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Businesses Sue City Of Des Plaines Over Flooding

DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) -- In Des Plaines, flooding issues have pit suburban business owners against the municipal government.

As WBBM Newsradio's Michele Fiore reports, a number of business owners have filed suit against the City of Des Plaines, claiming breach of contract.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Michele Fiore reports

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The lawsuit claims that after seven inches of rain fell July 23, the pumps in the pumping station failed to operate. That flooded a number of businesses on Devon Avenue, which surround Lake Peterson.

The owners of the buildings that house the businesses signed a contract with the city that allowed for the channeling of storm water from around the buildings, into Lake Peterson, and back out into the Des Plaines River.

On July 23, the storm water was channeled into Lake Peterson, but the water either was not channeled back out of the lake into the Des Plaines River, or was done so too slowly to prevent damage, the suit claims.

Business owners say they incurred clean up costs and lost profits due to damages.

But the City of Des Plaines has refused to cover costs incurred by the flooding, as covered under an easement agreement with the building owners, the lawsuit said.

On Aug. 5, a letter was sent demanding the city fulfill its obligations under the agreement, which the city has failed and refused to fulfill, the suit said.

A representative of the city of Des Plaines was not immediately available for comment Thursday evening.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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