Political Organization Touts Multi-Million Dollar Tunnel as Winnetka Marvel

As talk of flood prevention in Winnetka gains momentum, leaders from the Winnetka Home Owners Association (WHOA) told the Tuesday night that one idea is nothing short of greatness: a $34 million drainage tunnel.

Earlier:

“We believe that Winnetka is having a Daniel Burnham moment,” said Ann Dillon, chief editor of the Winnetka political organization. She then paraphrased the legendary Chicago architect: “Don't dream small dreams — they lack the magic to stir men’s souls.”

That dream Dillon spoke of is eight-feet in diameter, requires the help of three state and national waterworks authorities, and looks to be the village's most expensive public works project ever proposed. Members of the local political organization were the only residents to address the issue at the meeting.

Estimated at $34 million in cost, according to Village Trustee Gene Greable, the drainage tunnel would begin at Glendale Avenue and run under a stretch of Willow Road that collects run-off storm water from smaller pipes. The water would then be delivered to a water treatement station and dumped into Lake Michigan.

Moreover, it would tack on a few storm-water improvements — at Tower Road, Spruce Street and Greenwood Avenue — costing an additional $4 million to $6 million to improve excess-water diversion.

According to a village report, however, tunnel construction could cost either $32.5 million through clay or $56.9 million through rock. Village officials say the difference in price estimation is due to early analysis of the figures. Prices for storm-water infrastructure are still being discussed, according to village officials — site studies are still being looked at, risk factors fine-tuned. 

Trustee Christopher Rintz, though opposed to raising property taxes to pay for the tunnel, praised the proposal at the Oct. 11 study session.

“We were looking for something visionary to bring us to the promised land," he said, "and this tunnel is it.”

'Make No Little Plans'

Excited by the proposed tunnel, Dillon and Carry Buck, chairwoman of WHOA, said they are forming an unofficial advisory committee, consisting of local experts, “old-timers” and computer engineers from Winnetka.

Their task, as they see it, is to consider the 25-page packet of information, which outlines further proposals, costs and conceptual plans that was presented at the study session by Christopher B. Burke Engineering. They'll then form an advisory committee and present their findings "to the village for them to use ... as they see fit," Dillon said.

"If you want us to disband," she said to the board, "we will. It's up to you guys. You're the bosses."

The political organization's earliest concerns for the tunnel include a drainage connection to Tower Road, funding sources and effects a water-quality station would have on waterflow to Lake Michigan.

But overall, Dillon said it's a project that "could be replicated in communities up and down the lakefront."

"It would make strides in water purification and antibacterial control," she added.

High Priority at Council Level

"I want to come up with a plan to alleviate the water problem of this community forever," Greable said, forefinger to the table, which sits in the public safety classroom of the Winnetka Police Department just south of the $2.25-million renovation project underway at village hall.

Though deadset on fixing flooding and other problems while his "candle is flickering," this being his last term as a trustee, Greable admits the problem could take more than a few years to fix.

"We're tackling this immediately," he said. "It's an extremely difficult project."

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Storm-Water Survey

In light of studies recently performed by the village, another one came out Monday on the impact of the July 23 storm, which experts dubbed a once-every-100-years storm. The survey results are from about 1,000 Winnetka residents, who reported to the village the extent of flooding in their homes:

— 55 percent indicated they flooded

— 44 percent of residents indicated they didn't flood

— 47 percent indicated that floodwater came up through floor drains, laundry tubs, showers and toilets, which, according to village engineer Steve Saunders indicates sanitary sewer backup

— 40 percent indicated wall or floor seepage

— 30 percent indicated that floodwater came up through window wells or doorways

— 1 percent indicated they weren't sure how the floodwater entered

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