A sewage backup has forced West Deerfield Township to close its office and make adjustments to services, the township supervisor said this week.
On Jan. 28, a “hydrostatic pressure backup” damaged the basement of the Deerfield Road office, according to the township, as toxic material flooded into the building. Township officials expect to be back in the office by late next week, according to Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, an attorney representing the township.
Alyson Feiger, the township supervisor, said her staff will operate out of Deerfield Village Hall, 850 Waukegan Road, until the board of health “give us the OK” to reopen the office at 601 Deerfield Road.
“There was so much sludge that it was toxic,” Feiger said.
The damage will require portions of the building’s interior to be completely gutted, she said.
“That’s why we needed hazmat to fix it for us. We couldn’t even enter the building because the stench was so extensive, it was coming out into our parking lot,” Feiger said.
Feiger said she was shocked at what she saw when she was able to go back in to inspect the damage. When the utility ducts were opened, more sewage poured out, covering what had already been cleaned.
“It was two steps forward and one step back,” Feiger said.
The township’s food pantry was located in the basement, where the sewage first seeped into the building. And due to the damage, the food pantry cannot operate out of the office for some time, according to Krafthefer.
Most of the food had to be thrown out, Feiger said. Some salvageable food was discarded because of the appearance of the packaging.
The pantry lost a supply of between three and six months, according to pantry President Bob Rosenbacher, who also said he was “shocked” by what he saw at the building.
“We will start rebuilding that as soon as we can,” Rosenbacher said. “A large number of what we had to throw out are canned goods, one of our essentials. The amount of damage from the flood is staggering.”
Food pantry patrons are now getting grocery store gift cards rather than bags of groceries twice a month, while a temporary facility is set up at the First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield, according to Feiger.
The Rev. Suzan Hawkinson, the church’s pastor, said she offered space and began rallying area clergy as soon as she learned what happened.
“The response has been amazing using SERCIRCL,” Hawkinson said, referring to the Southeast Lake County Interreligious Council. “It’s a terrific grapevine and it’s working already.”
Hawkinson said the best thing anyone can do immediately is donate money for gift cards while the temporary pantry is readied. She said bulk items are the best kind of food donation because they reduce the amount of storage space and number of volunteers needed to serve patrons.
Feiger said the temporary pantry needs a few weeks to get up and running. She said the patrons will be informed when they can start picking up groceries at the church.
“It’s part of our enclosed worship space,” Hawkinson said. “It will be welcoming and private.”
Though the cost of the repairs has not yet been fully estimated, Feiger said it is covered by insurance. She said the 10-year-old building has passed every inspection “with flying colors.”
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Those who need help from the township or want to donate can call 847-945-0614 and leave a message. The voicemail is checked regularly, she said.
West Deerfield Township covers parts of Deerfield, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Bannockburn and Riverwoods.
Steve Sadin and Sheryl DeVore are freelance reporters for Pioneer Press