Storm sewer work underway in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN Work has begun to install a new storm sewer that will intercept rainwater from 300 acres west of Georgetown along Whittier Street and then allow it to run east past Seminary Street and into the Ellis Branch Creek.

Currently, the rainwater enters commingled stormwater and sanitary sewer lines, which can overload the sewers on the west side of the city and overwhelm the wastewater treatment plant.

Bob Kohlhase, an engineering manager with the Farnsworth Group's Peoria office, said he was "pleased at how things are coming together."

Some residents who live near the new sewer have expressed concern that a portion of the route from Whittier Street on its way east to the creek will be an open drainage ditch.

Kohlhase has said that there is an existing natural drainage way from Church to Main streets, and the contractors are utilizing it by cutting it down so that stormwater will run naturally to the east.

Kohlhase said he met with resident on Oct. 8 and feels that their concerns fall into four categories:

He acknowledged that portions of the regraded ditch are steep and said the city council may consider helping with mowing those areas.

He said the residents granted a permanent easement of 7.5 feet from the center of the ditch, but there is also a temporary easement that was granted for the grading of the ditch, which is wider than 15 feet across at some points.

Kohlhase said he was not able to answer questions about possible devaluation of the properties with the newly graded open sewer running along them, and referred those questions to local property assessors.

He said that safety concerns have been somewhat addressed by replacing damaged fencing along portions of the ditch, which is intended to keep children out of it.

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Storm sewer work underway in Georgetown