Elmhurst residents want answers on flooding issues

Frustrated Elmhurst residents packed a town hall meeting demanding answers from city officials Monday night.

[Brian]

Elmhurst city manager Tom Brochert is clearly out of his element to deal with these types is issues. City residents suggested a basic warning system when severe rains threaten the pump systems to allow residents to plan accordingly; a system such as email alerts, text messages, and use of the city wide alarm system. It was clear to all that this type of technology never dawned on Tom, then again I suspect Tom doesn't know about such technology.

[Tom]

Elmurst Mayor Peter DiCianni didn't say much at this meeting- he was very comfortable allowing Tom Brochert trip all over himself.

I suspect Elmurst Mayor Peter DiCianni won't be re-elected to 2nd term. He was clearly overwhelmed and not comfortable talking about plans to deal with solutions to the city pumping issues. Clearly in over his head.

[factman]

I worked for the city of elmhurst along with several other towns in dupage county. Elmhurst residents are luckey to have tom as your village manager. He has played a large part in making elmhurst the great town that it is. If you dont think so look at villa park or northlake and think about how you would like to live there. Most of dupage county is in a flood plain, tom wasnt here in the twenties when they were planing the town.

[Real American]

keep on fighting-and i pray for all the flood victims...DO NOT GIVE UP!!

[Ron]

I grew up in Northlake, went to school in Elmhurst and have been a home owner for 13 years in Elmhurst and have had flooding in both homes I've owned. Elmhurst has always, always always been an upscale town my entire lifetime. On it's worst day/year it would far surpass Villa Park, Bensenville or Northlake. The issue isn't the improvements to the village, it's the uncontrolled building for buildings sake. Also the TIFF's Mayor Marcucci set up (which are typically used by impoverished communities) are basically a legal skim from the tax base to pay builders. This took millions of dollars from our schools (which are now facing financial crises and overcrowding due to building and lack of funds tied up in TIFF), as well as public works, police and fire. It's OK to revitalize your town or keep your town growing using a TIFF, but not when none of that money is also used to keep infrastructure on pace with the building.

Strangely, Mayor Marcucci's biggest campaign contributors were all the builders whom benefitted from the TIFF funds distributed off the top of the tax revenues. I wonder if Rod Blagoyovitch got his training in Elmhurst!!!!

All that building correlates with the increase in frequency and severity of flooding in Elmhurst over the past 7 years. From 1960-1990 flooding in Elmhurst was few and far between. It happens regulary with normal rainfall all over. The rainfall hasn't changed, the sewers haven't changed...the amount of construction has and it has severely impacted the infrastructure capacity.