VILLA PARK : Water Runoff Could Be Public Nuisance

Land that causes water drainage problems could be classified as a “public nuisance” under ordinance changes recently approved by the City Council.

The council, at its last meeting in January, gave first reading to changes in the city’s existing ordinance on public nuisances. Problematic water runoff was among the “nuisances” the council added to the law.

As adopted by the council, the amended ordinance would forbid land from causing “erosion, subsidence or surface water runoff problems of such magnitude as to be injurious or potentially injurious to public health, safety and welfare or to neighboring properties.”

Property owners whose land causes water drainage or erosion problems could be cited. If the owners did not fix the land within 30 days, the city would be empowered to do the work. The land owner would then be billed for the repairs.