An 'Embarrassment' For Western Springs

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Grant Baker's family moved into a newly refurbished house late last year in the 5400 block of Howard Avenue. Last weekend's flooding changed things.

"The whole basement is shot," Baker told the Village Board on Monday. "Whose financial responsibility is that? It's mine. I've got to figure out how to make a basement for my kids to play and live in. It's no fair. No more meetings. Act. This is ridiculous."

Baker was among a number of residents in the Springdale neighborhood who spoke during the meeting. For years, Springdale, which is in Western Springs' southeastern corner, has seen some of the worst flooding in the village.

"To find out that this has been going on for years and nothing has been done about it, except studies and meetings, that's sad," Baker said.

Based on the public comments, the 5400 block of Franklin Avenue was ground zero for the neighborhood's flooding. Resident Christoper Kell, who lives on that block, said that when he cleared the street grate last weekend, the water came up to about 5 feet on his 6-foot frame.

"It's going beyond annoyance and financial concerns and turning into serious danger," Kell said. "At some point, we fear someone is going to die because of the water."

Russell Hartigan, a former village trustee and Springdale resident, called the situation in the neighborhood an "embarrassment to the village."

"You could put a boat on Franklin Avenue, and it would sail all the way through without any interruption. That's how bad it is," he said.

Ron Swade, who has lived on Caroline Avenue since 1973, sympathized with his Springdale neighbors who suffered the worst of the flooding in Springdale. He said he got "residual" water compared with some of his neighbors.

While others were critical of the village, Swade said officials have done work toward improving the neighborhood's situation.

"There has been some progress," he said.

Resident Robert Watson urged quick action for Springdale, saying he spoke to the board about flooding eight years ago.

"They said they were going to work on it. I hear the stuff you're looking into now may be another eight years. That's another 10 floods. That's a lot. We need to get this going," Watson said. "Maybe put a Band-Aid on something before the big picture."

While village officials took their share of criticism Monday, the public comments were less emotional than what their counterparts in La Grange heard the same night. In that meeting, too, residents decried the studies and meetings and asked for immediate action.

In the spring, an engineering firm hired by Western Springs estimated it would cost $2.5 million to $3.1 million to address flooding in Springdale.

The firm recommended two alternatives that would include constructing new larger diameter storm sewers to provide relief to the existing system during flooding and send excess stormwater to a new detention basin in Springdale Park.

Ridgewood is the other Western Springs subdivision that often sees heavy flooding.