Cahokia Heights

Five dozen communities in Southern Illinois account for a third of the reported sanitary sewer overflows in the state in the last decade. But with low revenues, population declines, and bureaucratic delays, solutions are hard to come by. Meanwhile, residents face property damage flooded yards and basements and governments that still haven’t fixed the problem.

Initially, the Illinois Department of Transportation anticipated to finish the construction in Cahokia Heights and Sauget by the end of July.

The Metro East suburb, long plagued by an aging and damaged sewer system backing up and flooding into homes and streets, requires more state and federal funding to continue repairs of its sewer and water systems.

Wednesday’s opening of “Vivian’s Village” marks the completion of the first portion of Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation’s affordable housing development.

The development comes four years after voters in Cahokia, Centreville and Alorton approved a referendum to merge the three cities into a single town called Cahokia Heights.

An estimated 878 people live within a 1-mile radius of the 35-acre Veolia North America-Trade Waste Incineration facility in the Metro East. The closest residential areas are about half a mile southeast of the facility in Cahokia Heights.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski criticized Republican leaders, who she blamed for the cuts while drawing attention to the impact on Metro East communities.

This aid is separate from the $89.5 million St. Clair County received in January for disaster recovery from flooding in July 2024.

Find results for mayoral races in Illinois including Belleville, Cahokia Heights, Granite City and Alton as well as the Mississippi Valley Library District Board.

David Goins, Curtis McCall Sr. and Mike Parkinson were all reelected Tuesday, and Godfrey Village President Mike McCormick earned his fifth term in office. However, in Belleville, City Clerk Jenny Gain Meyer beat Mayor Patty Gregory.