Mustang Acres residents press Sherwood for Mustang Pond fixes as deed and ownership issues linger

Residents around Mustang Pond raised repeated complaints through 2006 about algae blooms, failed plantings and muskrat damage, seeking a village‑funded rip‑rap or maintenance program. The pond—constructed as part of the Mustang Acres development—became the subject of contested obligations after officials discovered the parcel had not been formally conveyed to the village.

At public comment sessions Donna Christie and others said native plantings around the pond had not become established and that visible pond erosion and muskrat populations were worsening. Residents asked trustees for a timetable and a commitment to remediation.

Coordinator Josh Van Lieshout told the Board the village had obtained permits to apply algaecide and had planned a naturalized bank maintenance approach, but had held off on more extensive work after finding the pond property had not been dedicated or deeded to the village. Van Lieshout said rip‑rapping the pond (the option favored by some residents for a manicured appearance) would likely cost between about $135,000 and $160,000 and could remove the existing wildflower planting areas. He also warned that most grant programs that funded previous pond work were no longer available.

Legal and practical constraints: Developer materials and an earlier Small Dam Approval set a permitted normal operating elevation for the outlet structure; letters in 1999–2000 confirm prior engineering coordination about levels and downstream improvements. The village’s attorney has advised caution about accepting ownership or maintenance responsibilities until a clear conveyance is recorded; attorney correspondence and a pending civil action were referenced in the minutes as part of the ownership dispute.

Board follow‑up: Trustees asked the coordinator to draft a village policy defining maintenance standards for village‑owned detention ponds and to bring that policy back for review. Coordinated muskrat trapping around village‑owned ponds has proceeded where permission was available; the coordinator said trapping around Mustang Pond will begin once ownership is clarified so the village can lawfully authorize it.

What residents can expect: The village will not begin major structural work or a rip‑rap program until deed issues are resolved. The board indicated it would pursue a maintenance policy and investigate grant opportunities, but warned property owners that a large rip‑rap solution could require special assessments if the property is conveyed or remain a homeowner responsibility if ownership remains private.