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Busse Woods dam modification set to begin in August

A long-awaited project aimed at alleviating flooding along Salt Creek in Cook and DuPage counties is targeted for groundbreaking in August, Elk Grove Village officials said Tuesday.

Plans to modify a dam in Busse Woods near Cosman Road have been under consideration since 2008, when heavy storms left homes, businesses and roadways under water. Officials had hoped to begin the $3 million dam modification project sooner, but they say it's taken awhile to do engineering studies, design work, and coordinate with different governmental agencies that have jurisdiction over the project.

"It's a lot of coordination and persistence," said Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson.

Elk Grove and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will share in the $2 million construction cost of changes to the dam, though an exact breakdown of costs is still being finalized.

Elk Grove, with some funds from DuPage County, has already spent $1 million on engineering and design work.

On Tuesday, the village board took the first step in anticipation of the start of construction, approving a $481,510 contract with Massachusetts-based Steel-Fab Inc. for the manufacture of hinged crest gates that will be installed at the dam.

The gates will open and close, allowing water to come in or go out, depending on the upstream water level.

At the advent of an impending storm, the level of Busse Lake, which feeds into Salt Creek, would be manually lowered, allowing the reservoir to hold more water. The water can then be released at a slower pace after the storm.

The dam has to be modified since it is locked and welded at its lowest elevation. The changes, officials say, would make it less likely for Salt Creek to flood during a major storm.

The village board approved payment for the gates earlier than the rest of the project since the gates will take 20 weeks to make. The board is expected to give final approval to intergovernmental agreements in May, paving the way for the rest of the project to go out to bid.

The village is awaiting final approvals from the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

Elk Grove also plans to amend its already-approved agreement with DuPage County that will allow the village to operate and maintain the dam.

Johnson said he had a productive meeting last month with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, who expressed their support for moving the project along.

"We said we don't want money. Let's just get it done," Johnson said. "Everyone wants it done, from the top down."

The village will fund its portion of costs through proceeds from a $38 million general obligation bond issue authorized by the village board in January 2013.

Construction is expected to take three months, and officials are targeting completion by Thanksgiving.

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