Millsboro's acting Mayor Tim Hodges faces challenger Kimberley Kaan in election Saturday
Millsboro residents will go to the polls Saturday to vote for a District 1 council member.
Incumbent Tim Hodges, the acting mayor, faces challenger Kimberley Kaan. Following the election, in July, the council members will vote on a new mayor, according to Town Manager Jamie Burke.
Councilman Jim Thoroughgood's District 2 seat was also up for reelection but was uncontested.
Millsboro residents aged 18 and up can vote from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Millsboro Town Center at 322 Wilson Highway.
Both Hodges and Kaan were sent an identical questionnaire. Their answers are listed below unedited.
Tim Hodges
Age and occupation: 57, business owner.
What qualifies you for this position? After college, I had a short but successful career in the rapidly growing computer industry before moving to Millsboro. Since then, I have used my engineering education in the construction industry to provide homes and businesses in the area.
Council has accomplished much while I have had the honor to serve. With a council of seven members, I have been able to use my business management skills to help provide fiscally responsible leadership for the town. I have helped continue the leadership of past councils, where Millsboro created our Police Department and water and sewer systems in the 1960s.
We have been able to make Millsboro a better place to live, such as renovating Town Hall and updating facilities, without "breaking the bank." We have used impact fees, grants, low interest and principally forgiven loans to minimize rate increases to all town residents and businesses. Just last year the town was able to refinance debt and save over $2 million.
MILLSBORO: Aldi's 2nd Sussex store, Lewes Meineke maven's 2nd location on the way
Millsboro does not share meeting agendas nor recordings of meetings online. Will you continue these practices if elected? Why or why not?
Millsboro Town Council holds public meetings that are open to the residents unless they have to do with individual personnel issues or legal matters. The town posts meeting announcements on the website and on the town's electronic sign the week prior to the meeting, and at Town Hall. Also, minutes are posted on the town's website.
This process has obviously been successful for years, but I am open to listening to new ideas to get the information out in the future.
I have been asking people recently what they would like to see when it comes to communication with the town. Based on responses from numerous people, I asked Town Council during the June 6 meeting, to consider creating a presence on social media. Council agreed and is now beginning it's due diligence regarding Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Additionally, I asked Council to consider posting a sign on properties when annexation, zoning changes or other considerations requiring a public hearing are scheduled. The purpose of this request is to be sure that neighbors are aware that a change has been requested for a particular property.
Millsboro's website boasts that it is "1st for growth." How will you balance residential growth with needed public services, such as schools, emergency responders and transportation improvements?
My vision is to make Millsboro the Best Small Town in Delaware. As I've heard from numerous Millsboro residents — from those who have recently arrived to those who have been here for a lifetime — they love Millsboro for the small town that it is.
I believe with good planning by experienced council members and staff, we can add businesses, services and residences to Millsboro while keeping that small-town appeal. A balance can be achieved with good leadership.
We have good staff and leadership today. Our new town manager, Jamie Burke, is well suited for his new position. With his management skills, town operations and employees are in good hands.
Town council has a diverse set of skills and experience to provide good direction and decision-making. My vision for the future and my intricate knowledge of commercial and residential construction (and related infrastructure) from 30+ years of owning and operating my own businesses, make me the best choice for Millsboro town council today. Moreover, my leadership as acting mayor over the last six months has proven my ability to lead this council and the town through difficult circumstances.
MORE: Why all of Delaware high school softball is getting behind Sussex Central pitcher
Schools are the responsibility of each school district in the state of Delaware, not the town. However, we work closely with the Indian River School District and provide town services to them when needed.
The Millsboro Police Department has grown significantly over the years, as the town has grown. The department is nationally accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement). Chief Brian Calloway does an excellent job keeping our department operating at a high standard and providing services 24/7/365.
The town is in the process of building a new Police Department facility on a town-owned parcel located on Ellis Street. Since the department moved into the existing building in the 1990s, the number of officers has doubled.
