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The comments posted on this message board represent the individual opinions of their respective posters only and are not to be construed as statements of proven or alleged fact.
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| Flooding | Login/Join |
GlenEllynite |
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. | ||
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GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
Thanks! I will call you if I need an attorney! | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
Just wondering - did your sump previously empty into the sewer or has it always ejected onto the yard? | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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? | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
Thanks for your opinion | |||
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GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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) | |||
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GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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GlenEllynite |
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's the spending, Stupid! | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. "A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." William James | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
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. | |||
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| GlenEllynite |
If you believe whomever sold the house to you knew of but failed to disclose a material defect, you might have a cause of action against them. But you still haven't explained why you believe the village has any leagl or other responsibility. I'm honestly curious about why you believe the village should make any corrections. Just because something unfortunate happens, doesn't mean there is always someone else to pay for it. | |||
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GlenEllynite |
Sorry to hear about your flooding issues. I've got a little drainage problem as well in my back yard too, but it doesn't sound as bad as yours. However, speaking from experience, 2 of the 3 people you have emailed do NOT give a rat's @ss and nothing positive will come from them. Whether the original developer was supposed to install a storm water sewer when the block was developed is really of no help to you now. The funds to build that sewer were never earmarked to be "public" funds. So while the Village may have wanted the sewer built, they were never going to pay for it and won't pay for it now even if they let the original developer off the hook improperly. Warning, inside joke coming and most, if not all of you, will not understand it. I heard IDOT called Glen Ellyn and told them that IDOT doesn't see the need for the storm water sewer now, so don't bother putting it in. What's that? You passed an ordinance requiring the storm water sewer's installation? Don't worry. Just ignore the ordinance, you make the rules, you don't have to follow them. Sorry MP...I'd almost gotten over it until I read this post! What part of "no" don't you understand? | |||
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