Bartlett receives $3.8 million FEMA grant for stormwater management

Roads, garages and many condos flooded in the Hearthwood Farms subdivision in Bartlett in September 2008. Village officials announced Friday that a U.S. grant of $3.8 million will help pay for flood prevention measures. Courtesy of Sajjad Rana

Bartlett has received a multimillion-dollar federal grant to help minimize and alleviate flooding in the northeastern portion of the village.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is awarding a $3.8 million grant to the village's stormwater management project, village officials announced Friday.

Village President Kevin Wallace said the grant will be used mostly to address flooding issues in the Hearthwood Farms subdivision, where homes were extensively damaged by floodwaters five years ago, and in the area near North and Prospect avenues.

"We're really pleased (the grant) finally went through," Wallace said, adding that Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk, and Reps. Tammy Duckworth and Peter Roskam helped secure the funding. "This has been in the works since after the 2008 flood in Bartlett."

The project includes the installation of two stormwater detention basins, a small berm and inlets. It will also be used for storm sewer reconstruction and grating near the intersection of Crest and Taylor avenues.

About 5,000 people, including some Streamwood residents and commercial property owners, will be impacted by the project. According to a news release from the village, Bartlett has worked to annex a parcel of land from Streamwood that is needed for floodwater storage basins in the project area.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency funding will cover 75 percent of the village's $5 million stormwater management project. The village will cover the remaining $1.2 million for the project.