Broadview June Storm Cleanup Costs Total $55,000; New Trees Donated

(Broadview, IL) – While the Village of Broadview is still tabulating the overall costs to businesses and homeowners from the ferocious that ripped through the town and neighboring suburbs in western Cook County on June 13, the financial toll of the cleanup costs to the village’s corporate budget is at least $55,000.

The mayor and the board of trustees heard from Broadview Public Works Director Matthew Ames at their monthly meeting regarding the financial tally of the June storm the left the village without power for days. Ames noted that mulch from the damaged trees will be made available to residents free of charge, but disposal of any remaining mulch could add another $3,000 or more to the final clean-up cost tab.

Total storm loss “probably” reaches $2 million, says mayor.

“Once the final costs are in for the village, homeowners, and businesses are totaled, the final storm losses could be $2 million in Broadview,” said Mayor Katrina Thompson.

25 trees remove; 25 trees donated.

In addition to the financial costs, several hundred trees of Broadview 5,000-plus tree canopy were damaged, and 25 trees were unsalvageable and had to be removed, according to Ames, a loss that Thompson described as a “blow” to the community.

However, during a presentation to the board, Verde Properties, LLC president, Karen Conley surprised the mayor and trustees by announcing that her company would sponsor the replacement of the 25 trees lost during the storm.

“We are so incredibility proud to be part of this community,” said Conley. “We believe so much in sustainability, and so SBC Waste Solutions and my company, Verde, would like to sponsor [the replacement] of the 25 trees that came down in the storm.”

The unexpected announcement triggered a burst of applause from the mayor, the trustees, and the audience in the room.

“Karen, you are phenomenal,” said Thompson, citing Conley’s long and varied business leadership roles in the community. “Thank you very much. I truly appreciate you and your unwavering commitment to the Village of Broadview.”

davidormsby@davidormsby.com