The Valmeyer Experience
In the spring of 1993, the Mississippi River slowly rose. Lying at the bottom of a river bluff, the Village of Valmeyer, Illinois, had always been aware of the potential power of the mighty river. But that year , the levees could hold the river no longer. They broke, allowing the Mississippi to claim the land upon which the community had stood for over 90 years. No one really anticipated that 65,000 acres of Monroe County would be under water... water 15 feet deep in parts of Valmeyer. The destruction was so great, it literally changed the future of the Village and its 900 citizens forever.
Faced with the grim reality that they would never be able to rebuild in the path of future floods and still meet requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, residents and public officials decided to move their entire city to higher ground. Using funding from FEMA, HUD, EDA, FmHA, USDA, and 10 additional state and federal agencies, the Mayor and Village Board purchased 500 acres at the top of the river bluff and began the process of planning the "New Valmeyer." In order to help make those plans a reality, they called upon Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen.
Working from a conceptual layout developed by the Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Commission, the engineers of TWM began designing the subdivisions and infrastructure of a new community. It’s not often that an engineering firm gets the chance to help design an entire city. Roland Thouvenot, P.E., President of TWM explained, "We had years of experience designing all the individual components of the Valmeyer project, but here we had the unique opportunity of doing it all at once, starting from the ground up, without having to incorporate existing infrastructure into the project. It was exciting and challenging at the same time."
The stringent deadlines on a project of such magnitude also proved to be a challenge. With approximately six months to complete the initial design tasks, TWM generated over 450 pages of plans. TWM provided the boundary and topographic survey, and the horizontal and vertical control for the aerial photography as the layout of the new municipality began. TWM engineers then began establishing the horizontal and vertical alignment for the Village’s new network of streets. The task included pavement design, a new storm sewer system, storm water detention facilities and erosion control. At the same time, TWM’s environmental engineers were designing the sanitary sewer collection system, upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant, a new water distribution system, and a new water tower. Others were busy designing the business districts, public lands and residential subdivisions.
After developing plans, specifications, and cost estimates, TWM assisted with bidding the component projects. And during construction, TWM surveying crews staked streets, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, waterlines, structures and lots. TWM also provided design services for building sites including the emergency services building, elementary and high school, churches, and commercial buildings.
The project gained national attention. Valmeyer became a sort of testing ground for disaster relief. President Clinton praised the efforts of Village officials. The ground-breaking ceremony brought together Governor Jim Edgar, Senator Paul Simon, and Congressman Jerry Costello, in a celebration of new beginnings. Bill Becker, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy summed up the reason for all this attention. "Valmeyer can be quite an extraordinary model. It was the first community that we know of that committed to relocation and it opened up a fascinating set of possibilities."
TWM’s role in the "testing ground" has now diminished. Construction of the projects designed by the firm to date (over $21 million worth) are all finished. Almost all of the 350 residential lots have been sold. Homes are being built and many residents have moved back. The Corner Pub was one of the first businesses to open. The new high school sent its first graduates into the world. Life is returning to normal in Valmeyer. Incorporated at the beginning of the century but reborn at the end. A community nearly 100 years old. Just at a slightly different location.