09/15/2014COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Minutes of Meeting
September 15, 2014
The Village Board met as a Committee of the Whole in the Council Chambers of the Village
Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014. In attendance were:
PRESENT:
Village Board Staff
Harriet Rosenthal, Mayor Kent Street, Village Manager
Robert Benton, Trustee Andrew Lichterman, Asst. to the Village Manager
Alan Farkas, Trustee David Fitzgerald, Management Analyst
Thomas Jester, Trustee Barbara Little, Director of PW and Engineering
William Seiden, Trustee Robert Phillips, Asst. Director of PW and Eng.
Barbara Struthers, Trustee Eric Oscarson, Asst. to the Director of PW
Eric Burk, Finance Director
John Sliozis, Police Chief
ABSENT:
Robert Nadler, Trustee
Public Comment
None on non-agenda items
Presentation of North Trail Subdivision Drainage Study by Daniel Creaney
Company
Director of Public Works and Engineering Barbara Little introduced the team from Daniel
Creaney Company to present the results of their North Trail Subdivision Drainage Study. Present
were President Daniel Creaney, Project Manager Robert Hansen and Project Engineer Mark Toll.
Mr. Creaney outlined the history of the flooding situation in the North Trail Subdivision that
resulted in the Village retaining his company’s services. He noted that when the subdivision was
constructed in the 1960s the current building and drainage regulations were not in place, and that
items not considered at that time are now having an impact on flooding. A lot of water is
funneled through the subdivision to get to the Middle Fork of the North Branch. He noted that
following heavy storms, water will pond on the road to the level where it becomes impassable.
Mr. Creaney noted that he and his staff met with the Village Public Works Department, the
North Trail Homeowners Association and individual homeowners in addition to conducting field
surveys. This information was used to create a computer model and test simulations to find ways
to remediate flooding.
He reported the model found two ways to reduce storm water ponding. He noted that both
options would require significant re-grading of the land, including several private properties. He
also noted that the study recommends two methods to reduce roadway flooding. These include
Page 3
C.O.W – September 15, 2014
construction of a relief storm sewer and lowering the overflow route in the area between the
subdivision and Deerfield High School. He stated that the most direct relief option is the relief
storm sewer as it would both reduce ponding and reduce the duration of ponding.
Mayor Rosenthal asked Mr. Creaney to explain the concept of the relief sewer. He stated the
relief storm sewer would provide additional capacity to take the water to the river. He clarified
that the relief storm sewer does not include the addition of water storage, as there is not enough
space in the area to increase storage.
Trustee Jester inquired what level storm-event the system was built for and what is considered an
acceptable duration for ponding. Mr. Creaney stated the current system was built for a 10-year,
24-hour storm. He noted that the problem with ponding in the area isn’t just its duration, but also
that the water’s depth can reach 18” in some areas, making the roads impassable.
Trustee Jester asked if it would be more cost effective to pay employees to bring water pumps to
the area following short-duration, high-intensity storms to relieve ponding. Mr. Creaney stated
that residents in the subdivision report the problem being too widespread.
Mayor Rosenthal inquired about the total cost to implement all recommendations in the report.
Mr. Creaney noted it would be $825,000 for the storm drainage work. Trustee Jester noted that
this figure does not include the associated road construction and underground utility work that
would need to take place along with the storm sewer recommendations.
Resident Andi Kenney, 1700 Mountain Court, thanked the Village for its work up to this point
and urged the Board to move forward with the Creaney recommendation. She asked the Board to
also consider the impact of future developments and using rain gardens and other natural
improvements to supplement the recommendations. She also requested the Board make sure that
any work in the area does not move the problem to a different part of the subdivision.
Resident Mark Samuels, 975 Mountain Drive, stated that storms since the one in 2013 have
flooded basements and caused other damage that had not been seen previously.
Mr. Creaney stated that rain gardens can help mitigate flooding, but noted that most soils in this
area are clay, which tends not to be effective for rain gardens.
Trustee Farkas inquired if it is possible to divert or block some of the inflow. Mr. Creaney stated
that it would be difficult to accomplish and would require relief sewer.
Mayor Rosenthal thanked Mr. Creaney and his team for their presentation and for their work
completing a thorough drainage study.
Adjournment
Trustee Farkas made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Trustee Struthers.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Page 3
C.O.W – September 15, 2014
Respectfully submitted,
David Fitzgerald,
Management Analyst