Several MBBA members attended the September 20 meeting about flooding.
City of Springfield Public Works Director Mike Norris spoke to an outspoken group of about a 50 residents and property owners from all areas of Springfield.
The city does not currently have the budget to fix combined storm and sanitary sewers or to clean existing sewers more often than once every 10-12 years. Even if funds were available to improve the storm and sewer systems, the storm sewers would not handle a “100-year event” and would overflow into the streets.
Property owners with basements flooded by storm water and sewage backing up from basement drains and fixtures are urged to call the Public Works department even if someone else near you has already called. The daytime number (before 3pm) is 217-789-2244, and the after-hours number is 217-789-2246.
Other options were suggested to prevent storm water and sewage from backing up into basements as well as information on what could or could not be done to solve the underlying problem.