"The picture shown with the headline, "Granite City paves over their sewers" is a bid misleading. Does it look like some of the openings are reduced in size after the street was paved? Yes. Did this happen all over town? Not in my neighborhood. Was water still getting to the ditch? It appeared so by the overflowing banks."
I wonder if trying to convince people that tall grass in a ditch would hold back the water flow would be just as misleading, or better yet, absurd.
Everyone remembers the images of manning pumps, and boating people and animals out of the trailer parks during the flood a few years ago. Everyone remembers the Mayor and his administration's efforts to keep everyone as dry and safe as possible under the circumstances. I find it very surprising that anyone, especially the mayor would find it important or necessary to address the public over this issue wanting more recognition or accolades. I'm not reading any where that any particular person is trying to "take credit" away from anyone. It seems obvious that Horseshoe lake levels have to be maintained in order to accommodate water run off to help prevent flooding, period. Large or small, new or old culvert, the water has to have some place to go, and the level of Horseshoe lake being low enough, is what allows this water to flow.
All of this finger pointing is embarrassing and disappointing. Who knows if the pumps mentioned above were turned on in a timely manner, my guess only the workers involved can answer that. If they find that they were not, hopefully all responsible will have to answer to that.
Hopefully the buffoons responsible for paving over the storm drains in the city will be held accountable, and more than that, those higher ups that were aware of the problem and turned a blind eye to it, will be held even more accountable.
It's a shame that politics play such a huge role in this issue, but it's Madison County and it's been this way for years and I don't see it changing any time soon.