Storm water ponds out of picture altogether

A mere two weeks ago, the Glencoe City Council appeased concerns regarding its proposed storm water pond in the city cemetery, posed as part of the Armstrong Avenue improvement project, by taking that option out of the equation.
Proposed, instead were several other sites, all with potential issues to be resolved: some weren’t on city-owned land, others would require extensive excavation.
Rising to the challenge, the city and its engineering consultant, SEH, came up with another option: an underground pipe to divert the storm water into the existing system.
Not only does that option eliminate the potential of what some people are calling unsightly storm ponds, but it appears to be a cheaper option. Two bangs for the buck, so to speak.
However, the issue still seems to be murky for some. A council member is questioning if that proposed pipe is the best solution — or, more specifically, if it will divert the water in the right direction.
And there still seems to be a question as to whether the local watershed is truly on board with the proposal, although an e-mail to the engineer would indicate that it is.
Mayor Randy Wilson suggested that the issue be forwarded to city’s legislative and personnel committee. That committee is set to meet today, and city administrative staff indicate that information will not be available in time.
But Wilson is right. The matter needs more indepth discussion. While it seems the proposed solution is on the right track in addressing both aesthetic and cost concerns, there are still enough questions to warrant a more careful, thorough hashing out of the issue.
If it does not work for the issue to be discussed by the city’s legislative and personnel committee, we encourage the City Council to set a workshop session and bring all parties to the table — the Council, the engineers, the watershed and anyone else who needs to be there.
It’s time to get this storm water issue settled once and for all so that the city can move ahead with the Armstrong Avenue improvements.