The municipality of Chatham-Kent is making strides in solving the flooding issues in Tilbury.
Work is set to begin this year on the Stormwater Master Plan. The plan will look at ways to reduce the likelihood of flooding in the future by improving storm and drain systems.
Chris Thibert, director of engineering and transportation with the municipality, calls the master plan a "cookbook" on how they can strategically proceed with infrastructure projects.
"It's going to allow us a way to prioritize and how to start improving the overall stormwater issues that are happening out in Tilbury. We're very excited for it," he said.
According to Ward 1 councillor, Melissa Harrigan, besides the technical side of the plan, there will be many opportunities for community engagement on the issue including surveys and meetings.
"They'll also have community meetings and open houses so that residents can share what their experiences are," she said. "Through those sessions, I understand they may be able to identify hot spots that may not technically look like there's anything wrong with them but in the day to day life people are experiencing challenges and flooding."
The plan is currently in the request for proposal stage. Harrigan said she expects the work on the planning side of things to begin this summer and last around a year. Whatever work is determined needs to be done will then be put into next years budget so the municipality can begin acting on it and making the necessary improvements. Although it may be several years before residents see the finished results, Harrigan said the lengthy process will be very in-depth and worth it in the end. She explained the plan will go "one-step deeper" than just looking at what streets to improve. It will look at a complete overhaul of infrastructure and adding things like new retention ponds or main drains that are able to keep up with heavy storms.
"It's a very long term solution, which makes sense, you can't just go in and put band-aids all over your community infrastructure. But that's frustrating for residents because spring's coming, we're getting more rain and people are going to experience flooding again if we get another storm like we did in September," said Harrigan.
She added that they have tried to come up with some short-term solutions in the meantime.
"We did talk the municipality about we can do. So, there is a service being offered to residents in Tilbury where they can go and have somebody from the engineering department look at their home, make suggestions and recommendations on how they can reduce the likelihood of flooding," said Harrigan.
During the 2019 budget deliberations, Harrigan made a successful push to have a base budget increase of $550,000 per year over the next four years go towards storm sewer infrastructure. She said although sewers and pipes might not seem like the most exciting way to spend tax dollars, these kinds of projects are a necessity for communities.
"Continuing to invest dollars into underground infrastructure, even though you don't see those results through a new shiny park or something you can feel and touch, is very important within the municipality," Harrigan said. "We have to take care of our bricks and bones so that we have a strong municipality to build on."
The municipality will begin with a plan Tilbury, where frustrations over flooding have been high, but will put similar plans in place for other communities in the future.