Palatine updates flood-control program

Palatine is modifying its cost-sharing storm sewer extension program to benefit even the most isolated flood-prone areas.

The village council has agreed to expand the program's scope so that only two affected properties are needed to qualify for financial assistance.

Palatine also will provide low-interest loans in certain cases where a property's sump pump is the sole cause of excessive stormwater accumulation.

Village Manager Reid Ottesen said the program has solved most of Palatine's significant flooding since its creation nearly 20 years ago. Now, mostly small "nuisance problems" remain.

Under the new guidelines, only two properties have to experience flooding and only one property has to participate in the program. The village will extend a private storm sewer, which is smaller than the typical municipal size. Construction costs an estimated $5,000, meaning the one property owner would pay 50 percent of costs up to $2,500.

Overall costs to the village would decrease because the benefiting property owners own and maintain the storm sewer extensions. Over the last three years, Palatine has been picking up 85 percent of the tab on average because of caps put on resident contributions.

Last year, Palatine implemented a rain garden program to help in cases where just one home is experiencing excessive stormwater accumulation.

The village expects to spend between $82,000 and $85,000 annually on the program over the next five years.

Palatine will advertise the changes on Channel 6, the village Web site and in newsletters.