In just a short time on Sunday afternoon I canvassed homes on Wheeler, Tappan and a couple of other streets in the 900-1000 blocks. In an hour I identified ten (10) homes that were damaged by last month’s flooding and sewer back-ups. If I found ten in an hour and knocked on many doors of homes that were either vacant or where no one was home at time, how many more are there in Woodstock?
One man ventured a guess that there were over 1,000 homes affected by the flooding and back-ups. Another man knew a lot about the Olson Park lift station outage and questioned reports that one pump was out only for 45 minutes. He questioned how any of the pumps operated after lightning knocked out the power to the station.
A comment was made to me that the repaving of Tappan Street raised the elevation, trapping water in yards of houses on the west side of the street. The resident said a drain is needed, so that water can reach the Olson Park retention area and be drained away there.
To what extent has the City forestalled complaints by so quickly claiming that it had no liability? How many residents did not bother to report flooding or sewer back-ups, once they heard the City’s disclaimer (whether it’s true or not)? What if it turns out that the City is liable for certain damages?
At the City Council meeting in mid-August I suggested that the City send a questionnaire out to all residents, asking if they had flooding, sewer back-ups or any other damage from the rainfall. More than a few in the audience applauded my request. (Thank you; you know who you are.) But the City didn’t do it. No questionnaire in the newspaper(s); no letter to all residents. Posting flood information on the City’s website is good, but how many people drop in at www.woodstockil.gov every morning after they finish reading the Northwest Herald? I suspect you could count them on two hands.
The City needs to step up and be pro-active in determining how many houses were damaged. If you agree, contact City Manager Tim Clifton at (815) 338-4300 or, better, by email at tclifton@woodstockil.gov Come to a City Council meeting (schedule is on the City’s website).
Do you know of homes not on the City’s flood report? Ask the owners to contact the City now and report their damage. This is the only way the City will know the true extent of the damage.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
3 comments:
Here's another comment from someone who has lived on Wheeler St for fifty years. The repaving of Tappan St has eliminated most of the water problems we had before curb and gutter was done. Feel better now?
I can think of a way the pumps could work after lightning knocked out the power. Generators. Has Gus let himself in the lift stations to see if this might be a possibility?
I'm sure alot of homes flooded, but I think they flooded because they are older and have no sump pump. They might be rubble & stone foundations without the water proofing that they apply on today's homes. Even homes with sump pumps still flooded because the pump couldn't keep up with the amount of rain we had. It's mother natures fault. I wouldn't think that it would be the City's fault. Stupid.
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