Carol Stream looks into flood relief

Work could begin as soon as next year on a water reservoir and pumping station at Armstrong Park to help alleviate flooding concerns, county board member and stormwater committee chairman Jim Zay told Carol Stream residents on Wednesday.

However, the first step will be to apply pressure on county board members to approve a $70 million borrowing plan that includes $15 million for flood control, Zay said.

As it stands right now, the vote at Tuesday's special meeting will be close, he said. The results of an engineering study conducted during roughly the past eight months will be presented at the stormwater committee meeting Tuesday. In it, there are expected to be nine options presented as to a future course of action.

Among them is the Armstrong Park plan, which would take collaboration with the Carol Stream Park District. At a meeting last month, conceptual plans involving the park were discussed, but officials at the park district and Zay on Wednesday stressed that these were merely in the planning stages.

More than 40 Carol Stream residents attended the meeting to listen to and ask questions of Zay and Village President Frank Saverino. The gathering was organized by a group of about 10 residents who say they just want to save their homes.

"We have people still out of their house or trying to repair their homes," said Lisa Wilson of the 500 block of Mohican Road. Her home lies right against Armstrong Park and, she said, is usually the first to flood.

Wilson was one of several to pass out fliers in the previously flooded neighborhoods, and she said she was happy with the turnout. She still is not sure if they group will grow any more, but she said her reason for helping organize the meeting was simple.

"I want to save my home," she said. "I want to protect my family."

On July 24, heavy storms caused nearby Klein Creek to overflow and forced several families to watch as water approached and eventually overtook their homes.

Two weeks ago, federal authorities declared the county a disaster area, which freed up federal funds to help property owners.

Zay said one of the nine options will most likely be chosen Tuesday, and it will open up a 30-day public comment period, during which he said county officials will hold a public meeting in Carol Stream.