Roscoe Drowning Meeting
Roscoe Drowning Meeting Save Email Print
Posted: 10:50 PM Sep 4, 2008
Last Updated: 11:23 PM Sep 4, 2008
Reporter: Max Seigle

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While things had calmed down Thursday at the Roscoe pond where 17-year-old DJ Beauchamp drowned this week, the crowds turned to village hall where residents fired off concerns over the pond's safety.
"I think it's been a danger. I don't like the water and with no signs being down there, it's a hazard I feel," Sandy Ambrosini said.
Ambrosini joined her neighbors at the village board meeting, pushing for improvements and offering suggestions for the pond near their homes in the Chicory Ridge subdivision.
"Just keep draining the water, fill it in, make it into a park or a baseball diamond," Ambrosini said.
Others in the crowd liked those ideas too. But some feared flooding issues, and say, just fill it up with dirt. No official action came from the board Thursday. But Village President David Krienke announced the first of several meetings Monday night to get to work.
"Next week I think will be appropriate to start addressing all the concerns here these citizens have. We will have a meeting, we will address every concern and there will be something done," Krienke said.
In the meantime, Krienke's asked the landowner around the pond, Petry Development, to secure the site. He's also invited the company to Monday's meeting. And start solving a problem so this week's tragedy never repeats itself.
One resident who spoke out presented the board with a petition with 142 signatures on it. All from folks wanting a better and safer future for the pond.
An official announcement on the meeting next week will come on Friday.

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Posted by: Bob Location: Boone County on Sep 21, 2008 at 07:16 AM
How many subdivisions have man made ponds to catch water run-off? There are no fences around them, or talk of draining or filling them in. Why should this one be any different? Why put the developer through the wringer because someone did not have enough sense to stay out!

Posted by: Bob Location: Boone County on Sep 19, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Give me a break....should we drain all the ponds and rivers, put a fence around everything possibly dangerous? People need to take responsibility! Yes, it's a terrible thing that happened, but had he not gone in the water he would still be here, the pond was not a magnet...it didn't drag him in.

Posted by: kel Location: roscoe on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:40 PM
its sad to know that a tragedy like this had to happen to such good people for it to get realized that the pond is a danger. i agree with idea of making it into a family park or even a play baseball field.

Posted by: Patty Location: South Beloit on Sep 5, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I live in the windfeild sub. in S.Beloit. I have a drainage ditch in my back yard. My self and other resident in, the subdivision have been to city council meeting on the drainage ditch. All they tell us is give it time and it will work! We have given them two years and we sill have water in the ditch. I,am so sorry to hear about the young man that drowning. NO one should have to worry about childen drowning in that water. We need to keep on top of it until it is fix!!! We are still going to the city council at this time. Lets hope and pray that they get it right. We do not need any more loss of life. I hope the city council of South Beloit under stand, that anything can happen. Love and prays to the family that lost there child. GOD BLESS!!!!!!!

Posted by: Teresa Sambrook Location: South Beloit on Sep 5, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I live in South Beloit, I also am having a drainage problem. I bought a house 2 yrs ago and the drainage system has never work. Once a year they come out and drain it. 1st Rockford claims once grass grows the ditch will work fine. I have never seen grass grow under 6ft of water. I live in fear that something tragedic like the death of this boy live will happen in my backyard everyday. My neighbors and I have asked several times to cover the water if it must be there. The developers comment is only Illinios State law say it doesn't have to be. We need help to change this law.

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