For much of this year the City of Newark has been exploring the opportunity to upgrade our water and electric meters with a “Smart Meter” system.  Many of you have contacted me with interest, concerns and questions regarding this project and as you have seen in City Council meetings I share your desire to fully understand the details prior to moving forward.  I am proud to announce that the City is prepared to present the project proposed and answer any questions next Tuesday, December 4th, between 3PM – 6:30PM in City Council chambers.  I hope to see everyone there to ask questions and share your thoughts with myself and other members of City Council.  Below is the press release with more information.

CITY OF NEWARK HOSTS OPEN HOUSE REGARDING

SMART METER PROJECT

 The City of Newark is hosting an informational open house for residents and businesses regarding its smart meter project on Tuesday, December 4 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Newark Municipal Building’s City Council Chamber located at 220 Elkton Road.

City officials have been working to finalize the details of the project in an effort to begin its implementation early next year.   The open house includes an opening presentation every 45 minutes with question and answers and multiple displays and information to take away regarding the project.   Those unable to attend may visit www.cityofnewarkde.us/smartmeters  for information.  Additional details will be added to the website following the open house. The project boasts:

• more efficient water and electric meter reading (water meters will be read monthly instead of quarterly);
• organizational efficiencies;
• reduced operating costs;
• website with up-to-date utility usage information;
• increased opportunities for leak detection – water conservation;
• outage management improvements – increased reliability;
• positive public safety impacts (cameras and law enforcement laptops); and
• greater field operation capabilities.

Please be safe during Hurricane Sandy and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family.

The City of Newark is updating its website with information about City closures, streets prone to flooding and tips for food safety, flooding and environmental health. For more information, visit www.cityofnewarkde.us.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center is open and taking calls related to weather issues, such as and power outages. Residents can call 302-366-7144 or 302-366-7037.

Follow the Governor’s advisement regarding driving restrictions and Delaware’s State of Emergency.

Here is a list of additional resources that may be useful.

• Shelters: The Red Cross has set up shelters at Middletown High School and William Penn High School for New Castle County.
• Safety tips: Provided by DelawareOnline.com, some safety tips related to flooding, injury prevention and power loss.
• Closings: Up-to-date list of closings in Delaware.
• Flood plain map: Areas in the state prone to flooding.
• University of Delaware: Visit the homepage at www.udel.edu for information about UD’s closings and updates.

SUBJECT: Update to Gold Alert – Additional Public Assistance Needed 

The Newark Police Department is continuing their investigation into the missing adult, John Dohms, a 64 year old male missing from his home located in the 100 block of East Cleveland Avenue.  Dohms, who suffers from dementia, walked away from his home on Thursday, September 13^th.   Immediately following his reported disappearance, Newark Police Officers, including an NPD K9 team, with assistance from the University of Delaware Police, continued to check the area throughout the night, however Dohms was not located.

The Newark Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance by asking all residents in the northern Newark, Hockessin and Southern Chester County areas to please check their sheds, out buildings, cars, under decks or any other place of shelter on their property as persons with Dementia will frequently take shelter in these locations when lost.

Dohms is described as 6’1”, 165lbs with gray hair and blue eyes.  He is believed to be wearing khaki shorts, a bright green button down shirt, green socks with white tennis shoes.  He may be in possession of binoculars and has a medic alert bracelet on his left wrist. 

NPD investigators learned that Dohms is known to frequent the trails in and around White Clay Creek State Park.  On Friday, investigators obtained additional information and confirmed that Dohms was seen walking northbound on Creek Road into White Clay Creek State Park at approximately 3pm on Thursday, the day he went missing.  A Maryland State Police Bloodhound conducted a track which confirmed his presence on Creek Road and State Park land.  A terrain search by police recruits from the Delaware State Police Academy with assistance from DNREC Park Rangers was conducted in the park on Friday, however Dohms was not located.

Volunteer Search and Rescue teams from the region were called in and began a comprehensive search of White Clay Creek State Park and surrounding areas using horse and K9 teams.  This search continued throughout the night on Friday and all day Saturday.  On Saturday Evening at approximately 7:45pm a person matching Dohms description was spotted on Little Baltimore Road in the area of North Star Elementary.  Investigators received an additional tip that a person matching Dohms description had been spotted near the Hockessin Post Office on Friday Afternoon.  A bloodhound from Baltimore County Police responded to the area of North Star Elementary on Saturday Evening and confirmed Dohms presence in the Little Baltimore Road area.

With that new information, on Sunday Morning, NPD relocated their search operation from White Clay Creek State Park to the area surrounding North Star Elementary.  Volunteer Search and Rescue teams continued their search throughout the day.  NCCPD and the Hockessin Fire Department assisted throughout the day canvassing the area, however Dohms was not located.

If Dohms is located residents should call 911 immediately to report his location.

As you are aware, the City Council began the process of recruiting a new City Manager in March of this year.  We hired Slavin Management Consultants to conduct an executive search and are now down to considering only two qualified candidates for this position.  As this is an important decision to be made and something many of you shared interest in being part of, I would like you to have the opportunity to meet these candidates and provide me with your opinions.

Next Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at 7:00PM, please join the Council in the Council Chamber to meet and to ask questions of our two finalist candidates:

- Carol S. Houck, Interim City Manager, Newark, DE

- Dr. Tarron Richardson, City Manager, DeSoto, TX

Each candidate will be introduced with a bio for you to learn about their backgrounds, followed by a brief presentation by the candidates, and then there will be an open question and answer session.  At the conclusion of this session, you will have the opportunity to share your opinions of candidates with the Council Members.  I also welcome everyone to speak to me directly before or after this meeting.

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

The results are in, Luke Chapman has be elected to serve District 5 on Newark City Council.

This is an honor for Luke and could not have been possible without the support of family, friends, volunteers and neighbors.

Thank you to everyone, and please be sure to sign up for the e-newsletter (to the right of this post) to get updates about District 5 and the City of Newark

It’s Election Day! Over the last seven weeks, so many wonderful people have dedicated their time, efforts and money to support me. And it all comes down to your votes today.

If you live in District 5, please vote for Luke Chapman today.

The polls just opened at the First Presbyterian Church at 292 West Main Street and will remain open until 8 p.m.

Please email the campaign team know if you or someone you know in the district needs help getting to the polls.

With just eight days to go, there is a change on the ballot. Ed Smith announced today that he will be dropping out of the race. As this was a three-way race, we still need your vote on Tuesday.

Read the story from the Newark Post.

This Saturday, Mar. 31, Luke will be attending several events hosted by the City of Newark, most notably the annual Egg Hunt as well as Wine and Dine.

The Egg Hunt begins at 10 a.m. at the White Clay Creek State Park’s Carpenter Recreation Area. All children who wish to participate should bring a basket or bag. State Park Fees will be in effect.

Newark’s 8th Annual Wine and Dine Downtown will be from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. There are 18 restaurants participating with more than 70 wines available for tasting. No need to buy tickets–just pick up a glass at a participating restaurant and pay as you go. Please be safe–don’t drink and drink.

Just an advisory to residents in the City of Newark, the water mains will be flushed this week, from March 26 through March 30. The Newark Post reports that each year, the City flushes the system to remove sediment, check water value operations and test fire hydrants.

The full schedule is available online, but most of the area of District 5 is scheduled for Friday, March 30. If you have any questions, contact the Water and Wastewater Department at 302-366-7055.