A meeting has been arranged for residents to find out about and ask questions regarding a project to curb flooding in Oak Lawn’s 6th District.
Trustee Ralph Soch (6th) said during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday morning that the meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the board room at the District 218 Administrative Center, 10701 S. Kilpatrick Ave.
The meeting will provide an overview of the upcoming Polaris Stormwater Storage and Storm Sewer Improvement Project.
“I wanted to remind everyone about it since our next meeting will be after that,” Soch said. “I know a lot of people will have questions and they will be addressed at the meeting.”
A question and answer session will follow the meeting, Soch said. The village has dealt with severe flooding that has impacted hundreds of residents. The village and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) have approved a flood control project near Polaris Intermediate (PIE) School at 107th and Kilpatrick.
The $13 million Polaris project is expected to begin this fall. The project will include a stormwater storage detention basin in the sports fields at PIE. The fields will serve as temporary storage for overflow stormwater. A new storm sewer system will flow back into the fields once the sewer pipes fill up and release back into the storm sewer system as the downstream system allows.
In addition to the storm sewer upgrades and construction of the stormwater storage basin, the project will include new baseball fields, a football field, stairways, and ramps for maintenance vehicle access.
Roads will be resurfaced where the storm sewer is installed along both 105th Street and Kilpatrick Avenue, according to the village and MWRD.The village has improved an intergovernmental agreement with MWRD to share construction costs.
Mayor Terry Vorderer reminded the board and residents that this will take some time and will be an inconvenience for neighbors and motorists. The project is scheduled to be completed within a year.
“I must say that this is one of the biggest projects I have seen happen here,” Vorderer said. “It will have a major impact on flooding.”
The board also approved the promotion of one fire department lieutenant and one fire engineer to fill vacancies due to retirement. The board also approved the hire of one firefighter/paramedic from the current list due to a retirement.
Honor officers
Division Police Chief Jim Cummings filled in for Chief Daniel Vittorio and presented certificates of appreciation to officers Matthew Harland, Thomas McMahon and Jacob Carroll for their efforts in DUI enforcement.
The three officers were recognized by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists for their efforts in curbing motorists from driving while inebriated.