Kendall town supervisor thanks community for rallying during lake crisis
Photo by Tom Rivers: Members of the National Guard place sandbags along a residential property in Kendall on May 7.
65,000 sandbags and counting
KENDALL – Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata is sending out, “One big thank you to the Kendall community for your help in trying to resolve this crisis with mother nature.”
Residents and organizations have worked hard to help homeowners and property owners along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Cammarata made his comments during the regular meeting of the Kendall Town Board Tuesday evening.
“I would like to extend a personal ‘thank you’ to Warren Kruger and the Highway Department for all their work, time and effort to help the residents of this town,” Cammarata said.
He noted the innovative process Kruger, the highway superintendent, designed to fill sand bags utilizing the town’s salt spreaders. The National Guard, inmates, Kendall residents and residents from neighboring communities have been working the past two weeks to fill sandbags and distribute them to residents along the lakeshore.
“We had filled 65,000 sandbags as of yesterday, it’s probably above that by now,” Cammarata said.
He also thanked Assemblyman Steve Hawley, State Senator Robert Ortt, Governor Cuomo’s Office, the National Guard, the Kendall Fire Department and Ladies’ Auxiliary for their assistance.
The Ladies’ Auxiliary, the Masonic Temple, the Kendall Lions and community members have worked to keep the National Guard and sandbag volunteers fed each day with breakfast and lunch. Cammarata said donations of food have also come from Tops, Wegmans, Pizza Shack and many others.
He thanked the Fire Department, local churches and the Kendall Central School District for their efforts to mobilize volunteers for the sandbagging efforts, and Town Clerk Amy Richardson for her efforts in obtaining necessary permits for residents trying to save their property.
“Kendall is a special community,” Cammarata said. “People in Kendall always come together when there is a crisis. From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone in Kendall. We are people helping people and will continue as we try to curtail mother nature in this dilemma we are facing.”
“I can’t say enough praise,” Council member Barb Flow said during her report, regarding the volunteer efforts of those in the community to help residents along the lakeshore.
Cammarata read two letters from lakeshore residents thanking the town, the highway department and volunteers for their assistance.
Jim Locicero of Bald Eagle Drive called the sandbags and assistance in placing them, “a gift from heaven.”
Barry Scorse of Lomond Shore praised the highway department’s quick response. “They’ve done a tremendous job,” Scorse wrote.
In other business, Flow gave a brief update on the Dollar General project from Planning Board Chair Andrew Kludt, who has been communicating with the engineering firm. The new site plans are being drawn to reflect conditions required by the town in approving the project. Construction will likely begin in September, Kludt indicated.
