Council candidates: No easy answers to Wheaton flooding

Even as an incumbent city council member, John Prendiville says he's not satisfied with the progress Wheaton has made to address flooding.

"People still get flooded," he said. "I've been flooded three times in the last 15 years myself, so I'm very sensitive to this topic."

He's not alone. All four candidates seeking two at-large Wheaton council seats in the April 7 election - in addition to Prendiville, the field features newcomers Tony Lyons, Ron Almiron and Suzanne Fitch - say flooding is a significant problem, even if they have different thoughts on how it should be addressed.

Prendiville said the city is still waiting for the results of a test program in the northeast part of Wheaton that lined sewer pipes with felt tubes to reduce the amount of rainwater that infiltrates the sanitary sewer system.

In the meantime, he said the city continues to work with DuPage County to find solutions.

Developers, he said, are required to make sure any flooding issues at their finished projects are no worse than before work began and to improve the situation when possible.

"I think we're doing everything we can, as frustrating as it is for homeowners who flood," he said. "We're limited by the amount of money that we have and our desire to keep taxes as low as possible."

Lyons, a retired school psychologist, said he likes an idea that has been proposed in the past to try to move stormwater into forest preserves, where it can dissipate without causing residential flooding.

He said he understands concerns have been raised with that idea, including fears about significant dredging of creeks that some people are trying to get restored to a natural state.

"So what is the solution?" he said. "Well, sure, if you could figure out a way for these creeks to drain and get into the forest preserve system, that would be superb. Otherwise, are we going to try to make retention ponds, maybe multiple little ponds all over to try to collect the water? I scratch my head at it. It certainly is not an area that is a strength of mine."

Although Lyons isn't sure about the best solution, he said he has paid attention to the council's discussions on the matter and gives members credit "for looking at a problem that's just vast and going to continue to be an irritant."

"I know they're focused on it," he said. "I know it's an issue that city council looks at, so when people say, 'The city isn't doing anything about flooding,' I honestly can say that's not true."

Fitch, an attorney, said she has heard many complaints about flooding from residents while serving on the planning and zoning board. It is frustrating, she said, when residents testify at public hearings and walk away feeling like they weren't heard if the city doesn't follow through with some of their suggestions.

"I think the residents are not getting clear answers," she said. "I think part of that has to do with the complexities of stormwater management. Not everybody understands what actions are even viable.

"I do think the city could do a better job of communicating with the residents about whatever limitations there are to better stormwater management."

Fitch said she also would like to see the city engineer come forward with more stormwater management initiatives for the council to consider.

"I agree, there are no easy answers," she said. "We obviously have limited resources and options, but if a project is presented and it is cost-prohibitive, I think we need to explain that to the residents."

Almiron, also an attorney, said he is pleased with the progress that has been made in regard to reducing flooding, particularly on the city's north side.

He acknowledged that fixing the remaining flood-prone areas will be very expensive, but he believes when there is money available, the council should make stormwater management a priority, just as it does with roads and sidewalks.

"It's something that residents would be looking for," he said. "There's just so many homes out there, so many families out there who experience flooding, and it's just a real pain."

Almiron said he also wants to see the city continue to work in cooperation with the county to combat flooding.

"It just seems to make sense, to turn to the county for help in that regard," he said.