City of Watseka - Iroquois County tiling project raises questions about who’s responsible for costs ?

A drainage issue behind houses along Loveridge Lane on Watseka’s SE side has stirred up a proposed project to resolve water settling in backyards. A storm sewer drainage project is on the drawing board. The City and Iroquois County officials are looking at a project that could cost upwards of $230,000 to run tile behind the Loveridge Lane houses, across Grant Street, behind the County Courthouse to Porter Avenue.

Concern and questions were raised at Tuesday’s City Finance Committee meeting. The tiling project is on county property. The Watseka homeowners along Loveridge Lane would benefit from a project to lay tile to improve water flow.

County Board member John Zumwalt, when questioned, entertained the idea of the City picking up half the cost. Zumwalt told City Alderwoman Jenny Musk-DeLahr “it’s county property but it’s also kind of a city problem.”

Zumwalt told the City officials it’s been an issue for some four years, but the County hasn’t done anything.

Nine homes, including Mayor John Allhands residence, are affected by the drainage problem. Allhands said the City is partially at fault, undersized tiling wasn’t corrected over the years. Other issues have contributed to more standing water there in recent years.

Alderwoman Musk-DeLahr again questions spending local Watseka taxpayers money on a project that’s county property ? She said other parts Watseka deal with flooding to a much greater extent and haven’t had their issues resolved.

Further discussion was directed to finding a way to work together, gathering bids and even determining whether city and county work crews could do the work.

94.1 WGFA