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player ready...After recent flooding inundated basements in numerous homes on La Grange’s south side, village officials identified more than $14 million worth of new and unbudgeted sewer improvement projects to combat flooding in the area.
On Monday, village trustees approved using $47,000 from the general fund reserves to pay for an engineering analysis to evaluate those projects, which include the construction of a flood wall and a new storm sewer, and a look at alternatives to reduce the incidences of overland flooding in the area south of 47th Street.
Other solutions presented by staff involve additional sewer line televising and an estimated $500,000 in sewer lining and repairs.
During a flooding event on Aug. 22, residents reported that the water was several feet high near Spring Avenue, and that caused many homes to receive water in basements.
“We can’t do it all at once, but I’d sure like to see … (us) taking care of these floodwaters, whether it’s a wall or a 54-inch pipe that shoots the water so hard it goes over the flight pattern at Midway, whatever it might take that does involve some study,” said Village President Thomas Livingston.
Finance Director Lou Cipparrone told the village board that while not ideal, using reserve funds to pay for the engineering study was appropriate because it was a one-time and unanticipated expenditure. But how to pay for the potentially multimillion dollar solutions is up for debate.
Cipparrone suggested that the village also use reserves to extend the emergency sewer lining program, which is estimated to cost $175,000. He added that for the other projects — sewer lining and repairs, the flood wall and a new storm sewer — the trustees should consider a combination of funding sources through taxes and general obligation bonds.
If the village were to issue new bonds, however, it would need voter approval through a referendum to do so.
Some trustees voiced support for a referendum as well as tax increases to fund the projects
“The greatest threat to our thriving village is our aging infrastructure. … We’ve lived within our means. I think now we need to take it to the voters,” Trustee Jeff Nowak said. “We are at a point in time where a bond issue is not going to be any cheaper. The opportunity is now to fix particularly difficult areas in our village, and we need the support of all of our residents to help us in that effort.”
Mike Matteucci, a resident who lives on the 700 block of Spring Avenue, said he and his neighbors appreciated the staff and trustees’ willingness to address the issue, urging them to work out solutions as soon as possible.
“We’d like this to happen as soon as possible … so let’s plan for success whether this be a referendum or a combination (of other funding sources),” Matteucci said. “This is a big, long overdue fix that needs to happen.”
The engineering study should be completed by November or December, Public Works Director Ryan Gillingham said.