Why permit building in flood-prone areas?
It never ceases to amaze me that every time we have moderate to heavy rain, we see and hear about homes being flooded and residents clamoring for relief.
It also makes me wonder why the zoning and building departments as well as other officials allow development on flood plain and flood-prone lands.
Many years ago over the objections of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, who had designated the area as flood plain, our elected officials gave permission to build and develop North Libertyville Estates.
As predicted, the river overflowed its banks and flooded the area. It cost millions of taxpayer dollars to build berms and retention ponds to protect the area. Why do we allow this?
As reported in the Daily Herald, Lake Zurich is looking for $3 million to deepen a retention pond by 5 feet, plus $38,000 for consulting fees, to protect a subdivision known for flooding when they approved it.
This is not an isolated case. It happens all over, and it's usually left for future officials to handle. The developers and officials made their money and moved on.
Who cares?
Ronald J. Rengel
Mundelein