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Residents tell Sugar Grove board of severe backyard flooding; staff pledges multi‑agency coordination
Summary
Neighbors from Dugan Woods described continuous backyard flooding since March that has flooded basements and required extensive mitigation; village staff promised to coordinate with county engineers, the drainage district, EEI and the railroad to identify and resolve the obstruction.
Several residents at the May 19 meeting told the Sugar Grove village board about ongoing, severe drainage problems affecting multiple backyards in the Dugan Woods subdivision.
Resident Mary Beth described water flowing behind three properties through a former cattle crossing under the BNSF railway and said water had flowed nonstop since mid‑March, overwhelming multiple sump pumps and causing basement damage. Sarah, another homeowner at 1921 Annette Circle, said five inches of water inundated a finished basement on March 10 and that mitigation has cost more than $60,000; she said multiple sump pumps now run constantly.
Staff and county representatives present said the drainage issue appears multi‑jurisdictional — involving private property, unincorporated land, the drainage district, the county and the railroad right‑of‑way. Staff said they had worked with county engineers and the drainage district to identify obstructions and had asked the railroad to inspect the crossing. An EEI engineer and village staff walked the site and reported suspected obstructions in the original drainage channel.
Public‑works staff committed to convene a meeting with the drainage district, EEI and county engineers and said the village would follow up with residents by email to keep them informed. Staff noted a county cost‑share program could be available and that remediation might require coordination across multiple owners and agencies.
Next steps: village staff will assemble the identified agencies, continue field review with the engineer, and provide periodic updates to residents on planned actions and a meeting schedule.
