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The good news is that the reservoir has been completed and is fully functional. City staff is pleased with its operations. The reservoir is not just used in times of drought. It is also used when the creek is too muddy or too salty. As of March 2007 the reservoir has saved the City $450,000+ by not buying water from United Water. If you have general questions regarding the operations of the reservoir, please contact Roy Simonson at 366-7055. For recreation, there is also a walking path around the top of the reservoir which also connects to wooded paths through Redd Park.

Design
Much as been said about the reports questioning the safety of the reservoir. There are also many URS (the designer of the reservoir) engineering reports responding to those claims. DNREC has also reviewed the design and reports. Plus, there was a final independent review by Dr. Craig Calabria. Dr. Calabria is a founding principal of GeoSystems and is Adjunct Associate Professor at Drexel University in the Engineering Geology Program, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering for over 15 years. The reports by URS, DNREC & Dr. Calabria refute the safety claims.

One thing to remember about this reservoir is that it is not a dam holding back a stream. The water must be pumped into the reservoir from the creek below.

Litigation
Since the jury verdict, I understand that there is a lot of concern by my constituents. The situation is of great concern to me as well. This is also a very frustrating situation to me. The City changed legal teams in December and the new legal time has advised Council not to discuss or take action on any aspect of the project or litigation at this time. The Third District Court judge dismissed all but one post trial motion. The judge agreed with Newark's argument that plaintiffs basis for calculating construction damages used an inappropriate section of the construction contract and that Delaware law should be the basis of any damage calculation. Newark has consistently based its calculation on Delaware Law and is arguing that any breach of contract damages would be limited to about $600,000. This is the profit that the contractor would have originally made at contract completion. The plaintiff is arguing that the entire amount should still be awarded. After the post trial motions are decided, the City will have the option to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The jury award is on hold until the appeal process is complete.

It is my goal to come to a reasonable resolution to the current situation.

Sledding
Sledding is currently prohibited at the Reservoir. City Staff observed people going airborne at a high rate of speed and are concerned for the resident's safety. There is a bump out of dirt that is not an integral to the reservoir design and I've asked that Parks & Recreation look at some creative way to make safe sledding possible.

Fireworks Viewing
At my request and following interest from several residents, Newark City administrative staff considered the option of allowing viewing of the Newark July 4^th fireworks from the reservoir. The staff involved in this evaluation all have direct involvement in the reservoir and/or the Liberty Day/Fireworks event on an ongoing basis and were deemed to be in the best position to assist in this evaluation. The following information is shared to better explain the decision to not allow fireworks viewing to occur at the reservoir site. MORE >