Several communities near the Des Plaines River have agreed to curb flooding by installing an $8 million system of pumps, reservoirs, walls and ponds instead of a far more expensive retention pond.
While the state would pay for most of the project, Park Ridge, Niles and Maine Township would each pay about $205,000. Des Plaines would pay about $455,000 to include the cost of a pump where Farmers Creek joins the river.
The project, intended to protect the area from the severity of flooding that is expected once every 100 years and the level of rainstorm expected once every 25 years, is expected to cost the local governments about a quarter of what they would have had to pay for another plan introduced last year.
The original, more protective $19.2 million plan called for a retention pond surrounding the WJJD radio towers in Des Plaines.
Though Niles and Park Ridge representatives were dubious about whether their officials would be willing to pay their share, the Prairie/Farmers Creek Flood Control Project Steering Committee decided last week to submit the new plan to the Illinois Department of Transportation for approval. The committee was formed in 1990 in reaction to damaging floods in 1986 and 1987.
Before their next meeting in September, the committee members hope to lay the groundwork for an intergovernmental agreement and get approval from each of their towns and the township.
Des Plaines City Manager Lawrence Asaro said that in figuring out each community`s share of the cost, the committee tried to balance how much flood damage each town absorbs with how much water each contributes to the river`s flow.
Since Des Plaines absorbs 55 percent of the flood damage, according to that environmental study, the city volunteered to pay more than the other towns, he said.
”I don`t have a problem with going back to my council with a larger share,” said Des Plaines Mayor Michael Albrecht, who is also committee chairman.
But Niles Village Manager Abe Selman said his board may find it difficult to spend the money. Although 34 percent of the water comes from Niles, it has no flood damage.
”There`s so little benefit to Niles-no benefit as far as flooding. We have our own problems that need to be dealt with,” Selman said.
Park Ridge Public Works Director Tom Frederickson said his city supported the project, but he wasn`t sure how much it would contribute. Park Ridge suffers 4 percent of the damage and contributes 18 percent of the water.
Maine Township absorbs 41 percent of the damage and contributes 33 percent of the water, according to the study, and Township Supervisor Joan Hall backed the plan.
The project calls for a gated berm and pump station to be built across Farmers Creek near the Chicago & North Western Transportation Co. tracks in Des Plaines. During a heavy rain, the gates would close so that the river could not flow back up the creek; however, the pump would allow creek water to pass to the river.
A 2.5-acre reservoir would be constructed near the confluence of Farmers and Prairie Creeks near Lyman Avenue and Ballard Road.
The Lutheran General Hospital pond would be enlarged, the storm sewer under Dee Road would be replaced by a larger culvert, and a flood wall would be constructed along the north side of Dempster Street near Busse Highway.
