Flooding becomes an issue in Wheaton council race
The weekend storms provided a somber reminder about what some Wheaton City Council candidates are calling "the defining issue" of the campaign: flooding.
The issue seems to be popping up in a number of municipal races. And at an editorial endorsement meeting Tuesday with the Daily Herald, flooding quickly rose to the surface among candidates for the Wheaton City Council.
"We can solve the flooding issue," said Jeanne Ives, who is trying to unseat East District Councilman Tom Mouhelis. "It's just that it hasn't been a priority at the council. They have focused on development. But you don't get good development, t and you don't attract businesses unless you've got the infrastructure to support it."
Mouhelis countered that the council has tried to work with county and state officials to find grant money for future projects.
North District Councilman Phil Suess, who is facing challenger Tom Johnson, said the city has hired a stormwater engineer who is "diligently working" to develop strategies for reducing flooding issues throughout the community.
In addition, the city is looking to rebuild a culvert along Main Street in 2010 to address flooding concerns in around Northside Park, which is near Prairie Avenue and Main.
"There is a lot of frustration in the community with respect to flooding issues," Suess said. "It's one of these things that's not going to be solved overnight. It's going to take time."
Johnson blames new construction for some of the flooding issues.
"My solution would be that everybody who builds a new house kicks in something for infrastructure," he said. However, Johnson didn't specify exactly how much homebuilders would be required to contribute.
Mark Kmiecik and fellow non-incumbents Jim McMahon and Todd Scalzo all agreed the flooding problem should be addressed. They are pursuing the West District seat held by Dave Johnson, who has decided not to seek a fourth term.
"From what I am hearing out on the street, people are getting water who haven't gotten water in 30 years," McMahon said. "The city has to be more proactive with the flooding. This is probably, in my opinion, the defining issue this year."
Scalzo said the city should work harder to pursue millions of dollars federal grant money. "I think the city needs to pursue that more vigorously; in fact, we haven't pursued it at all," he said.
One project that all the candidates agree could play a role in alleviating flooding is the planned redevelopment of the Hubble Middle School property at Naperville and Roosevelt roads.
Even though much of the land sits in a flood plain and cannot be developed, a reconfiguration would address area flooding, officials say.
The city also is working with the Wheaton Sanitary District to make improvements to sanitary sewers that should help prevent backups.
"It's frustrating for people when the sewers keep backing up," Suess said. "But there are some things that are coming very close to fruition to address these issues."