Ice Storm Expected Thurs. Dec. 18, 2008

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for our area involving snow and ice accumulations that may cause treacherous conditions. On Wednesday, the city of LaSalle staff and Red Cross officials held an emergency planning meeting to discuss the city's approach to handling this storm. Although the city has taken precautions, it is difficult at this time to predict exactly what type of weather will hit our area. Residents and businesses are advised to make their own emergency plans and monitor weather conditions. Should the city activate their emergency plan, staff will make every attempt to communicate the city's activities and knowledge of conditions to the public using the Code Red system as a primary means of contact. Other forms of communication could include:

• Radio announcements
• Notices posted on the city's Website
• Updates on the city's Twitter account

Additional winter weather emergency resources:
FEMA Winter Storm Information
IEMA Winter Storm Preparedness
CDC Winter Weather Information
American Red Cross Winter Storm Information
You Tube video on Food Supplies during an emergency
You Tube video on Water Supplies during an emergency

LaSalle's Rotary Park

About 15 years ago, Illinois Cement, one of LaSalle's major industries, committed to donating their quarry to the city for a park. At the time, a diorama was created showing a lake and paths, and I think some wondered if this would ever actually become reality. Well, it seems that day is now approaching. Thanks to Illinois Cement following through on their original commitment, the deed to transfer the property is already in the works. And LaSalle Rotary is taking up the lead of spearheading development of the area into an awesome city park - a park that one day might become one of the largest city parks in Illinois outside of Chicago.

Gary Gearhart, leading the LaSalle Rotary charge, had assembled a park committee that for some time had been looking for a park site to develop. After all their searching, they decided the Illinois Cement land was the most suitable site with the donated portion of the land amounting to about 110+ acres lying within the limits of the old quarry. Rotary also decided they will purchase about 52 additional acres of ground that was never quarried making the total area of the future park about 170+ acres.

The next step for LaSalle Rotary had been to develop concept plans. Gearhart managed to connect with the University of Illinois and was rewarded with a committment from their architectural department to allow one of their students to work with LaSalle Rotary to develop that plan. Enter Tony Morelli, an exceptional student with great vision, design, and presentation skills who also happens to be from nearby Ottawa, Ill. This young man has managed to listen to all the ideas and create an exciting vision for the future use of this land which includes a 20+ acre lake, a section of river, miles of paths, ball diamonds, soccer fields, dog parks, sledding, and cross-country skiing.

The public can follow the development of this park by visiting a Website set up by Morelli using pbwiki at lasallepark.pbwiki.com.

LaSalle's Wastewater Plant Recovery

Today we started working in earnest on recovering our wastewater plant site. Here is a copy of our updated plan: 2008 Wastewater Plant Recovery Plan.

With all the rain, the city has also been receiving numerous calls from people who have experienced groundwater in their basements. Some residents have sump pumps and are able to pump this water out; however, many people are still calling with concern over the amount of water they are pumping. With the ground saturated and the water table already high in certain areas of the city, this is to be expected to some degree. If you have a sump pump and are concerned about the amount of water you are pumping, you can check the following to help diminish the amount of water directed to your sump pump:

• Check that all downspouts are directed away from your foundation and discharge a minimum of ten feet away. However, keep in mind you cannot discharge this water onto your neighbor's property.
• Check to make sure the ground around your foundation slopes away from your home. If not, grade your yard so that water drains away from your foundation. But again, keep in mind you cannot grade your yard in a manner that places more water on your neighbor's property.
• Some older homes in the city were constructed with their foundation drains tied into the city's sanitary sewer and have never been disconnected. If this is the case, water can back up in the city's sewer into your foundation drain during periods of high rain. To prevent this from occuring, you can disconnect your foundation drains from the city's sewer and redirect the drains into a sump pump or to another outlet that would allow the water to drain by gravity.
• Further and more detailed information can be found at the following link: Wet Basement Tips
  

LaSalle Experiences Record-Setting River Crest

Yesterday, Sept. 16, 2008, the Illinois River had a record-setting flood crest at 33.79 feet at LaSalle (from NOAA Web site). This resulted in extensive flooding in the area lying within the city of LaSalle corporate boundaries adjacent to the Illinois Michigan Canal and Little Vermilion River. The city's wastewater plant is currenty submerged under approximately ten feet of flood waters. The city's wastewater collection system is functioning; however, no wastewater is being treated at this time. Based on the NOAA Web site, we do not anticipate being able to begin recovery efforts at our plant until Mon., Sept. 22, 2008. We have established a recovery plan. Please keep in mind that this is a working document and subject to change as we proceed through with our plan.

In addition to the wastewater plant, the city will also focus on cleanup of other city property. In particular the city's well field and roadway system lying within the area of flooding. If anyone has questions, please contact me through E-mail or by calling me at the office at 815-223-7041. We will endeavor to keep up with all the normal city maintenance and operations, but ask that residents please be patient with us as we work to recover our plant.