Mosquitoes at Encke Park in Wayne tested positive for West Nile Virus. Solar panels are going up on the Radnor Township Municipal Building.
The Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), chaired by Daniel Burnham, covered both developments at its Wednesday, Sept. 16, meeting, along with a proposed energy benchmarking ordinance and a $120 million land conservation referendum headed to the November ballot. The following is based on the meeting agenda; minutes had not been posted as of Sept. 17.
West Nile detected at Encke Park
The Delaware County Health Department reported in late July that mosquitoes trapped at Encke Park, adjacent to the Municipal Building, tested positive for West Nile Virus. The township first disclosed the detection on July 29.
The finding does not mean any person tested positive, according to the township's earlier public notice. Mosquitoes also tested positive at three Tredyffrin Township parks: Strafford, Cedar Hollow and Wilson Farm, based on samples collected Aug. 13.
The Radnor Parks Maintenance Division is removing standing water from parks as a routine control measure. The EAC urged residents to drain flowerpots, buckets and gutters weekly, wear long sleeves and pants around dawn and dusk, and apply EPA-registered repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
Solar panels under way
Solar panel installation on the Municipal Building began the week of Sept. 7. The project is part of a broader roof-upgrade and solar effort that started March 1.
Roofing on the Public Works Building was finished in June. The Municipal Building roof was completed in September, clearing the way for the panels. The Board of Commissioners also approved LED lighting upgrades for both buildings in April; that work began in August and is ongoing.
Energy benchmarking ordinance advances
The EAC hosted a public informational session at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 on a proposed energy benchmarking ordinance. The rule would require owners of multifamily, commercial and institutional buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to report annual energy usage, according to a township public notice for the session.
Building owners would use free tools such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to generate an efficiency score comparing their property to similar buildings. The notice said the policy aims to connect owners with rebates and resources to lower energy costs and emissions.
EAC members and township staff have been meeting monthly with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and Green Building United to develop the ordinance. Adoption could come in fall or winter 2026, though no Board of Commissioners vote has been scheduled.
November ballot: $120M for land conservation
Delaware County Council voted 5-0 to place a land conservation referendum on the November 2026 ballot. The measure would authorize extending up to $120 million in county debt over several years to finance projects protecting drinking water, preserving wildlife habitat and expanding trails and parks.
The cost for the owner of an average $400,000 home would be $24 a year, according to the EAC agenda. County planners said the funds could also help communities mitigate flooding, develop Delco Woods in Marple for recreation and provide tools to resist large-scale warehouse and data center development.
The EAC meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Radnorshire Room at 301 Iven Ave., Wayne. Meetings air live on Comcast Channel 5 and Verizon FiOS Channel 30.
