Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Roselle action on Springbrook Creek erosion; village staff to host neighborhood meeting
Summary
A Walnut Oaks Drive homeowner described 10–20 feet of bank loss along Springbrook Creek and asked the village to clarify responsibility and pursue mitigation. Village officials said the creek mostly lies on private property, DuPage County stormwater rules apply, and staff will convene neighbors and stakeholders for further study.
Lawrence Pronk, a Walnut Oaks Drive resident, told the Village of Roselle trustees that severe erosion along Springbrook Creek has removed an estimated 10 to 20 feet of land near his property and that fallen trees and an encroaching fence indicate the problem is worsening.
Pronk said previous work reduced flooding but the creek’s bank erosion has worsened over the last decade. He asked who is responsible for mitigation — homeowners, the village, DuPage County, or the DuPage County Forest Preserve — and requested guidance and action. Pronk said he is willing to help coordinate neighbors and contact elected representatives if needed.
Mayor Pulaski and village staff responded that the ownership and responsibility are complicated: the reach in question largely sits within private property lines and the area includes both a homeowners association and individual lot owners. Village staff said DuPage County stormwater permitting and regulations will play a significant role and that any remedial work will likely require an engineering study that could be costly. The mayor said the village wants to host a community meeting with the HOA and individual property owners to discuss options and next steps, and staff said they will follow up to schedule that meeting this year.
Staff also noted prior local interventions, including work in 2011 to address flooding, additional culvert work under Foster Street that improved flow, and past conversations with former village officials. The mayor cautioned that partial, piecemeal repairs on privately owned segments of the creek could shift problems to neighboring properties and that collective action will be necessary.
Village staff said that whether outside funding is available depends on the results of any engineering assessment and the site’s ownership status; some county or regional creek-restoration programs require defined ownership or project scopes before awarding funds. Pronk and staff cited other DuPage-area creek-restoration projects — including work on the DuPage River and Springbrook Creek in nearby jurisdictions — as precedents for what might be possible with coordinated planning and funding.
The board did not take formal action. Staff will contact Pronk, organize a neighborhood meeting of willing property owners and HOA representatives, and pursue guidance about regulatory permitting and potential funding sources.
Trustees and staff emphasized the distinction between private property responsibilities and regulatory permitting by DuPage County and warned that resolving the issue will require collective neighbor participation, engineering study, and coordination with county stormwater regulators.
