Sussex County Council voted Feb. 4 to annex Love Creek Mobile Home Park and adjoining parcels into the county's Unified Sewer District after a public hearing where engineers, park managers and residents discussed costs, timelines and environmental benefits.

The council's action follows a presentation from Hans Medlar of the Sussex County Engineering Department outlining a plan to install low-pressure sewer collection and grinder pumps for aging on-site systems. Medlar said the project could eliminate an estimated 7,200 pounds of total nitrogen per year from the Indian River and Indian River Bay and that the county expects to seek a State Revolving Fund offer this year to fund design and construction.

The county will provide each property owner with a sewer lateral to the property line; property owners will be responsible for plumbing from that lateral to their homes, Medlar said. He told the council there would be no system connection charge and only a $130 permit fee at time of connection. Medlar also said some homeowners now pay the park owner for sewer service and that the county's current Unified Sewer District service charge is billed at $85 per quarter (about $340 annually).

Sean Rhodes, property manager for Love Creek Mobile Home Park, told the council a rental-rate adjustment is expected when residents are hooked up; his attorney is reviewing how that adjustment will be applied. Resident Raul Rosario asked about grinder pump noise and construction downtime; Medlar said grinders make a slight humming noise but are not typically audible inside nearby homes and that connection work would require about one day of downtime per home when a connection is made.

Medlar said an income survey submitted on behalf of Love Creek by a consultant working with EPA Region 3 estimates the park's median household income at about $45,000. If the state accepts that survey, he said, the assessment charge would be limited by state guidance to 1.5% of median household income and that projected combined costs (service charge plus assessment) could be roughly $360 per year at the low end. He cautioned the council the state may not accept the survey, in which case assessment calculations would differ.

During public comment and council discussion, members weighed the environmental benefits against long-term monthly bills for residents. Medlar said the county's plan uses a lower-cost approach (grinder pumps placed in existing tanks and small pressure mains) and benefits from Artesian Resources' collection system across Route 24, which reduces construction and treatment costs.

Councilman Matt Lloyd moved to include the requested parcels; Councilman McCarran seconded. The council voted in favor (recorded affirmatives by McCarran, Lloyd and the presiding councilor), and the motion carried. The engineering department will next seek a funding offer and bring a funding package, design professional selection, and project implementation steps back to council for approval.

The annexation vote includes the large Love Creek Mobile Home Park parcel, a smaller adjacent mobile home park (Lazy Pine Retreat LLC) and additional nearby parcels the engineering department recommended including after public notice and mailing. Medlar said owners who do not connect when a funded project is built could face higher repair costs later because DNREC may not issue repair permits for on-site systems when public sewer is available within 200 feet.

Council action now allows staff to pursue SRF funding and move toward engineering, permitting and construction steps; Medlar said, if everything proceeds on an aggressive schedule, construction could finish in 2027.