The work of government can be methodical, even tedious. Take the case, now better than a decade in the works, of Riverside’s efforts to build a floodwall to protect residents along Groveland Avenue from the high water ravages of the Des Plaines River when it floods.
Endless, and sometimes confused, negotiations with the Army Corp of Engineers have dragged on regarding the scope and the aesthetics of the project. Multiple bouts of inflationary pressure have basically doubled the projected cost.
And then the absolute reality that Riverside could never pay for what is now an $18 million project on its own. Never could. And no one ever expected that it would have to. This is the textbook example of how multiple levels of government are intended to work together to fix problems like this.
Now the final financial pieces of this funding have come together with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District agreeing, generously, to double its investment in the project from $2.5 million to $4.9 million. Add to that $10 million from the federal government, spending approved by Congress, an extra million funneled to the project through the effort of Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and $2 million that Riverside will scrape together, and the math is complete.
Village Manager Jessica Frances said back in the fall that, once funding was locked in, this project could be complete during 2028. As early spring rains come this week to our area, we can only hope that our amped-up climate changes don’t bring notable flooding in the next few years.
And not to be pessimistic, but let’s also hope that the Trump administration, which does not believe our climate is changing, seeks to take a cleaver to federal spending, and wants to end FEMA, does not get wind of this investment in Riverside.