By Michael S. Hoey
correspondent
The Common Council honored former Fire Chief Neill Flood at its meeting on Sept. 17.
Mayor Ryan Schroeder said Flood had passed away since the last council meeting and suggested the council adjourn that night’s meeting in Flood’s honor.
Flood, 86, passed away on Sept. 6. He was born in Delavan on May 3, 1938, and got married on July 18, 1959, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.
Flood was a life-long member of St. Andrew’s, attended grade school there, and served in many leadership capacities over the years. He was also a three-sport athlete at Delavan-Darien High School.
Flood worked in the lumber business for 55 years at the family business, Doyon and Rayne Lumber (later Dunn Lumber) in Delavan and Lake Geneva.
Flood joined the City of Delavan Fire Department as a volunteer in 1957 and served as chief for over 30 years before retiring in 2014. The new fire station built in 2011 on Ann Street was named for him.
Never Say Never a step closer to Yadon Park
The council approved a memorandum of understanding with Never Say Never, a non-profit organization planning on building an all-inclusive playground at Yadon Park.
Part of the understanding is that the city made the commitment to help fund the project in the 2025 capital budget.
Never Say Never will contribute to the funding for the project as well through fundraising. The group had a table at Scarecrow Fest and was taking donations toward a project that they hope will break ground in 2025.
The total estimated cost for the playground is $752,000. Never Say Never has raised $340,595 and has commitments for $92,000 in the future. The city’s estimated portion of the funding would be $319,405, but that figure will decrease with every donation Never Say Never is able to secure before groundbreaking.
According to a memo from Park and Recreation Director Tom Klug, Never Say Never has been around for about eight years and had been working with the City of Lake Geneva to build the playground there. After running into several roadblocks there, the group looked for an alternative site and Delavan became a good fit.
The playground will be inclusive of children of all abilities. Never Say Never, according to Klug, is committed to making the project something the whole community can get behind by working with volunteers from the community to physically build it.
Klug also said the city has been in discussion with Parkitecture and Strand to develop a park plan for Yadon Park. In addition to the playground, the city is looking into adding a splashpad and restroom facility.
For the full story, please see the print edition of the Delavan Enterprise.
