Story posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Aldermen, Flood Control Task Force Review Options
By CRAIG ADAMS Journal & Topics Reporter
Joe Saccomanno, chair of the Park Ridge Flood Control Task Force, and the rest of its members returned to the council chambers on Monday, Jan. 25 for a question and answer session with aldermen.
Only three residents attended the workshop.
The task force presented its preliminary report to the council on Dec. 14 when it recommended sewer maintenance, changes in ordinances, educational efforts, and a monthly $3 surcharge to pay for them. Saccomanno told the council he expects the force to have its final report later in the spring.
"This preliminary report has outlined some of the major funding implications," he said, including the yearly sewer inspection program. That program includes purchase of a vactor truck, an inspection camera system, and additional rodding equipment along with the hiring of two employees to perform the work.
Task force member Steve Tolan added, "Doing it in house is about 65% cheaper than outsourcing it for a 10-year period." In addition, the force estimated that the two employees should be able to get through 350,000 linear feet of sewers each year while outsourcing the work would only yield 140,000 linear feet.
Saccomanno also advocated the suggested citywide sewer study. He explained Park Ridge has about 132 miles of sewers that were built up piecemeal over the years. "Park Ridge is not built in a way a subdivision was built," he said. "Some streets have a 9-inch pipe in it; some others have a 22."
He explained the sewer study would allow the force to know how much flow each sewer can take and what areas drain to what sewers, leading to a better comprehensive understanding of the system.
Saccomanno also reiterated the task force set out to provide conveyance for a 10-year storm. "When you get a 100-year storm, the sewer system is not going to handle it," he said. Three of the most recent floods in the city were from storms of greater than 10-year levels. "You can't just go out and spend and put in detention for a 100-year storm," he explained. Maintenance, relief sewers, and larger capacity sewers can lead to the 10-year protection. However, he added, "Flood control systems for a house will probably give you protection for a 100-year storm."
Task force member Bob Mack encouraged the city to provide a financial incentive plan for residents to install such systems.
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