Sussex Countians are disgusting pigs
Maybe that is strong, but what else to call a collection of people who put up with this?
Sussex County Councilman Rob Arlett knows the county has a trash problem, but he didn’t know how bad it is until he toured a 19-acre illegal dumping ground March 10.
Located near Millville, the site contains every conceivable type of trash and debris from household garbage to contractor debris. There is evidence of recent dumping, and piles of old-burned trash as well.
“I was amazed, appalled, disgusted and disappointed,” the councilman said. He toured that site plus nine others in District 5 with two county constables.
“I doubt anyone knows how long it’s been here,” he said. “It’s the culture of kicking the can down the road and the culture of thinking it’s not going away, so what’s the point.”
Arlett said constables say there are dozens and dozens of illegal dump sites all over the county. He plans to tour the county by helicopter March 17 to get a better look.
It was 1.5 miles from my house and was there when i moved to Millville in 1986 and grew consistently until I left the area in 2007. In fairness it is not in the town limits of Millville but rather in unicorporated Sussex county. If Mr. Arlett cares to check the name of the owner and I would guess a current and up to date tax bill is easily found.
Sussex still yearns for the good old days of burning trash and roadside refuse, but I would love to know who owns the dump. Hazzard a guess the owner is politically well connected. Interesting that I’ve never heard of or seen these illegal dumps.
From the article:
“He [Councilman Rob Arlett] said constables went to the site because of a recent complaint. During their visit, a notice of complaint was given to two people living on the property in a shed without plumbing. He said the owner of the property is an elderly person living in Maryland.”
Ownership aside, there are a large number of people using these dumps, and another large number of people (including the Sussex County Council and State Reps) tolerating them.
As Gymrat points out, the dump has been there at least since 1986. And some Sussex County councilman is just NOW finding out about it?
Betcha a lot of elected officials have known about it for decades. Betcha that some of them have even dumped there. And it wouldn’t shock me if some money changed hands for certain people to look the other way.
What a dump!
“Kicking the can down the road” is what Sussex County does. It’s our thing.
Finally something they can’t blame the state for.
Not that Delaware is an environmental state. At all. This great state is built on crap left behind by industry. Consider this dump a tiny homage to DuPont.
The specific dump references is not in Arlett’s district it is smack dab in the Middle of Cole’s. he and his family members have held the seat like a fiefdom since the inception of County Government. Its on a popular “short Cut” back Rd North of 26 not far from a state park. Think he may have ever noticed it….. maybe at least once?….. OF COURSE HE DID!!!!!!
I added a picture of Cole’s district to help pinpoint the disgusting pigs.
I see a campaign issue there…
Look at that district. It looks winnable for a Dem
Bad enough, but what about all those old toxic waste sites in SC that are approved for medium and high density housing developments that sail through P&Z???
I find the rural, conservative Republican ethos absolutely fascinating.
Maybe Arlett can look at all the white moonscapes caused by endless deforestation from his developer friends when he goes up in the helicopter
The roads in Sussex County are an embarrassment just from the casual callous littering by selfish pigs. When I have out of state friends visit, I feel like I have to apologize for the embarrassing mess they have to drive through. The irony, all these angry white trash patriots would form a militia if someone burned their symbolic flag but someone desecrates the place they actual live and there is silence and rationalization.
Yeah, trash doesn’t collect on the side of the roads up north. Or PA, MD, NJ. Yeah, only Sussex.
We pave over ever square inch of the county, fill in wetlands, dump shit into our waters and until recently burned coal for energy.
But trash on the side of the road is the REAL outrage. This isn’t an environmental county, state or country.
Internecine blog comment battle brewing. Two of my favorite commenters from out southern end… I say settle it at high noon on the Circle in Georgetown.
Joking aside, SA makes a valid point. Although I don’t think mouse’s comment was to the exclusion of the other environmental atrocities.
Sussex County itself is a vast dumping ground for political scumbags like Vance Phillips, George Cole, Dale Dukes, John Adkins, Pete Schwartzkopf, Steve Smyk … and the list goes on. In fact, bottom feeders from Kent and New Castle counties have migrated southward to take advantage of the corrupt and incompetent political landscape.
The feds should investigate.
@Bull: You’re leaving out the ones who officially reside upstate but spend more time in Sussex.
@Al:
LOL! Correct, but I just wanted to get to the point — not write a book.