipal parking, it was a unanimous (Planning Commission) vote to recommend that the building be placed toward the rear of the property, the existing building demolished once financially feasible, and parking placed towards the front of the building with a landscape buffer along Main Street.”

Councilwoman Theresa Ulrich said the additional town parking would be beneficial.
“I have no problem with it,” she said. “I think we need it, … if they are going to let the town use it.”

Mayor Brian Baull and Councilman Chandler also supported the request as presented.