The primary functions of the Engineering Department include development plan review, capital project administration, construction observation and mapping. The Engineering Department works to ensure that public and private infrastructure (i.e., streets, sidewalks, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, storm water management basins and street lighting) is properly designed and constructed. New infrastructure is added to the Village as part of residential and commercial development and through the Village's own capital improvement projects.
Development
For residential and commercial development, the Engineering Department reviews improvement plans and subdivision plats for compliance with the Village Municipal Code, the Village Engineering Standards and any applicable annexation and development agreements; makes recommendations and presentations at Village Board meetings; provides construction observation services; manages bonds and letters of credit; assists developers with the acceptance of subdivision improvements; and makes recommendations for subdivision acceptance to the Village Board.
Capital Improvement Projects
For capital improvement projects (projects sponsored and paid for by the Village of Carpentersville), the Engineering Department develops the scope of work; prepares requests for and evaluates design proposals; recommends design firms to the Village Board; provides design guidance; approves the final design; advertises for and evaluates construction bids; accepts proposals for construction observation services; recommends award of the construction contracts and construction observation service agreements to the Village Board; oversees the construction; evaluates the finished project during the warranty period; develops warranty deficiency lists; evaluates warranty work by the contractor; and recommends final acceptance of the project to the Village Board.
Records Management
The Engineering Department maintains utility records and mapping information for public infrastructure. This information includes plans and plats for subdivisions and plans and records for capital projects. A computer-aided drafting (CAD) system is utilized to maintain some zoning and lot information for the Village.
Village Project - Bid Tabulations
2011 McNamee Boat Launch
2010 MFT Resurfacing Project
2010 Street Maintenance Material Purchase
2010 Sidewalk Replacement
Helm Road Improvements
2010 ERP Resurfacing Project
2010 Pavement Rejuvination Project
Longmeadow Parkway Project
To view a map of the overall project limits from the western end at its connection to Huntley Road, to the eastern end at its connection to Illinois Route 62, click here.
To review a draft of the Parkway study; click here. To gain access to the Kane County Division of Transportation for more information on the project, click here.
Present and Proposed Bike Path Concept Plan... more information
Huntley Road Improvement Project
Stimulus Projects Information --
The Village’s standard details are available in CAD and PDF format below. These details shall be included on the Details page (if they apply) for any engineering plan submittal to the Village. If you have any questions related to the details, please contact Development Engineer, Jamie Rott at (847) 551-3480.
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| Catch Basin Type A |
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FLOOD HAZARD AREAS
Portions of the Old Town area are comprised of 100-year floodplain. Carpenter Creek, Four Winds Way Creek and some of the property surrounding the Fox River are all part of this floodplain.
Flash-flooding is the general type of flooding caused by Carpenter Creek and Four Winds Way Creek. During a normal flood event, several inches of rain in a few hour time period flows jeopardizes the Creek’s banks and overflows generally in Carpenter Park and also in the Lincolnwood Manor subdivision.
Flooding on the Fox River is normally a much slower event, and can be better predicted in advance due to the river level gages located upriver in Algonquin and further north. Since the Fox River begins near Waukesha, Wisconsin, heavy rains in southern Wisconsin can significantly raise the river level here, even with minimal rainfall in the area.
Flood elevations reached the elevation of 718.3 at the Main Street Bridge, just inches above the 10-year event level in August 2007. Ina 100-year event storm, the Fox River would be at elevation 721.0 at this same location, nearly three feet higher, with much more wide-reaching flooding impacts if that should occur.
Information on whether your property is in the 100-year floodplain can be obtained by coming into Village Hall. Maps are available to look at as well as other flood-related information. The Village also has Elevation Certificates for new development available back to 2006. Contact the Engineering Department at (847) 551-3480 for further assistance.
FLOOD SAFETY
The following common sense guidelines can help you from the dangers of flooding:
- Do not drive through a flooded area. More people drown in cars than any where else. Do not drive around barriers.
- Do not walk through flowing water. Currents can be deceptive. Six inches of water can knock you off your feet.
- Stay away from power lines and electrical wires. If your house is about to be flooded, turn off the power at the service box. Electrical current can travel through water. Electrocution is the 2nd leading cause of death during floods.
- Be alert to gas leaks. Turn off the gas at your house before it floods. If you smell gas, call 911. Do not use candles, lanterns or open flames if you smell gas or are unsure if your gas has been shut off.
- Keep children away from the flood waters, ditches, culverts and storm drains. Flood waters can carry unimaginable items that have dislodged themselves. Culverts may suck smaller people into them rendering them helpless.
- Clean everything that has been wet. Flood water may be contaminated with sewage and other chemicals which pose severe health threats.
- Look out for animals. Small animals that have been flooded out of their home may seek shelter in yours.
- Do not use gas engines, such as generators, or charcoal fires indoors during power outages. Carbon monoxide exhaust can pose serious health hazards.
PROPERTY PROTECTION MEASURES
If your property is susceptible to flooding, there are many flood damage reduction measures you can employ.
- Have a plan and set it into place when heavy rains are predicted.
- Obtain battery backups for sump pumps.
- Watertight seals can be applied to brick and block walls to protect against low-level flooding.
