The federal government retains $384,000 designated for Flossmoor’s infrastructure project. This hold, unexplained since November, is hindering efforts to manage downtown flooding, stated Mayor Michelle Nelson.
A grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was intended to fund the fourth phase of a multiyear initiative. This project aims to address flooding at the downtown Flossmoor Road viaduct. Bid documents and design plans were ready for launch. Mayor Nelson said, “The project was ready to go out to bid.”
In late October, Flossmoor paid its share of $384,000. However, in early November, the Army Corps informed the village of an administrative hold. This project plans to channel stormwater from downtown to a detention basin at Heather Hill Elementary School, Nelson explained.
Despite seeking more information, calls go unanswered. Attempts to involve Illinois’s U.S. senators and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly have also been unproductive. “We are in limbo. We haven’t been told no,” Nelson emphasized. “They have held $384,000 of our money for almost nine months, significant for a small town.”
Recent massive storms, including those over the Fourth of July, intensified the urgency. These storms caused widespread flooding and damage across several south suburbs. The nearby Thornton Composite Reservoir nearly overflowed. “Our businesses suffered due to downtown Flossmoor flooding,” Nelson noted.
During these storms, multiple cars became stuck in the flooded viaduct. In one instance, rescue operations were necessary to free a person from a vehicle filled with water. Nelson described it as “a life/safety issue.”
Construction of the Heather Hill basin and improved storm sewers started in 2020. The latest phase, completed in October 2025, involved installing a sizable storm sewer on Lawrence Crescent, according to Flossmoor’s website. Just after this, the funding hold news arrived.
“Flooding has been a nightmare here for decades,” said Nelson. The viaduct shutting down due to excessive flooding repeatedly hinders emergency vehicle access. “It adds significant response time during emergencies,” she added.
Flossmoor remains uncertain about proceeding without federal funds. Nelson mentioned exploring state funding options as a stopgap, although this may delay other flood mitigation projects. “Using state money impacts other projects,” she said. Residents depend on these initiatives, originally slated for state funding.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has not commented. Mayor Nelson urged, “Help us, please. Follow through on the commitments made.”
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