Heated Exchange At Elmhurst Council Meeting

ELMHURST, IL — Two Elmhurst aldermen this week debated whether the local park district would cooperate with a stormwater project in northeast Elmhurst.

At issue is whether the Elmhurst Park District would work with the city on a stormwater project in the neighborhood next to Crestview Park.

Alderman Michael Bram, whose Ward 3 includes the park, told the council he had spoken with park board members. While they did not support the city's initial proposal, he said, they were still open to some type of project.

"They didn't say, 'No, you're not going to touch our property,'" Bram said at the City Council's meeting Monday.

Ward 6 Alderman Jim Kennedy disagreed. He said Mayor Steve Morley, who did not attend the council meeting, had spoken with the district.

"If Mayor Morley were here, he would tell you that the door has been shut. You can shake your head all you want, but it has been shut," said Kennedy, apparently directing his comments at Bram. "It has been mentioned numerous times that they're done doing anything in their parks that have anything for stormwater. We can agree to disagree, but the reality is they don't want to do any more projects."

Bram was unconvinced.

"I know there have been statements tonight about what the park district said," Bram said. "We can speculate all night on what has been said. I can just say what I have been told by park board members. And I have been told that they are willing to work with us, just not with what was put forth. So for an individual to tell another individual what they heard was not accurate, I think, is a fallacy."

Elmhurst Patch asked Jim Rogers, the district's executive director, about the park board's position on a possible Crestview project.

"The Park Board and City Council had discussions about stormwater management in the neighborhood near Crestview Park in 2014-15 without reaching agreement on partnering on a project," Rogers said in an email. "There have not been any additional formal discussions since that time, and it is my understanding that the City Council decided to move ahead with an option that was less expensive than installing additional piping and constructing a detention basin."

At Monday's meeting, the council voted 9-4 in favor of floodproofing eight homes near Crestview Park, which members said would be far cheaper than a wider infrastructure stormwater project. Bram voted against the proposal, saying the neighborhood was being shortchanged.

Here are other recent stories on flooding issues in Elmhurst:

Elmhurst Flooding Targeted In Agreement

Elmhurst Weathered Flooding 'OK': Mayor

Elmhurst Neighborhood To Get Flooding Help

Elmhurst Neighborhood Wants Help With Flooding

Elmhurst To Floodproof Private Homes