Elmhurst has received applications from six engineering firms vying to be hired as the city’s consultant for developing a comprehensive plan to address flooding problems, and is working on other flood-related issues.

City officials said at Monday’s city council meeting that the process of interviewing the firms will begin soon. The firms will be interviewed by a selection committee made up of Mayor Pete DiCianni, Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Kennedy, Assistant City Manger Mike Kopp, Director of Public Works Mike Hughes, and City Engineer Cori Tiberi.

The six responses received by the city from its request for qualifications are posted on the city’s Web site at www.elmhurst.org.

DiCianni also reported that Elmhurst is appealing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of its request for payment to cover its costs related to responding to the June and July floods.

“We’d like to see the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Elmhurst had to expend reimbursed,” DiCianni said.

City Manager Thomas Borchert said the city has gotten some good news on one street that was devastated by overland flooding during the summer.

Washington Street has a new house going up on it, he said, adding that it’s a sign of confidence “that there is a serious investment going forward on that block.”

He said the house is being constructed under a new standard that requires foundations be built at one foot above the highest flood water level.

One resident, Liz Widmaer, said she is not satisfied with how much time it has taken for the city to address its wide range of flooding problems, including putting together a citizen task force to work on issues such as how to pay for any solutions that may be suggested and on ComEd power outages.

“So much time has passed,” she said.

The city is planning a workshop to educate the public and city council members on how its storm water system works for 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at city hall, 209 N. York St.