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Blue Island staff proposes $115,000 pilot to help residents prevent basement flooding
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Summary
Council reviewed a proposal to use $115,000 in appropriations for a flood-prevention assistance program offering partial funding (up to 75% match) for overhead sewer conversions, modified systems or backwater valves to address combined-sewer backups; eligibility and reimbursement rules would be set by staff and returned to council.
Councilmembers discussed a proposed flood-prevention assistance program aimed at reducing basement sewage backups in areas with combined sewers.
Alderman (Speaker S3) outlined the program and said the city has appropriated $115,000 in current and prior budgets to seed a pilot. He described eligibility for single-family homes and multifamily properties up to three units and said systems would be funded as a cost-share: overhead-sewer conversions could receive up to $10,000 with a 75% match and backwater-valve installations up to $5,000 with a 75% match. "They cost me about $5,600," S3 said of a backwater valve he installed at his own house during the presentation.
S3 emphasized the program would not cover seepage or lateral-sewer construction issues and that applicants would need to show proof of sewer backup. He suggested a waiting list and reappropriation if demand exhausts the initial fund.
Council members raised implementation questions including whether reimbursements could go back to past installations, inspection and permit requirements, and a graduated cutoff to avoid quickly exhausting funds. S3 said some neighboring municipalities have reimbursed eligible prior work if permits and inspections were in order.
The proposal remains at the review stage; S1 asked staff (Speaker S1/Chair) and relevant departments to refine eligibility, administrative processes and possible reimbursement cutoffs and return to council with an ordinance or program guidelines.
Next steps: staff will revise the draft program language, clarify permit and inspection requirements, consider a phased reimbursement approach, and return with a recommended ordinance or administrative procedure for council action.
