Stormwater Commission

STORMWATER COMMISSION MEETING SUMMARY March 12, 2009 The following persons were present: Chuck Ostman, Richard Wlodarski, Scott Jochim, Mousa Nazzal, Andrew Vitale, Joseph Lo Verde, and Steven Vinezeano. I) General Discussion: Stormwater Commission Project Manager Steven Vinezeano opened the meeting. He thanked the group for being very responsive over the past week after Sunday’s 2” rain storm. During the storm, the following locations were investigated and then discussed in this meeting: (1) Glendale Road. Resident at Glendale noted the water coming from the north (Glenview) down Glendale Road. Jochim met with the resident and is working on a contact at Glenview to discuss the situation. (2) Western and Sunset. Residents called about the water coming from the Park Ridge Park, North Park. Jochim stated that a swale was removed by Park Ridge and they will be contacted about having it rebuilt. (3) Western Ave. The resident purchased a home with a ditch system and was informed that it cannot be tied into the Western Avenue sewer. The Village has since assisted the resident by helping to increase the size of the swale on his property and also fixed a collapsed pipe under his driveway that was installed by the previous owner. (4) Monroe. Resident is concerned about vehicles driving through street when flooded. Steve called resident and left a voicemail to return call. Resident will be informed to call 911 to request barricades. (5) Elmore. Resident called about seepage. The group discussed how the final report must have information regarding what is the Village’s responsibility versus what is the responsibility of the homeowner. (6) Odell and Greenleaf. These are homes with rear yard flooding. The final report will consider a recommendation to institute a cost share program to help residents with rear yard flooding. (7) Our Lady of Ransom. and Sunset Road receive stormwater from OLR property. The Village Engineer has met with OLR and is working on a future solution. In addition, it was discovered that the County did not place a restrictor on the Greenwood storm sewer that is connected to Sunset. County will be contacted for a solution. It was also discussed that OLR had stormwater detention pond removed. (8) Keeney Street and Oketo/Odell Alley. Jochim and Vinezeano visited the resident at Keeney to discuss flooding in the center of the street. Further investigation found a blockage at the restrictor of Keeney/Odell. In addition, blockage was found in the Alley system as well. There is a concern that leaves, branches, etc. found in the sewer are due in part because residents do not bag yardwaste or do not clean it up, so it ends up  in the sewer system. The Village Engineer reviewed the alley construction and found it to be sound. (9) Huber Lane. The resident stated that their plumber claimed that the Village’s system was blocked. The Village is cleaning and video taping the sewer line to provide to the resident. (10) Maryhill and St. Adalbert Cemeteries. Jochim shared a report with the group. The management for the cemeteries is working on solutions to retain stormwater on their property. (11) Jonquil Park. This location has a sewer at the southeast end that was charged during Sunday’s rain. Also, about four homes received rear yard flooding from it. Village Engineer will check the sewer in that location. (12) Grennan Heights Park. Odell receives stormwater from the east side of the park. Joe Lo Verde stated that plans are being discussed to help better retain the stormwater with raised sidewalks and detention. (13) Sunset. Ms. is concerned about a storm sewer in her rear yard that her neighbors discharge into (sumps). She wanted to have that right too and after some study with red dye, it was discovered that her sump was also hooked up to the sewer. That particular sewer runs to Sunset where it was discovered that the County had not placed a restrictor on Greenwood, which will help alleviate some flooding. (14) Courtland Drive. The area by Maryland and Courtland must be studied further to find a solution. Currently, several homes with below grade depressed garages take on water when the street floods. The Village is televising and cleaning the sewers as precaution. Milwaukee Avenue was even closed down to one northbound lane due to the water at Bradford Exchange. (15) The Village Engineer was given several streets to check due to sewer complaints: Cleveland, Monroe, Osceola, Odell, Ocatvia, Oconto, Wisner, and Chester. II) The Huntington: Personnel from the Huntington will meet with the Assistant Village Manager, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and Ozinga to discuss the potential use of green infrastructure solutions to design area parking to further reduce stormwater runoff possibilities that could negatively impact neighbors. III) Open Discussion: a) The committee discussed the possibility of recommending an inspection program for homeowners that is specifically for stormwater. b) It was discussed that the Village should maintain records of when homeowners are contacted about stormwater issues and provided with private property solutions. c) There was discussion about the issue of yardwaste that clogs the sewer system. Many times a year, residents continue to rake yardwaste into streets and that yardwaste creates havoc, especially at restrictors in the system. d) Project Manager Vinezeano stated that he would begin working on the report to the Mayor and will be returning to the commission to brainstorm the issues and potential solutions. There is an understanding among the commission that stormwater issues are regional, intergovernmental, and local. No grand solution will stop flooding as was learned by the Village of Skokie where millions was spent, yet flooding is still an issue. The goal will be to work with all parties involved from region to resident to reduce flood incidents in the Village of Niles. At the moment, the commission continues to collect data and analyze the stormwater system, while taking full advantage of identified opportunities to make system improvements.