Live at St. Joseph-Ogden High School Board

I am here so you don’t have to be. Tonight they are discussing facilities updates.

They are discussing a new study that came from the village engineers saying that the turf football field will cause some drainage concerns with the village.

Here is what the village will discuss tomorrow. #itwillbealongmeeting #sendthoughtsandprayersforme

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School Athletic Fields are located northwest of the High School and currently include a football and track stadium with a grass infield, as well as grass baseball and softball fields. The High School is proposing to reconfigure this area by replacing the grass football field with a turf field and installing a turf softball field where the baseball field is currently located. The current softball field will be replaced with a grass practice field and several of the track and field elements will be relocated to other areas of the site.

Relocating and reconfiguring existing elements of the site have essentially no net impact on the stormwater management of the site; however, the conversion of grass areas into turf areas does impact the site. Turf fields are equipped with underdrain systems that increase peak flows and total volume of stormwater runoff, which currently is directed to a 24-in diameter storm sewer that runs through the area.

Byrne & Jones Sports Construction recently submitted drawings of the existing site configuration and proposed site improvements for review by the Village. These documents show the proposed changes to the area and note an increase in stormwater runoff from the project site. The Village’s site review entails reviewing project plans to ensure that proposed changes follow the Village’s Ordinance and to do not negatively impact other areas of the Village.

• Frequent impacts from the existing storm sewer system are likely given inadequate capacity to accept
additional stormwater flows. While these impacts can be mitigated as described herein, the impacts
from the Salt Fork Oxbow will still exist regardless. Damage from these more frequent events, while
minimal, could compound and eventually produce noticeable impacts to the turf fields. The use of
backflow preventers are recommended and are considered a cost-effective solution that may reduce
damages.

• The impacts from the Salt Fork Oxbow are unavoidable and very likely to negatively impact the
proposed underdrain system as planned. While the frequency is fairly low, the potential damage is
much greater due to the extent of flooding. The use of backflow preventers are recommended and are
considered a cost-effective solution that may reduce damages.

• The School District will need to evaluate their risk tolerance given the existing conditions of the storm
sewer system and flood conditions from the Salt Fork Oxbow. While it may not be practical, the only
solution that eliminates the potential risk is elevating the proposed improvements above the FEMA
base flood elevation of the Salt Fork. As shown in Figure 1, the proposed softball field is almost
entirely within the floodplain limits (pink shaded area shows the area below elevation 665.5).
Elevating the softball field and the corresponding underdrain system would likely not be possible;
however, the elevations of the football field are several feet higher and so it may be possible to
minimize the tailwater impacts on the football field. Additional information on the football field
underdrain system would be required to make this determination.

The school board is discussing elevating the softball field. It technically isn’t in a flood hazard area but the village’s map shows the softball field may flood with a “hundred-year event.”

Basically, the school board is going to see what the village board wants to do because there are ways they could work together to fix the issues.

Discussing the parking lot upgrades. Fun fact from the last meeting: the parking lot is actually narrower in the aisles than most parking lots. #icanseethat

Discussing a Chromebook Lease. 45,000/year for 4 years for 500 Chromebooks.

Going into closed now.

Out of closed. Good of the cause- the auditorium has been utilitzed by multiple organizations and classes after only being for a week.

FFA week went very well.

Discussing the girls basketball season, boys basketball season and wrestling seasons. Reminder softball and baseball practice started today!!!!!