A food pantry is in a showdown with a contractor who wants to foreclose on its building. The contractor claims the Mukwonago Food Pantry owes it more than $100,000 for a flood cleanup, but the pantry said it’s fighting back. "Well, I know it serves people, families, old people. I was there a couple of times," food pantry user Karen Schwartz said. The Mukwonago Food Pantry built a home in 2002, but a frozen pipe burst in February, flooding it and leaving thousands of dollars in damage. The cleanup cost is now the subject of a foreclosure suit filed by the contractor, Emergency Restoration Specialists of Cudahy, which claims it’s owed $111,000. ERS' attorney told WISN 12 News, "My client believes it has invoiced fairly for its work and has not been paid anything."The food pantry's attorney said there's a reason the bill hasn't been paid. She claims it's at least twice what it should've been for the cleanup there.The pantry director told WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr the pantry is in good financial shape and will absolutely stay open. Users certainly hope so. Worrying the suit could impact the food pantry's ability to help residents here."Even though I don't use it all the time, I would miss it because it's like, 'Oh it's there if I really need it,'" Schwartz said. Both sides told WISN 12 News they're confident an agreement can be reached between the restoration company, the food pantry and the pantry's insurance company, so the pantry will remain open to serve the community. No dates have been set for a hearing in the case. If a resolution isn't reached, it would head to trial in civil court.
A food pantry is in a showdown with a contractor who wants to foreclose on its building.
The contractor claims the Mukwonago Food Pantry owes it more than $100,000 for a flood cleanup, but the pantry said it’s fighting back.
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"Well, I know it serves people, families, old people. I was there a couple of times," food pantry user Karen Schwartz said.
The Mukwonago Food Pantry built a home in 2002, but a frozen pipe burst in February, flooding it and leaving thousands of dollars in damage.
The cleanup cost is now the subject of a foreclosure suit filed by the contractor, Emergency Restoration Specialists of Cudahy, which claims it’s owed $111,000.
ERS' attorney told WISN 12 News, "My client believes it has invoiced fairly for its work and has not been paid anything."
The food pantry's attorney said there's a reason the bill hasn't been paid. She claims it's at least twice what it should've been for the cleanup there.
The pantry director told WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr the pantry is in good financial shape and will absolutely stay open.
Users certainly hope so. Worrying the suit could impact the food pantry's ability to help residents here.
"Even though I don't use it all the time, I would miss it because it's like, 'Oh it's there if I really need it,'" Schwartz said.
Both sides told WISN 12 News they're confident an agreement can be reached between the restoration company, the food pantry and the pantry's insurance company, so the pantry will remain open to serve the community.
No dates have been set for a hearing in the case. If a resolution isn't reached, it would head to trial in civil court.
