Gwen Rayka, President of the Delmar Improvement Association, spoke out recently in response to a recent article in the Delavan Enterprise regarding the South Shore reconstruction project and storm water issues that were brought to light by the project.
Rayka wanted to make clear that the DIA did not give permission for a storm water pipe on private property in the Delmar subdivision to be repaired at the expense of property owners. She also pushed for the creation of a storm water utility by the Town of Delavan.
As part of the reconstruction of South Shore Drive, it was discovered that a storm water pipe in the Delmar subdivision was in bad condition and needed to be replaced. Cardinal Engineering determined the pipe needed to be replaced from the roadway to about 100 feet into private property as part of the road project. Ryan Cardinal also determined the rest of the pipe from that point to the lake was also in poor condition and needs to be replaced.
Cardinal told the Town Board in October that he authorized the work to be completed on the pipe from the roadway to 100 feet into the private property to avoid a three to four week delay in the South Shore project that could have cost the town over $10,000. The board then discussed paying the $7,500 cost for the completed work since Delmar has refused to pay it. The board voted not to cover that cost meaning that Cardinal had to absorb it. No further discussion has been had by the board about paying that bill.
The cost to replace the remaining pipe to the lake has been estimated at $25,000 less the $7,500 for the part already completed. Rayka said Delmar does not believe its residents should be responsible for that cost either.
Rayka said Cardinal attained permission from her to access Delmar property but not to compete the work at the expense of Delmar residents. She said that approval would have had to go through the full DIA Board. Rayka provided the Enterprise with an email exchange between her and Cardinal in which Cardinal said he moved forward with the work because he firmly believed it was the right thing to do and he did not have time to wait for an appropriate board meeting.
Cardinal said in the email that town officials made it clear to him that storm water pipes on private property were the responsibility of the property owner. He said he stood by his decision to keep progressing with the work and not cause delays to the project and he said he would pay the $7,500 cost himself if necessary. Rayka stressed the delays in the project were not caused by Delmar in any way.
“I would never want to pit yourselves and the Town against each other,” Cardinal wrote, “so if an agreement can’t be reached, I will stand behind the decision to continue.”
Cardinal wrote that if the town would not pay for the pipe he would and acknowledged the cost would come right out of his pocket as a small business owner, though he did say more than once that he had confidence it would not come to that. Cardinal hoped an agreement could be reached between the town and Delmar to cover the cost. Cardinal could not be reached for further comment.
