Members of the DeKalb Public Works Department held an open forum to discuss storm water drainage Thursday night.

Stemming largely from the Aug. 24 flooding of the Kishwaukee River into the surrounding area, the forum provided an opportunity to discuss past and future improvements and for DeKalb residents to voice their concerns and suggestions.

“This meeting [was] meant to gather information to present to the mayor and to take it into the formation of a storm water task force,” said Rick Monas, director of the DeKalb Public Works Department. “We’re also hoping to recruit members for the committee.”

The storm water task force will be formed to determine and help solve problems dealing with the city’s drainage.

The turnout was less than expected, with only three citizens publicly voicing their concerns. Much more prevalent were representatives from the City of DeKalb.

Joel C. Maurer, DeKalb’s director of engineering, outlined the storm water drainage improvements DeKalb has undertaken in the last 10 years.

Recent improvements include repairing several sewer pipes and the recent construction on Annie Glidden Road, which has raised the street 2 feet above the floodplain elevation. Overall, the city has spent $4.6 million in
improvements in the last decade.

“This recent improvement on Annie Glidden Road should take care of any potential problems in the future,” Maurer said. “But we’re trying to upgrade here with a limited budget.”

Also discussed was the status of the sanitary sewage department. Mike Zima, manager of the Sanitary District discussed the different processes for avoiding flooding of sanitary systems in homes and showed statistics detailing the progress the sanitary committee has made.

The citizens on hand each had their turn with the microphone as well.
Dave Pauling, 429 Fairmont Drive, who has been out of his home since the flooding, suggested the levees just aren’t big enough. He was at the forum on behalf of seven families in his neighborhood as well.

“The damage to my property is over $90,000 – almost half the value of the home,” Pauling said. “I’ve got to replace the floors, the walls and do some re-wiring to get it up to code. Hopefully, we can do something about this in the future.”

Beverly Pigott, 203 John St., said there is simply too much water and nowhere for it to go.

“My kids are telling me I can’t live here anymore,” Pigott said. “And this really was scary; I can’t do this much more.”

Every citizen who attended the meeting volunteered to serve on the future storm water task force.

“That river, it looks like a trickle during much of the year,” Pigott said. “But then it rains and it looks so angry coming at you, it hardly looks like the same thing.”

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