Neighborhood gets bad news at Joliet City Council meeting

Thats what James Alston of 215 Doris Ave. would like to know. Hes been waiting about four years to get an answer.

And after meeting with the City Council on Monday, it looks like hell be waiting a couple more.

Alston, 67, told the council that then-City Manager Tom Thanas told him in 2010 that the city would install storm sewers and curbing along his one-block neighborhood in 2015.

Alston said the 200 block of Doris Avenue lies at the bottom of a hill, where most of the rainwater collects during storms.

We still get a lot of torrential rains, Alston said. The water floods our driveways and comes up into our yards.

Alston said the neighborhood isnt even looking for sidewalks, just for curbing and gutters to collect rainwater on the edge of the street, which he said is crumbling away because of erosion. He said the S-curve, where Doris Avenue connects to Richards Street, is particularly bad.

But it doesnt look like any help will be coming next year, thanks to the citys funding problems.

Four years ago, the city still was participating in the Neighborhood Improvement Program, said Mayor Tom Giarrante.

Back then every district got $1.5 million, Giarrante said. Now they get zero.

The soonest Alston and his neighbors can expect any relief is 2016, when the street is scheduled for restoration through Motor Fuel Tax funds, said Jim Trizna, the citys director of public works.

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Neighborhood gets bad news at Joliet City Council meeting