Delaware County Council has outlined the investments and achievements made in 2022, from January’s swearing-in of the most diverse Council in the county’s history to the 2022 Alternative Fuel Leadership Award presented in December to the Sustainability Office.

“This year represented the transition from promises and plans to implementation and unprecedented change at the County level,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “From launching a new County health department to assuming control of the George W. Hill Correctional to planning for the County’s largest park at the former Don Guanella site to continuing to protect people and businesses from the ongoing impact of COVID-19 all while holding the line on taxes, this has been a year of extraordinary progress and achievements for the County.”

Among the major achievements in Delaware County this year were:

January:

• Swearing in of the most diverse and first majority female Council in the County’s history
• Prison Warden Laura Williams was hired. She begins work to ensure the care, custody, and control of the incarcerated population at George W. Hill prison and the preparation for their successful reintegration into the community

February:

• Health Department Director Melissa Lyon introduces the Delaware County Health Department leadership team that includes: Division Administrator of Environmental Health; Division Administrator of Population Health; Division Administrator of Personal Health; a Public Health Physician; and an Epidemiologist.
• County offers continued mortgage and housing-related assistance made available for residents affected by the pandemic

March:

• Council approves a proposal to create a plan to transform the 213-acre Don Guanella property in Marple Township into the largest public park in the county and its first major park in more than two decades.
• The Delaware County Recorder of Deeds Office offers a free property fraud protection tool, called FraudSleuth®, that helps Delaware County property owners safeguard against property fraud.

April:

• The Delaware County Health Department is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health to act in its official capacity as a health department.
• Delaware County officially assumes control of George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
• Delaware County receives $1M in funding for Congressionally directed spending projects to be used for Safety Improvements Project.
• Delaware County was awarded two Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants totaling $600,000 by the DEP to be used by the County for the purchase of new electric vehicles and related charging stations.
• Delaware County receives the prestigious Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence in recognition of the County’s successful Emergency Rental Assistance (Delco ERA) Program.
• The Delaware County Office of Sustainability hosts the 1st Annual Sustainability Conference.
• Delaware County’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer joins the County team.
• Delaware County’s Office of Sustainability receives the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

May:

• Delaware County Elections holds a successful and secure Primary Election.
• A graduation ceremony is held for the first class of cadets at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility Training Academy since the facility was de-privatized.
• Delaware County announces $475K in grants for community and neighborhood projects specifically designed to provide outreach to historically underserved communities.
• Delaware County launches a series of public workshops to gather community feedback as part of an effort to update the County’s 10-year Municipal Waste Management Plan.

June:

• Delaware County raises the Pride flag outside of the Courthouse, celebrating diversity in the community and County workplace.
• Delaware County Holds Mid-Year Budget Workshop for the public.
• Delaware County Park Police launches a new bike patrol.
• Delaware County holds its first-ever County Juneteenth Celebration in Rose Tree Park.
• Delaware County Council adopts resolution setting first-ever diversity goals.
• Delaware County awarded $2M for Gun Violence Prevention Efforts.

July:

• The Delaware County Controller’s Office awarded a “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting”.
• The Delaware County Workforce Development Board awarded a $1.5M Pathway Home Program grant to provide training and employment services to adults reentering the workforce following incarceration at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.

August:

• Council approves major upgrades of the public safety radio system to improve public safety response and safety of first responders and the community.
• Delaware County breaks ground for new County park at Upland Park.

September:

• Delaware County announces historic $62.5M opioid settlement with pharmaceutical distributors.
• Delaware County Council votes to establish The Delaware County Commission for Immigrant Affairs

October:

• Delaware County relaunches an enhanced Veterans’ Discount Program.
• District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer provides a progress report on the work of the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN) in curbing gun violence in the city:

o There has been a 59.7 percent decrease in non-fatal shootings since 2019.

o There has been a 60 percent decrease in gun violence homicides since 2020.

o There has been a 55 percent decrease in gun violence incidents since 2019.

• Delaware County forms a new committee to lead the planning process for the America250 Celebration and announces plans to hire a Director to lead efforts.

November:

• County holds safe, secure, and accountable General Election.
• Delaware County Council authorizes $1.7M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide grants to local fire departments across the county.
• Fair Acres recognized as one of “America’s Best Nursing Homes” for 2023 by Newsweek.

December:

• Delaware County was awarded the 2022 Alternative Fuel Leadership Award.
• County awards $5 million in new Green Ways Grants to 24 projects across the county.
• Delaware County announces plans to create a new land bank to allow the County to reinvest abandoned properties for affordable housing, businesses, and green space.
• Delaware County receives a grant to create a more inclusive environment for the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Through a partnership with the Delaware County Veteran Affairs Office, Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on four new affordable houses in Lansdowne.
• Delaware County Council unanimously approves the County’s FY 2023 budget and holds the line on taxes.
• The Delaware County Health Department has administered over 172,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses since the Health Department was established in April.

“The County accomplished a great deal in 2022 and it would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and insight of the members of our County team,” said Dr. Taylor. “We are proud of the work we have done to improve and invest in our county and we’re excited about our goals for 2023.”