John Myers: “I am quite familiar with the problems on the Sout' Side, my wife coming from the Sout' Side. I taught her to speak…”

“I am quite familiar with the problems on the Sout' Side, my wife coming from the Sout' Side. I taught her to speak English. She says ``South Side'' now. But, yes, I am very familiar with the project. For years I have watched the Thornton quarry being dug out, another useful use for this quarry. I am very familiar with the floods the gentleman is having on the West Side and the south side. In fact, for a number of years we have been providing for some type of water plan that you have now for restoring this surface water, and we now have the McCook and the Thornton program. Last year we put in $6,655,000 for the design, of which $604,000 is still available for the Thornton Reservoir. Of course, there are some problems about real estate as we visited the gentleman's area. As soon as that real estate gets worked out, we are directing the Corps to continue the project, the design and engineering. There is no reason why that would not be on schedule. I think maybe as early as early fall, this year, is our understanding with the Corps. But the Corps is understanding, and they are ready to start moving as soon as they get that real estate problem worked out, a trading of land as we have discussed. The gentleman is right, it is on schedule. It has to be done. It is tragic that they had to have this flood. I am glad they had it after I was there. I hope I did not cause it.”