Rockford considers seizing six flood-prone properties along Keith Creek

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford’s Planning and Development Committee is hoping for a $1.6 million dollar state-funded grant to purchase flood-prone properties along Keith Creek.

Back in 2007, the city of Rockford was able to acquire about 120 properties in the Keith Creek Corridor as part of the Flood Hazard Mitigation Program Grant by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They used those properties to create what is now known as the Keith Creek Greenway.

First Ward Alderman Jonathan Logemann said this greenway is essential for controlling rainwater in the area, but there needs to be more of it. Now, the city is hoping to acquire six more properties to expand that greenway.

“The purpose of these funds would just be to acquire and demolish some of these properties, creating additional green space,” Logemann said. “We know today with all of the flooding and the more the greater repetition of these 100-year flood events, we need the green space for that water to flow into some of those poorest surfaces.”

Logemann said flooding has left many of the residents in his ward in trouble, and one of the reasons for the state funding is the lack of insurance coverage.

“Insurance never covers as much as we want,” Logemann said. “It breaks my heart hearing some of the stories that I heard. There are multiple other people who said, ‘I just got a new furnace or a new air conditioner, HVAC unit, and I’ve got to purchase one again.'”

One local business on Charles Street Rockford Army Surplus watched as its neighbors were destroyed this summer by flooding. Owner David Bobik said taking action like this is necessary for the future of the area.

“It would be nice to get some mitigation on the flooding if that means help for Keith Creek,” Bobik said. “They have a box culvert drain that is undersized. There are obviously some building issues. One torn down that was too two doors down from me. It would be nice to see some help to try to get this under control.”

Logemann said once approved by the Planning and Development Committee it will be voted on by the full council at the next meeting, Monday, September 2nd. The addresses of the six locations have yet to be decided but Logemann said the city may identify the spots that experienced the most damage and go from there.

“As the good folks in Keith Creek know, this is never a quick process,” Logemann said. “It’s just another tool in the tool kit that we’re trying to utilize to help support the residents of Keith Creek.”

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