In a significant move to tackle the escalating issue of flooding in Cook County, Board President Toni Preckwinkle disclosed a new $20 million Stormwater Management Project Implementation Program. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the initiative will propel 26 crucial stormwater management projects with a keen eye on aiding communities that are historically underfunded. The Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (DoTH) spearheads the effort, in close collaboration with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS).
The County’s latest venture mirrors its unwavering dedication to a greener, more resilient future as enshrined in its Policy Roadmap. With the looming threat of climate change, these efforts become ever more vital, especially for communities stunted by systemic underinvestment and the disproportionate ravages of COVID-19. Selected projects, encompassing planning to construction phases, aim to strengthen the County's immunity to climate-induced water woes. Holding the reins for 16 of these projects is MWRD, whereas the County will either collaborate with local communities or task its in-house expertise for the remaining endeavors, as documented by Cook County.
During the announcement shared in a press conference, several of the benefiting municipalities lent their voices. Maine Township, one recipient, celebrated a financial boost of $1.5 million for a flood control project to mitigate regional and residential flooding. Maine Township Supervisor Karen J. Dimond and Highway Commissioner Ed Beauvais expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the collective drive that birthed this relief to their constituents, who have long been plagued by the unsettling embrace of floods. "We are both very grateful to all involved for their work to bring about the flood relief to Maine Township and our area residents," they told Cook County.
Helping further the cause of equitability, Crestwood and Midlothian, alongside Bremen Township, received a shared fund of $1.5 million to overhaul culverts, enhance channels, and widen the arms of existing detention facilities. Crestwood Mayor Ken Klein lauded the joint efforts with MWRD and Cook County, emphasizing a past success that saw more than 250 residents rescued from the plight of flood zones. As he heralded, "We hope to keep this great achievement going on this new endeavor," Crestwood's partnership with Cook County and MWRD serves as a beacon of communal resilience. Schiller Park also embraced a $500,000 grant for storm sewer extensions to alleviate the pressures of flooding, with Mayor Nick Caiafa commending the collective vision that will see his village rise above the floodwaters. "With the design engineering already completed and the mitigation greatly needed, these projects were paused until they could be funded," said Caiafa, signaling a renewed hope for homeowners and businesses in Schiller Park.
While the full roster of projects can be gleaned from Cook County's release, the overarching goal, as DoTH Superintendent Jennifer “Sis” Killen asserts, is to cultivate a "pipeline" of varying projects stages, readying them for future funding windfalls. Associates this program with the County's long-term commitments laid out in its Long-Range Transportation Plan, Connecting Cook County, reflecting a steadfast commitment to infrastructural and environmental stewardship. Cook County has also made available a B-roll of the flooding challenges faced in these localities, unmasking the raw urgency of their fight against nature's furor.
