August 4, 2022
Guns, Vote by Mail, and Dredging Among Topics Discussed at Coffee Meeting
Approximately two dozen people joined State Rep. Rich Collins for his latest monthly constituent coffee meeting yesterday morning.
 
Here is a recap of some of the highlights:

Vote by Mail Law
Senate Bill 320 (as amended) allows any registered voter to request a mail-in ballot from the Department of Elections. The ballots can either be requested through a written application or done online through the state's iVote system. Voters will be required to provide their state-issued driver’s license number, state-issued nondriver identification card number, or the last 4 digits of their Social Security number on the ballot application and on the ballot envelope. The dispute over the bill mainly revolves around its constitutionality. Opponents, including Rep. Collins, say the state constitution specifically bars mail-in voting, except for limited absentee voting. Proponents claim another provision of the state constitution gives the General Assembly broad authority to change voting laws by simple statute. Two lawsuits have been filed against the statute with court action expected later this month.
 
Sussex Water Quality
Water quality issues were discussed, including nitrate contamination of well and surface water from various sources. Nitrates can come from animal waste, excessive use of fertilizers, failing septic systems, and improper waste disposal. With a long agricultural history, parts of Sussex County are known to have higher than acceptable levels of nitrates.

Ban on Many Semi-Automatic Firearms
On June 30, Governor John Carney signed House Bill 450 (as amended), prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transport, and possession of more than 60 specific makes and models of semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns labeled by the bill's authors as "assault weapons." Additionally, language added to the bill through an amendment appears to ban a broad range of semi-automatic centerfire rifles capable of accepting detachable magazines and which also have other cosmetic or functional features.  (To read the complete law click here. Once on the page, scroll down to "Final/Engrossed" and view the pdf document. Text that is struck through was removed from the Code by the new law. Text that is underlined was added to the Code by the new law.)

Dredging
Rep. Collins criticized the state's dredging operations in the Inland Bays area as ineffectual. He said the condition of the Indian River provides an especially good example of the chronic shoaling throughout the region. Rep. Collins said the upper section of the river at low tide is one large mud flat and that state environmental officials lack the will to do what is needed to restore the waterway to navigability. "Until we reform a system that gives all the power to state agencies over elected officials, we're not going to solve this," he said.

State Rep. Rich Collins holds his monthly constituent coffee meetings on the first Wednesday of the month at the Indian River Senior Center in Millsboro starting at 8 a.m. Free coffee. All are welcome.
Blood Bank of Delaware Declares
"Blood Emergency," Donors Sought
Due to summer heat, vacations, and a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, officials with the Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD) say donations have dropped significantly over the past several weeks, leading the non-profit organization to declare a "blood emergency."

While a seven-day supply of blood is ideal, BBD officials say some portions of their inventory have fallen to levels sufficient to satisfy demand for only a day or two.

The BBD is incentivizing donations through the “Blood for a Brew” campaign, which runs through September 10th. Donors can give blood onsite at brewery blood drives, or select the drop-down option when completing their health history at any donation location, to receive a coupon or gift card to one of nine participating breweries.

The BBD provides blood and blood products to 19 hospitals on the Delmarva Peninsula. More than 79,000 blood donations are needed annually.

To make an appointment at a blood drive near you, donors can call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or click here. (In our area, there is a donation center in Dagsboro.) Those that cannot donate can still support the BBD’s mission by texting the letters “BBD” to 20222 to contribute $25.
Transportation Project UPDATE
- 41st Representative District -
BR 3-555 on SR54 Cypress Road over Bald Cypress Branch
Project Description: Bridge replacement, scour protection, and guardrail installation.
Project Phase: Design
Projected Construction Completion: TBD
Project Update: Design is underway. Work will be performed under a full road closure with detour.

Highway Safety Improvement Program SR 24 at Mount Joy Road and SR 24 at Bay Farm Road Intersection Improvements
Project Description: The project includes pavement widening to add/extend right and left turn lanes on all approaches at both the SR 24/Mount Joy Road and SR 24/Bay Farm Road intersections; multimodal improvements including bike lanes, bus stops, sidewalks, and crosswalks; access management improvements; and drainage improvements.
Project Phase: Construction
Projected Construction Completion: Spring 2023
Project Update: Construction began in March 2022 and is currently in Phase 2.

North Millsboro Bypass, US 113 to SR 24
Project Description: This project includes a 2 lane connector road between US 113 and SR 24 north of Millsboro. The new alignment will start at US 113 and extend eastward bridging over Fox Run Road, the Norfolk Southern Railroad, the Millsboro pond, and Gravel Hill Road. The new road will connect to SR 24 west of Mountaire Farms. The project will also consist of a grade-separated intersection at the US 113/SR 20 intersection.
Project Phase: Design/Right of Way
Projected Construction Completion: 2025
Project Update: Design and right-of-way acquisition are underway. The project has been split into two projects consisting of the grade separation and the connector road. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.
Delaware Coastal Cleanup
Registration Now Open
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is hosting the 35th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at 41 sites statewide.
 
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the one-day coordinated event at de.gov/coastalcleanup. The registration closes Wednesday, August 31.
 
Delawareans and visitors are also invited to join the month-long campaign starting September 1 to clean up neighborhoods, green spaces and waterways throughout the state in locally organized events.
 
Volunteers in both the coordinated event on September 17 and the month-long campaign can post photos on facebook.com/DelawareDNREC for a chance to win a 2023 Delaware State Parks pass and a prize bag.
 
Last year, nearly 600 volunteers removed about 5,500 pounds of trash from waterways, wetlands and other natural areas. The most common items collected were: cigarette butts; plastic and glass beverage bottles and cans; food containers; plastic bags; and balloons.
 
Volunteers also can email questions to DNREC_Coastal_Cleanup@delaware.gov.