Though the department has remodeled the space in recent years with lots of volunteered time in an effort to keep the costs down, the department cannot continue to function without additional space. We plan to put the project out for bid in the near future.
The Millsboro Fire Company provides EMS, fire and emergency response. MFC is a volunteer company and a separate entity from the town of Millsboro. They do a great job, and the town of Millsboro supports their efforts and provides town services as needed.
GEORGETOWN: 45 environmental violations issued to Georgetown salvage yard
Millsboro has responsibility for municipal streets in town, but DelDOT maintains other roads. The town uses Municipal Street Aid funding from the state for municipal street maintenance. Although funding has suffered some years and has not increased with inflation, Millsboro has used other funding, when necessary, to keep up our streets.
Millsboro has been working with DelDOT on plans to improve traffic through town for the last several years.
One of these projects which has been completed is the eastbound Route 24/113 lane expansion beside Wawa, which has provided dedicated left turn, straight through and right turn lanes. And recently, DelDOT has begun the planned downtown project, which will not only resurface the roadway but provide additional traffic flow improvements to the westbound lanes at Route 113, as well as improvements at State Street in the west, north and southbound directions.
This will capstone the town's downtown sidewalk/water line project completed not long ago. It will also dovetail nicely with the State Street drainage, sidewalk and resurfacing project between downtown and the Little League Park, which is just wrapping up.
Kimberley Kaan
Age and occupation: 58, Local Volunteer, Retired from a successful management career in the energy and public utilities sector, former managing partner of a property management company for large residential rental buildings.
What qualifies you for this position? Throughout my career, I have served on both industry and governmental boards, including water and sewer. I have presented to and served on planning boards and zoning boards.
Millsboro does not share meeting agendas nor recordings of meetings online. Will you continue these practices if elected?
Currently Millsboro is lacking transparency in many areas. The town should advertise agendas and special meetings, committee meetings and elections more vigorously.
The minutes are only published for regular Council meetings, so looking at the website you can’t even tell additional meetings happened. The annual budget, annual audit, resolutions and ordinances should be on the website. The website should also have a way to reach out to your elected officials.
When I asked for a copy of the annual audit, a staff member called the town solicitor for guidance, not readily recognizing that it is a public document. I have asked repeatedly that the town compile an email list for people who want to be informed about meetings, agendas and events, with no progress made.
I have asked repeatedly that meetings and elections be advertised in a more inclusive way. I was told at public meetings that election advertisement is not needed because the election is the same time every year, it’s the candidate’s job to tell people about the election, it’s covered in the paper, and “we’ve never advertised the election before, so doing now would send a message about the individual candidates”.
In 2021 there were two elections, the unadvertised Council elections had a voter turnout of 39, the advertised (marquee, digital sign, town produced Youtube video) bond referendum had a turnout of 220.
MORE: What's going there? Keep up with the latest on businesses coming and going in Delaware
Millsboro's website boasts that it is "1st for growth." How will you balance residential growth with needed public services, such as schools, emergency responders and transportation improvements?
I am very concerned that the developments are outpacing the infrastructure. The town’s code states that annexation happens when it is beneficial to BOTH the property owner and the town. Consideration must be given to the population that is already here on whether a development project, residential or commercial benefits the existing community.
I do not consider additional tax revenue collection a benefit by itself, because taxes are in exchange for services rendered. The new development should bring a benefit to the community by providing needed services or help reduce services expenses or doing away with unannexed enclaves that exist.
There is a comprehensive land use plan that Council adopted after multiple public hearings, and the zoning destinations that were given should be adhered to. All relevant stakeholders should help in the planning of the next comprehensive land use plan, including a citizen recommendation committee.
I saw a few months ago, a Sussex paramedic with lights and sirens frantically beep his horn on Route 113 for cars to get out of his way, and until the light changed, there was no where for anyone to go. Sometimes traffic isn’t just an inconvenience.
MORE: Funland at 60: Four generations carry on legacy of 'seaside Americana'
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Millsboro's acting mayor faces challenger in election Saturday
