The June 25, 2021 flood left 10 to 12 inches of water throughout the existing Bloomington Municiapal Credit Union (BMCU) Building at 602 S Gridley St. according to Todd Keil, Manager of the credit union.
While the credit union was able to reopen permanent damage was done to the building. In a sense the flood provided an opportunity for the credit union to construct another building and not only be able to operate from the location for years going forward but also to improve services for credit union members.
The new building will be built south and east of the existing building in what is now a grassy area adjacent to E. Oakland Ave. After that building is completed employees will move into it and the existing building will be torn down.
Because the site is in a flood plain the new building will be constructed two to three feet higher than the existing building so it doesn’t flood in the future according to Greg Goette, of Keeley Construction.
The contractor will have to deal with rubble left on the site from previous buildings being demolished and private sanitary sewer lines that run under the property from nearby homes that aren’t in an easement. There may have been an alley that existed there that was vacated some years ago.
The BMCU serves employees and relatives of the City of Bloomington, McLean County, Connect Transit, Bloomington & Normal Water Reclamation District, Central Illinois Airport. Bloomington Township, Regional Office of Education, UPIC, Bloomington Housing Authority, Mid-Central Community Action and Boys and Girls Club of America.
Keeley Construction was founded in 1976 as a family-owned paving company. Keeley’s headquarters are in St. Louis.
June 25, 2021 saw massive flooding in Bloomington and Normal. Up to seven inches of rain fell in parts of McLean County. It was a 100 year flood event. The area along the railroad tracks in the vicinity BMCU is in a 100 year flood plain. This means the area will flood when a 100 year event occurs.
