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Health & Fitness

Mayor Belsky calls for action on Storms

City and State Need to Act on Stromwater Management

The rains last week caused a great deal of flooding in Highland Park.  Unfortunately this is nothing new. Because we are at the downstream point in Lake County, Highland Park is the recipient of run off generated from development in the communities located to the North. The only way to mitigate our problem is to work with the Lake County Storm Water Management Commission on building storm water detention basins. Several are proposed to be sited north and south to collect rain water travelling east and west during storms. The idea behind the basins is to collect and store storm water and then slowly release it after rain events. To that end, when I was Mayor, we established a consortium of communities along the watersheds to the north of us. The City recently won an award for this effort However, what good is a consortium and awards without leadership and action.

Another solution would be the deepening and widening of the Skokie drainage canal, which takes storm water to the west. Closest to home there are two opportunities that have been pointed out to the City in the past. One is using the Country Club property as a detention area. The golf course currently floods during storms. In fact it was purchased by the City many years ago, in part, for storm water management. If one of the Park Districts long term visions for that area, (i.e. replacing the golf course with walking trails and ball fields) is implemented, perhaps several detention basins can be placed on site.

Another solution that was rejected in the past, but makes perfect sense, is building a detention basin within the 38 acres. The property was purchased by the City a few years ago and is located near the off ramp on route 41 and 22 going eastbound. While it is nice to have open space the area is not readily accessible to the public. This would be an ideal location for a detention basin, and professional engineers told us so. A similar project being discussed is located in Lake Bluff and if constructed would benefit downstream homeowners such as those in Highland Park.

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These solutions have been known for some time and in fact were surfaced and discussed subsequent to previous rain events. So what’s the hold up? Money! The Storm Water Management Commission receives some state funding but only enough to develop plans. As John Lennon so aptly said “life is what happens to you when making plans” The Commission needs a reliable funding source as well as the power to issue debt to accelerate the financing of such projects. In other states there is a storm water fee based on impervious surface attached to the water bill. The city does something similar to this but only to fund its storm sewers not detention basins.

Some states assess a fee on homeowners insurance based on the theory that protecting property through storm water management will lower premiums and therefore pay for the assessment. While  I know the state is cash strapped there is clearly a renewed interest in this topic by the Governor. One thing he can do is to think creatively on how to get these projects funded.  Perhaps we could eliminate superfluous governments such as the townships and consolidate schools as a way to pay for eradicating this life safety issue.

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In Highland Park we should be lobbying for state funding through the commission to complete detention basins at the golf course and 38 acres. At the homeowner and city code level rain barrels, permeable pavers for driveways and rain gardens should become the norm not the exception. They have been promoted in the past, however, codifying the same will ensure implementation.

If we want to continue seeing flooded basements and streets we should keep planning. If we want to fix the problem we need to act.

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