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GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
Posted
Has anyone ever had any success in getting the Village to help with flooding? We have been trying for years to get the Village to help us with backyard flooding. Now our neighbor’s garage is in serious danger with 2” of ice on the floor. They are desperate and since we are uphill most of the water is coming from our sump that runs every 5 minutes 24/7 for a week after rain or thaw. Also, if the power goes out, we all flood!

4 yards are flooded some half way to the house! Actually right now it’s not flooded, just a giant skating rink. Supposedly the builder was to put in a storm drain in the back yards (35 years ago) and never did. Now we have a very dangerous situation and nobody is willing to help.

Hey Candidate, I am sending you a copy of an email that is going to Curt Barrett, Joe Caracci and Bob Minix.



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of my2cents
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Nope...lived with it for years...always an "Act of God"...nothing the Village could do. Especially if it was on your property and not a right of way. Finally improved sewers after two back to back one hundred year floods and now there usually isn't a problem. Always told us we were built over a "natural spring" and water would always be a problem for everyone on the block. Now we just see a little seepage every now and then.


"When you don't know what you are talking about, it's hard to know when you are finished."
 
Posts: 2068 | Registered: March 30, 2005Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
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Damn, sorry to hear that Perplexed.


"Often Wrong, Never in Doubt"
 
Posts: 5816 | Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Registered: June 09, 2004Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
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quote:
Originally posted by GE Fan:
Damn, sorry to hear that Perplexed.


Thanks! I will call you if I need an attorney!



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Posted Hide Post
Just wondering - did your sump previously empty into the sewer or has it always ejected onto the yard?
 
Posts: 1315 | Registered: December 18, 2006Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
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quote:
Originally posted by GEmom2:
Just wondering - did your sump previously empty into the sewer or has it always ejected onto the yard?


Always in the yard.

Our kids have actually gone skating in the back yard. That would be fun, but every year it gets worse because the ground is sinking.



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Posted Hide Post
You live on or around Lakeview Terrace?


"Often Wrong, Never in Doubt"
 
Posts: 5816 | Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Registered: June 09, 2004Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Supposedly the builder was to put in a storm drain in the back yards (35 years ago) and never did. Now we have a very dangerous situation and nobody is willing to help.


I'm just curious, what exactly do you believe the village ought to do, and why? Are you suggesting the village ought to pay to improve your property?

Every year some water collects in the back of my and my neighbors' yards. It never crossed my mind that this is something the village ought to rectify.
 
Posts: 2386 | Registered: April 14, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Dinsdale:
quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Supposedly the builder was to put in a storm drain in the back yards (35 years ago) and never did. Now we have a very dangerous situation and nobody is willing to help.


I'm just curious, what exactly do you believe the village ought to do, and why? Are you suggesting the village ought to pay to improve your property?

Every year some water collects in the back of my and my neighbors' yards. It never crossed my mind that this is something the village ought to rectify.


Yes I think the village should put the storm sewer in that they originally planned. This is not a little water collecting in the yard, this is a garage under 2” of ice, two houses with ¾ of the yard flooded and two others with ¼ - ½ the yard flooded. The other houses have a little water in a corner.

If I just had some water, I would never think of getting the village involved. Actually I’m more concerned about my two neighbors than my yard.

So tell me, at what point do you think flooding becomes an issue for the municipality and not the homeowner?



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
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quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Yes I think the village should put the storm sewer in that they originally planned.

...

So tell me, at what point do you think flooding becomes an issue for the municipality and not the homeowner?


Sounds to me that your complaint is mainly with the developer of your property who failed to plan for adequate drainage. Just because the house was built 35 years ago does not make it the village's problem. Unless you have some theory that the village should not have approved the construction or something.

I think the village should be very willing to assist in the installation whatever sewer hookups are necessary - provided the affected landowners pay for it. Is that what you had in mind, or did you hope to have your property improved at no cost to yourself?

I'm having a hard time coming up with any situation in which flooding on private property is the municipality's concern. Please explain your belief to the contrary. I just don't understand why it would not be the property owner's issue.

What if my foundation is cracked such that my basement floods every rain. Is that the village's problem? How is that different that your situation?

You also might want to check into the extent to which you are allowed to discharge water from your property such that it causes problems for your neighbors.
 
