This Source Adds To Western Springs Flooding: Officials

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs officials said Monday they have no control over what they consider a major source of local flooding – neighboring La Grange Highlands, which is unincorporated.

Officials have mentioned this aspect of the flooding issue for years.

At a Village Board meeting, officials were asked what they could do about floodwater coming from La Grange Highlands.

The village has said before that the water affects two local neighborhoods in southwest Western Springs– Ridgewood and Springdale. Both are considered the hardest hit by local flooding.

The village's attorney, Michael Jurusik, responded that the village has no control because La Grange Highlands is on higher ground.

Because of that, he said, Western Springs is considered "subservient" property under state law.

"La Grange Highlands is the dominant property, the higher property. (Its water) passes through us on its way to Flagg Creek," Jurusik said. "We can store it as best (we) can, hang onto it with release rates. But at the end of the day, you can't make things worse downstream."

Jefferey Koza, the village's engineer, said Western Springs is working with Cook County and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to solve the problem.

"They're in the process of studying the watershed there," Koza said.

One of the possible solutions is a detention basin for floodwater, he said.

"We felt the area is important to have a partnership project," Koza said.

A Ridgewood flooding project is slated to start this summer, he said.

The discussion came up as part of the village's consideration of a townhome development at 5600 Wolf Road, which is next to Ridgewood.

Neighbors fear the complex would worsen local flooding.

The Village Board may decide on the development proposal at its Feb. 10 meeting.