Stormwater and flood control are the top issues people are telling me about as I knock on doors in Ward 2.

My first job out of college was designing and managing stormwater infrastructure to address flood control and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I want to put that experience to work for Fayetteville.

The city has a new stormwater utility to help with this. But we need to develop stormwater management strategies at the watershed level and then use our stormwater utility funds as matching dollars with state grants and other funds to ensure these dollars go further.

At the same time, the city can utilize partnerships with local groups like the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, Illinois River Watershed Partnership and Beaver Watershed Alliance to implement low-impact development strategies in neighborhoods that reduce flooding, enhance water quality and add to the aesthetic quality of a neighborhood.

My knowledge and experience in stormwater will help validate this approach with the Public Works Department, local partners, residents of Fayetteville and other City Council members.

I’ve already begun conversations to identify funding opportunities and potential project locations, but ultimately this will need to be staff-led with support from the mayor’s office and oversight from City Council.