- Utilities such as heating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and other major appliances can be elevated to higher floors in the structure or on raised platforms.
- Temporary measures such as moving furniture and other valuables to higher floors or sandbagging exterior openings will also help.
- Elevating or relocating the entire structure may also be a feasible option.
FLOODPLAIN PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
All development within the 100 year floodplain (not just construction of buildings, but filling, excavation, fences, etc.) is required to obtain permit. Applications must be made prior to doing any work in a floodplain area. Please contact the Engineering Department at (847) 551-3480 to receive all the information you will need to properly develop in the floodplain. You may report any illegal development activities to (847) 426-9600.
SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT/DAMAGE
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that if the cost of improvements to a building or the cost to repair damages (from any cause) to a building exceeds 50% of the market value of the building (excluding land value), the entire building must be brought up to current floodplain management standards. In addition, the Kane County Stormwater Ordinance stipulates that the substantial improvement can be reached by the cumulative reconstruction or repair of a structure; not each expenditure. Building improvement projects include exterior and interior remodeling, rehabilitation, additions and repair and reconstruction projects. Please contact the Engineering Department at (847) 551-3480 for further information.
FLOOD INSURANCE
If you do not have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. You do not have to reside in the floodplain to obtain flood insurance. In fact it can be purchased at a significantly reduced cost if you do not reside in the floodplain. Because of our floodplain management programs that attempt to protect us from the multiple flooding hazards, Carpentersville is part of the NFIP and thus, residents are able to obtain flood insurance. Additionally, because the Village participates in FEMA’s CRS program, flood insurance premiums are discounted.
Be sure to check your policy to ensure you have adequate coverage. Usually these policies cover the building structure, but not the contents. Contents coverage can also be obtained by asking. There is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance coverage becomes effective. Plan ahead; do not wait until a flood is predicted before purchasing flood insurance.
If you are building inside the floodplain, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory if using a federally regulated/insured bank for a loan.
NATURAL AND BENEFICIAL FUNCTIONS
Floodplains play a valuable role in providing natural and beneficial functions to the area around, and including, Carpentersville. Floodplains that are relatively undisturbed provide a wide range of benefits to both the human and natural systems. These benefits provide aesthetic pleasure as well as function to provide active processes such as filtering nutrients. Carpenter Creek and Four Winds Way Creek are used as a means to filter lawn fertilizer run-off so that these areas can maintain bio-diversity and ecosystem sustainability. Both floodplains contain historic and archeological sites that provide opportunity for education and study. Both enhance waterfowl, fish and other wildlife habitats and provide feeding/breeding grounds. And lastly, both floodplains provide natural erosion control and open space so further flooding damage does not occur.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
As simple as it may sound, simply keeping smaller ditches and streams free of debris can dramatically improve the run-off capacity of low-lying areas, as well as greatly reduce the occurrence blockage that significantly contributes to flooding. Do not throw leaves or brush in creeks as they can cause problems downstream by blocking culverts and pipes and restricting the flow of water.
RECEIVE A DISCOUNT ON YOUR FLOOD INSURANCE
Most residents with flood insurance automatically receive a discount on their insurance premiums. The Village participates in the Community Rating System (CRS) which is a program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in which residents living in the Special Flood Hazard Area receive a 10% discount on flood insurance premiums and residents not living in the Special Flood Hazard Area a 5% discount on flood insurance premiums. Carpentersville participated in a series of floodplain management activities in order to qualify for the CRS discount. The best part is there is no need to do anything to receive this discount. The Village has already done everything for you. Your insurance agent is notified through a national database and will automatically deduct the appropriate amount from your flood insurance premium. As part of the CRS program the Village offers the following information on request:
- Whether a property is in or out of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SPHA) as shown on the current Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of the Village.
- Additional flood insurance data for a site, such as the FIRM zone and the base flood elevation or depth, if shown on the FIRM.
- A handout on the flood insurance purchase requirement that can help people who need a mortgage or loan for a property in the SFHA.
- Elevation certificates are available as of January 1, 2005.
Direct inquiries should be made to the Engineering Department in Village Hall. Please supply the street address and, if available, the subdivision, lot and block number. There is no charge for this service. There are mandatory flood insurance requirements for development in the floodplain, but for some homeowners flood insurance is an option. Flood insurance is highly recommended because no floodproofing measure is 100% foolproof. Please take time to contact your insurance carrier and consider flood insurance for your home. For more information on the Federal Emergency Management Agency and flood safety, please visit the following websites:
www.fema.gov www.fema.gov/nfip
Questions about these projects should be directed to the Village of Carpentersville Engineering Department at (847) 551-3480
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you should require further or more detailed information regarding flood-related issues in Carpentersville, here are some additional sources:
Contact Information
Village of Carpentersville
1200 L.W. Besinger Drive
Carpentersville, IL 60110-2097
Phone: 847/551-3480
FAX: 847/426-4426
Scott Marquardt, Village Engineer
Email: smarquardt@vil.carpentersville.il.us
Ed Szydlowski, Capital Projects Manager
Email: eszydlowski@vil.carpentersville.il.us
Ted Bergeson, Resident Construction Engineer
Email: tbergeson@vil.carpentersville.il.us
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