Sussex residents accuse officials of treatment plant cover-up

GEORGETOWN — Four residents alleging health impacts from the Inland Bays and Millsboro Wastewater Treatment plants urged county action, like well testing, during a tense public comment session during this Tuesday’s Sussex County Council meeting.

“Our well water as well as many of our neighbors: Diane, Tyrone, were poisoned severely by the ongoing Inland Bays Regional Wastewater facility, it’s outrageous — they’ve done nothing,” Dr. Gerry Bell said.

Dr. Bell produced images he said were of illegal dumping, one of which he said was located behind council member John Rieley’s home, which Rieley denied knowledge of.

“Illegal landfills and pits and environmental poisoning are blatant examples of corruption in Sussex County,” Dr. Bell said, and accused County Administrator Todd Lawson of lying about it.

Diane Longo showed pictures of injuries she said had been improving.

“They were clearing up. I got a new well put in. Two weeks ago, my water started turning brown and smelling like rotten eggs again. I had a filtration system put in, nothing is being done to correct the situation,” she said.

“I’ve got a letter from the state saying my water is undrinkable, they tested it. I spent over $14,000 on that filtration system and it’s still not doing any good. I had to have all new piping put in because of the nitrates and all the chemicals coming into my house,” she continued.

Ms. Longo said necropsies revealed her two dogs were killed due to excessive nitrates in their systems, and said her husband’s health took a sharp turn due to their drinking water.

Next was Tyrone Romano, who drew on his two largest influences as a Navy veteran and former resident of New Jersey to deliver his testimony.

“My name is Tyrone Romano and my wife Darlene and myself were poisoned by the Inland Bays Wastewater facility,” he began. “The pain is real, the illnesses are real. The severe economic impact is real.”

Something else was also real for Mr. Romano.

“Not testing these wells is also real,” he said.

Mr. Romano suggested during budget talks, scheduled for later during the meeting, funding should be made available to test wells local to the wastewater treatment plants.

But the most contentious discussion came first, with Donald Burdick’s comments. Mr. Burdick accused county officials of lying when they said the county was committed to compliance with Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control permit regulations for the wastewater treatment facilities.

“That is conspiracy, fraud, false statements, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, un-American and outrageous. People died,” he said.

Soon after, Mr. Burdick went too far in Council President Michael Vincent’s view.

“People do not pay taxes to be poisoned by kleptocrats like Todd Lawson,” Mr. Burdick said.

Mr. Vincent responded by telling Mr. Burdick, “You do not need to point at anyone on this dais.”

Mr. Burdick didn’t agree, and said Mr. Lawson lied to the public.

“I don’t know that you’re not lying to us,” Mr. Vincent said.

“But I’m allowed to tell you that, unless how would you know?” Mr. Burdick countered.

“Your time is up then, thank you,” Mr. Vincent said, despite the visible timer showing Mr. Burdick’s allotted three minutes had not expired.

After some more back and forth, Mr. Burdick concluded his comments, though he and Mr. Vincent sparred a few more times during the meeting.
Council members did not publicly address the matter further during this session.

Todd Lawson and Chip Guy, county communications manager, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Staff writer Brian Gilliland can be reached at 410-603-3737 or bg@iniusa.org.