Permit Fee Waiver for Flood Damage Repairs on Des Plaines City Council Agenda

Des Plaines residents may get a break on permit fees for repairs related to flood damage. Alex Dambach, director of community and economic development, recommended the measure, in part, because it would encourage residents to participate in the permit process, which has multiple benefits including compliance with registering for federal assistance, if a disaster declaration is made, according to his memo to the city manager.

Des Plaines city council will discuss waiving the permit fees at its next meeting on May 6, according to the agenda. The permit fee waiver would be effective for one year, if city council votes in favor of Dambach’s recommendation as it is stated in his memo.

One reason why residents should get all the appropriate permits from the city, Dambach said in an interview with Patch, was they were required in order to comply with federal and state emergency management policies.

“If we let that slide, that affects us badly, in terms of being able to get to this assistance,” Dambach said.

Permits can cost hundreds of dollars, Dambach stated in the memo, which would add to the financial burden Des Plaines residents already have as a result of the flood.

Dambach said going without permits for projects, and hiring contractors without permits, was risky because residents don’t have any way to verify that the work is adequate and safe, which could be extremely dangerous when it comes to electrical repairs, for example.

“The safest thing you can do is work through us,” Dambach said.

Flood Damage Assessment Survey

The City of Des Plaines, like neighboring municipalities, is collecting flood damage information from residents to be submitted in support of a federal disaster declaration through county, state and federal emergency management agencies.

If Governor Pat Quinn makes the request, and President Barack Obama declares it a federal disaster, federal funding would be made available to residents that qualify for it.

More than 500 properties have been documented with the survey and by other documentation, Dambach said, and residents can complete the quick survey by visiting the city’s website.

Acting Mayor Mark Walsten issued a statement on Thursday encouraging Des Plaines residents to contact their insurance companies and complete the flood damage survey.

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