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DuPage County staff report $6.3 million estimate to repair Elmhurst Quarry high wall; committee weighing $4.1 million budget ask
Summary
Stormwater management staff told the committee that a Black & Veatch evaluation recommends up to $6.3 million in work on the Elmhurst Quarry high wall. Staff expects to ask for roughly $4.1 million more than previously projected in the 2026 budget; the committee discussed phasing and funding sources including possible use of surplus funds.
Staff member Sarah told the DuPage County Stormwater Management Committee on June 3 that consultants have identified extensive maintenance needs at the Elmhurst Quarry high wall and that the recommended full-scope repairs could cost about $6.3 million.
The recommendation matters because staff said the stormwater department will seek roughly $4.1 million more in its 2026 budget than earlier projections to cover quarry needs. “We are looking at a significant cost for each of the sections of the work,” Sarah said, describing specialized crews and high mobilization costs for the rock-stabilization work.
Black & Veatch performed a high-wall evaluation and presented a set of alternatives, Sarah said. The firm, which the county retained for its expertise and because it was involved in the original Elmhurst Quarry design, recommended a mix of monitoring and active repairs. Sarah said some alternatives were priced lower (continued monitoring), while the full-scope alternative—driven partly by mobilization and specialized equipment—produced the $6.3 million estimate.
Committee members asked for clarification about the difference between the consultant estimate and the department’s earlier projection. Member Tornatore asked, “The cost of the quarry was 6,000,000 and change, but you said the ask was gonna be 4,000,000. Where’s the difference?” Sarah replied that the department had included an amount in the 2024 budget projection but the consultant’s full-scope analysis raised the expected need.
Members discussed options if county revenue is constrained. Chair Zay asked staff to consider offsetting revenue sources; Sarah noted the county board might apply surplus revenue from 2024, which staff estimated could be between $1 million and $2.5 million and could reduce the new ask. Several members proposed phasing the work over multiple years if necessary. Member Holding said the consultants had identified areas for continued monitoring that did not pose immediate risk and could be reevaluated in four years.
Sarah said the county expects the work—if done with modern materials and methods—to last about 25 to 30 years but warned that freeze-thaw cycles and repeated water level changes can shorten that life span. “We expect that this work should last that 30 years or 30 years plus,” she said. She also noted the department will follow up with Black & Veatch in a scheduled call later the same day and would provide committee members an update after that conversation.
No formal decision or vote was taken at the meeting; the discussion was presented to inform the committee’s pre-budget deliberations and to give members time to pose questions before staff submits a budget request to the finance department.
Looking ahead, staff said the proposed $4.1 million increase is the primary new ask in the 2026 budget and that staff will circulate the formal submission to committee members two weeks before filing with finance so members can comment prior to final submission.
