Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Sussex County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues in public safety with medium priority
Youth Services Commission appointments
Four appointments were scheduled to the Sussex County Youth Services Commission, including Prosecutor Daniel Perez filling a vacancy. The commission guides how the county serves at-risk youth.
Cold Case Arrest in Sussex County's Most Notorious Murder
Investigators made an arrest and secured an indictment in the county's most notorious cold case, bringing some relief to the victim's surviving family. Details remain sealed while the case is pending.
Sheriff's Office emergency communications and equipment purchases
Congressman Josh Gottheimer secured $3.7 million in federal grants for county public safety, including $300,000 for an interoperable radio system linking all eleven municipal police departments, the sheriff, state police and the prosecutor's office during major incidents.
Cellebrite digital forensics for the Prosecutor's Office
The county is paying $103,506 to renew Cellebrite software that lets investigators extract data from phones. A resident flagged the company's international misuse record; county counsel defended it as essential for prosecuting child predators and sex traffickers.
Old jail as prosecutor's office space
Commissioner Silverthorne called the Prosecutor's office infrastructure 'good money after bad' and said a bigger discussion is coming; a feasibility study is underway.
Tick-borne illness in Sussex County
The county logged 121 tick-borne illness cases in June — Lyme, anaplasmosis, alpha-gal, and babesiosis — down slightly from 134 last June. Health officials urge repellent, permethrin-treated clothing, and tick checks.
Mosquito surveillance and West Nile risk
All 100 mosquito pools tested so far this season came back negative, but officials expect a high-activity season and urge repellent use and removing standing water.