Elmhurst Flood Work Must Be Done Quickly: City

ELMHURST, IL – Just days before starting a flood prevention project, Elmhurst learned it is poised to receive $200,000 in DuPage County money.

Earlier this month, county staff presented a recommended list of recipients, including Elmhurst, for stormwater money. The County Board is slated to vote on the list next week.

The local project in question is at Jackson Elementary School on the city's southwest side. The city plans to create stormwater detention on open fields north of the school and a related storm sewer.

The project is expected to reduce flooding of nine nearby houses, the city said.

After contentious negotiations, the city and Elmhurst School District 205 struck an agreement in late 2019 for projects at Jackson and York High School. York's project was done last year.

In a memo last week, the city said the Jackson project was set to start next Monday and could not be delayed any further. It needs to get done by the time school starts in August, the memo said.

The project is expected to cost $412,000. The county's grant would be $200,000.

The Elmhurst City Council is set to vote Monday on an agreement to accept the money.