City takes steps to prepare for flooding

The Prospect Heights City Council voted Monday night to spend up to $50,000 from the funds residents voted for street repairs to study drainage issues in the city.

The council took other steps to prepare for future flooding, including buying two more pumps for the Public Works Department.

Storm sewers and related drainage issues were part of the ballot question last November when residents approved issuing up to $15 million in bonds for street work, said Alderman Pat Ludvigsen of the Fourth Ward.

He said each alderman should present problem areas from his or her ward for study. In the 100 block of North Elm Street, changing a culvert could prevent flooding at the only house that floods in that area, he said.

Ludvigsen also expressed concern that raising the centers of some streets during the current street project might cause more yards and homes to flood.

Mayor Nick Helmer said he was going to ask mayors in other area towns to form a coalition to study drainage and water problems for the whole area.

The city will buy one 6-inch and one 3-inch pump and hoses to use during times of flooding. The price will not exceed $16,000, the council voted. The city now owns one 6-inch and two 3-inch pumps, said Steve Skiber, director of building and zoning.

Skiber will also seek less expensive options for generators after getting a bid of $219,450 for one strong enough to power all the pumps at the city’s wells.

The wells take the most energy, and a portable generator could also be used at other sites such as the city’s lift station that lost power during the July 23 deluge, he said. Fries Automotive loaned the city a generator and delivered it and set it up at no charge, Skiber said.

Extra bills for cleaning up after the three major storms, which is not finished, total $33,732 plus one bill not yet submitted, Skiber said.

The council also joined the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network, which shares equipment and personnel during emergencies. ComEd representatives will meet with Prospect Heights officials to talk about issues around getting power restored after storms. The company received a lot of criticism during a recent meeting with officials from several towns called to discuss that issue, Helmer said.