Mount Prospect scaling back on backyard flood assistance program

Mount Prospect intends to scale back on its backyard drainage assistance program, Village Engineer Jeff Wulbecker announced at a recent meeting with the village board.

The program began in response to backyard flooding, much of it in older subdivisions built under less rigorous standards. The village would consult with homeowners, survey the site, and provide a design with improvements such as rain gardens to minimize flooding.

From there, it was largely up to the property owner. In some cases, the village would construct improvements, with the owner committing to paying for a quarter of the cost, up to $5,000.

Since it began, the village has installed improvements at 42 sites at a cost of $981,853. Another 27 projects are awaiting a projected $700,000 in funding.

Under the changes outlined by Wulbecker, Mount Prospect staff will continue to respond to requests for service, as well as prepare design plans and award contracts for "Flood Risk A" properties, where flooding reaches the foundation of one or more homes.

However, the village will no longer handle requests from "Flood Risk B" properties, where flooding reaches one or more detached garages, or "Flood Risk C" properties, where flooding cannot be resolved by regrading.