Dewey Beach delays town-hall opening as elevators and safety work continue

Staff member opened the meeting with an update on the new town hall, saying interior work is largely done but elevator installation is behind schedule. "The elevators are just being held up. They're probably another 2.5 weeks, maybe even 3 weeks behind in the 1st elevator," the staff member said, describing a remaining fire-vent installation that prevents the third floor from being used for workspace or living space.

Officials walked the audience through the building's funding. Staff reported $3,000,000 from a state community-reinvestment allocation, a $1,000,000 state bond bill grant, and $1,500,000 from Sussex County toward a paramedic station. Mayor Bill Stevens said the commission also took a $3,000,000 loan in mid-May. "We took the $3,000,000 loan on May 15th of this year," Stevens said, and described interest-only payments running until July of next year with a plan to reduce principal as hotel-tax revenue and donations come in.

Commissioners and staff summarized other costs that will affect the budget, including IT and security equipment and estimated furniture and dispatch-area outfitting. Staff said the interior donation wall and engraved-brick fundraising were contributing to costs: about $415,000 for the donation wall and roughly $140,000 from brick donations. Officials reiterated that some loan proceeds might not be used and that they expect to continue monitoring pledges and hotel-tax revenues before committing additional spending.