The Erie Shore Drive Property Association and other property owners along Erie Shore Drive have initiated legal action against the municipality.
They say after decades of paying out of their own pocket for shoreline costs, that Chatham-Kent is legally responsible for, something has to be done.
More than 80 members are seeking damages under the Drainage Act and accuse the municipality of breaching their obligations.
Homeowners contest the dyke built under Erie Shore Drive was built under the act, and that places the obligation on Chatham-Kent to maintain both.
However the maintenance has not been completed causing significant risk of flooding and damage to properties.
Terra Cadeau is the president of the ESDPOA.
“As a result, residents like myself have been forced to spend large sums of our own money to pay the astronomical costs of protecting the shoreline. Bringing this Application is our last option, but we have no alternative. We cannot and should not be forced to continue to pay for what Chatham-Kent and all those who benefit from the drainage works are legally required to pay for”.
The Municipality responded with a release confirming that it has been served with a legal action by the Erie Shore Drive Property Owners Association today.
As this is an active legal matter, the Municipality will not be providing any further comment at this time.