Posts: 2386 | Registered: April 14, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Dinsdale:
quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Yes I think the village should put the storm sewer in that they originally planned.

...

So tell me, at what point do you think flooding becomes an issue for the municipality and not the homeowner?


Sounds to me that your complaint is mainly with the developer of your property who failed to plan for adequate drainage. Just because the house was built 35 years ago does not make it the village's problem. Unless you have some theory that the village should not have approved the construction or something.

I think the village should be very willing to assist in the installation whatever sewer hookups are necessary - provided the affected landowners pay for it. Is that what you had in mind, or did you hope to have your property improved at no cost to yourself?

I'm having a hard time coming up with any situation in which flooding on private property is the municipality's concern. Please explain your belief to the contrary. I just don't understand why it would not be the property owner's issue.

What if my foundation is cracked such that my basement floods every rain. Is that the village's problem? How is that different that your situation?

You also might want to check into the extent to which you are allowed to discharge water from your property such that it causes problems for your neighbors.


Thanks for your opinion



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of GlenEllynRing
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Perplexed -

If you do live in-around Lakeview Terrace, this area originally contained a lake that was on an estate...when it was developed in the early 20th Century, they just drained the lake and built the houses. This area has historically always had trouble with drainage/water ponding issues, so it will probably not be very new to the Village. Still doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate some sort of cost-sharing for taking care of the problem.
 
Posts: 844 | Registered: April 09, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
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quote:
Originally posted by GlenEllynRing:
Perplexed -

If you do live in-around Lakeview Terrace, this area originally contained a lake that was on an estate...when it was developed in the early 20th Century, they just drained the lake and built the houses. This area has historically always had trouble with drainage/water ponding issues, so it will probably not be very new to the Village. Still doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate some sort of cost-sharing for taking care of the problem.


Nope, I live on North Lambert RD.

I did play in that park at Lakeview Terrace when I was a kid! FYI Lake Ellyn used to be connected via a stream to that area of Lakeview Terrace (long before any of us)



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of GESince1958
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quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:
Has anyone ever had any success in getting the Village to help with flooding? We have been trying for years to get the Village to help us with backyard flooding.


Yes. Several years ago when our street was being totally rebuilt, including new storm sewers, we had an opportunity to have our entire drainage situation reviewed. The village rep came out, and in five minutes we struck an agreement to have a mini-storm sewer put in the middle of the backyard to lessen the late winter problems. I mean, we had ducks and geese dropping in for multi-day layovers in our private lake. The driveway was continualy underwater and the garage was in the same situation for 5 weeks every winter.

Thanks to the new sewer hookup and that backyard drain sewer, most of the problem has been fixed. But they asked us first, and it was only due to the new street update.
 
Posts: 848 | Registered: December 19, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of middlein87
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by perplexed:


Nope, I live on North Lambert RD.

I did play in that park at Lakeview Terrace when I was a kid! FYI Lake Ellyn used to be connected via a stream to that area of Lakeview Terrace (long before any of us)


Perplexed, I'm right by you over in the 100's on Kenilworth. Congrats on living "uphill" of the problem. I did take that into account while house hunting here. Fortunately for the neighbors behind me on Lambert, the ground slopes south as well as east, so it winds up on Fairview and not in their back yards.

I can see where the homes on the east side of Lambert would have an issue, since the crown of Newton road is a barrier to runoff making it to that forested area.

And I commiserate with the "ground is sinking" comment. My foundation seems to be fine (one small settlement crack), but the patio, deck, stoop, garage apron, sidewalks, etc. are all subsiding. Could be worse - while house hunting we walked through a house bordering the forested area on that culdesac street just east of Newton. You walked in and felt like you were on the deck of a ship. All interior doors either swung wide open or full shut. It was pretty bad.
 
Posts: 1880 | Location: Glen Ellyn | Registered: June 04, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of Dan the Man
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by middlein87:
And I commiserate with the "ground is sinking" comment. My foundation seems to be fine (one small settlement crack), but the patio, deck, stoop, garage apron, sidewalks, etc. are all subsiding. Could be worse - while house hunting we walked through a house bordering the forested area on that culdesac street just east of Newton. You walked in and felt like you were on the deck of a ship. All interior doors either swung wide open or full shut. It was pretty bad.


