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Will County engineers recommend targeted buyouts for Harris Drive flood-prone homes; staff to pursue grant funding
Summary
A stormwater study for Harris Drive in Plainfield Township found repeated flooding at several homes and concluded that voluntary buyouts and demolition of the most-affected parcels would provide the best benefit-cost outcome; staff recommended applying for IDNR and FEMA BRIC funding and county sponsorship of grant applications.
Will County staff and contracted engineers presented a flood-mitigation study for Harris Drive in Plainfield Township that concluded the most cost-effective and reliable option for reducing recurrent flooding at several properties is a targeted voluntary buyout and demolition of the worst-impacted homes.
Engineers modeled multiple approaches, including in-subdivision detention basins, conveyance upgrades, and regional work. The analysis showed that localized basins and conveyance improvements produced only modest mitigation at high cost, whereas acquisition and demolition of the most-flooded parcels reduced repeated inundation for remaining homes and delivered a higher benefit-cost ratio.
Staff recommended pursuing outside funding. The committee discussed grant avenues including the Illinois Department of Natural Resources mitigation programs and FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants; staff cautioned that IDNR and FEMA have different application rules, match requirements and timelines. IDNR staff indicated a potential high reimbursement rate for acquisition and demolition but generally excludes relocation expenses; FEMA grants typically follow federal uniform-acquisition standards including relocation assistance but demand a multi-year process and a benefit-cost analysis.
Staff requested the committee's permission to proceed with grant applications on behalf of the county and to continue outreach to affected homeowners. The committee voted to authorize staff to pursue appropriate grant applications and recommended preparing a county-level funding plan and a prioritized list of flooding hotspots so projects can be submitted as opportunities arise.
Quote: "The most practical long-term solution for Harris Drive's chronic inundation is targeted, voluntary buyouts of the most-affected houses," the county engineer said, noting the approach also reduces repeated infrastructure and emergency-response costs.
Next steps: staff will solicit homeowner participation, assemble required documentation for grant applications, prepare a benefit-cost analysis and, if grants are awarded, return to the county board for acceptance of funds and any needed match authorization.
