Of Public Works and Infrastructure

Let's be blunt: sewers are not sexy. Frankly, I try not to think about them. I'm forced to, however, when my street floods and the water is bubbling up through the tops of the sewer covers. Ewww. Oh, sure, Public Works comes and blockades the street and gets out their pumps and the rain (or melting snow) eventually is absorbed into the ground or through the sewers and the road clears and all is well again.

Until it happens again. And it will. It does. Over and over.

My neighbors at the end of the block, where the flooding is concentrated, bear the brunt of our crappy and outdated infrastructure. They spend rainy days wondering if they'll be able to get out of their house without putting on thigh-high waders. They've spent umpteen dollars on their basements- if they even bother anymore- and anything that goes below grade is put in Rubbermaid tubs.

Fortunately, Downers Grove is finally- albeit painstakingly slowly- fixing the aging (and ancient) infrastructure. It takes money- gobs and gobs and piles of it- and thoughtful planning (not that I'm terribly impressed with the village engineers, but that's another story for another post.) and patience from the residents. We bitch about the cost, and then we bitch about the timeline. We all want OUR streets done FIRST. No, really, MINE first!

Recently, our Village Council floated the idea for a new village hall and police station. Right away, you could hear the bitching. Too much money, not necessary, bad economy, can't you combine facilities with the school districts (that was the crappiest idea I heard. seriously.) and park district to save money? As soon as you start talking about doing ANYTHING that requires ANY money or ANY vision for the future, there's a certain (and usually the same group) of people who start whining.

Here's the point, people: Things age. They wear out. They break down. They cost more to maintain then to rebuild. Villages grow- and outgrow their facilities. What worked in the 60's when the town was half the size doesn't work now. Standards change. Needs change. Design changes. A recycled building that was meant to hold you 25 years has lasted 4o. Shut up already!

We need to stop trying to live off the last generation's generosity and foresight. Our grandparents- and great-grandparents- dreamed big. They worked hard to ensure that their efforts would be worthwhile. They built for the future. They built for us. Can we give less to our children and grandchildren then our grandparents gave to us?

It's our turn to pony up. Time for us to fix the penny-wise, pound-foolish mistakes of the past and build for the future. I'm in. You?