Village Board Listens to Resident's Concerns Over Lake Ellyn Flooding

At the Sep. 14 Village Board meeting, impassioned residents living on the north side of Lake Ellyn got the opportunity to address the board with their concerns about area flooding. On July 24, 2010 Glen Ellyn experienced heavy rainfall, which resulted in flooding across the village. Residents living at the north end of Lake Ellyn experienced some of the worst of it as Lake Ellyn rose and overflowed its banks, flooding homes and turning yards into rapids.

The issue first came up at a Park District Board meeting on Sep. 7th and this was the first time the issue was put before the Village Board.

"I think this is an issue that needs immediate addressing," said Jerry Dentinger as he addressed the board about the flooding. "It's beyond dangerous."

Dentinger showed a video filmed by residents at 6 a.m. the morning of the flooding. The video showed floodwaters at the front doors of homes, vehicles partially submerged and rapids running between two of the homes. Dentinger said the flooding destroyed his basement and had eroded the land of some of his neighbor's homes.

"If the levy breaks at Lake Ellyn it will wipe out my house," Dentinger said. Two years ago Lake Ellyn flooded and resulted in Dentinger and his family having to be evacuated by the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company.

Residents claim that water levels are maintained too high at Lake Ellyn and that something is needed to be done immediately to prevent this type of flooding in the future. Members of the Park District were available to respond to residents concerns and said they were working on the situation.

 "We hear you, we absolutely hear you," Village Manager Steve Jones said in response to resident's concerns. "This is not something that we are proud of."  

Jones said the village was working together with the park district, which manages Lake Ellyn, and the police and fire departments to address the issue. In the long term Jones called for an engineering study to take place to decide the best course of action. In the short term the village said it would be putting a detection system in place that would alert police when water levels at the lake grew too high. Since the park district's board meeting the water level at Lake Ellyn has been lowered.

Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company Chief Scott Raffensparger tried to alleviate resident's worries saying that, "We are prepared for this," and detailed rescue plans available to the fire company, including boats and a scuba team.

Village Board President Mark Pfefferman assured residents that the park district and the village would work together to address the issue. "You wont get finger pointing, we will work together," Pfefferman told community members.

Also addressed at Tuesday's Village Board meeting were plans to make it easier for commercial businesses in Glen Ellyn to get permits to host live performances. Planning and Development Director Staci Hulseberg recommended a process in which businesses can purchase a 3-year permit to host live performances and outlined some of the guidelines, which included restricting performances to end at 11 p.m Sunday – Thursday and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.  The ordinance was approved with a unanimous vote.

Village Board Members also began a discussion for plans to purchase a lot near Stacy's Corners that has been vacant for $590,000. The Village of Glen Ellyn is interested in acquiring the property, formerly a Marathon gas station, which has been abandoned for over eight years. Hulesberg told board members that the building is in disrepair and that by purchasing the 1.35-acre property, the village could have greater control over its later occupancy and aesthetics at a location in Glen Ellyn that is an entry point to the village. If the village purchased the property, it would get it at a significantly lowered price. According to Hulesberg, the property was formerly worth 1.4 million dollars.