Georgetown, Del., July 21, 2007: Residents and property owners of the Johnson’s Corner area near Roxana have approved the creation of a new sewer district to serve their community, voting by a margin of more than 2 to 1 in a referendum held Saturday, July 21.

The referendum results were 243 voting for the new district, 87 voting against. The tally includes absentee ballots that were cast by qualified property owners and residents.

Based on petitions received from property owners, the Sussex County Engineering Department proposed the creation of the Johnson’s Corner Sanitary Sewer District to include the communities of Deer Run Acres, El Rancho Roxana, Fenwick West, the Hamlet at Dirickson Pond, Hampden Park, Swann Estates, Twin Cedars and Wanmar Lake. Currently, properties in those communities are primarily served by private septic systems.

The County Engineering Department will now begin designing the estimated $13.7 million system to serve the new district, said John J. Ashman, director of Utility Planning. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2009, and be completed by Summer 2010.

A copy of the new sanitary sewer district map, as well as a newsletter explaining estimated rates, can be obtained from the County’s Web site at www.sussexcountyde.gov, or by calling (302) 855-1299.