Carol Stream flood victims get few answers

More than 60 frustrated residents packed Carol Stream's village boardroom Monday to ask officials for help in preventing a repeat of last week's flooding in their neighborhoods.

But village officials made no promises to fix the situation anytime soon, instead saying they would approach DuPage County about the problem.

Many of the residents, like Nancy Barcelona, live in the village's original subdivision just south of Armstrong Park.

"There's still an ice pond behind my house," she said. "These are people who care about their homes and want to stay in Carol Stream. We will do what we have to do to make this better."

Last week, sections of Illini Drive and Silver Leaf Boulevard were shut down for several days as public works crews worked to help remove ice and standing water. Many neighbors parked their cars in nearby lots.

James Knudsen, the village's engineering director, said officials will urge county officials to help, but ultimately there was little the village could, or should, do.

"We view this problem as a regional problem," Knudsen said. "It should not be borne by Carol Stream taxpayers. Many of these waters are coming from other areas."

Village President Frank Saverino urged those in attendance to contact county board members to voice their concerns.

"If it was an easy fix, don't you think we'd get it done?" Saverino said. "We're all neighbors. It kills me to see everybody here with these problems."

Flood: Residents urged to call county