City of Des Plaines Flooding Crisis - An Appeal for Intervention by State Officials

After the September 13, 2008 flood, Alderman Rosemary Argus made a motion for the City Council to accelerate the flood work for the 8th Ward. This work is focused on two streets - Marshall Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue and is referred to as Problem Area #12 in the City's 2002 Storm Water Master Plan. The motion was not seconded by anyone and died. After this happened, I asked the City Council for an interim plan, while we await construction slated for 2011 (assuming there is money available). I received no answer to my question.

Following is a link to the trail of my appearances at City Council meetings. My most recent attendance was at the budget meeting mentioned above. More people need to start attending these types of meetings and make their presence known, or we will never get action!

Documentation of appearances before the former City Council of Des Plaines

Because there has not been any response from our Mayor or City Council to the August 28, 2009 Chicago Tribune article on flooding in the 8th Ward, I decided to step up this effort by writing a letter to Congressman Peter Roskam, with a copy to Governor Pat Quinn, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and District Representative Kitty Weiner. I also sent a second letter to Director of Insurance Michael McRaith to try to obtain data on flooding associated with back up of sewer and sump pumps so that we can get some information on where Des Plaines ranks among communities. We already know the City of Des Plaines is at the top of list for claim payments made for flood insurance policies, but how do they look when we put all of the pieces together? The insurance data will tell us the story.

These letters and the original Tribune article can be viewed through the links below:

Letter to Congressman Peter Roskam

Letter to Director of Insurance Michael T. McRaith

August 28, 2009 Chicago Tribune Article