NEWS AND UPDATES
Archived, May 2005

A Webcast on Financing Land Conservation Efforts
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Trust for Public Land (TPL), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will offer a 90-minute webcast for local government officials and others interested in ways to finance land conservation efforts on June 9, at 2:00 p.m. The webcast, Protecting Water Resources Through Land Conservation: Funding Options for Local Governments, will cover the role of conservation finance in land conservation and describe critical components for creating a successful funding effort. It will showcase local government success stories and offer information on current conservation finance trends and revenue sources.
(Noted 5/25/05)

Draft Agenda Posted for May 27 State GIS Meeting
A draft agenda (PDF) has been posted for the next quarterly meeting of the Delaware Geographic Data Committee (DGDC). The meeting is set for 9:00 a.m., Friday, May 27, at the new Kent County Administrative Complex at 555 Bay Rd. in Dover. The agenda includes an update on the GIS effort at Kent County and a tour of the new Kent County GIS offices.
(Posted 5/26/05)

2005 Edition of Local Government Assistance Handbook
The University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration (IPA) has published the 2005 Edition of the Delaware State Assistance Handbook for Local Governments (PDF). The Handbook was originally published by the Office of State Planning Coordination in partnership with the IPA. It is now maintained by the IPA and published on-line in PDF format. It provides guidance for local governments to assistance from state and federal government agencies and programs.
(Noted 5/13/05)

Frederica Adopts First Land Development Ordinance
The Frederica Town Council adopted the town's first-ever Comprehensive Land Development Ordinance (PDF) on Wednesday, May 4, 2005. The ordinance, prepared by the town's Zoning Commission with Livable Delaware assistance from David Edgell of the Office of State Planning Coordination, is based on a model land development ordinance developed by the State Planning Office and the University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration. The Frederica ordinance was customized to implement the town's certified comprehensive plan. It includes zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, and environmental protection standards for the town.
(Noted 5/6/05)

DNREC Schedules Three Workshops on Revised Inland Bays Pollution Control Strategy
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control plans three workshops on a revised version of a proposed Pollution Control Strategy for the Inland Bays (PDF). The workshops will focus on changes to the draft Strategy made in response to public comments at a series of workshops in January and February. The workshops are set for May 12 at the Millsboro Civic Center, May 17 at the Bay Center at Ruddertowne in Dewey Beach, and May 24 at the Roxana Fire Hall.
(Posted 5/6/05)

Agendas Posted for Three May PLUS Meetings
Agendas have been posted for the three meetings scheduled to review the 23 projects submitted for May 2005 review under the Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS). Meetings are scheduled for May 25 (Agenda [PDF]), June 1 (Agenda [PDF]), and June 8 (Agenda [PDF]). All three meetings will start at 8:30 a.m., in the Budget Office Conference Room, on the third floor of the Thomas Collins Building, at 540 S. DuPont Highway, in Dover.
(Posted 5/5/05)

Kent County 4-H Agent Honored by Geographic Information System (GIS) Professionals
C. Douglas Crouse, of the Kent County 4-H Extension Office, was given the 2005 Delaware GIS in Education Award at the 2005 Delaware GIS Conference on Thursday, April 20, in Rehoboth Beach. Mr. Crouse (right) was unable to attend the GIS Conference but received his award from GIS in Education Committee Chair John Laznik, of the University of Delaware. Conference attendees also chose winners from among nearly 100 entries in a K-12 student contest entitled “Putting a Face on Disaster - The impact that natural disasters have on people.” [FULL STORY]
(Noted 5/3/05)