$3.6 million flood project slated along 7th Avenue Creek in St. Charles

After decades of flooding that's plagued residents along the 7th Avenue Creek in St. Charles, the city's aldermen unanimously approved allocating $3.6 million for the first phase of a construction project in the area just south of Main Street.

The contract for Phase 1, which came in about $400,000 under budget, was awarded on Monday to Martam Construction. Because of three grants totaling $1.7 million, the cost to the city will end up being about $1.9 million.

Martam hopes to begin construction in February, weather permitting, and finish the bulk of the work by the end of October.

"I am so excited that this project is happening," Ward 5 Alderman Maureen Lewis said during Monday's Government Services Committee meeting. "It's been in the making for several years here. I think this is really going to revitalize this area of St. Charles."

Projects include restoring the creek from South 10th Avenue to Washington Avenue, stabilizing stream banks, upsizing culverts, removing a portion of South 9th Avenue between East Main Street and Illinois Avenue, and adding a walking path along the creek between South 10th Avenue and Indiana Avenue.

Trees and 13 structures will be removed from the floodplain. Utility work is scheduled to begin in March.

At Monday's meeting, St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina recalled starting his first term eight years ago when a rainstorm caused severe flooding. He visited the area around Lincoln Elementary School and noticed the creek rushing "like a mad dog."

"Eight years later we're in the process now of putting some real final touches on this project," he said.

Ward 3 Alderman Todd Bancroft praised the work but stressed the need in the city for additional flood mitigation projects, including in areas southeast of the corner of Main Street and Randall Road.

"We do have other problems in St. Charles that need to be dealt with," said Ward 1 Alderman Ron Silkaitis, the chairman of the Government Services Committee. "Hopefully we can do it a little quicker than how long it took for this one."