I know which house you speak of...I think the numbers were actually 1 side of the house is 1 inch higher than the other side. After they moved in they had a company drive pilings down to the bedrock (70 feet in some places) and attach it to the foundation so it wouldn't sink any further. My other neighbor actually had to have the back of their house jacked up because it was sloped so bad. I have noticed my garage foundation appears to be moving a bit. I'm told our homes were the model homes 30 odd years ago and the builders probably didn't take the time to tamp the soil properly in an effort to throw our house up quickly...
 
Posts: 1840 | Registered: January 08, 2005Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
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Interesting issue. Village approves a permit for development. Developer does not comply with specs. Village issues occupancy permit. Nobody reviews the topography (not uncommon). Developer doesn't repair problem when it occurs, citing the village approval. Is village responsible for anything?

The village should issue an occupancy permit for more than just the house. When does water retention in summer become a health issue when you consider mosquito abatement? I think the village has a responsibility in that regard, but so does the entire neighborhood. Would that benefit from an SSA to correct the problem? I believe so.

As to the sump pump discharge, if my neighbor was causing flooding into an area by discharging their sump pump, it seems academic that the neighbor is causing a nuisance. Winter or summer.


Ronald M. Kas
 
Posts: 1105 | Registered: February 17, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Dan the Man:
quote:
Originally posted by middlein87:
And I commiserate with the "ground is sinking" comment. My foundation seems to be fine (one small settlement crack), but the patio, deck, stoop, garage apron, sidewalks, etc. are all subsiding. Could be worse - while house hunting we walked through a house bordering the forested area on that culdesac street just east of Newton. You walked in and felt like you were on the deck of a ship. All interior doors either swung wide open or full shut. It was pretty bad.


I know which house you speak of...I think the numbers were actually 1 side of the house is 1 inch higher than the other side. After they moved in they had a company drive pilings down to the bedrock (70 feet in some places) and attach it to the foundation so it wouldn't sink any further. My other neighbor actually had to have the back of their house jacked up because it was sloped so bad. I have noticed my garage foundation appears to be moving a bit. I'm told our homes were the model homes 30 odd years ago and the builders probably didn't take the time to tamp the soil properly in an effort to throw our house up quickly...


I know the house as well. The same engineering firm that put the micro piles in his house, did the repairs to our house 2 years ago. Our setting got so bad; we had a 3” crack develop in the basement. It was determined that the stoop was pulling the entire foundation away from the house. Luckily we caught it in time and did not need the micro piles.

If your house ever gets that bad, let me know and I can give you his name, he did great work.



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of perplexed
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by ronkas:
Interesting issue. Village approves a permit for development. Developer does not comply with specs. Village issues occupancy permit. Nobody reviews the topography (not uncommon). Developer doesn't repair problem when it occurs, citing the village approval. Is village responsible for anything?

The village should issue an occupancy permit for more than just the house. When does water retention in summer become a health issue when you consider mosquito abatement? I think the village has a responsibility in that regard, but so does the entire neighborhood. Would that benefit from an SSA to correct the problem? I believe so.

As to the sump pump discharge, if my neighbor was causing flooding into an area by discharging their sump pump, it seems academic that the neighbor is causing a nuisance. Winter or summer.


This is exactly why I need help from the village. Right I'm in a damned if you do damned if you don't situation.



 
Posts: 765 | Registered: December 27, 2007Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
GlenEllynite
Picture of middlein87
Posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Dan the Man:


I know which house you speak of...I think the numbers were actually 1 side of the house is 1 inch higher than the other side. After they moved in they had a company drive pilings down to the bedrock (70 feet in some places) and attach it to the foundation so it wouldn't sink any further. My other neighbor actually had to have the back of their house jacked up because it was sloped so bad. I have noticed my garage foundation appears to be moving a bit. I'm told our homes were the model homes 30 odd years ago and the builders probably didn't take the time to tamp the soil properly in an effort to throw our house up quickly...


It seemed like it was more than an inch. But I had the same thought. Buy the house, and micro-pile it back up (or and least get it stable). I looked into it and it sounded like about a $40K solution all-in. They were asking too much for the house once that was factored in, I thought.
 
Posts: 1880 | Location: Glen Ellyn | Registered: June 04, 2003Edit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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