Why Should Delaware Care?
Government works best when its citizens are knowledgeable and engaged. Delaware’s government has scores of commissions, working groups, agencies and legislative committees. All must hold meetings that are open to the public. Below we highlight a few of those meetings that are happening this week.
Below you will find information about the most important or interesting public meetings happening in Delaware this week.
- Early voting
- Charity hospital care in Delaware
- Kent County to discuss controversial solar farm
- The Greenwood dissolution campaign
Early Voting
Early voting in advance of the Sept. 15 primary election continues on Tuesday at select polling locations in each county. Voters are allowed to visit any early voting site within their county of residence.
The primary election this year features more than 30 competitive races across the state, including Democrats running for their party’s nomination for attorney general, Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as candidates seeking about two dozen legislative races.
Once at the polls, election officers will verify a voter’s eligibility. The voter will then sign the pollbook before proceeding to a voting machine to cast a ballot.
Click here to see a list of polling locations. The Delaware Department of Elections also provides an interactive map allowing voters to find a nearby poll by entering their address.
📍 After the break for Labor Day, early voting resumes Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It then continues Wednesday through Sunday, but on the shortened schedule of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Expanded charity care in Delaware
Members of a Delaware board charged with reviewing hospital costs in the state will discuss charity care at their meeting this week.
The IRS requires nonprofit hospitals to provide a “community benefit” to earn their tax-exempt status. Historically, that came in the form of providing free or discounted services, often called “charity care.”
Last year, Spotlight Delaware published an investigation calling into question the charity care practices at the state’s largest healthcare system, ChristianaCare.
Months later, lawmakers introduced a bill to increase the number of patients eligible to receive free treatment from the state’s nonprofit hospitals. The bill passed in June and Gov. Matt Meyer signed it into law in July.
The agenda for the Tuesday meeting of the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board lists several discussion items around the theme of charity care, including a presentation about charity care from an official at the nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt.
📍The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It will be a hybrid remote meeting with an anchor location at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services’ Herman Holloway Sr. campus, located at 1901 North DuPont Highway in New Castle. Attendees should go to Conference Room 2CR at the Main Admin building on the campus. For more details, including about the virtual attendance, click here.
More solar on Kent County farmland?
The Kent County Regional Planning Commission on Thursday will consider a controversial proposal to build a community solar field near Kenton.
The plan calls for the construction of solar arrays on about 16 acres of land currently used to grow crops, according to the county. The developer, Sunrise Solar, is seeking a conditional use permit.
The plans are before the county just as state officials are increasingly incentivizing solar energy amid a tight electricity market. But many proposed solar fields have also drawn local opposition.
On Friday, the News Journal reported that about 50 residents attended the previous Kent County Regional Planning Commission meeting to oppose the Kenton project.
📍The Kent County Regional Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Levy Court Chambers, located 555 Bay Road in Dover. For more details, including about the virtual attendance, click here.
Could Greenwood be dissolved?
Residents of Greenwood will continue conversations Thursday about their proposal to disincorporate their Sussex County farming town.
Spotlight Delaware reported in July about the push to dissolve the town from residents who say its government is secretive, running out of money, and not providing citizens with adequate services. Among the critics are several town government officials.
Jordan Warfel, a member of the Greenwood Board of Adjustment, is leading the charge for disincorporation. A flyer obtained by Spotlight Delaware shows that he is organizing the Thursday informational meeting.
📍 The group, Unincorporate Greenwood, will hold its informational meeting on Thursday at 6:30 at the Greenwood VFW.
