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Raw sewage backups and chronic flooding have been a decades-long issue in Centreville, now Cahokia Heights. Residents previously filed two federal lawsuits over these issues in 2020 and 2021.
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Officials announced Cahokia Heights would receive $37 million in funding because of failing infrastructure. Over two years later, that money is still to be seen.
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“The arguments were basically that the lawsuit we filed was too long and too confusing for them to respond to,” an attorney for the plaintiffs said. The case is now continuing.
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The Illinois Democrat toured homes in the area to see the damage from chronic flooding during heavy rains, which often contains raw sewage.
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The agreement for the state funding includes a requirement for the city to be transparent with residents about how they’re spending the money.
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Residents and officials from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency say more support is needed.
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Residents of the former city of Centreville (now Cahokia Heights) have for years dealt with flooding and sewage overflows. Residents feel ignored — and financially trapped — after decades of inaction by officials.
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U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the infrastructure deal will cover the cost of repairing decades-old problems."
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More than 100 employees are currently employed in Cahokia Heights.
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The order mandates the city to submit plans to control sanitary sewer overflows, which can cause water to back up in residents’ homes and yards.