Milford City Council November 10 Meeting

Milford City Council reviewed public safety, holiday events, infrastructure projects, and budget items during its Nov. 10 meeting. (Photo courtesy of Milford City Council.)

Milford City Council received updates from multiple departments during its November 10th meeting, covering public safety, upcoming holiday events, major infrastructure work, and several budget approvals. Below are the key highlights.

Police Report

The Milford Police Department responded to 1,309 calls for service throughout the month of October.

During October’s DEA Drug Takeback event, the department collected 183 pounds of unwanted narcotics, which were safely disposed of.

Police leadership also noted a significant statewide change: Delaware State Police will no longer offer reconstructive accident services, meaning each local agency must now handle its own accident reconstruction responsibilities.

The department also secured grant funding to acquire additional digital message board signs, which are now available for use in community alerts and traffic operations.

City Clerk Report

On October 10, the City Clerk’s office organized and hosted a visit from Governor John Carney and Secretary of Education Cindy Marten.

Preparations are underway for two major community events:

Annual Tree Lighting: November 29
Holiday Stroll: December 6

City Manager Report

City Manager Mark Whitfield updated council on continued emergency preparedness efforts, including planning and training for staff.

The Deputy Fire Chief will visit city teams to discuss fire drills and evacuation procedures.

The Electric Department Director also hosted a successful breakfast event in recognition of Public Power Week.

Public Works Report

The Engineering team completed a series of inspections and 320 Miss Utility markings in October.

The Fleet division completed 53 work orders and serviced 21 police vehicles.

The Sewer team carried out its semiannual wastewater sewer station cleaning.

Electric Department Report

The Electric Department announced that Milford has been awarded the APPA Smart Energy Provider designation, recognizing excellence in energy efficiency, customer service, and system reliability.

The department also completed a planned outage ahead of schedule and without any issues.

While EV charger usage statistics were lower due to equipment repairs, the chargers are now back online, and further work with ChargePoint is ongoing.

Planning Department Report

The Planning Department reported issuing 131 new home permits through October.

Staff submitted applications for:

Technical assistance for zoning and land use reform
Milford’s five-year Downtown Development District renewal

The department also provided updates on land use applications, code enforcement, permitting, and inspections.

Parks and Recreation Report

The department highlighted the success of the Kent County Dover girls’ soccer league and shared updates on the upcoming winter sports season.

Staff also reported progress on the Robert Boulevard project, including crop harvesting and the need for soil borings related to stormwater management.

Human Resources Report

HR staff reported on ongoing job openings and the department’s HR Payroll system conversion.

The city’s annual holiday party will be held at the Carlisle Fire Company on December 19.

Economic Development & Community Engagement Report

Staff attended the Delaware Prosperity Partnership quarterly meeting and met with the University of Delaware Coastal Resilience Design Studio.

The department is continuing to promote energy savings tips and prepare for the upcoming Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting events.

Cyber Security Training & Financial Savings

The city reported strong results from its cybersecurity training program, noting a decline in click-through rates on malicious links from 5% to 1%.

Milford is on track to save $70,000 this year, with an additional $80,000 in savings expected once all modules are fully transitioned to the Tyler system. Staff reminded council and residents to exercise caution with QR codes.

Finance Department Report

The Finance Department held its quarterly committee meeting and hosted PFM for the quarterly investment update.

October tax collections are ahead of last year, though utility collections remain mixed.

Work continues on the city’s fifth-year audit, with a response expected soon.

Monthly Finance Report

Staff presented the monthly financial snapshot, noting strong cash collections and continued progress on the Milford Corporate Center project.

Both the utilities and general fund are operating ahead of seasonal budget expectations.

Communications and Correspondence

Council members were reminded of two upcoming events:

Sussex County Association of Towns Dinner: December 3
DMAC Year-End Update & Holiday Mixer: December 2

New Business

Police Exterior Lighting Installation

Council considered a request to fund exterior lighting at the Milford Police Department. While originally planned, the lighting was not included in prior budgeting.

The revised plan includes new ground-up lighting at an additional cost of $8,041.39, bringing the total project cost to $16,351.39. The motion to approve the project passed.

Police Evidence Facility

Council reviewed bid results for the new police evidence facility, including contracts for site work, masonry, specialty items, mechanical systems, fire suppression, electrical work, and the pre-engineered metal building.

The project’s total estimated cost is $2,005,900, with a contingency of $180,009.96.
Motion to approve the project and contingency passed.

Resolution 2025-17: Acceptance of Cypress Hall

Council approved final acceptance of Cypress Hall Phases 1-A & 1-B, including all associated water, sewer, and street infrastructure.
Motion passed.

Authorization of Budget Transfer

Staff requested transferring $5,250 from the City Administration budget to the Police Department to cover tuition reimbursement for an employee not originally budgeted for.

Because both departments are within the general fund, this change results in no net impact on the FY26 budget.
Motion approved.

Customer Service Postage Machine Upgrade

Council approved replacing the city’s aging postage machine, which will soon be decertified under updated USPS standards.

The replacement, purchased through the State of Delaware’s NASPO contract, will cost no more than $9,000 and will reduce ongoing service costs by approximately $1,000 per year.
Motion approved.

Municipal Agreement with DelDOT for US 113 Lighting Improvements

Council voted to support a municipal agreement with DelDOT to install additional lighting along US 113 and the Airport Road area, aimed at improving nighttime traffic safety.

DelDOT will fund all design and construction costs, resulting in no initial expense to Milford taxpayers.
Motion approved.