Milton residents oppose new fences

By Henry J. Evans Jr | May 30, 2014

Milton Good fences make good neighbors is not holding true in Milton.Town officials and some residents do not see eye-to-eye about fences sought to protect the towns water utility facilities.

Milton Mayor and Town Council in April unanimously approved a $37,000 contract with Abel Fence LLC of Wilmington, to install fencing around the Chandler Street elevated water tank, the Public Works Department maintenance yard on Front Street and the elevated water tank adjacent to Shipbuilders Village.

Most of the money would come from a grant, but town residents say the council's choice of chain-link fencing will reduce property values. They called on council to seek public input before making decisions.

A 2013 grant of $30,000 would pay for most of the fencing, but Kristy Rodgers, Miltons acting town manager, said the town must use it by June 30 or the funds will be lost. Rodgers had earlier stated the grant, which the town applied for in 2012, came from the Department of Homeland Security.

At mayor and councils May 22 meeting, Rodgers clarified the money is from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

Mayor Marion Jones has called the fencing a legacy of her administration, and she suggested council upgrade from standard chain-link fencing to decorative aluminum fencing for the Chandler and Front street portions of the project.

The panel approved the $6,900 upgrade but only for a portion fronting the Chandler Street site, and amended the town budget May 7 to cover the additional expense. Black chain link fencing will be used around the Chandler Street water tower.

Milton property owners Jeff Daily, Ed Harris, Barbara Wagoner and Ginny Weeks were the only residents to attend the May 21 meeting.

Harris, who owns a house immediately adjacent to the Chandler Street water tower and a house across the street, told the panel neither DEMA nor the Department of Homeland Security requires municipalities to put fences around water facilities because there have been no cases of water poisoning in the country.

Originally posted here:
Milton residents oppose new fences