This Lisle Watchdog Blog was written in May 2013.
Not much has changed in a year..
Did we miss that "Golden Opportunity"?
___________________________________________
Lisle Flood: Golden Opportunity or Disaster?
May 10, 2013
Golden Opportunity
Local and State officials told hundreds of homeless and exhausted flood victims that the April 18 flood event "is a golden opportunity," further enraging the already angry and frustrated crowd gathered at a special meeting last night at Trinity Church in Lisle.
Officials explained that those flood victims with flood insurance may be eligible for a $30,000 grant to elevate their homes and fill in their basements to comply with current storm water regulations that apply to their damaged homes built in the 100 year flood plain.
But first, President Obama must make a declaration that Lisle, DuPage Co and several other Illinois counties are a federal disaster area. Congressman Bill Foster, who represents the southeastern portion of Lisle, explained that the White House declaration could come within days or as long as a few weeks. Foster explained that once approved, "limited" assistance could be available from FEMA - including grants and low interest loans. Foster cautioned that there are many exclusions in FEMA assistance. Congressman Roskam, who represents most of Lisle including the areas most impacted by the flood, was not present.
The 50% Rule
The National Flood Insurance Program requires that the Village to inspect all of the flood damaged homes that lie within the flood plain. Lisle officials estimated that 400 homes will be inspected.
Once inspected, Village staff is estimating the cost of repairs. If the cost of repairs due to the recent flood plus the cumulative cost of any and all repairs done on the property since 1992 exceeds 50% of the fair market value of the building, then the property owner is required to either elevate the structure to two feet above the 100 year flood level or demolish the home. Eventually, all homes would reach the 50% threshold. The Village does not have a set date for homeowners to complete the work to elevate their homes - a range of 6 months to 4 years was mentioned as a possible consideration for a future Board discussion.
The Letter
Once inspections and costs of damages are determined, the Village issues the property owner a "Damage Assessment Letter." The letters categorize the damage as:
1. No Flood Damage
2. Flood Damage, Not Substantially Damaged
3. Substantially Damaged
http://www.villageoflisle.org/home/index.asp?page=10&recordid=1049
Village officials estimated that 100 letters have been completed and 11 of the 100 are "Substantially Damaged"
Several residents took issue with the accuracy of the cost estimate of the repairing damage that is prepared by Village staff. One woman questioned the estimated cost of $10,000 to replace 5 basement windows that were not broken and still operate. When Lisle officials explained that she can appeal the estimated cost of damages by hiring an architect or contractor to prepare a cost estimate, the crowd cheered when she retorted "Why do we have to carry the burden of contesting unreasonable repair costs?"
IDOT Bridge Construction at St Joseph's Creek
At the time of the flood, IDOT had construction crews installing sheet piling to facilitate the construction of a new bridge on Rt 53 over St Joseph's Creek. IDOT officials said the construction crews stopped work early on April 17 due to the rain and the sheet piling work was not completed. During the flood event residents conveyed their observations of the accumulation of debris at the sheeting. Residents vehemently disagreed with IDOT engineers initial assessment that the sheeting was not a contributing cause to the flooding in the St. Joseph's Creek area. One 35 year resident said that this is the first time his property flooded and attributed it to the IDOT bridge construction as St Joseph's Creek did not overflow the levy. ID engineers did acknowledge that their studies did not include the effects of debris.
The Village hired a local firm to review IDOT's report.
Unfortunately, it appears the Village did not hire a Licensed IL Professional Engineer.
http://www.villageoflisle.org/docs/2013-05-07_st_joseph_creek_at_il-53_flood_study.pdf
No Money to Fix the Levees
In the early morning hours of April 18, 2013 the East Brnch of the DuPage River overflowed the top of the existing levees an event that was a known risk with potentially devestating consequences.
Back in 2005 DuPage County paid to have engineering work on levee maintenance completed.
From the DuPage County:
River Dumoulin Flood Control Project - Property Reimbursement
Village of Lisle
The River Dumoulin Flood Control Project is comprised of several different project components. A total of four pump stations will be constructed along the East Branch between Lacey Avenue and Burlington Avenue in Lisle. In addition, several areas of the levee system will be raised to their original design elevation. In order to repair the levee, permanent easements will be needed from property owners along the length of the levee. These easements are needed for access and construction and to make sure that structures or plantings are not placed on the levee in the future that would affect the integrity of the levee. DuPage County has an IGA with Lisle to reimburse property owners up to $1,500.00 for the permanent easements required for the levee repair project.
Now 8 years later, the Village as yet to acquire easements from the 55 property owners along the river to access and repair the levee. One Lisle resident asked Mayor Broda if the Village brought their check book to the meeting, because the 55 owners are in attendance and need the money and are willing to sell a permanent easement to the Village.
Audible moans and gasps were heard when Broda responded that the Village does not have the funds to purchase the easements from the 55 property owners. Total cost to acquire the 55 easements is $82,500.
Not only does the Village not have the funds to acquire the easements, the Village does not have the funds to do the levee maintenance once the easements are acquired.
No Storm Water Master Plan
To make matters worse, the repair would be limited to restoring the levee to a height corresponding to a 50-year flood level, not a 100-yr flood level. It doesn't appear that the Village has a long range master plan for village-wide storm water infrastructure improvement projects to manage a 100 yr flood.
No Notification
Lisle police and fire officials dodged the repeated question as to why residents were not notified at 4 am when the flood conditions reached a crisis level. A Lisle police officer conveyed a state of frenzy and numerous 911 calls. A deputy chief from the Lisle Fire Department described the process of calling in help from other stations and rescue efforts at nursing homes. One trustee said the Village did indeed notify residents - at 9 am. One angry resident retorted that he did not appreciate a call from the Village some 5 hours after the peak flood to tell him what he already knew.
Another Lisle man who lost his car because he did not receive notification early enough to move it to higher ground said that not only did he not get notification - he has received no help at all from the Village. He concluded by saying, the Village did manage to make sure he got his water bill.
Buy-Outs
State officials also mentioned the possibility of a buy-out program for homes that are substantially damaged and have flood insurance. The buyout would be funded 75% by FEMA with the remaining 25% coming from local and/or state sources. The buyout process could take as long as two years for homeowners to see cash.
Next steps …
More than half of the residents stayed until the meeting wrapped up at 11 pm. The Village has offered to meet with effected residents individually to review the their costs estimates for damages and to expedite the construction permit process. Village would not commit to additional trash pickups for flood soaked furniture, drywall and appliances.