Work on Wal-Mart sewer pipes to resume

ROSCOE - Work to install the Rockton Wal-Mart's storm sewer pipes in Roscoe will resume today.

The Roscoe Village Board has agreed to allow Wal-Mart's drain pipes go through Roscoe land. Trustees voted to grant Wal-Mart and its contractor, International Contractors, a permit to install the pipes at a special board meeting called Tuesday night at village hall.

“We approved the drain pipes with the understanding that they will only be used for the Wal-Mart project. They are going to start working Wednesday, but they can't work in the flood plain until they have the permit,” said village trustee Scott Richardson.

Wal-Mart is building a new store near Rockton Road in Rockton, but the pipes need to go through a plot of land adjacent to McCurry Road and divided by Dry Creek Run. The contractor needed a permit in order to install the pipes in parts of land located in the flood plain.

Village President H. Ward Sterett issued a stop work permit after Richardson found storm water pipes laying on a 40-acre parcel of Roscoe land. Neither Wal-Mart nor its contractor had contacted Roscoe and trustees were concerned because part of the 40-acre parcel is located in the flood plain.

Richardson said the amount of water which would be released is in accordance with Roscoe ordinances. Wal-Mart has agreed to dig a ditch from the point the pipes end to Dry Run Creek, where the water will drain.

Wal-Mart originally planned to let the water disperse in the low lying areas outside the pipes. Richardson was concerned that the water would gather into a silt pond and could even stretch into the State of Illinois right-of-ways.

Wal-Mart will be held responsible for maintaining its pipe and held accountable for any drainage issues arising them.

“If they want their water they will have to fix the pipe if spring floods come,” Richardson said. “It will be their responsibility to make sure the pipes are kept clear.”