Eight days after severe storms killed a contractor in a Downers Grove storm sewer and spawned tornadoes across DuPage County, the county's Stormwater Management Committee on Aug. 4 approved contracts and grant extensions totaling more than $320,000 and received notification of a $257,745 FEMA flood reduction grant application targeting Glen Ellyn.
The committee approved a contract extension for Westmont's Water Quality Improvement Program grant through June 30, 2027, a $48,400 pipe rehabilitation project and $185,000 in engineering services, according to the Aug. 4 meeting agenda posted on DuPage County Legistar. Separately, the committee received notification of two grant applications totaling nearly $372,000.
Westmont extension, Prairie Avenue rehab
The Westmont contract extension (PO 7738-0001-SERV) pushes the village's WQIP grant deadline from Aug. 28 to June 30, 2027, with no change to the dollar amount. The extension gives Westmont additional time to complete water quality work funded by the county grant program.
The committee also approved a $48,400 contract with Hoerr Construction Inc. for the Prairie Avenue Pipe Rehabilitation Project, running Aug. 11 through Nov. 30. The agenda does not specify which municipality the Prairie Avenue project serves.
Engineering and budget actions
Two engineering contracts totaling $185,000 were approved: $95,000 to V3 Companies for design of grant-funded capital projects countywide, and $90,000 to Trotter & Associates for on-call inspection and design engineering. Both run through Nov. 30, 2027.
The committee approved a $31,000 budget transfer to cover overtime and temporary salaries. The agenda explicitly cites flood operations as a cost driver, linking the fiscal action to the summer storm season that battered the area.
FEMA grant targets Glen Ellyn
The committee received notification of a $257,745 FEMA Flood Reduction Project grant application for the Glen Ellyn Countryside area. Glen Ellyn was one of the communities where the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado on July 27, according to ABC 7. A separate $114,117 Illinois EPA grant application would fund development of a watershed plan for the Lower West Branch DuPage River.
Storm context
The July 27 storms produced at least seven confirmed tornadoes across the Chicago area, including EF0 twisters in both Downers Grove and Glen Ellyn. In Downers Grove, two Vortex Lining Systems contractors were swept into a storm sewer in the 800 block of Curtiss Street. One was rescued. Ivan A. Perez, 33, of Pasadena, Texas, was found dead on July 28. The DuPage County Coroner ruled his death an accidental drowning.
"Our office would like to express our deepest condolences to Ivan Perez's family, friends, and coworkers," DuPage County Coroner Judith Lukas said in a July 30 statement.
As we reported Aug. 4, the downtown sewer rehabilitation project where Perez worked has been halted.
At a separate Public Works Committee meeting the same morning, Darien Alderman Gerry Leganski spoke in support of the county's overhead sewer program, according to committee minutes. Multiple board members thanked Leganski for representing Darien.
Committee Chair Jim Zay and Stormwater Director Sarah Hunn were not available for comment. The Stormwater Committee meets monthly; the next meeting date has not been posted. Residents can track agendas on the DuPage County Legistar website.
